Afternoons with Carli

Carli spends the afternoon with momma and we certainly do enjoy this time together.   While Lexi is in school, Gavin naps for 2 hours.  Carli takes a short rest time in her room and then it's just her and I.  We love this time together.  This will be our last year of our afternoons together, as she will be in kindergarten next year!

I will always remember our special afternoons of reading and doing arts and crafts ... two of her favorites.  Carli is one amazing little girl.

preparing for a birthday celebration

Tomorrow is tutu's birthday celebration dinner.  In preparation for tutu's birthday, we had to design our very own birthday wrapping paper.  We typically wrap gifts this way.  The kids love making it personal.  Gavin just couldn't do it without his superhero attire! We have a feeling tutu is going to love this and will probably say she is going to frame it!

Everybody needs a superhero in their life!

I freaken love this kid!

Fly Guy ... dad's book club

Today was dad's book club in 1st grade.  What does that mean? That meant, Lexi and poppa had to read a book together and discuss it in class during the book club meeting.  Lexi was so proud to wear her tie just like poppa! She loves when poppa comes to school and is so proud to stand by his side.

Lexi loooves her poppa! Lexi loves to read! This was a great celebration for her.

Poppa reported that she was so proud and so confident in her big 1st grade class.  Poppa was equally as proud to have Lexi standing by his side.

I am a princess ... long may I reign!

So today, I hear the new Disney channel commercial ... can you say I absolutely loved it.  Liked it so much that I had to you tube the video and write down the words to it.  Lexi was NEVER into the princess stuff and Carli was barely.  I have to admit, I was kind of glad they never got into it and never really encouraged it.  Who needs a prince to save the day ... they are strong, beautiful, independent girls and this is what I want them to believe.  Beauty is not in the crown or the dress or finding prince charming, it is in the heart.  It is in finding that beauty, that inner beauty and lighting up the world with it!

Here are the words to the commercial I love so much:

I am a princess

I am brave sometimes, I am scared sometimes

Sometimes I am brave even when I am scared.

I believe in loyalty and trust, 

I believe that loyalty is built on trust.

I try to be kind, I try to be generous

I am kind even when others are not so generous.

I am a princess.

I think standing up for myself is important, 

I think standing up for others is even more important,

but standing with others  is  most important.

I am a princess.

I believe compassion makes me strong,

kindness is power, 

and family is the tightest bond of all.

I have heard I am beautiful, 

I know I am strong.

I promise, 

and when I promise something, 

I never ever break that promise.

I am a princess.

Long may I reign.

Unity annual school picnic

Today was the school picnic.  We go every year.  This year Lexi went a bit earlier with a friend and Gavin, Carli and I headed over later after Gavin's nap.  Poppa was out of town.

Typically, they have an animal petting area ... not this year.  Lexi sure did miss having it! To be honest, I think they could have nothing and just be able to run around with their friends and they would be happy.  These kids LOVE their friends!

The kids went home exhausted.  Momma's favorite part by far!

eek ... first day of violin

Today was day one of violin.  Eek ... we have  a long road ahead of us!

Lexi so proudly jumped in the car today holding her violin, her exact words "momma, today we got our violins, we haven't had any lessons yet, but I can still play really well.  I will show you when we get home".

You have to love this girls determination and confidence! Rest assured though, 10 minutes into her demonstration, I can tell you she is NOT a natural.

my grandmother ... a sure hero

Heaven gained not only an angel this past weekend but an angel with amazing strength. My grandmother was one of the strongest woman I have and will ever meet. She was always positive ... right until the very end. I will always cherish the times I spent with her as a child. I have memories of making mud pies in her driveway, planting seeds in her HUGE garden and of course going to church with her. Let me tell you if you were at her house on Sunday, you were going to church, like it or not! Perhaps a favorite church memory was being ripped away from mud pie making to head to church ... wouldn't you know they asked my grandmother to have my sister and I carry communion up to the alter. Dirty shirts and all, we didn't have a choice. Grams may you continue to watch and guide over us, may you continue to smile upon us just as you did on earth, may you enjoy your heavenly life of no suffering and peace. May that beautiful, strong heart beat the loudest amongst the angels. One day we will meet again ...


Going up north in January sure makes for some cold weather!  On a positive note, Grams had the most beautiful service, it was exactly what she wanted! I also was able to see and visit with relatives that I have not seen in FOREVER.  

lots and LOTS of strawberries

Today we went strawberry picking for the first time this year.  Initially it seemed as if we were going to have a hard time finding them, but we certainly managed to locate them.  We left with three large buckets full, like really full, like to the top full! Mema and Caitlin also filled their own bucket up.  Not to mention the ones the kids couldn't resist eating.  Carli even learned to like strawberries today.  

We all like strawberry picking ... the kids get to run around and pick the strawberries and momma and poppa get to follow and watch.  Lexi went on a straight mission, just like we would expect from her, she was determined to fill her bucket! Carli took her time and did not want any that had "rumples" on them.  Carli described rumples as bumpy and not looking good.  Gavin, little man, looked for  strawberries and confirmed with an adult that it was not green for each and every one that he picked! 

We finished, just beat the rain and enjoyed a great morning.