Halloween

Halloween was fun this year with two skeletons and a fancy witch.

We couldn't find a costume for Hailey this year so she helped me paint this skeleton with glow in the dark paint.  We were pretty happy with how it turned out.

It was the year of not finding things, we searched and searched for our witch hats and couldn't find them.  Luckily for Aida Mimi had this super fancy hat!

Sophie was also a skeleton. She enjoyed a sucker while the girls trick or treated.

We all went to Lani's work to trick or treat before going to Libbie and Katie's neighborhood.

Winter is coming

Love for Mia, October 2013

It is the 1 year anniversary of Mia going to Heaven.  We have talked more in the last year about the plan of salvation than most 4 year olds, Aida is still full of questions.  She is starting to understand that Mia isn't coming back, well not until the second coming and she is resurrected.  Now that she understands that sometimes in her prayers she prays that Jesus will come again soon so that she can see Mia again.  She also sometimes says that she wishes that she could go to heaven soon to be with her (breaks my heart!), I tell her how much we would miss her and that we don't want her to go soon.  Every once in a while she'll tell me that she had a dream and Mia was there playing with her, but that she had to go help Jesus so she couldn't play very long.  Mia has really gotten her to think a lot about Heaven and Jesus and what is happening up there.  She wants to know how it is that Jesus can watch us if he's in Heaven , she thinks maybe He's flying around in an airplane.  We still visit Mia's grave periodically and when she see's someplace that reminds her of the cemetery she always asks if this is where Mia is.  It's amazing that Mia made such an impact on Aida in the short time they were friends, she did.  I am thankful for the teaching opportunities we've had in the last year!

 

For the one year anniversary Mia's mom Mimi asked that people do an act of service in Mia's name.  We decided to make blankets for Primary Children Medical Center.  Grandma Jeri donated the fabric and the girls helped me sew and turn the blankets.  We loved doing it, it was the perfect way to remember such a special girl.

5 little pumpkins

This year we are doing a neighborhood preschool with Aida and 4 of her friends.  It has been a lot of fun.  The kids made pumpkin gloves so that they could act out the poem 5 little pumpkins.  They had a lot of fun, Aida wishes it was at our house every week ( I think she kind of likes being in charge).

Climbing

Sophie has officially started climbing.  When she crawls it's like she is in 4 wheel drive, she just goes over whatever is in her way.  One of her favorite spots is under the end tables, I find her here multiple times a day!

Golf

Hailey got to take golf lessons after school and it turns out she's pretty good at it.  She was excited to find that her friend Presley was in her class.  Matt is really hoping she will learn to love golf so that he can have someone to take with him.  I think he has a pretty good chance, she really enjoyed it and is looking forward to taking another class.

9 Months old

Sophie is 9 months old and loving being able to sit and be a little more in charge of what goes on.  She loves sitting in her rocker from Gigi and Papa and can even make it rock.

Library Preschool

Aida's first day of Library Preschool was AMAZING!  Arial, Aida's favorite, was there.  She was full of songs, stories and all kinds of fun.

Fairy Garden

One of the things the girls look forward to about Swiss Days is buying something fun.  This year they put some money in a purse and were excited to buy new clothes for their wooden paper dolls, but much to their dismay the doll booth was not there this year.  We walked around while Matt served in the taco booth desperate to find something to buy, the money was burning a hole in the bottom of the purse.  Unfortunately there is not a lot you can buy for $5 at Swiss Days.  We finally came to a booth at the very end that was selling fairy gardens.  The girls fell in love and were planning their own little (very expensive) garden.  I had to remind them a few times of how much money they had, they decided to buy one tiny mushroom.  The Artist was there, and I'm sure heard everything.  When they were choosing their mushroom he came over and told them to choose a few more, then he gave them the bird house and a swing.  He made their day!  They were so happy and amazed that he gave them everything just because he wanted them to have it.  It reminded me of the impact an act of service can have on the one being served.  We look forward to adding to our fairy garden every year!

 

Swiss Days

Swiss Days is now a fun tradition in our family.  We love to walk to the top of our street and watch the parade, and this year it was even better because Hailey got to be in the parade.  She was on the school float and got to sing their school song, she did a great job!

Aida

Aida is such a fun kid!  She is loving pre-school and learning so much!  She takes good care of Sophie whenever she is asked to help (and often when she isn't).  She has the sweetest temperament and rarely gets mad.  She is absolutely a joy to have around, did I mention she has outgrown her "naughty" stage?  

Outside

We love being outside.  The girls would live out there if they could even Sophie is big enough to love it.  They beg Daddy to come out and play with them.  Sophie really enjoys the swing.

Sophie is 8 months old

8 Months old and so full of personality.  Sophie can pull herself up to sitting and is loving her new found mobility!