A Look Back: Hayley in 2013

Hayley's Year
This year Hayley turned 5! She is in Kindergarten - complete with a "Bag of Books" for reading each night and a 5-word spelling test on most Fridays. This year she decided to not take dance, instead taking gymnastics this fall and playing t-ball this spring. This year has been challenging as she transitions out of the "little kid" phase into more independence. Hayley asks a million questions a day, is very curious and observant. Our ability to spell secrets is no longer viable for most small words - especially D-O-G-S! Still anxious by nature, she's high energy, high impact and its all or nothing! In an unexpected twist, shows no fear for amusement park rides or trampolines. She rode the Tilt-A-Whirl and all the "kid" rides at Pier Park this summer. Her first instinct on a trampoline was to do a front flip in the air, no hands. She's mastered her cartwheel, landing on her feet more times than not. She enjoys making up songs or creating her own lyrics which may or may not include any of the original words (much like her daddy). Hayley is still SUPER picky about food and may or may not eat at any given time - but has a HUGE sweet tooth! She told me once, "I'm hungry... can I have some gum??" She loves to play imaginary games of school, dance, swim lessons, etc. - but only when she's the boss! She loves wearing swimsuits, high heels.. or when at home, nothing but underwear! She's learn to sound out most words and is practicing writing sentences and making "books." She's strong as an ox - despite her small size! She managed to knock a flu shot needle out of the nurses hand (and scratch her leg) this fall - requiring 3 adults to hold her while she screamed bloody murder in the doctor's office. (And the flu shot was a must have, she's gotten flu the past 2 years and ended up in the ER once, and the hospital once.. so no more chances without the shot). She also loves to tell stories and is a very animated story teller - sometimes, she has trouble distinguishing between her imagination and reality. She is really wanting her hair to be long like Rapunzel, and its finally reached her shoulders.

      

Let's Take A Moment: 2013 for Bowen

Well, nothing says end of the year like picking up with a  real live blog post. Yup, the old "year in review" gets me every time.

This year, well, its been busy.. but hasn't every year, since... ever?? I feel like its redundant to even say that life is busy because, well - it always is. Every week of crazy is followed by another, so basically, its just, the speed of life these days.

Bowen's Year
This year Bowen turned 3! While we were in Costa Rica on a mission trip, so she had what we deemed the official "birthday month" with a party down in Jaco, a party a week later when we got home, and several rag-tag gifts for weeks as we caught up with people who missed the party. June was truly the month of Bowen! In August, she started K3 at SGA. She is loving school, and comes home singing her alphabet songs "Alexander Alligator, Alexander Alligator, A says AH, AH AH AH!" She is extra-ordinarily quiet at times, and is still not speaking much to her teachers, even though she loves them. Bowen can be the most animated or the most withdrawn of any child I've ever seen. She has "the look" and doesn't do anything just because you want her to. However, she is also very laidback and low key. She prefers to play by herself than with others, and marches to her own beat. And oh, the wee hours of the morning, Boa loves to be up and at 'em before 6, maybe even around 5, you know what, 4:30 is sometimes good too. The morning is definitely her time - she wakes up chipper and often singing. We find her reading to her babies, playing puzzles, having school, or singing while she wanders the house. In the last month, she has decided she likes to walk herself into school on some mornings. She is taking dance and loving it. And she loves being a monster! Her favorite character is definitely Mickey Mouse - and she loves the "Juicebox" song too! She went to the Dentist for the first time in November and wasn't phased by it at all - she hopped up and let them clean her teeth, stood in the machine for bitewings/xrays and was all around great. She is definitely our cuddle child and still loves to crawl up in our laps or be carried if she can get away with it. She's taken on the role of "baby whisperer" with the twins and also loves Grady as if he were her twin (and also fights with him that way when the mood strikes). While its often rare, a true Bowen smile is worth a million of her "looks."

       

An Unexpected Christmas -"A Hallelujah Christmas"

A beautiful rework of a favorite song, beautiful arrangement, beautiful video.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

A Man's Take - A Strange Way to Save the World

This isn't my favorite arrangement, but they do the song well. I love this song from Joseph's perspective and how his thoughts echo ours so often!

What Child is This - Lindsey Stirling

truth is, I always wanted to play the violin. Doubtful that I would have been ever able to dance and play at the same time, and in the snow, not likely. However,

This is a beautiful instrumental.

favorite Christmas song. EVER.

A New Favorite- A Baby Changes Everything

This song is older than I realized, but I didn't hear it until a few years back. Enjoy!

Surprise Song: Little Drummer Boy

Truth be told, I've never been all that crazy about this song... but this performance changed my mind!!

http://vimeo.com/56492585
performed and produced by Athens Church, Athens, GA

A Classic, Maybe - "Do You Hear What I Hear"

This song has always been in my "ehhh" Christmas music category. But this is just pretty, it moves it up a little closer to my "This song must be heard for it to be Christmas" category!

Traditional Song - "O Holy Night" - Christina Grimmie Cover

Sounds of Christmas: Angels We Have Heard on High

A Weird Return

So this place has been pretty quiet, my apologies and I do intend to return to actual blogging at some point. Maybe sooner than latter.

In the mean time, stay tuned throughout this month for some of my favorite Christmas songs. Why? Because I turn into a great big ole sap of traditions and music and matching outfits during this month. It just happens!

Fun Song - Carol of the Bells - Pentatonix

They. are. awesome.

End. Of. Post.