Five!

Birthday Princess!

Mia Lynn holding Hannah Lynn!

I can't believe my youngest baby is five! She is growing into a wonderful young lady. She is a little spit-fire, full of energy, humor and love! I can't believe that she will be in Kindergarten in a month. Where does the time go? It seems just like yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital! She was blessed with wonderful birthday celebration this year attended by her wonderful friends and family. The best gift of all came from the birth of her new baby cousin. All along she has been saying that she would share her birthday with Hannah. Little did we know that would actually happen. I find it quite fitting, they are my mom's name sakes and now they are exactly five years apart. Someone told Mia how Hannah was a wonderful birthday present for her and her response was, "Yes, but I don't get to bring her home and that makes me really sad." She is excited to be a "big sister" to Hannah and teach her all the things that Hailee has taught her.

Locks of Love

Hailee's Before Picture!

Terri cuts one of the ponies off.

We put her hair on the table after it was cut and the ends curled into a perfect little heart! So beautiful!

Hailee admires her new look in the mirror.

Hailee proudly displays her two ponies of hair.

What is the significance of hair? Most of us take it for granted not giving it a second thought. However, when you are faced with an illness that causes your hair to fall out it can mean so much! Some embrace their new found baldness but others feel more comfortable wearing a wig. In fact my mom had several, each with their own distinct look. Wigs have come so far over the years. They have never looked so natural and real. Several months ago Hailee came to me and said that she wanted to cut her hair for Locks of Love. She said that she wanted to do it for her Mimi and that maybe some little girl would be able to have wig made from her hair. I'm so proud of her kind and tender heart! We decided that she would get her hair cut today for the beginning of summer. She was so excited to do it! She is so beautiful with her new "do" and looks so grown up.

In A Blink!

Mia at 4 weeks old.

Mia at 4 years old.

Is it just me or does time seem to go by so fast? Maybe it's the hectic life I live of driving kids to school, teaching, picking up from school, dance, soccer, friends, family and fun. It seems like Mia has grown up in a blink of my eye! It just seems like yesterday I was caring her around to all of Hailee's school and extra-curricular events to watch as a bystander. Now my little girl has become quite a big girl and active participant herself! At of age of 4 1/2 I am in awe of how she can say the funniest things, knows what she wants and when she wants it, how much she loves to learn, how thoughtful she can be and how creative she is. I am amazed with all she has learned and enjoyed participating in so far this school year! She loves playing soccer, dancing ballet, anything to do with math, learning to read and write, creating wonderful works of art and making new friends. I'm so proud of her! Here are some funny things she has said the week that keeps to cracking up:

After hearing mention of a restaurant named Mama Mia's she says, "I think the only people that can go there are mama's and little girls names Mia!"

"Mom, I think I'm going to ask Santa for a Rapunzel spray bottle for Christmas next year. That way my hair can be long like hers."

"See that tooth, that's my super tooth! When I loose it the tooth fairy will have to give me extra money because it has super powers."

Gingerbread Houses

Mia gets some help from Aunt Peggy with her house.

Hailee did her whole house all by herself. She had a vision in her mind and had to make sure it was just right.

Mia wanted to be decorated like Rudolph.

Hailee wasn't as excited to be Rudolph as her sister. She especially didn't want her picture taken with her red nose. I don't know when she decided to be concerned about her picture being taken but I'm not so sure I'm ready for it!

Terri and Amy show Hailee how to have fun!

We all join in on the fun.

Taa-daa!

Hailee was proud of her finished house!

One on my favorite holiday traditions is decorating Gingerbread Houses. I have fond memories doing this with my grandma, my mom and now my girls. In years past I have bought one of those kits and assembled it then let the girls have a go at decorating with me hovering over their shoulder. This year I decided to have a different approach with graham crackers, royal icing and lots of beautiful candy. The girls helped me assemble the houses then I let use their own creative abilities to decorate their own houses. It was so much fun to see their own interpretation of home decorating. Hailee had a color scheme where Mia had a bit more linear in her approach. That really sums up their approach to most things, Hailee is all about matching and coordinating and Mia is more concerned about patterns and structure. I love how their personalities are so different! We had a wonderful morning with our family and I look forward to many more years of continuing this family tradition.

Thankful!

I'm thankful for...

*My beautiful, healthy girls that keep me laughing and smiling!

*My family for their constant and continual love and support!

*My friends near and far who lift me up and always know exactly what to say!

*My faith in God!
"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart. I will be found by you declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 29:14

*Hope!

*My job which I enjoy going to each and every day!

*Wonderful teachers who give my children love and knowledge that will last a lifetime!

*Funny things my kids say!
"I can't wait for CHICKEN DAY!" (Mia, 4)
"It's so hard being a big sister, she just always needs me!" (Hailee, 8)

*A safe vehicle to get through all the snow!

*Angels watching from above!

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!