And then, it was Christmas.
And I am feeling all nostalgic
And missing writing in this space.
So here's what our year's been like:
Hayley Marie
Hayley turned 6 in August and started first grade. She's really starting to look more like a big kid, although she STILL doesn't weigh 40 pounds and is among the smallest in her grade, and she certainly talks like a big kid! We can no longer use spelling aloud for secrets, and she is a super quick reader so don't think you are firing off a text or reading something on the computer with her prying eyes! Even if its not a secret! She has lost 3 teeth this year - and I am proud to say that I pulled them all (which were barely hanging on, she gets that from me)! We gave the first one to the Tooth Fairy in exchange for money, but she decided she didn't want to give her 2nd and 3rd ones away. She enjoys doing word puzzles, reading, and playing school or mama. She thinks she's in charge of all her cousins smaller than her.. or younger than her.. or sweet enough to follow her every beck and call. She still wants to grow her hair out like Rapunzel, and it is finally past her shoulders, but still baby thin. She is still terrified of all animals, refusing to pet even the smallest rabbit and will climb you like a spider monkey if she even hears a dog bark! (Yet, she asked Santa for a pony and pony food this year. In the spring she played T-ball for the first time and graduated from Kindergarten! We found out that she loves rides and is a "super rider" who will try almost any kind of ride - including the Tilt-a-Whirl at Miracle Strip in PCB! She enjoys writing notes and her own books.. most of her notes say "Dear _____, I like you. I love you. You are the best ever." She wrote two notes this week inviting people to play dates that we didn't have planned!! She loves to eat in a restaurant and "where are we going to eat?" is always her first question when we load up in the car! She's still SO very picky! She is very social and while she can be shy to adults at times, she's mostly fearless and curious when it comes to other kids. She is starting to ask hard questions, and we are starting to deal with "things I heard at school" or "things ____ said" and how those things do or do not apply in our family.
Bowen Michelle
Bowen turned 4 in June and started Pre-K this fall! She has really come out of her shell since she started Pre-K and is much more vocal (when she wants to be) and affectionate towards other (when she wants to be). Her teacher told us the second week of school "She talks our ears off!" and we were SHOCKED! In the spring, she finished her K3 year and was still not talking to her teachers and while she played with the other students, wasn't very vocal with them either! We were so She has a love for reading and has memorized many books and knows many sight words of her own accord, and with Hayley's assistance! We really have to give the credit to Hayley for teaching her as much as she knows, they read together often and she helps her with her letters when they are writing and drawing. Bowen falls asleep each night with a book and her nightlight and wakes in the morning reading before she gets out of bed. She is still an early riser, who in recent weeks, finds herself a warm spot in our bed from 4-6. I am just glad she doesn't get UP and stay UP anymore, as those were her roaming hours in Spring. She wouldn't go back to bed!! She finished dance in the Spring and made it through the recital with no tears, she mostly loved the makeup sessions with Breezy! She wanted to try Karate this fall. Both she and Hayley started in October and she received her three stripes this past week when uniforms were distributed! She loves music and is often singing songs from school or church. She really is determined that there is NOTHING that Hayley can do, that she can't do! She is still our sweet little cuddler most of the time, and is so affectionate with us. Her grandmama is still her favorite person in the world. Over the summer, Grandmama broke her ankle, and Bowen wouldn't leave her side!
Adventures
This summer we spent 2 weeks traveling to South Dakota and back. We drove 2.5 days there and back and met Nana's family for the first time. It was a wonderful trip together with our family, we had lots of adventures, and have so many stories and memories from the trip. We also took SO MANY pictures that I can't even decide where to start on a photo book - you can browse at your own demise here: https://hifromsouthdakota2014.shutterfly.com/
And.. I'm out of time.. Maybe I'll be back... later.. to wrap this up in a tidy bow.
