In loving memory...

Robin Lynn Lovejoy
December 16, 1955-November 20, 2009

A year ago today I said goodbye to my mom for the last time. I miss her more and more each day! I really can't believe she isn't here anymore. I wish she could have seen all the accomplishments the girls have made this year and how they are growing into beautiful, caring young ladies. She would have been so proud of them like she always was! I wish she could have been here to hold me and tell me everything would be okay. I do feel comfort in knowing that we have an amazing angel looking after us and that I will see her again some day. I hope she is proud of me and knows that I loved so much!

Eight!

Eight years ago I was blessed meeting my baby girl for the very first time. From the time our eyes met I knew my life would never be the same. Her eyes have always been the window into her soul. She has always been so inquisitive, intuitive and observant. You can't get much past her! She can read what I'm thinking and feeling by just a quick glance. I love that about her and it reminds me so much of my mom. Those little eyes have experienced so much this year! Probably more than most adults could handle but she has walked through each experience with grace and courage. I'm so proud of the young lady Hailee is becoming. I have been honored to be called her "mommy"! This is something she wrote on the first day of school and I think it sums her up in a nut shell.

"Hailee"

Honorable
Artistic
Intelligent
Laughter
Excellent
Enjoyable

Being born near Halloween I knew the day would come that she would want a costume birthday party and this was the year. She loves anything with a peace sign on it so of course she wanted to dress up as a "Peace Out Girl". All the girls that came looked so cute in their costumes! We made caramel apples, decorated headbands, had mummy races and ate edible eyeballs, monster fingers and mummy hot dogs. We topped her birthday off with getting her ears pierced. She was a little nervous and scared but when it was all finished she couldn't stop smiling! It was a good birthday enjoyed by us all!

Peace Out!

The girls at the party. (Where's the birthday girl?)

Mummy Races!

The birthday could not be complete without a peace sign birthday cake!

A few tears were shed but she loves her new earrings!

Catch Up!

Labor Day in CDA

I don't know who is having more fun?

I can't wait until we can go to beach again!

Such a ham! Mia's first day of Pre-Kindergarten.

Hailee's first day of 2nd grade. She is having a great year. We have been blessed to have an amazing teacher, Mr. Elmore. She is striving academically, is a wonderful friend and has become an amazing soccer player. She is really coming into her own!

The future Mia Hamm! Mia's first day of soccer. (Seems I was so busy cheering her sister on at games that I forgot to take pictures).

Hay ride at Harvest House at Greebluff.

My cousin Amy joined us for the day.

You can't go to the Harvest House without have a pumpkin doughnut or two. Yummy!

Amy helps the girls carve their pumpkins.

Tick-or-Treating with their friend Koryn.

So it's now past Hailee's birthday(pictures to come) and I realized that I haven't posted since Mia's birthday three months ago. I guess life has been a little busy around here and I have neglected to keep up with the blog. After looking at the pictures I think I haven't been much better with taking pictures. Anyway, we are doing well and here is just a little bit of what we have been up to since August.

It's Fun To Be 4!!!

Mia finds a ladybug.

Bathing Beauties!

Mia's "Fancy" Cake

I can't believe 4 years have passed since my baby girl entered the world. She has filled our days with laughter, silliness, cuddles and kisses. Mia is very determined, smart and vivacious! Her bright blue eyes and smile melt my heart every time I look at her. She reminds me so much of my mom! I love her to pieces!

We celebrated her birthday with a few friends and family at a local splash park. The kids had so much fun splashing through the water! Mia wanted a "Fancy" cake, so I tried my best to please her :) It was a great day of fun!

Summer Fun

Hailee's looking rather grown up on the horse. She was so excited because she can now reach the rings!!!!

Mia has fun going down the Red Wagon slide in Riverfront Park.

Riverfront Park

So cute! I can't believe she is almost 4!

The perfect strawberry!

Mia found one too!

Hailee was a great picker and was ready to make jam!

Mia's strawberry face showed she ate more than she picked!!!

Off to the raspberries.

We had to wait awhile for the berries to be ready here but they were definitely worth the wait! We make tons of jam that will last the year through!

Thought I would post some shots of some of summer fun! There will be lots more to come. . .

Dancer Girls

The girls pose before their recital.

After the long recital day.

She is growing up so fast!

Sisterly love!

Hailee's ready to go on the field to dance.

Unfortunately I didn't have great seat and was so far up but Hailee is down there on the orange Toyota marker. Maybe next time I'll spring for better seats!

Both of the girls love to dance and have been taking dance class this last year. They performed in their recital a few weeks ago and it really warms my heart to see them both enjoying themselves so much. Mia was in a Tap/Movement class and had so much fun! She did such an awesome job at the recital! I catch her doing her favorite move the "boogie woogie" all the time around the house. Hailee was in a jazz class and has really come a far way since her beginning dance days in Oregon. This week she had an opportunity to go to the Spokane Shock Dance camp and then perform at half time of the football game. She has so much fun and was in tears when camp ended. There was not a nervous bone in her body, just pure excitement and joy. It doesn't phase her at all to be in front of thousands of people. She is braver than I ever was! I'm proud of my girls' desire to try new adventure and all their hard work! I'm a very proud mama!

35

Today I turn the big "3-5". What a year 34 proved to be! I'm looking forward to this coming year because I think I'm due for some good times rather than the crappy ones I have had. Don't get me wrong, I feel very blessed to have my health (for the most part), my amazing girls, family and friends that will do anything for me and a job that I am having fun going to everyday. There are just some things that I didn't think I would have to face at 35. For one, I never thought I wouldn't have my mom with me. I feel like there is so much for me to learn and experience in my life and I never imagined that I would have to do it without her. Although I know she is with me everyday I miss calling her and getting her advise. Never would I have dreamed that I would be starting over at this age. But I guess it's time for me to step out of my comfort zone and live my life. I feel that I have let most of this last year go by without taking much time for myself. So I'm making it my birthday wish to do things for myself that will not only benefit me but also my girls in the long run because let's face they are who I live for. Here are my goals for my 35th year:

1. Go back to school to begin my master's degree.
2. Get more active.
3. Make life style changes that will allow me to become more healthy.
4. Take care of my varicose veins which are becoming a health risk.
5. Don't live in the past but look forward to the future.
6. Honor my mom by making the most of myself.

Here's to another year!