Happy 5th Birthday Jenna!!

Jenna was so lucky to be able to celebrate her birthday so many times!  She had a celebration at preschool, a party with friends at the bowling alley, and multiple parties with all of our families who did a great job to make sure we celebrtated her birthday seperate for our Christmas celebrations.

Jenna and Wyatt at their Bowling Alley Birthday party!!  Pizza, cupcakes, cookies, and bowling with 18 five year olds is an exhausting day, in case you were wondering!

Yummy!!

The Birthday Princess

Jenna and Grant standing by Jenna's birthday cupcakes!

"I'm five!!"

We were happy GG and GG could come celebrate with us!

December 19, 2011 - our family!

Wish and dream big sweetie!

Dear Jenna

Dear Jenna,

Please forgive me for this being so late.  This is your five year letter and you turned 5 in December.

I can't even begin to explain the impact you've had on my life. You are an amazing girl and I'm so lucky you're my daughter. It's been such a blessing watching you grow up and seeing your personality shine through. I've been thinking a lot lately about when we were pregnant with you and how we never could have known how wonderful this journey is, when I first held you I loved you more than I imagined I could, and it's amazing to see the girl you're turning into.




Daddy/Daughter Date Night 2012

 

You are sensitive and dramatic, and sometimes that can be an interesting combo. You are a romantic at heart and truly love people. You are kind, considerate, compassionate, and loving. Your dramatic flair is coming out in your singing lessons you're taking now. Your preschool teachers swear you are going to be famous and on TV on day. They've made you promise you won't forget about them when that happens. So, remember Ms. Kelli and Ms. Erica! You can have quite the attitude sometime. Yesterday you disagreeded with me on your outfit. You are pretty persistant on your way of matching, and I usually pick my battles on that.

You are the most caring and fun big sister we could hope for. You are protective and proud of Grant. He looks up to you already and you're the first person he asks for when he wakes up. Seeing the two of you play together, you read to him, and he having to kiss you goodnight sometimes can bring a tear to my eye. How did we get so lucky to have such wonderful kids?!

You're a busy and social person and are so ready for kindergarden this fall. You love reading, coloring, doing puzzles, and learning. I hope that never changes. You're a good friend and kids (and adults) seem to gravitate towards you. You will start a conversation with anyone and make a new friend wherever we go. 

Valentines Day 2012

We have loved these last five years and are so proud of you. Sometimes Daddy and I talk about the challenges you'll face throughout life and worry and wonder. All we know now is we love you so so much, and will do everything we can to raise you how we believe is right. We will be there for your good days and your bad days. Thanks for being you!

Love ALWAYS,

Mom

The Balancing Act

I probably have 27 posts titled this, but there is no better way to say it.  My life is a constant battle of balancing what I need to be doing, want to be doing, should be doing...and for who...the kids, work, the house, friends or family, or heaven forbid, myself.  My mind is running a constant to-do list, which currently lies at about 1 trillion things long. 

Like every other mother out there, I need more hours in the day, more money, more energy, and more patience.  I need to find the right balance between all of the different hats I wear.  With all this said, I love my two kids  and husband more than anything, but I did find a great post by a different blogger who sums life with two kids up pretty well.  Take a peak...you'll relate I'm sure.

http://www.mamalaughlin.com/2012/01/what-i-wish-they-would-have-told-me.html

I have so much I want to update here on the blog, and I will get to it, it just may be a Christmas post when it's summer, but it will happen.  The kids are great, the house is great, life is good!

Happy Valentines Day!!



Happy Valentine's Day 2012, we hope you are spending it with people you love! 

Making a house a home

Well, we moved! After we sold our house in three days we found a house we love, went through the negotiating process, inspection, appraisal, and finally closing. We actually closed on our old house and then our new house back to back. One week ago tonight was our first night sleeping in our new house. The first night was rough for the kids, Grant wasn't feeling the best and Jenna was worried about being upstairs and having us on the main floor. She slept with every light on. We are doing much better now. We're all getting used to the new house, new noises, new challenges (like all the stairs that Grant likes to go up and down and up and down) and the excitement. I just said to Erik a couple nights ago that the house is feeling more and more like ours and more comfortable. We are so excited to have this house be ours, make memories here and make it our home. We have pretty much unpacked all the boxes, but don't have one single thing on the wall yet. Lots to do to make it cozy and ours. Getting our new couch delivered would be nice too! Pictures will be coming soon! I am so thankful for all I have in my life! Most importantly, Erik and the kids, and our family and friends. We have jobs, a new house we LOVE, our health, happiness, and more.

Catch up - Marco Island

Our November vacation to Marco Island, Fl was great!  We had a lot of fun and can't wait for future vacations as the kids get older.  We had a few firsts:
Grant's first airplane ride
Jenna's first jet ski experience
Jenna and Grant got to feed a giraffe
Grant's first steps in the ocean
Our first vacation as a family of four!

Our last night - on the condo balcony



Erik, Jenna, and Grant on the boat at the zoo.  The Monkey's were fun to watch

Jenna feeding the giraffe

Grant was not too impressed, and the giraffe was not being too patient

Me and Grant on the boat ride at the Naples Zoo

Catch Up - Fall 2011

I am so far behind in my blogging, which does not feel too far off base from how I feel day to day.   We've had a great fall and start to winter.  Here is just a brief review of the Halloween season.  Jenna was so excited for Halloween this year and it was quite a decision on what she was going to dress up as. 

Jenna begged to carve the pumpkins, she was just as excited to bake and eat the seeds too. 

Grant and I at Papa's Pumpkin Patch.  He loved running around and doing all the kid activities, but I think his favorite was eating a donut and drinking cider...typical Grant!

Jenna's finished product, which was displayed proudly on our front porch.

Happy Halloween 2011 - Jenna was Bat Girl and Grant was a Bat. 

Jenna loved Trick-or-Treating this year, but she liked handing out candy at our house even more.  She cried when 8:00 came it was over.  Grant made it for about 30 minutes then he was cold and tired.  I can't imagine how weird Halloween is for a 16 month old.