dive

This summer, she worked up the confidence to dive standing up.  She was coached by all her expert coaches and with a month of practice, felt comfortable diving while standing up at her end of summer competition.

All that hard work paid off with a well-deserved medal at the end.  It was a good summer of swimming for this girl. 

Dress up days with her boy

She has reached the stage that I so fondly remember with the others--dress up days!  Any chance she gets, she rummages through the dress-up trunk in her sisters' room to find the perfect pieces to pair together for her desired look.  On this particular morning, she decided to dress up her boy as well.  Thankfully, he is a willing participant...happy to have her attention for a bit.

Summer concert series, Part 2

Each summer, our lovely piano teacher comes to our house and hosts a piano recital for my girls and our family.  It is a wonderfully intimate way to introduce young children to the idea of playing for people without too much pressure.

 She insisted on a solo.

 She prefers duets played with her teacher.

They adore their teacher and the time spent weekly with her.  We look forward to our next summer concert series!

Tea

Oh how lovely it was to sip tea from my Grandmother's tea set at my niece's birthday party.  Just having my hands encircled around her dainty tea cups with the sweet floral pattern and gilded rim, made me so happy and feel her presence around me.  I adored my Grandmother and miss her all the time.  She did everything right in my world and was such a friend to me.  To have tea with her again would be the most lovely treat in all the world!

her turn to celebrate

10 days after her sister, she finally gets her celebration.  It seems like an eternity to an almost 3-year-old, but a combined swimming birthday party helped ease the 10-day wait.  Yes, this year, she shared a birthday celebration with her sister.  They celebrated with all their close friends and siblings at a favorite public pool. 

She and her sister were delighted to have cookie cake for the special occasion.  She was a little unsure about blowing out her birthday candles alone because of almost burning her hair while helping her daddy blow out his candles a few months prior.  Thankfully, her eager sisters were close-by to help.

 This year you were overjoyed to open cards and "read" them.  You seemed to enjoy this more than the unwrapping of gifts.

On the day of your actual birthday, your sisters thought a birthday morning donut was in order.  You picked a chocolate sprinkle donut to devour.

Your 3-year-old measurements were added to the wall in the garage along with your sister's.  You were so excited to be included in the annual birthday measure.

We adore your strong mind, sweet manners, feisty and fearless personality but kind heart.  Although you are quite stubborn and strong, you take such great care with others and your kindness beams like rays of pure sunlight from gray clouds.  We love you, kid.

Your first annual birthday questionnaire:

1. What is your favorite color?

Yellow

2. What is your favorite food?

Burger fries

3. What is your favorite thing to play?

Blocks with daddy 

4. What do you like to do outside?

Swing 

5. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Myself

6. What is your favorite book? 

George

7. What would you like to do this year before you turn 4?

Go in daddy's car

There they go...school days, once again

Little bits of me left this morning and trudged up the sidewalk to the entry of school.  First and third grade await them this year.  I could tell they were both a little ball of nerves, working hard to hold it all together...just like their momma.  

Carefree and excited about her first grade teacher helped this little one bounce into school without too much worry.  After all, she has known her teacher since birth and we are delighted she can share in the rearing and education of our middle girl.

My big girl was equally delighted to know her teacher as a fellow Girl Scout's mom.  Unfortunately, she was a little worried about her classmates and lack of close friends.  Thankfully, her day seemed flawless and she even came home and told me about it...a rarity, for her to discuss her days away from me. 

When I begged to take her annual back-to-school photo in the front lawn before school, she request no photos but instead picked a flower (that matched her dress) for me to photograph.

We are grateful for new school years with dedicated and nurturing teachers guiding the way.  As we slowly transition from summer hours and sleep schedules to school schedules, we will delight in each new day and the beautiful treasures that await!

these are the nights I will remember

Slow summer evenings with lots of time for sisterly reading enjoyment, make us all so happy.  Without the evening rush to get everyone in bed on time, we take more time to let them just be themselves.  On this evening, I found these two cozy in the rocker sharing a story.  She is a wonderfully patient big sister who adores her sister.