My sweet Minnie girl, FOUR YEARS! FOUR YEARS OLD! I told you we were NOT supposed to get here this fast. That's it. No more eating fruits, veggies and other good things for your body and getting plenty of rest. No.More.Growing. :)

This picture was taken on the last morning you woke up as a 3 year old.

*photo courtesy of Toddy Hot

This past year has been a DOOZIE my little love. From family health scares to navigating independence to figuring out the "big sister" thing. You've done it all and done it as well as ANY three year old! We are so proud of you!

You absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE life. You live for adventure and wake up every morning asking me "Where are we going today Mom?" You love to meet new people, talk to everyone and introduce them all to your sister... "Her name is... and she's ONE years old!"

 

 

 
 
A typical week for us includes trips to the grocery store, the library where you are now the BIG helper of the group, play dates with friends, time spent with grandparents, praying on Wednesdays at church, going to visit "Aunnie" at chemo and attending Sunday School and Jr. Church. You LOVE to go to church!

You are the BEST big sister for Miss B and you are very protective of her. It has been neat, since she can walk now, to see the two of you play more together and interact. You are usually so very sweet to her, asking her questions about what she wants to play and being respectful of her answers even when the only thing she ever says is NOOOOO :)

You love playing pretend... pretend camping, house, babies... You love to help me in the kitchen ESPECIALLY if the mixer is involved and you think you are going to get a taste of the baked goods :) Picking up after yourself is not your favorite thing but you are learning by helping me empty your own dishes from the dishwasher and taking care of your clean laundry. You are EXCELLENT and taking care of your dirty clothes and have recently started saying things like "I'm just trying to help out the family" :)

 

You'd watch movies and/or cartoons all day if I let you and you are most recently obsessed with The Little Mermaid. I wonder why? You are beside yourself with excitement for your birthday party and Christmas coming right up.

 

You are SUCH a little treasure to us Minnie. I honestly could not have imagined in my wildest dreams how much you would enrich my life. How much you would challenge me as a Momma and how much I could love a little person so much!

 

You make me laugh EVERY day and cry at least once a week :) and I wouldn't trade these moments for ANYTHING! I hope that one day you will appreciate the sacrifices your Daddy made so that you and I could hang out all day together for this short little time. I feel spoiled by getting to be your Momma and when we are apart I miss you like a crazy addiction :)

We are so blessed by God picking you for our family Minnie!

We love you! Mommy, Daddy & Miss B

 

 

 

Picture taken 1 year ago... you really have turned from the round faced toddler into a GORGEOUS little girl!

13 Years...

We finally agreed that he could "make time" for me the day before Thanksgiving 13 years ago... it was our 2nd go-round at going on a date and this time it STUCK... East Side Marios and Remember the Titans... We haven't been apart since and I wouldn't have it any other way... He's my best friend, my partner in life, in parenting, the BEST Dad ever, and my rock. This year has been trying to SAY THE LEAST... but I couldn't have done it with anyone else... God knew what He was doing when He put us together for the long haul.

 

I love you baby...

*Picture and date night courtesy of MIL*



 

Wordless Wednesday

"you have that glow Nana when you praise and worship Jesus..."





*picture courtesy of Dawsky aka BIL L"

Church Day Piggies

and a dress from Tricky and Julie for Minnie's 1st B-day...

 

*shoes courtesy of Shiloh and Mama H :)

Mini-Man

There are a MILLION pictures because I can't RESIST his CUTE-NESS!!!!! Little Mister Mini-Man McI came to OUR house on Friday... He is only FOUR WEEKS old and my girls and I are OBSESSED. He is so stinkin' cute! Miss B just kept saying "BAY-BEE! BAY-BEE!!"

Side note...how AMAZING does his Momma look at 4 weeks post-partum!?!?!?!

We did share a little holding time with Husband when he got home from school...

but not very long :)

Miss B "tickle, tickle, tickle" :)

and giving him kisses on his feet....

which apparently put him to sleep along with Minnie's cozy arms :)

which was def. my cue to TAKE RIGHT OVER :)

there is NOTHING like a teenie tiny sleeping on you... soooo snuggly and a little piece of heaven on earth...

Husband: "I forgot how little they start out..."

especially since our little seems like a GIANT compared to him :)

ooooo THANK YOU Jenn for sharing your love with us... what a little treasure he is!

A busy few days...

but aren't they all?

 

Wednesday we delivered food around the community ;) and then headed up to visit with Bets who had her 10th Chemo treatment... 10th! That means ONLY TWO MORE TO GO and she should be done BY CHRISTMAS! HIP HIP!!!

Getting a few squeezes before I took my two ring circus out :)

but not without a quick "We all wore the same sneakers" shot :)

Random/Spontaneous trip to a local establishment for dinner with a gift card... pretty sure they loved the dessert buffet the best :)

and Friday night JJ and J showed up with a special surprise after the girls went to bed from J's Mom... my girls are in LOVE... what you can't see is that DORA is on it and it coverts into a "bed"... they have spent HOURS (ok, at LEAST 30 MINUTES) playing "beach" and folding it in and out :) They LOVE it!

Also got some snuggle time with a teenie tiny but he gets his OWN post :)

The goal...

was to block her from going up the stairs...

too bad she just snuck her tiny little body between the wall and the kitchen so she could do the ordering...

Turning 4... Everybody is doin' it....

I said to Liz the other day... "So... how's it feel to have a FOUR year old... and why does it feel like I'm going to blink and say how's it feel to have  FOURTEEN year old?" Can't believe these gals came OUT OF OUR PERSONS four years ago....and what AMAZING little people they are becoming...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how they are such sweet friends...

We celebrated with Pheebs and her peeps and family on Saturday night. A marshmallow party for the sweetie and we all LOVED it. I tell yah, a party at the D house and my whole family leaves filled up... on food, friends and fun!

The W girls just enjoying!

You know you are best friends when you share the birthday seat...

 

and then let Minnie blow out your very own birthday candle!

Heard from Minnie while she "helped" open presents... "THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!!!" :) I think I'll just cancel her party. Who can compete :) We ALL love a party at Liz's house! :)