Celebrating the Little Things
{Late Fall 2012}
Well, I'm not sure how it happened, but Winter officially starts tomorrow. So even though it is Christmas time, it's officially still Fall and so I will close out a gloriously warm Kansas Fall with a late edition of "Little Things"! It seems like my life is often in a state of constant chaos and so I find great joy in stopping occasionally to snap a picture of a little thing that brings a smile to my face. It is good medicine for my often exhausted spirit!
{One of these things is not like the others}
Emily and Molly's "babies" all lined up in their "house" taking a "nap". By name, from right to left, they are:
1. Madelie. Named by Emily when she intended to name her Natalie, but couldn't pronounce it correctly. Madelie stuck.
2. Holly
3. Caroline. Emily's #1.
4. Minnie. Ahem. Don't judge. Minnie is Molly's most loved "baby" of all!
5. Harper. Or Karli. Depending on the day and which one of Molly's real life friends' names she happens to recall at the moment.
{first EVER "piggy braids"}
Molly recently brought me two hair bands and said... "I wan piggy bades... jus lie emmie." And so I tried. And it worked! They lasted for approximately 1 hour before she pulled them out!
{movie star at the dentist}
Molly had her first visit to the dentist and she handled it like a pro! I couldn't help but look at her and think she looked like a little movie star in her leopard pants and silver sparkle shoes. Once she put those glasses and headphones on, she literally never moved a muscle... other than to open her mouth on command!
{she dances with her baby... in a swimming suit}
Playing "going to the beach" and dancing to the music on my iPhone remain two of the girls' favorite pastimes. But when Emily picked up her beloved "Caroline" and started dancing with her while she adoringly looked at her; it made me pause and think about how I hope one day she will be the mommy to a real little baby girl! I pray that I will get to see my girls become Mommy's one day.
{little size. big effort.}
Noah is by far the littlest player on his basketball team. In fact, in his first game, several of the opposing players could have almost taken a seat on Noah's head! Despite his short stature, he puts forth a big effort when he plays. He really loves basketball despite being slightly scared that he will get hurt among all the boys who tower over him!
{election day fun}
Noah was very interested in the presidential election this year. I waited to vote until he got out of school so that he could go with me; knowing he would have been disappointed to have missed it. To mark the occasion, I packed a special little treat in his school lunch.
{they really are BFFs}
Emily routinely refers to Molly as her "best friend". Recently, at her birthday party, she got to choose the place setting arrangement at the table and she didn't hesitate for a second when selecting Molly to sit right beside her! It's really sweet and I hope and pray it lasts forever!
{pig tails are back}
After her very short bob this summer, Emily hasn't been able to wear pig tails in quite some time. Her hair is now almost long enough to bring her pig tails back again! I like the short piggies... they are so cute and fluffy!
{he's writing a book. it's the bible}
One day he told me he was writing a book. I later realized he was copying the Bible. Kind of one of those things that makes my heart smile.
{3 artists on a sunny afternoon}
I am sometimes amazed by how much my kids enjoy drawing and coloring. This box of crayons is carried from the shelf to the table at some point in time every single day. On one sunny day, I caught all 3 of them coloring together in the glow of the out of season sunshine. Just a good "little thing"!
{the littles playing}
It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while, Molly takes an interest in trying to play with Abby. I can't stand the thought of Emily going to Kindergarten next year, but it makes me wonder what her absence will do to develop the relationship between the little girls. I hope they play as well together as Emily & Molly do.
{3rd time around...still cute as can be}
This cute little outfit has been worn by all the girls! It's on its 3rd cycle but it is still as cute as can be. Of course, the big brown eyed baby girl wearing it certainly enhances the cuteness factor!
{leg warmers}
Just another "little thing" that makes me smile every time I see them. I love looking at the girls in their dance clothes... especially on the days when they choose leg warmers!
{their new thing}
Their newest thing to do is skip (well, Emily skips and tells Molly kind of funny runs) around the house holding hands! Just one skip around the house like this makes me kind of forget all of the hitting and yelling moments they have :)
{new tricks}
Emily has been taking gymnastics and now is doing cartwheels in every small space we have! Molly follows suit with her rendition of a cartwheel... which is something more like a crooked somersault!
{almost done}
I started switching the kids' rooms around in anticipation of Abby's arrival nearly a year ago. And they are STILL not done from a decorating standpoint! That is so not like me and truth be told, it's about to drive me batty! I made some progress this Fall, so all of the rooms are now almost done... just in time for the girls to grow out of their crib/toddler bed and need a set of bunk beds!
{grandparent love}
ALL of my kids adore my dad... their PaPa! So Abby is just following suit with her adoration and love for her PaPa! And I adore this picture of Molly hugging her Great Granny... so sweet
{3 matching}
It's no secret that I like dressing the kids in matching and coordinating clothes. But girls clothes are EXPENSIVE and given that I have so many hand-me-down girl clothes, I rarely have 3 matching outfits! But when I do, it's a picture worthy moment!
{a cute thing to lead us into Christmas}
Emily is a great independent player. She often goes off by herself and entertains herself with imaginary play. A day or so ago, she was doing just that in the bathroom. She had the door cracked and so I just peeked in to see what she was doing. I found this. She is bathing her Baby Jesus on Abby's bathmat and washcloth! Love!
