Tower of Fun!

This picture makes me laugh, here is our little Piper, eating her toast an hour after I prepared it, still with messy hair and chasing it down with an herbal infusion. Can't you just imagine her 15 years from now in that same spot? The past couple of days she has slept in until about seven so she hasn't changed from her pajamas when we drop off Charly at school.  

Most mornings so far have been great, but yesterday and today we left Charly while Piper was crying for her to come back and give her just one more hug. It's sad and happy at the same time to see that. The time we have while Charly is home seems to be adding up to a lot of quality time for the sisters to play. 

Winnie is changing right before our very eyes, just days ago she was babbling jibber jabber and now in the past three days has started saying two phrases. "Uh-oh", and "thank you".  It seriously might just be the cutest thing I have ever heard.

Today was her first time to get to help with the dishes in our beloved learning tower. My dad purchased this for us back when Charly was nearing 18 months and it is proofing to be a solid investment still!

 Piper continues to want to squeeze Winnie's hands all the time!

All is Well!

We have past our first official public school week and our excitement is still going strong! Charly loves waking up and getting ready for school while Piper, Winnie and I are getting lots done at home and enjoying the one on one time.  Yesterday we went to a little program at school where all the kids are recognized for their strengths and Charly was introduced as a new student. The program was held in the cafeteria and for most of it Piper sat quietly in a chair away from Charly. She decided she had had enough of just watching Charly and quietly got up and joined her sister's class. I was squirming inside, hoping her change of seating would go unnoticed. Yep, looks to me she blends right in.

It's been so nice every day getting to hear of Charly's learning adventures! She is doing so well!....and so are we!

(Second) First Day of (public) School!

Remember this day (click here), when Charly went to school for one day back in kindergarten, and how the whole day with her gone was spent with me knowing it wasn't the right thing to do? Remember that? It was awful. 

Well, yesterday was SO not like that at all. I spent all day yesterday with a stronger testimony of prayer and overwhelming feelings of comfort and peace, something I was desperately praying for as we made this difficult decision about six weeks ago. I have been in blog hiding for fear of writing any of this down because, to be quite honest, I wasn't sure I would have the abilities to be OK with all of this when it was all said and done. 

I can not even believe the place I am in right now, I know we are only on day two but I can see a definite change in how things will go from here, and how something I viewed as negative for so long will actually turn out to be a blessing. I can feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders by not being completely in charge of school curriculum (obviously we are continuing to teach Charly at home and working with her), I feel like now I can focus my efforts on making sure the time we are all together is true quality time. God is so, so good. 

While I prayed for peace to come over me and not feel feelings of despair over this change I'm not sure I had the faith that my prayers would be answered.  I stand taller today with a stronger testimony which in turn strengthens that of our children. What a good place to be! 

Charly of course had her first "official" day of second grade public school yesterday. Charly has had a countdown on her calendar for the last month, reminding me every day how many more days she had until school....as if I had forgotten, lol. To gear up for getting up early, she set an alarm clock and has shown great responsibility by getting up by herself, which was on her own initiative. I'm so proud of the effort she puts into getting ready for school.  It's fun to see her want to be so independent.

My mom came up for the first day,  she took it the hardest. I offered her some ice cream after her emotional morning but she settled for going through a car wash in Paris, told you we lived fabulously!

I packed Charly's lunch the night before and Piper wanted one too. So there we were, Charly at school, Piper at home, both enjoying their love filled lunches. There are no words to explain the good feelings all around!

Our day at home went by so fast, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the clock near three! Charly was all smiles and excitement when we picked her up. I wish I would have had my video camera handy when she explained her first day, she really had a blast making new friends and being the shiny new student. Nothing but positive words came from her mouth and she was eager to do it all over again today.

We knew she would be fine about the whole thing, turns out she was more than fine, she was over the moon!

I wonder what today's adventures will bring!

Cowboy UP!

What does this city gal do when her blog is totally behind and I can't even begin to wrap my brain around the billions of pictures that need edited? Post these cowboy pictures of my brother and sister in law, of course. Thanks to Lacey for giving me the inspiration 2,000 miles away.

I'm not sure if it was the cool weather at my dad's house, or the smell of dip lingering in the air from the carnival (completely fiction, lol) that inspired my brother's countrified look, but luckily we had a four wheeler handy and a giant Ford truck to use as photo props. 

He was too funny, Lacey and I were both laughing hysterically while Rudy did us in for some "serious cowboy" poses. Yep folks, this is my brother, a city boy, pretending to be the cowboy from 'Footloose'.

 Oh dear......

It was a good day, the Christmas of 2011. Can't complain about eating tacos and tamales then running around the sticks while my brother shows his true cowboy colors...oi!

It's going to be a riot from here on out, these are my new sweet nieces, and two of my girls with Grandpa Rich. It's nice to have a family that keeps on growing. 

GIRL POWER!