Amy's Visit 2013

My college best friend and her family came to for a visit this weekend. I loved having Amy here. It made me realize how much I miss hanging out with her. I met Amy our senior year in high school. We started hanging out more the summer between high school and college. She was my roommate for two years at Indiana University. She's been my friend in good times and bad and even when I wasn't so nice to be around. Thank you Ames! Miss you tons! Hope to see you very soon.

Amy's best friend from high school's 40th birthday in Denver

Lily and Charlotte

Meal time!

Helen Hunt Falls Trip

Margo, Lily, Charlotte and Elise

Spring Break-Kansas City-Indiana 2013

This year, for Spring Break, we drove to Indianapolis. We got to spend some time with my good friend, Amy in Kansas City as well. Thank you Amy for letting us crash at your place not once, but twice! 

We watched IU (lose) at Britton Tavern in Indy during the Sweet 16. 

 Nana with Cassie, Katie, Jack and Lily

Carrie, Bonnie, Christie and Jesse

Matt, Mark and Carrie

Cassie, Katie, Jack and Lily

The whole gang!

Grant

Being Silly

St. Louis

My college BFF Amy

Jack, Margot, Elise, Charlotte and Lily in KC

The kids got to be in a big bubble at the Columbus, IN Children's Museum

 I was able to meet up with a childhood friend, Tiffany! I knew Tiff when we sang together in the Indianapolis Children's Choir. It had been about 23 years since I saw her last. 

Lily is 6 years old

Lily you are 6 years old! You really have become a big kid this year. I almost forget that you were once a baby.

This is how I see you these days:

• You started reading this year. You amaze me with the books you read. 
• You are writing sentences. You use capital letters and punctuation. 
• You are doing very well in Kindergarten. You have grown tremendously this year so far. 
• You planned to marry Ryan from school, but now you tell me you will marry Logan. 
• You wrote your first short story recently about two bears and a dog. 
• You are currently missing your top front teeth. It's quite cute. You have lost 5 teeth so far.  
• You let me "do" your hair now. I can finally put your hair in ponytails and pigtails. Your hair is getting quite long now too. 
• You are hilarious! You laugh constantly and you like to tell jokes now. You are definitely a silly girl, but I love it. 
• You are a great big sister. You play so well with Jack, he is your best friend. 
• You like to tickle Jack. 
• Your favorite games are: hide-and-go-seek, go-fish, chutes and ladders. 
• You color/paint/draw everyday. It makes me happy to see your artwork and creativity. 
• You ask at least 20 "what if" questions a day. See below
• You still enjoy princesses, but your favorite is Hello Kitty.
• You wish we could have a cat, but we both are allergic. 
• Your favorite colors and pink and purple. 

I love you to the Moon and Back! You tell me you love me to Crystal Moon and back :) 

Thank you for being my little girl! I'm one lucky Mama!

What if questions:
What if the tooth fairy never came?
What if Jack had 100 teeth?
What if the Statue of Liberty had a best friend?
What if you had 100 friends?
What if you had 100 eyes?
What if we got 100 inches of snow? (she likes the number one hundred)
What if everything was red in this house?
What if we painted the moon a different color?
What if you had everything in your milk?
What if you ate a brain? (wha??)
What if  mirrors were impossible?
What if I put all my money from my piggy bank into my purse?

Crow Pose

I've been going to Yoga at my gym for about a year now. I'm semi-regular to the practice. My goal is to attend twice a week. One of the arm balancing poses we do is "crow pose". I have always attempted this pose, but never quite got up there. Last Saturday during Hot Yoga, I did it! I amazed myself as I found myself balancing on my hands without too much effort. I think I had been over-thinking analyzing the pose and last Saturday, I just did it - no thought behind it.  Something I can practice in other areas of my life.

Here is a link to the pose: http://www.theyogaposes.com/yoga-poses/yoga-crow-pose.php

Very excited!

Jack is 4!

Happy Birthday Jack! You are four years old!
This was you as a baby:

Look how you have grown! 

• You are a sweet 4 year old with glimpses of a very strong personality (Sounds like your Abba Jacques). 
• You still love Lightning McQueen. You have so many Lightning cars I cannot even count. 
• You like Animal from the Muppets. You sleep with him each night along with Lightning. 
• You like to watch the tv show Caillou on PBS. He is 4 years old, just like you!
• You like the color Red. 
• You like to pretend you are a monster and chase us around the house. 
• You love to run and boy are you fast now! I think you run faster than your Mama (not hard to do). 
• Your favorite food is pizza with chocolate a close second. 
• You are in your first year of preschool and are doing great! Your teachers' names are Mrs. Munsey and Mrs. Noble.
• You can write your name now. 
• You know all of your capital letters and most of your lower case letters. 
• You can count to 30 no problem and to 100 with some help. 
• You can count to 10 in Spanish. 
• You can get completely dressed by yourself, shoes, coat and all. 
• You finally like to color and paint - this is recent since about September. 
• You love to race your cars around the house. 
• You like to build with blocks. 
• You like to sing when you are by yourself (you have a very nice voice), but won't sing in front of an audience. However, you did sing at your Preschool Christmas Program and I was so proud of you! 
• You know all the words to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". 
• You love your sister and she is your best friend.
• You tell Mama you love her every day (that makes me so very happy). 
• You have one of the best laughs. I love to hear you laughing. 

Look how much you have accomplished - and more - in just 4 short years! I love you Jack more than words can express. I'm so grateful to have you as my son. I enjoy you every day and look forward to a lifetime watching you grow and become the great person you are!