Seven

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!
My beautiful baby girl turned seven today. Where has time gone? I have been truly blessed to be her mom! She is such as smart, kind, loving and wonderful little girl. It seems like yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. This has been a difficult year for us on many levels but she has been amazing! She thrives at school, she is friend with everyone, she is the world's best big sister and most of all she is a terrific daughter! I love her so much!!!

Snowflake and Kitty Cat

Hailee and Mia outside my parent's house before the big trick or treat adventure.
Hailee and some school friends at the school Halloween Party.

In August, Hailee came to me and said, "Mom, I would like to be a snowflake for Halloween". Um, okay. So began my search of how to make my daughter to become a snowflake. I took a dance costume she used a couple of years ago and sewed some fuzzy, white trim to the bottom of it. Then knowing how cold Halloween can be in Spokane I decided to add warmth to it by throwing on her Cinderella cape. I glued a snowflake over the top of Cinderella's head to make it snowflake worthy. We added a homemade snowflake wand and an ice crystal crown. There you go, a snowflake or snow princess. Mia on the other hand was easy, Kitty Cat costume from Old Navy. Piece of cake! It was another fun year of trick or treating.

Wedding!

The beautiful bride!
The girls sing Taylor Swift to all the guests.

Who needs to hire entertainment when there are eager girls who love to be the center of attention.

The ladybug purse completes the look!

This is the only picture that I got of the couple.

My best friend, Stacy, got married Saturday to a wonderful man, Mike. Despite a lot of rain before and colder than normal temperatures they day turned out beautiful! Mike's parents have a wonderful home on a lake and the ceremony took place on the dock with all the guests looking on from the beach. Stacy looked beautiful as did her daughter Koryn. I had the privilege to make their wedding cake which was a little challenging but I was pleased with the results. All in all, the day was wonderful and I wish the new family all the best!

To Preschool We Go

First Day of School!
I love how her backpack is almost as big as her.

Using a "magnet glass".

At circle with all her new friends!

Mia started preschool this week and she was so excited! Especially since she could take her new backpack! Parents attended the first day to help with the adjustment. I think Mia could care less that I was there. She had so much fun exploring and meeting new friends. I love how she is so confident and jumps right in! She is a lot like her sister that way. I hope this is a trait that will stay with both of them for a very long time!

Horse Play

Hailee always finds a reason to strike a pose.
Mia's idea of posing :)

Maybe I should invest in some proper boots for horse riding.

All we had were rain boots.

Hailee is tired of being lead around.

She is ready to take off on her own!

I took the girls out to my Aunt and Uncle's house this last weekend to see their horse, Spinner. Hailee has always loved horses! She loves riding them, feeding them and brushing them. I have even found her having on hot summer afternoons, sitting by herself having conversations with Spinner. She is so sweet! Mia on the other hand has been terrified of horses. Last summer she wouldn't walk past a window in the house if she could see the horse let alone go near it. That all came to a screeching halt last weekend. Mia decided that she loves Spinner too. She helped brush him, help lead him and rode him. She looked so small up on that big horse but she loved every minute of it! I don't know but there might be horse lessons in our future. When we were driving away Hailee said, "Mom, when I grow up I want to live by Aunt Peggy so I can have a horse too." I love that girl!

Fall Soccer

Nothing feels more like fall then being on the soccer field on Saturday mornings. After my many years of playing it's now my turn to cheer on my own little soccer star. Hailee's first game of the season was last Saturday. She is doing so great! She scored two goals and assisted her fellow, "Red Roses" teammates on a few more. We lucked out that the day was sunny and warm which I'm sure won't be the case for all the games. The pictures didn't turn out so great this time because we were looking directly into the sun, I'll try next game for more.

1st Grade Already!

It can't believe my little girl is a 1st grader! She had a great first day! I'm so excited where this year will take my wonderful daughter. I am looking forward to all the books she will read to me (and her sister), all the fantastic stories she will write, the creative crafts she will bring home and most of all seeing her love of learning grow day by day. Oh what a year we will have!