December Already?

Hailee and Alisa at their birthday party.

Fairy Mia!

Hailee as a Gonzaga cheerleader.

Hailee, Mia and baby Hannah!

Mia looses her first tooth. Hailee actually pulled it out. She was more than happy to help!

Christmas photo shoot with our amazing photographer friend, Mike.

I can't believe I haven't blogged since the first week of school. That definitely is a sign of how my life has felt the last few months. So here is a little catch up as to what the young ladies and their mom has been up to for since September.

September:
This month is always a little crazy with the start of school, back to school nights, open houses and soccer for us all. Then this year to change it up a bit I decided to be the coach for both of the girls' soccer teams. If I didn't have enough to do! We spent three nights a week and all day Saturday on the soccer field. It was a little time consuming but I loved every minute (well almost every minute, minus super competitive parents and other coaches). The girls on each of the teams are great! I love that I am able to be such an influence on my daughter's and their friends. It really is a wonderful blessing! Makes all the chaos worth it!

October:
The soccer madness continued through the end of the month. What time wasn't spent on a soccer field was spent working on my house either inside or out. Being a home owner in Spokane is a lot different than one in Oregon that's for sure. I had to "winterize" the house, turn of sprinklers, seal up cracks so spiders and cold air couldn't get in, have trees removed so the winter snows don't make them fall into the house and rake, rake and rake! Thank goodness I have help from the girl and my friend, Scott. Without them I don't know what I would have done!

November:
November kicks off with Hailee's birthday. This year she decided to have a joint party with her friend, Alisa. Their birthdays are only a week a part and they have all the same friends. It was a fun party and it was nice to split the planning and expenses with another mom. I still can't get over that my baby is 9. She is growing up so fast and turning into a lovely young lady! As joyous as the month begins it also is a bit somber for me as well. On the 20th we marked the 2 year anniversary of saying goodbye to my mom. I miss her so much and that date just reminds me of all the time I don't get to have with her. We did mark her anniversary with what I would like to keep as an annual tradition. My dad, the girls and I visited Hospice House, where mom spent her final days, and donated stuffed animals. When I brought the girls there to visit my mom they were greeted with stuffed animals which made a scary, sad situation a little more bearable. Last year the girls thought they should donate other stuffed animals to help other boys and girls. It's just a nice way to honor my mom's memory and give back to others at the same time. On a different note, I was able to attend parent/teacher conferences for both of the girls this month. They are both such wonderful students and are thriving academically. I'm most proud of what wonderful friends and positive role models they are!

This leads up to now. Hailee is starting basketball this week, which will be a new challenge for her. No coaching this time for me instead I will enjoy the games from the sideline! We (more so the girls) are eagerly awaiting snow so we can go sledding and preparing for Christmas. Hopefully, in the new year I can keep up with my blogging a little better!

First Day!

I still can't get over the fact that I have a third grader and a Kindergartner. Where does the time go? I'm looking forward to see how much the girls learn and develop this year! They both are so eager to learn and excited to be at school. I'm such a proud mommy! I love how their first day picture shows how much they look alike now that Hailee cut her hair. I think I even see more of mom in their faces everyday!

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!