First Days of School

 Alexandra started 2nd grade! She started school in early August...it seemed like a short summer and Lizzie & I missed her during the day! But she has an awesome teacher and is in class with Bailey again (below)! She seems happy there and is, as always, such a good student! (I am SO thankful!!) It was also fun to go shopping with her for her new back to school outfit. Her favorite store is Justice and I took her to the mall and we tried on outfits for her and she also gave me ideas for new clothes for me! It was maybe the first time we went shopping just the two of us at the mall. We shared a berry smoothie (which actually got on her new outfit....but I managed to get the stain out!) and it was a lovely afternoon with my lovely daughter!

 One of my favorite stories of Ali recently is one night a few weekends ago Chris and I just didn't feel like doing the bedtime routine...we were tired and just wanted to watch a movie. So, Chris paid Ali $5 to put Lizzie and herself in bed. Elizabeth was in the right mood and enjoyed taking directives from CareTaker Ali...they brushed teeth, Ali read stories, and Lizzie got tucked in! When we went to check on them, Ali was in her reading chair reading her own book "Puppy Place" and all ready for bed! We were SO impressed and proud of her! It was awesome and Chris and I got to enjoy some quiet time watching Mad Men!

 Three weeks after Ali started school, Elizabeth started her second year of preschool. We switched preschools this year so that she could go 3 days a week and it's at a Lutheran Church and I love it! They have a great curriculum and the teacher is SO sweet! For some reason I was really anxious that Lizzie would be so bored while Ali was in school. But we have managed so far to keep busy doing things or be happy at home...I thought those 3 weeks would be forever long but the time goes so fast!!

(Elizabeth's preschool friend who was in her class last year also!!) My favorite story about Elizabeth recently is that even when Ali isn't around, Lizzie will be thinking of her sister. For example, she got this sticker book to keep her busy while Ali is in school and Lizzie said that she wouldn't do some of the pages because she wanted to save some for Ali. She is so thoughtful and sweet!!

Preschool Graduation #1

We have a graduate!! (Well she still has another year of preschool but she got to celebrate with the kids who ARE moving on! So I'm sure there will be a Preschool Graduation #2 next year!) The songs the kids sang were awfully cute and then she wanted us all to go out to Chipotle for lunch. We even took Ali out of school for the afternoon on this special day! :)

What a sweet 7 year old! Ali, you make us so proud! You are so good to your sister, dedicated in school, silly and playful, and you make our lives so interesting! We love you so much! It was a fun filled day with 7 girls over for cake and presents and then on to Build A Bear!

We are so lucky that Ali has met such sweet friends this year at school. We are thankful for this nice group!

Cousins!

We took a trip to Arizona and we got to meet our newest cousin, Charlie, who is Erin & Tony's little one (Nora's brother!) Here is Nora, Charlie, Ali, Finn and Lizzie. There is lots of activity at Grandpa and Grandma's house now!! :)

Here are the big girls swimming at Grandpa and Grandma's.....we LOVE going to Arizona when it is cold and snowy at home!! While the kids played at G & G's house, the adults went to hike the Grand Canyon.

4 Generations

I haven't been very motivated to update this blog...I guess because there seems to be such a glut of technological ways to be in touch with people, this little blog got neglected. But the other day Chris said that I should put some pictures up so that he can visit the blog when he needs to take a break at work. (I think he likes it too because I say nice things about him on the blog....but why wouldn't I? He is THE BEST husband and father to our girls anyone could ever ask for. And I'm not just saying that so that he can read this. I really mean it. We are so lucky to have him bring laughter and steadiness and lightness into our house.)

This picture is our 4 generation picture. I am AMAZED that my 90 year old Granny came all the way from Florida to visit us! What a trooper! She did great, too and it was an honor to host her at our house. I loved having her here for Ali's 7th birthday AND Mother's Day. So, my Granny has said before that she is amazed at how doting and attentive a father Chris is and she loves that he is still that way. But she also added this time that if Chris is the lungs in this family breathing life into our days, then Emily is the heart making everything work. That was the best compliment I could hear because I try really hard to make our home "work". I love making sure everyone is taken care of and that I have the time during my days to make sure the details aren't forgotten. I am so thankful that I don't have to work right now so that I can plan and organize and prepare. And it really does take a lot of time and effort. Hats off to all of the women who do all this AND work.

I'm so thankful for my little family and all of our extended families. We are so blessed.

Dinosaur party

Elizabeth wanted to invite all of the kids from her preschool class...and some siblings who are friends with Ali...so we had 16 kids. I had them eat cake down in the basement!!

We played "Dinosaur, dinosaur, ROAR" (duck, duck, goose), had a treasure hunt, freeze dance, hot potato (with a dinosaur), had a pinata, but Elizabeth's favorite part of her party was opening presents!

Oma & Opa and Nana & Poppa were able to come and help celebrate...as well as Pete, Sheila & Finn! Elizabeth is a lucky girl!

Elizabeth is FOUR

Just look at this amazing cake! Thank you to Jen for making this awesome dinosaur cake! I love that Lizzie chose a dinosaur theme for her party...I've never done one of those and it was FUN!

I made the cake pops...it was something new and fun to make!