End of summer....Beginning of school!

I can't believe summer is just about over!  We have done so much.  Natalie graduated from pre-school and then we went on vacation!!  Beaches, bike rides, great food, exploration and a dolphin show.  Doesn't get much better for an end of summer family trip!  The road trip to Florida, however, was not exactly "magical." Hayden threw up within 15 minutes of being on the road.   Since we woke up at 3:45am to pack the car and get everyone in, it was a bit much for us all.  I don't think I even felt "right" until about 7am.  It was kinda rough on us all, but we were able to see all the sights of the gulf coast and get to our beach house before dinner.  You guys loved sleeping together in your own room (two big beds pushed together).  Nap time was even better because you got  to watch your fave cartoons, (well Natalie watched,Haydee sleept :)).  Hayden was kind of scared of the loud, crashing waves of the ocean. Sadly, there was lots of rain storms while we were there, which made the ocean pretty angry. :)  I think you cried EVERY single time we got down to the beach but you warmed up quickly when we got the buckets and shovels out.  We did so much exploring and picture taking, mostly in the evening.  That is when the sun and surf were the most beautiful.  There was also a mid-week trip to Gulf World!  That might have been mommy's favorite part of vacay. We got to pet the sting rays....and I was surprised that you both wanted to!  :)  Next up we watched the sea lion show and later on it was time for Nat's fave...the dophin show!  We sat in the "splash zone" which I didn't really expect to be as wet as it ended up being. ;)  We were soaked!!  Natalie, you got to shake hands with one of the stars of the show (a dolphin named Sandy) and you loved it so much.  At  first you touched her nose, and weren't supposed to, but I'm just glad she didn't bite you!  She must have known you were a little girl and treated you gently.  Love dolphins!!  During the week we also went on bike/trike rides down to a few towns, for breakfast and other things.  You guys were in a little trailer being pulled by daddy. :) It was so fun and a great way for mommy and daddy to get some exercise!
It was sad to leave and Natalie you were just not ready. :( Alas, we had to head home because in a couple of days you were going to start kindergarten!

Summer Days...

 Rain, rain go away!

 Exploring at sunset...

 Natalie called this the "golden sea"

 Chasing mommy!

Mom drew a huge heart in the sand and we did the cliche jump!

 Fun and relaxation on the beach.

I love Daddy!!!

 Splash zone...before and after!

Yes that's mommy being silly!

 Meeting the star of the show, Sandy!

Our last night in Florida, watching football as daddy explains the rules.  :)

It was such a magical trip and we all miss it terribly!

Until next time...

We didn't have much time to get ready for the first day of school, so we did all we could before we left for vacation.   Natalie.....KINDER!!  I can't believe it (and it's already been 2 1/2 weeks!)  You are having such a blast and learning new things every day.  Your teacher's name is Mrs. Woodfin and so far you really like her.  Waking up extra early (since we walk to school) and spending the day there, then the walk back home has been wearing us all out, but I think we are about to get into our groove.  You also started dance class once a week and are loving that as well.   Miss Hayden, you are liking spending extra time with mommy and being my little helper.  You have such a personality and can be hilarious.  :)  You have grown so much in the last few weeks and just had your first dentist appt!   It went ok until the dentist got your tongue with her buzzing toothbrush. :(  We are having trouble with potty training but it will soon be in full swing, no turning back.  

Let the school year begin!!

 First day of kinder!  you are adorable and the kids in your class love ya!

Walking to school with mommy.  This was so hard for me I wanted to SOB the whole way.  :(

 Already at work. Mommy is still holding back tears in this picture. 

First day of ballet/tap class. :)  So proud of my pretty ballerina! 

It's going to be an exciting year for us!  

Love you both to the moon and back.  I'm so proud of the little ladies you are becoming. :)

XO

Mom

Today, you are FIVE.

