Sisters

Today Anna sat next to her seventh grade, thirteen year old sister who has been having such a tough time focusing with Distance Learning. Abigail learns socially, talking and listening to peers, her teacher. She learns by doing and so certainly learning on her computer is just not the best for her.

We've tried system after system. Wipe boards, huge charts, sticky notes, so so many things that a principal daddy and school teacher mama can come up with.

And then Anna stepped in. I watch from a far as she helped Abigail with her science lesson today.

And I was so grateful. Not just for the help.

But grateful to God that He made these two sister.

And that they would help each other through life.

I just ran across this post from back here.

And I couldn't believe my eyes. Was then. Is now. Still the best big sister in the world.

Playing

This one quick shot from Friday night...



Abigail longs for the days when she was 6 and Anna was 9. There were hours upon hours to play after school each day.

Junior year of high school is a bit different than when she was in 3rd grade. Let's just say a bit more serious.

But Abigail has been wanting to play with her sister for so long.

So on Friday night they played Calico Critters just like 'old times' and it was the best!

On Helping Your Sister

I remember when Abigail was 4 and it was time to start thinking about her starting an instrument - it was a 'no brainer' for me because I thought of my schedule. She would play the viola just like Anna so that their lessons could be back to back. There was no way I was going to have her with a different teacher (like Cello, for example) because that would be a different teacher, different day, different schedule. The group classes and even some concerts would be on a different schedule. And long before I went back to the classroom I was all about keeping our family calendar as open as possible for more time at home, more time for them to play, more time.

And so Abigail would play the viola too.

I never thought back then how very helpful it is to have 2 violist in the house and Anna able to help Abigail.

This is learning how to 'sift' which is a very difficult skill needed to play the pieces that Abigail is playing now.

I love that Anna jumped right in.

'Anything You Need, You Can Come To Me'

Oh how I love this and them so so much!



Anna, of course had nooooo idea I was behind her.  She saw it on my phone the other day and said, "Abigail!  Why didn't you tell me mommy was there, recording us?"  "Mommy is always there recording something."

This is the kind of 'play' they are growing into.  Making memories in their playroom, just the two of them (and a mommy who is always there to capture)

From the Moment they Met

It's always when we are five minutes late getting into the car. She's writing something and asking for a piece of tape. I get it for her. And don't pay any attention; focusing on all the little details that need to happen five minutes ago.

And then I walk home and this is the first thing I see.



It's not uncommon. Notes are all over like this.

And I am grateful, praying that they don't grow out of pens, notes, and paper.

I'm not worried about the love... I know they'll never grow out of that.



Love at first sight...

You can count on me... 

Seven and a Half... a guest post by Anna

Seven and a half things I love about my sidekick...



1. She's a very affectionate snugglebug.

2. Whenever I'm mean she's a good forgiver.




3. She's fun to play with. She always has interesting ideas!



4. She knows me the best. And I know her the best too!



5. We have a lot in common like our love for stuffed animals.



6. She's very good at restraining her emotions when she can't have something to eat with her allergies.



7. She's always brave at her endoscopies which I'm very proud of her for.



(and a half) She's very caring and I'm grateful that God put us together as sisters/sidekicks... forever.

Homework

I took these pictures last week. It was after school and Anna had already done what I thought was too much homework. She was content as could be. (and yes, I'm grateful for that)

And even Abigail was just going to get her viola off of the hook when I said, enough is enough.

I told them to go outside and BE TOGETHER.

You see, all summer these two are inseparable. They are best friends and sisters. And when school came I was just a few days in when I hated that after school was full of responsibilities that kept them apart.



So I told them to stop, put it way and go outside together.



"But mommy, I haven't practiced my viola yet!" said Abigail.

"Go anyway" I told her. (sorry Mr Lee)



Somewhere in my mommy heart I knew that they needed to have time together.

Nothing fancy, just time!



And it heals my heart from all this back to school jazz!

When Sister's Play

When sisters play you just never know what you're going to find.



These two girls are oh so excited about just 5 more days of school! I just know they'll have hours of fun in their little world together.

Sisters Who Play Together Stay Together

Their theme sister song



My girls are inseparable.  There is no need for play dates around here.  They have each other and they are best friends.  Yes, and like best friends they have their moments... but usually Abigail wines, Anna gives in and happily they go on. 

Anna has had a lot of extra work around here lately.  Like her "Plan a Day Trip to NYC" research project along with extra math we make her do, practice viola, and the fact that we can not get her nose out of Harry Potter has given Abigail a bit of extra time on her hands.







At first she didn't know what to do.  She wandered, she followed, she waited.  And then she found out that writing letters to me, her teacher, her sister, her best friend from church was where it's at. 



Kindergarten surely has changed this girl.  She is a confident writer; listening to all of the sounds in her words and writing them down.  She now has spaces (mostly) between her words, and I can read it without a problem (most times)  Don't ya just love the millions of hearts? 



But at the end of the day when she just doesn't get enough Anna time she falls apart.  Like tonight after Anna was finally all done with her work and I told Anna to close Harry Potter for the seventh time she asked her sister to snuggle in her bed with her under the covers. 



They need each other and I'm grateful, so very grateful that they have each other.  Best friends to the end. 

The Morning of Christmas Eve

While Mommy and Daddy ran around getting all ready for this party,



Anna and Abigail snuggled



and I mean really snuggled



on the couch to watch my all time favorite Christmas Movie.



I snuck away from getting ready for just a bit since I love it so much

and love these two so much. 



I know we were all feeling the magic of Christmas. 

The Best Days of Summer

We had plans today. I love to keep the girls learning, moving, outside, and at different places. But I walked into Anna's room today to find this.



It's not a rare moment. In fact it's all they do.






They are together. They are sisters. They are best friends.





There was urgency in Abigail's face as she was pretending that her bitty baby was sick.





How could I interrupt this? For these are the best days of summer. A whole day laid out in front of them with nothing to do... but be together.

Favorite Photo Friday ~ Ahh the Rose Garden

Every June the roses bloom at a beautiful park near our home.



Usually we go more than once to take in the beauty but this year we were only able to make it there one evening. Actually, I took all of these pictures in about a half hour.



I had fun playing around with textures but overall I feel like I over processed these. I love learning though!



The girls love to walk around and collect petals that have fallen on the ground.



When we get home they fill little teacups and put them on their dressers.













Happy, sweet, girl memories with my daughters.



Take a peek at some wonderful photos on my friend Lisa's blog...