11/28/03 - 11/28/13 :-)

Ten years!  WooHoo!  We can hardly believe we've married a whole decade!  And, we are feeling extra appreciative and proud of all that we have accomplished in that time!

November 28, 2013 :)

 

 We went to the church we got married at, and posed for a few photo ops!  We just love that little church :)  I remember walking out on that staircase as a happily married new Mrs.

 And...to make our ten-year even more special, Grandma Susie and Shannon surprised us by "decorating" (if you call tp-ing trees decorating!) our yard and driveway.  What a fun surprise to wake up to (or be scared by while sitting on the couch that night :-)  I will tell you that story later)!  Seriously, I smiled inside and out for hours from that one...such fun!

 I hope our kiddos remember to do fun things like this for each other (and their cousins) when they are grown up!  Gotta love it :)

*Sigh* Feeling extra thanful for everyone and everything we have...and loving my hubby and family a whole lot...xo...

Couldn't Be Prouder

You two have had a big week.  We all have. 

Your lives changed a little bit this week, and your dad and I couldn't be more proud of how you handled it.  Losing Buster has broken all of our hearts, but you guys said your farewells with the strength of a grown-up.  Pretty amazing...

We also went to parent-teacher conferences this week.  I was so proud of what your teachers said that my eyes welled up with tears (yes...during the coference).  Both of your teachers said things about you that make us so proud to be your parents.  Of course, you are both smart, and that your academics are awesome makes us happy!  But, even moreso, being the good kids you are makes us even happier :)

• Lily -- Your teacher said: Lily is such a sweetheart...quiet, but such a sweetheart.  She is that child that other children know they can go to and won't be made fun of or turned away.  She is good to everybody.
• Jack -- Your teacher said: Everyone loves Jack. All the kids want to be by him, and I am so glad that it's him that the kids want to follow.  He is such a good role-model.

Our cups runneth over. Keep it up, you two!  Being nice matters.

Our Buster

 To The Most Interesting Dog We've Ever Met,

Thanks for being our kids' childhood dog...we have loved loving you!

Love,
Your family

Jack...Our Kindergartener!

Jack started Kindergarten this week!  I am still in shock that my baby is this old! 

A few days before Kindergarten, he said "Mom, did you already sign me up for Kindergarten?" "Yes," I replied. "Okay. But, when it's time to sign up for first grade, you don't have to. I will just stay home, okay?"

When he came home from his first day, he called to tell me it was great...and that the "library was ginormous!"

When I told him to have a good day on his second day of Kindergarten, he said, "I will. It's gonna be awesome!"

Jack and Lily having a tickle-fight before bed after their first-day-of-school 2013. Jack's comment..."I miss Lily."

Her Wheels are Turning

"Hey, Mom..."

"Yes, Lils..."

"Some elves are electricians, right?"

"Um, I guess, yeah.  And, they probably have carpeneters, too.  Plus, they have magic."

"Because I was thinking...you know...when you are a teenager, and you ask Santa for a phone...the electrician elves wire up the inside piece.  Then, the other elves put the cover on, and paint it, you know?!"

"I love your brain, Lils.  You are awesome.  Because I never thought of that before, but you are right."

7!

Dear Lily,

Happy Birthday, baby girl!  Six has been YOUR year!  You have blossomed in ways that have made us so amazed with you!  You are still the shy, sometimes-hesitant Lily we love and adore, but your confidence has taken a trip to the moon.  And, we LOVE it!  You spent your year learning the game of T-ball, mastering soccer (you got your first goal this September!), and swimming like a champ at lessons, the pool, and even the lake!  You were brave-beyond-belief and WATERSKIIED for the first time at our Land O'Lakes vacation, and you performed beautifully on stage in your first-ever ballet recital!  Go Lily!  You rock!  And...you have made us so proud.  These successes and competition are as fun for us as they are for you.  They fill our days with enjoyment, and keep us busier than we ever imagined.  May you always remember to carry that excitement and assurance close to your heart.  Being involved will make your life so fulfilling.  And, the world needs talented people like you to make it go 'round :)

You are gorgeous and serious, nervous and creative, artsy and meticulous, and smarter than a whip!  You are a silly-heart and a dreamer who beats to her own drummer!  We embrace that and love that about you (except when your need to create things makes messes in our medium-sized house) ha,ha.  There is little center in your brain that gets ideas...and you don't let up to you make them happen.  They usually involve making books, painting scenes or crafting with beads and glitter and little cut up pieces of paper, and lots and lots of tape.  Neat side note--you prefer to do most of your work standing on those long legs of yours.

 We have been to the beach more times than we can count this spring, summer and fall.  Just like me, the beach is one of your "happy places."  You twirl, wander, dig to your heart's content and savor every second of the sand, wind and water.  That same zest for playing hard follows you on a daily basis. 

First grade has been incredible.  In the words of Amanda, I am in shock and awe!  After a bumpy transition into full-day, fully-loaded, "what's for lunch?",  lots-of-time-away-from-home instruction, you, again, have completely and totally blossomed.  You are lucky; academics come naturally and are easy for you.  But, I am still impressed with all that you know in the first 8 weeks of school.  It is simply incredible that you can read on your own, do addition and explain schema to me!  Keep it up smart girl--you are going places!  You love, love, love school, but managing the stresses that incur are an ongoing process for you. 

In the meantime, keep lighting up the world with that smile of yours!  We need gentle people like you.

Love you,

Mama and Daddy

Back to School Night 2012

When Lily asked if her new teacher was going to be nice, I said "Of course.  All first-grade teachers have to be nice!" 

When Lily recieved a letter in the mail from her soon-to-be first grade teacher, I was tickled.

When I read the letter included in that same envelope for us parents, I sobbed (like...couldn't-talk-sobbed).  Mrs. L. is going to take care of my baby.

When I went to Back to School Night, I immediately found a yellow piece of paper on Lily's desk with instructions to leave my child a note that would be read to her in the morning.  Guess what?  I just about lost it.  I had to walk away to distract myself, otherwise I would have been the only parent in the room wearing sunglasses to hide the pools in my eyes.  

Lucky me for getting to be Lily's mom.

     Lucky me for remembering getting those such notes from my mom and dad when I was little.  sigh...