up & up you go...

For Kate's birthday (almost a year ago) Mike and Annie gave her a butterfly kit.  It started getting cold before I got around to ordering the caterpillars so we decided to wait for spring.  The caterpillars arrived via mail and Kate was on cloud nine!  The five little creatures have lived on her dresser and she has watched and cared over them for weeks.  Yesterday the first one "hatched." Today the rest followed.  She decided to release them into our garden this evening.  They were reluctant to leave their first home.  A few of them even perched on her finger before taking flight.  We went back outside a few hours later and one was on our front steps.  She was so delighted!!!!!!  Thank you Uncle Mike and Aunt Annie!  She learned so much and it brought her so much joy!

happy birthday love...

i adore you

xoxo

pneumonia

Ellie had come home from school excited about her speed!  She completed the mile race for her grade in P.E. that day (every grade was participating through the week).  After she told me her ranking (4th in the group and the second girl) in the race she complained that it was hard to breathe and still felt funny in her throat.  I suggested she take it easy for the remainder of our day and didn't think much of it.

The following night her face was flush and she had a fever.  I told her she would have to stay home from school the next day.  She had responsibilities for a conservation fair to be held in two days.  She felt like she had to go to help her team get ready.  Not only did she miss the preparation day...the fair itself...she missed the entire week after.

We found out after the second missed day that she had pneumonia.  She was given an antibiotic Friday night.  Her fever slightly improved but it was there every morning and evening even well into the next week.  Neither of us could take it anymore...so on Thursday we called the doctor's office again and they wanted to see her.  Her new chest x-ray showed that her lungs were worse than the original x-ray. The antibiotics weren't working.   Her doctor prescribed two more---and the next morning....NO FEVER!  

This has been quite an ordeal for Ellie.  I have been really impressed with her attitude through out.  She missed three birthday parties, a book-club gathering, the conservation fair, the spring UT football/alumni game (Danny played!), her first spring tennis lesson, the first road show (play) night that we are all participating in, family gatherings...and a lot of school.   Although a few tears were shed regarding a few of these events--she turned it around every time and found something quiet to do here to make her happy.  A few things we did do:  draw... and draw... and draw...  She read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and started Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.  She saw Pride and Prejudice for the first time.  We discussed questions she found online for our book-club book (Number the Stars) and we discussed them after her sisters went to bed.  Even though I hate to see her sick and I almost did a cartwheel in the kitchen when she had no fever this morning, I will miss having her with me.  We love so many of the same things (guitar, books, movies, photography and even cooking).  She is growing up so fast---now that she is on the mend, I realize how much I am going to miss her through out the day when she is at school next week.

first day of school

top:  Ellie-Bellie      middle: Kate, Ellie & Grace     bottom:  Kate-Kate

Our cute carpool gang!  I love these girls!

Ellie was so excited for school to start---

sometimes she admitted and sometimes she didn't :)

Back to her old stomping grounds---loving every minute of it.

I can't believe she is a 4th GRADER!!!!

My Kate was so nervous...

She is entering 2nd GRADE at a new school for her.

She had been on the waiting list since last year.

She wasn't sure about entering a new school---

without friends she knew and teachers she recognized.

I was nervous for her---

and felt a little guilty for being the cause (insisting on the new school) of this change.

I arrived early to pick them up---and saw them both happily rushing to car!

THEY LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!

The first thing Kate said to me, "Two girls asked me to be their friend!"

I was so relieved and happy for her!

Those two girls made such a difference that day!

Kate has been excited every morning walking into school and each day as she has left.

I hope to be a person that has that kind of positive influence on people around me.

I want to look for those who are new or sitting alone.

Very small acts of kindness and gestures of friendship can make a big difference.

 

dear spring break,

the view outside as i post this...

Dear spring break,

You haven't been what I expected...or hoped for.  But it hasn't been bad.  Most of us have remained inside of our four walls, protected from the rain and snow.  Maybe you knew best.  At least we had sunshine on Saturday...we raked and raked.  I LOVED IT!

Dear Ellie,

You were outside reading in the sunshine...and you didn't even want to stop reading to come in for lunch!  That is a first!  I felt SO happy for you---we went to buy you the next book in the series that afternoon!  You stayed with your great grandma for a good majority of your break.  When we asked you if you wanted to---you were giddy and excited.  You packed paper dolls, your American girl doll and a new book.  I think you liked the idea of being old enough to be away and on your own with grandma.  You love many of the same things:  dolls, working, flowers, books...  I am proud of you.  What a special experience to spend time with your great grandma on your own.  I never met any of my great grandparents.  Do you know how lucky you are??

love you!

