To My Aunt Lyndsey

Dear Aunt Lyndsey,

I really really LOVE my new finger nail polishes and nail art book.  Mama did her best to paint my nails like lady bugs.  How do you think she did?  I think that she didn't do too bad for her first try.  She said that she thinks you will be a great nail artist and that when we move I should ask you to do my nails when you come over.  I'm trying to decide what to have you draw on my nails.  The butterflies are awfully cute!

After Mama painted my nails, I painted my toes ALL BY MYSELF for the very first time.  I'm going to practice a lot between now and our move so that I can paint your toes when I see you.  You will have to think about what color you want.  I LOVED the yellow, but maybe you would like green??

Love you lots,
M

My 'Cital

This past Saturday was M's dance recital, which she called her "Cital."  She was so excited to have us come and see what she's been working on all year long.  I wish that we had been able to take pics or video during the recital because her facial expressions were priceless, but that wasn't allowed.  Just know that she has her happy, sad, sleepy, and mad faces down pat.  And despite being only four, she can move quite gracefully.  All the girls did such a great job!!!

Before I ever had kids, I told everyone that I figured I'd have only boys and that would be okay with me because I didn't think I would survive a bunch of girlie dance recitals (not to say that boys can not dance too, but the chances of dance recitals is much higher with girls...statistically speaking.  :)).  That was SO not me growing up! But God knows best and I can honestly say that if I have to sit through dance recitals for the next 20+ years I wouldn't care one bit.  I love my girlie-girls and am so thankful that God blessed me with 2 of them!!

Pre-'Cital

So graceful

Miss Leigh & Miss Bristol

M's fabulous teachers 

Me and my girl

M and her proud Daddy

Our family

Good job at your 'cital, M!!!  

You should be proud of everything you learned this year!

SOCCER!!!!!!

M has wanted to try soccer for about a year now.  Last Saturday was her very first day.  This was her face most of the hour they "practiced" and "played."

Oops!!  Guess we needed to go to bed a bit earlier to be prepared for soccer.

She did get to be the goalie for a little bit.  I'm not sure she had a clue what her job was, but when they told her to act tough she had a very tough catlike face & pose.  Claws came out and everything.  Wish we'd gotten a picture of that.  

This week we got more rest the night before and she chased the ball a bit more, but by the last ten minutes she was coming over to us on the sidelines to inform us that she was done.  

Definitely not as enthusiastic about soccer as she is about dance.  She is only 4 though and it has only been 2 weeks.  We will see how she feels in June!  Whatever the outcome or her future choices about soccer, I'm just really proud of her for trying something new.  :)

And these two are a couple of the cutest team blue fans that I know.  

Seasonal Confusion

2.5 Weeks Later...

Dear M,

I'm running a little late this year with your letter, but that is partly because it has taken me a while to wrap my head around the fact that my precious baby girl is now FOUR!!!

Just four short years ago, this was you...

Now look at you.  

Beautiful.   

 Inside and out.

No longer are you a toddler.  You are officially a preschooler.  As I look at you, I'm in shock and in awe.  M, over the past year you have gotten so long and skinny.  Your hair is getting so much thicker.  You move and talk like a little kid not a baby.  So very fun, but many times I want to yell, "How did this happen? Where did the time go?"  Usually I just ask you how you got so big and your response is, "God is making me grow!"  :)

There is so much about this age that I don't want to forget:

-Your curiosity about what words mean.  You ask me at least once a day about a new word.  It is fun to listen to you using some of your newfound vocabulary (satchel, exquisite, diligent, judgement).

-You are now very aware of letters and are learning to write your name.

- Skipping is a new thing!  You've been galloping for a while, but about a month ago you learned how to skip.  I love to hold your hand and skip with you!!

-Tangled is your new obsession.  You love this new Disney movie and want to play Tangled ALL. THE. TIME. 

-We are reading our first chapter book together...Charlotte's Web.  You love it!!  Next up....Mr. Popper's Penguins.

-You beg for craft time and love glitter.  

-You want to be outside all the time.  I can't blame you though.  It's been a long winter and a cool spring!

-You and your sister are learning how to solve problems.  One minute you love each other, the next you are screaming.  Pretty sure that this isn't going to change any time soon.  :)

-This past weekend was your first soccer game.  I'm not sure that you were too impressed, but I am excited to see how it goes.  You have been begging to try it.  I love how you are always more than willing to try new things.  You are my outgoing brave girl!!  I hope this never changes.  

-You love your dance class and your recital is in 2 weeks.  

-We are working on ways to respectively express your different emotions.  I'm so proud of the progress you've made and how you are learning what words describe your feelings.  Good job, baby!  

-Favorite color:  purple

Although this year holds many changes for us, I am excited to see what God has in store for you and our family.  

Happy Birthday, baby girl!  

Mama loves you bunches and bunches