Natalie!!  YOU ARE FIVE TODAY!!!  I can't believe that.  Where has the time gone?  I think I said that because EVERYone says that.  I don't feel like time has flown at all.  I've tried my best to soak up every little second of your life as I could.  Some days I want you to nap for 5 hours, but most days I want you with me 100% of the time.   You are a bright shining star in the sky of our lives.  I can barely remember what life was like before you were born.  No other time was ever this amazing.  Its so weird to have a little person so similar to me, yet so opposite.  You are a people person.  You love a good party or play date.  You say hello to any kid you see on the street, even some adults.  You love to chit chat and make people laugh and make them happy.  I'm opposite with my social anxiety, but being near you makes me feel more at ease in most any situation cause I know how you are and I always feel like you are counting on ME to be the best I can be.  You have changed my life in so many ways and were the first to give me a love I never knew existed.  I feel like the old me walked off and a new me walked in the minute I held you in my arms for the first time.

Your superhero birthday party was so fun. Swimming, games, playing with friends and cousins, a rainbow cake with ganache frosting.  You wore a word girl costume that I TRIED to make.  You loved it and that is all that matters to me.  :)  You got LOTS of my little pony stuff and lots of art supplies!  You are a FANTASTIC artist and I'm blown away by what your little mind comes up with and puts down on paper, every single day. I wish I could keep you home from public school to keep you away from any influences other kids might have on you but I gotta let you go.  I don't know why, but everyone says I gotta. :(  You are THE most perfect first child a mama could ask for.  I'm so proud of the little person you are growing up to be.  I love  you...to the moon and back.  Now here are a few pics from the par-tay!!  More celebrating tonight!!  Happy birthday, monkey!!

 WORD UP!!

SUPER HAYDEEEEE!!

Playing with your cousins and friends in the pool!

 "Teaching" Dylan how to swim :)

Birthday girl!!

Cousins and BFFs :)

Make a wish!

Rainbow cake! 

Aww...love from Miss Jules :)

OMG!!

You had such a fabulous time and this picture says it all!!  I love you so much honey!!  You are my everything and always will be. :)  I wish for you a thousand more fantastically happy years to come.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Summer is here!

Not officially, but summer is here in Texas!  Y'all started swim classes a couple of weeks ago, in fact Natalie, you will be going to your 4th lesson!  You are having a blast and making new friends!  All the kids in your class are a little more advanced but you will get there...so I hope I do a good job at keeping you encouraged and never feeling inadequate.  You tell me after class how good everyone is and your face is sad....but then we talk about the good parts and you just beam with pride.  LOVE you!!!   Mommy and Daddy are SO proud of you too!  Learning something where you have to trust in yourself, not someone else to make things happen, is so important.

You are getting so tall and grown up!  Reading, writing, counting to 100, washing your hair, putting on your own shoes and have a really good eye for style.  We are keeping you in pre-school through the summer, basically cause you love it and enjoy hanging with your friends.  It's just crazy to me how much you learn in two half days a week!  My little sponge. ;)  Your BFF is Emme but you talk about so many kids, so I'm glad it's going so well for you.  I hope kinder will be just as awesome....can't believe you will be there in August!  WHAT??  I don't want to talk about it yet....yikes.  :|  Right now you are into my little pony, hello kitty, still love toy story, doc mcstuffins, drawing and "creating art," dancing, etc...etc....etc.  SO many interests.  Your favorite "aminal" is still kitty.  A beautiful black and white cat that belonged to Gramma Marylin.  She would be so happy you love it so much.
I love you to pieces and pieces and you are the apple of my right eye. ;)

Hayden you love your swimming class just as much as sister does. Mom has to be in the pool with  you, and that's fine by me!  It's a fun activity we both can get out and do and you are learning by leaps and bounds!  I love that you feel so comfortable in the water.  When you go under water you say "I fwim wike E-el! (I swim like Ariel)....SO adorable.  I wish I had pictures, but not possible.  Just outside the water. boo.

You are such a sweet little girl, Hayden....so stubborn, so sneaky, so much the little sister, so beautiful and SO loving.  The way you smile at me and hold my face when you give me a kiss melts my overflowing heart.  Hearing you say "I love you, mommy" all on your own is so amazing.  I have no  shortage of emotion from you Haydee-Belle.  You know every body's name, you can count to 20, you are IN LOVE with Toy Story and Ariel, you love to play with imaginary finger friend, you wish to be the mirror image of your sister, you are a fantastic learner and know so many objects by name and all your colors.
I love you to pieces and pieces and you are the apple of my left eye. ;)

No words can express what life is like having you guys in my life.  It's up, it's down, it's all around.  I'm so thankful to have you and even on days when all my imperfections as a mom, wife and woman come flooding in, I still feel so special and loved.