Dear Kate,

You are in the other room right now playing "school/cheerleader" with Sophie.  I love listening to you play.  I also loved sitting next to you during the movie last night.  Your laugh was so genuine and contagious.  I loved every minute of it!  I am so sorry a frame fell on you as you were dancing down the hall.  You were so brave we when we took you to instacare.  I am glad that it was "dermabond," and not stitches, they had to put on your nose.  I hope you never stop dancing down the hall.  Next week the sun should shine again.  I promise to take you on a bike ride next week.  You asked me everyday of your spring break, "Mom, can we ride bikes today!?"  Rain or shine :)

love you!

Dear Sophie,

We had so much fun having your sisters with us this week.  You played and played...and played!  Thank you for always sharing your smile.  Thank you for always inviting me to play---even when I am not very fun at all.  :)  I try.  I promise.  Thank you for wanting me to be with you no matter what.  I want you to remember us playing together...me playing house with you...and reading on the couch.  We will have plenty of practice next week when your sisters are in school all day!

love you!

Let's see what we can make of the rest of the week/weekend!  I am loving that my girls are loving hats.  They are such a good protection from the sun...and so cute for pictures.  I am glad they pulled them out this week!!!!!  Have a happy weekend!!!!!!!!!!

S & S

We had the chance to have my niece Sage over...

she has the sweetest voice and demeanor.

Watching Sage and Sophie together made me want to be a little girl again:

their play, enthusiasm and sweetness

had me reminiscing of dollhouses, playing house with my sister...

swinging high in the air and practically living outside!

love them <3

my week...my favorites~

My favorite things:

• Danny walking in the door after being gone THE WHOLE WEEK!  He was in New Orleans from Sunday morning to the following Saturday evening.  That was too long!
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• I enjoyed cooking a few things...but ate leftovers and In-n-Out the other nights.  The few things I made:

pizza with fresh mozzarella and spinach

black bean enchiladas with corn

(enchiladas: red sauce, yellow corn tortillas, black beans, & med. sharp cheddar corn:sauteed with olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, sea salt & a quick dash of chili powder)

potato soup with grilled asparagus (I could eat grilled asparagus every day.)

(Danny's grandma's soup: 7 boullion cubes, 1/2 onion chopped finely, butter, flour, 7 potatoes, 7 cups of water, half & half  asparagus:recipe here)

• practicing for guitar lessons again-I pushed myself SO MUCH more than I would have on my own.  It was great for my girls to see me push through it too...they aren't the only ones tortured with difficult things to learn.
•  
• Grandma's 89th birthday celebration!  YAY!
• thanks to Kelly I have been eating A LOT more raw fruits and vegetables...especially salads for lunch and an apple for a snack!  Thanks Kelly!!!!  Your meeting was great!
•  
• my girl's coming home on Wednesday, so excited about what they had learned about Martin Luther King.  I was happy that they knew about Rosa Parks...and Ellie told Kate about Harriet Tubman because of a book she previously read.  It warmed my heart!
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• the book we are reading together on the couch.
•  
• eating sushi at the Happy Sumo with people we love!

• this new work out video...ummm I had to walk very slowly for two days (I was so sore!) after my first workout but now I am rocking it!   (I shouldn't have started with 5lb. weights on my first day)
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• $19 pants I found at Anthropologie!  They are so comfortable and I LOVE THEM!  I bought a dress too---that wasn't $19. :)
•  
• sitting with Sophie (who is a newly turned four year old) at church yesterday...I told her how much I loved her bright eyes and her cheerful smile...and she responded, "I know.  That boy was staring at me."  Ummm....fyi- "that boy" is FOURTEEN and wasn't staring at her!
•   
• that I picked up my camera this week...and my girls wanted me to :)

the best friends in the world...

I have the best friends in the world.

I am not sure what I have ever done to deserve it.

This month I had friends....

• who stopped everything they were doing to help me
• who picked up the capes that I was making for a party to put letters on them
• friends who need to visit (from out of state) so we can go to Chipotle and Zinn Bistro :)
• who called, knowing I had a busy day, to see if Sophie could play
• who made GORGEOUS accessories for our outfits for pictures
• who made me laugh as we sat at dinner to celebrate a new baby for a friend
• who takes my pictures every fall for my holiday ornaments/cards
• who, at a moments notice, made time to take my pictures because of the storm wrecking my plans
• who know me and just listen
• who are coming from out of state for Thanksgiving!!!!!!!
• who call me when they need something, or are having a bad day...
• or just need to talk and cry.

