Snow Days

They are my favorite for sure. There is nothing better than getting bonus time with my sweet girls!



Last week we had a few inches and super cold temps that put us out all week. The girls loved playing in the snow! Audrey liked sledding down our little hill while Abby preferred to pretend like she was Anna climbing the North Mountain (LOVE!!) We made chocolate chip cookies and drank hot chocolate. We stayed in our pajamas and played all day, every day.


The back deck was turned into Audrey's clinic. She would go to "work" and do her "rounds." LOL!

It warmed up a lot on Sunday so I took some pictures of the girls. I love how they turned out.


I cannot get over this one of Abigail. She looks like an American Girl doll!


Anne was SO excited to be out and about with her big sisters!


Sweet Audrey Cate :)







It snowed early this morning, so we're off again today. Good timing- Miss Audrey isn't feeling well. I'm looking forward to another day of snow and snuggles!

Audrey lost her first tooth!

Audrey minus one tooth :)

Crazy...I still remember writing about GETTING her first tooth:

http://littlebabyburns.blogspot.com/2009/08/time-to-buy-toothbrush.html

It's been wiggly for a few weeks, but last night she was really working it back and forth. She moved it around so much that she was able to get it out in no time (creeped me out!)

I knew I'd be a little nostalgic when she lost her first tooth...but then it hit me- she'll never look like this again. Her smile is going to be constantly changing over the next 10+ years. She will never look like this again:



Sigh. I think it'll take awhile to get used to! It's a good thing that kids are still cute with missing teeth, lol. My students MAYBE have a full set of teeth between all of them ;)

Audrey is 6 years, 1 month, 3 weeks old

What a difference a year makes!

I can't help but compare what our life is like today, to what it was like last year.



Last year, as a SAHM, I hardly had a schedule...especially with having a baby. The only thing we had on our calendar was preschool and dance class, lol. I think I lived in my comfy clothes most of the year. We had the flexibility of scheduling appointments and having outings in the middle of the day. I won't say it was easy but it definitely felt more freeing.

Now? My goodness! We are structured Monday-Saturday morning!

I'm up early enough to get ready and pack lunches & backpacks. The girls get up at 6 so we can be out the door by 6:30-6:40. They are amazing. They wake up smiling and rarely complain about being tired. Every morning is different; a couple of days it's just me and Audrey (Chris keeps the girls home one day and bring them to daycare/school another day.) One day I bring the littles to Grandma's. A couple of days I have all 3 girls going to 3 different places! However, a stop at Starbucks for Momma is always worked in :)


All 3 backpacks, ready to go bright and early!

Audrey loves school. Her motivation for learning and the relationships she is building- it's such a privilege to see it first hand every day. Sometimes, when it's hard to get going in the morning and I find myself wishing back to last year...I remind myself that one day, all 3 girls will be coming to school with me. I love being a mom/teacher! They'll be in elementary school for 2 years together, but even when Audrey goes to middle school, it will be in the building right next door :)

Abigail- oh my goodness. We are so regretful that we didn't start her out in this preschool in the first place. The change in her is incredible. She's so excited to go to school and even says, "I love _______!" (her teacher.) She walks in, hangs up her stuff and says goodbye! She's completely independent. She definitely does well with structure and routine. The curriculum is awesome and she comes home every day with her back pack full of crafts and artwork. She'll be there next year for preschool and we're just so happy...this school is in Anne's future as well!

Annie- sweet, sweet Annie! She gets to stay with an amazing family 3 days a week, 2 minutes from school :) It's crazy how it worked out...back in November we were having our parent conference (her daughter is in my class.) Towards the end, we started talking and I just came right out and asked her. Staci is PERFECT for our Anne. She loves on her like WE do. Just the way she talks about Anne...how she's "perfect and sweet and amazing and easy"...I know in my heart we made the perfect match. Staci and her brothers grew up in the same neighborhood as us, so we all kind of knew each other. Her other daughter is in Audrey's class :) What's REALLY funny? Staci was referred to me a few years ago when I was looking into after school care for Audrey (when she was in the 3 year old class.) I never pursued it because my dad ended up helping out. Long story short, Anne is doing amazingly well. She's starting to reach for Staci when she knows we're about to leave, no tears! She loves the hustle and bustle of their house. The kids adore her! They play with her, read to her at breakfast...the whole family is just incredible. We really lucked out and we just could NOT be more blessed.

Our evenings are pretty routine. I get home with all 3 girls and Chris gets home about an hour later. By that time the girls have eaten and are getting ready for bed. That's all we have time for! They get to play for a bit and read (of course!) In bed no later than 7:30. I cannot wait to live closer to school. Later wake up times and more afternoon time...yes.please.

So there it is. We hit the ground running all week. Last year we landed softly and gracefully on the ground and just kind of walked, lol. I can't say which I like more- working and staying home are so different, both with their upsides and downsides. As much as I find myself missing the girls and being home, the break from them is good, too! The beginning of the year was difficult- I considered transferring to a closer school or just staying home altogether. But we're in a great place right now and with me working...we can move! More on that to come :)

Audrey Catherine is SIX!

Our lovely girl! She is such a ray of light, a breath of fresh air. My sweet, sweet baby is not a baby anymore :(

She loves school and is doing so well! She's being referred for Focus (wow!!) Her class is the cutest! One of the highlights of my day is visiting them at lunch. We invited her whole class to her party this year at the Field House...it was a blast! It makes me happy to think these are the kids she will form life-long friendships with :)

She is reading and writing. I can actually read the stories she writes (she also likes making lists & schedules...just like her momma!) She still loves to draw and create. She's an eager and enthusiastic a learner- a little sponge! She takes an idea or a subject and runs with it. Just last week they learned about penguins. The very next morning she came with me to a meeting in the library where she checked out a book about them. She also got a piece of paper and copied from the globe, labeling different countries and oceans (and she drew a cute little penguin at the bottom!)

She participates in Destination Imagination after school (she calls it "Discovering our imaginations", lol!) Her group will perform in March. She loves it, and I love that she gets to learn how to work and communicate with others while getting to be creative.

She's majorly into Legos now and received a few sets for her birthday and Christmas. She'll sit and follow the picture directions, or she'll create something different (and she's so good about letting Abby play, too!)

She is so kind. A few days ago I watched her at recess- she walked over to a boy who was sitting by himself and I could tell she was trying to help him out. Later I asked her about it...she said she was trying to get him to play since he was alone. She even tracked down another boy for him to play with, lol. I just love that!

She has gotten a lot better about trying new foods. Her diet is still very limited...but I'm so relieved that she doesn't gag and cry when trying new things (still some complaining and reluctance, but we are moving in the right direction!)

She has the best attitude. She's positive and friendly, optimistic and so kind. Just an all around delightful little lady. She makes us proud every single day!