This summer...VACATION!!!  I am optimistic that things will go as smoothly as possible and that we will ALL have a great time! Please, oh please, oh please...pleeeeeeeeeeeease. :)

Until then, lets have some fun in the sun in our backyard "oasis!!"  :)

LOVE YOU!!!!
XO
Mom

Growing and Exploring

Mom's been so busy with projects and a new blog and well, YOU girls that it's been so terribly long since my last post!  Y'all are growing so fast and sometimes I feel like I need to sit down and just watch you for a little while.  I wish I were better at so many things and being more of a superstar mom is one of them.  All I can do that is super is love you.  Knowing that's really all you need puts my mind at rest, sometimes. :)  Feels like I'm so overwhelmed most days, but I do like to stay busy because I feel productive.

Lately, you are both into Word Girl and playing Word Girl and Captain Huggy Face around the house.  Everything that big sister wants, Haydee wants. Typical. ;)  You guys get along so well, but you do have your moments.  Hayden likes to be left alone and Natalie doesn't like to be "copied."  It's a vicious cycle of sisterhood.  I know one thing, you will always be close because it's so obvious that you adore each other.

Natalie, you keep on asking when Summer will here because your birthday is getting close.  You can't wait to turn 5 and start at the "big kids' school."  Mommy is NOT ready for that!  Hayden you are ready to go to school too, you think.  We are still trying to get you ready for potty training, but it doesn't appear that you are yet.  Mommy can't wait to get rid of diapers for GOOD!  Hurry up, ok? ;)  You both also love to explore, especially outside!  Looking for bugs (but not Lady bugs because of that episode of one flying into your mouth, Nat! yikes).  Natalie, you are so compassionate about things.  If anything gets ruined or squashed you are so sad and cry.  To "never see it again" is heart breaking to you and I can attest because you totally get that from me!  Things can be so sad when you have a heart made of pure love.

Both of you girls are Mommy's girls, but love hangin' with Daddy and being silly with him.
We love you so much and adore the special moments we spend with you!

XO
Mom

Happy Birthday, Hayden!

Happy, happy birthday, baaaaaabyyyy! Wow, 2 years! CRAZY. It was LITERALLY just yesterday that you were born. Well, in my mind it was yesterday. ;) I cannot even fathom what life would've been like these last two years without you in our lives. You are the most fantastic toddler ON the planet. Your wit and humor, your love of animals (except birds...not too fond of those), your amazement with new things, your capability to see how "boo-i-ful" everything is, your true little sister identity, your charisma, your giving beautiful heart, and a spirit all your own are all incomparable attributes that make you who you were born to be. I got you a book for your birthday called "I Believe in You" and it's something that many parents, including myself, forget to tell their kids as often as possible. It's about believing in what you learn as you grow to carry you through the good times, the bad times, the confusing times and the awesome "I did it!" times. One thing that should always linger in your is that your Mommy believes in you. I believe in your strength, your kindness, your courage, and your inner beauty to carry you through life's many challenges. I would do anything for you and one of those things is teaching you how to stand on your own, laugh in the face of fear, and never give up on what it is YOU want. (unless it's that second cookie, and well, you're still 2 and you're still not getting it.) :) Right now the things that make your toes wiggle and your belly giggle are: bubbles, painting, movies, books, chocolate and/or cookies, Mommy's bean recipe, pizza pockets, rice, messing with your sister's stuff, your two mini kitty dolls, SHOES, wearing your hair in a pony tail, yo gabba gabba, Caillou, and anything outside. You also burst out in song often. :) We love you so much my sweet, Haydee Bell....and I hope that these two years of your life have been as wonderful to you as they have been for us. Mommy and Daddy and Sister LOVE you more than you will ever...ever....EVER know!!! XO Mommy