I am SO grateful for these friends...

I count them among my greatest treasures.

Oh...how I treasure us.

Thank you Shauna for the pictures...I LOVE THEM!
 Thank you for thinking of this chair.
It was perfect!

You were a lifesaver today!!!!!

1st day of preschool

 
After signing you up for 3 different preschools and even canceling this preschool and then signing you up again---
(what is wrong with me!?)

you made it!!!!!!

You are an official preschooler!!!!!!

What I want to remember about this day...

You were so excited to get ready and chose the polka dot leggings all by yourself.

When your teacher instructed the class to trace the letters of their name.
You asked the teacher to do yours for you.
Your friend Sarah sweetly offered to do it instead.  :)

You asked me on our way how long I would stay with you...and I almost told you I would stay the whole time
(I really wanted to stay...and I secretly hoped you would hold my hand and never let go).
You were such a big girl and went in excited to start.
As soon as you came out---
you ran to me and gave me a big hug.
We were so happy!

You put your sandals on all by yourself when it was time to come home.
You put them on the least comfortable way,
some might say "the wrong feet."  :)

Your favorite part of preschool was getting to paint your hands for a project.
The first thing you said to me, "Mom, I painted my hands.  Is it ok?"
I found out later that you questioned the teacher, letting her know that your mom wouldn't like you to paint your hands.
My heart melted when she told me.

Ellie, Charlie and I walked you home.  You wanted to hold the leash.
You chose to wear a pin on your dress that Ellie made.  She felt so proud.

After I asked you your favorite part of the day...I asked who you talked to.
"Some of the girls." you responded quickly.
"What about the boys?" I questioned.
"Daddy says not to talk to boys."
His heart melted.

on their way to the oven...

They came from our garden...but really, that is about it!  We were able to harvest lettuce, chard, kale, sugar snap peas and beets.  Our tomatoes, tomatillos, squash and any warm vegetable didn't produce really anything.  The plants are still alive but not producing.  What happened this year!?  Did we lose our green thumbs??? 

We are going to enjoy our beets tonight.  (When I say "we" I mean Danny and I will love them and the girls will moan and groan...until they taste them! :))  I usually boil them but I found some inspiration on stephmodo this morning so I am going to try this tonight.  Did you see the recipe she linked from Epicurious!?  My mouth is watering!  I can't wait!

7 staples, a big bandage and a bag of Starburst

Danny was working late and the girls and I were working pretty efficiently.  We were fed and the kitchen was clean.  All three girls were in their pajamas.  Their teeth were even brushed!  It was almost time for reading on the couch and the girls ran quickly downstairs to get a few more minutes of play and dancing in the basement. 

I hollered down asking if they were about ready to read.  I don't remember what they said.  Minutes later I heard a loud cry.  That is not really uncommon around here, so I wasn't alarmed.  Kate and Ellie came running up calling for me.  Sophie was right behind them with blood in her hands and running down her back.  I picked her up and took her to the sink.  I realized quickly it was coming from the back of her head.  I applied pressure with a towel and Ellie called Danny.  He was on his way.  After a few minutes the bleeding stopped and I started to clean out her hair trying to find the cause of the bleeding.  There it was.  A gash.

"I was jiggling on the thing." was all of the information I could get from Sophie.  Kate filled me in.  Sophie was dancing on top of a large package of paper towels from Costco.  She lost her balance and hit her head on the stone hearth in the basement.  We called Uncle/Doctor Jimmy for advice.  Where should we take her...instacare? emergency room? Primary children's hospital?  He told us to bring her to him.  He had everything he would need at home.

On our way we decided to turn on a movie to keep Sophie awake.  She chose "Little Mermaid."  As we were driving Sophie asked her sisters if Ariel was the oldest sister.  Ellie responded, "No Sophie.  She is the youngest and the 'specialest'."  She continued, "If Dad and Mom were king and queen you would be the 'specialest' princess too."  Kate added, "You are the 'specialest' to me Sophie."  They were so sweet and so worried.

Uncle Jimmy saved the day...7 staples later (yes, staples.), a big bandage, and a bag of Starburst (thanks Michel) later and she is almost as good as new.   I am not sure I will ever be the same.  It is so scary to have your children hurt.  It is amazing how any little worry I held throughout the week vanished---and all I wanted to do was hold her tight.

first day of school

I was really amazed.  Ellie started a brand new school.  She knew one girl she had been in first grade with that would be there.  I was worried about the school feeling unfamiliar.   I thought it might feel overwhelming starting completely over with friends.  Well my worries were put to rest as soon as I saw her after school.  She was confident, happy and LOVED her new school.  What a relief!!!!!!  I love her for being so flexible and brave!  Go Ellie!!

Kate had first grade orientation so I got to spend some time with her at the beginning of her day.  We took a few pictures outside.  Then I asked her how she was feeling.  "Kate are you so excited to go to school for a full day?  You get to eat lunch at school!"  She wanted to do that SO BADLY last year.  Tears spilled over and she hugged me tight.  Apparently she wasn't so sure about her new schedule.  I hugged her for a few minutes and then we went in to class.

As soon as she walked into the school...confidence began showing itself in her stride.  She found her locker, the library, her teacher, desk and friends.  After just a little bit...a huge smile grew on her face and she happily told me "goodbye" when it was time for me to go.  Another huge relief!

When she got home I quizzed her about her lunch.  She ate the special first day of school treats I packed for her and....NOTHING ELSE!  Her carrot sticks, string cheese and sandwich all looked untouched.  She informed me that she did eat inside her sandwich (pb&j).  I told her, "Kate, you need to eat your sandwiches at school."  She replied, "Well if you give me a FatBoy sandwich (ice cream) I will eat that!" 

what I wish for you~

I love fresh starts.  One of these is the beginning of a school year!  I have so many hopes and wishes for my daughters.  You are all three so different, yet so special in your own ways.  My wishes for you~

Ellie,

I am so proud of you.  I am amazed at your courage.  Your attitude regarding changing schools in third grade is remarkable to me.  You are excited about your new school and new opportunitites.  I am impressed with your sense of adventure and what it is good for you.

I wish for you a year filled with optimism.  I wish for you a desire to learn.  Your teachers are like a treasure box for you.  They are filled with knowledge-- keys to open up doors to your future.  Treat them respectfully.  Look them in the eye.  Speak confidently and always with a listening ear.  They will love you.  The gifts of knowledge they have for you will be treasures in your life.

I wish for you a desire to go beyond the minimum required and reach for more.  Always do your best and you will grow.

If there is ever a lonely day at your new school please remember our faces--- us (your family) and your sweet friends.  Remember that we wish we could be with you.  Remember how much we love you.  When you remember that your heart will feel happy.  A smile will come to your face...which is beautiful.  Keep your smile.

Kate,

You have a tender heart.  You see beauty all around you.  You love to celebrate and plan...plan parties :)  You are smart and have figured out more than I could have imagined for you in your short six years. 

I wish for you this school year~  opportunities for school to become a place for learning.  I hope that each day you learn something that you didn't know before.  As this happens, a spark will kindle- and you will crave the magic of learning.

I wish for you~ the wisdom (at your very young age) to seek friends that are optimistic, kind and friendly to all.  I wish for you to learn the joy of kindness.  Seeking out someone lonely; sharing a smile and kind words can be the very best part of your own day.  Choose the right and follow the rules for yourself--  but choose being kind over being right with your friends.

Remember, when you are away from home, how much you are loved.  Share the love in your sweet heart with others and you will always be happy.

Sophie,

The other day we were chatting.  It was just the two of us waiting in line at Cafe Rio.  We talked about the upcoming change.  Your sisters will be going to school all day.  Do you remember that last year??  It will be just the two of us all day.  You put your arms around my neck.  You were excited.  You always have a twinkle in your eye. 

You are blessed with such an independent spirit.  One of your first phrases was  "I do it my'sels'!"  It is a joy for me as you learn and grow in your independence. 

For more than a year you have told me that you were going to play voilin when you are four.  I am not sure where it came from.  You frequently pick out the voilin when you hear it in music.  You will be starting your lessons one month before your 4th birthday.  It would have never crossed my mind for you.  We have other instruments in our home.  Yet somehow it feels just right for you.  How did you know?

I wish for you~ joy.  You always find joy in simple and small things.  I wish that for you this year.  Find joy in trying new things.  You are so cute as you listen to your violin cd from your teacher.  You listen everyday---excited and glad for the opportunity. 

The joy you find in small things will help you in everything you do throughout your life.  You will never know how much joy you bring to me in my life.

I love you girls~

Mom