Abigail's 'moving up' Preschool Day (part 1)

It happened back in June but I can't not post these pictures!  Abigail finished her '3 year old' preschool year and her teachers have a special 'moving up day' to celelbrate.  It's part singing preschool favorites, part diploma, part party.  I pulled Anna out from school that morning so that she could come.  It was one very special morning and Abigail was beaming!

Here she is walking up to receive her certificate. 

A new favorite

sweet, innocent, themselves

How many more years will I be able to find matching dresses?  I cringe when I go into my favorite stores now that Anna is in a size 8!!!  I get that panic feeling knowing that most childrens stores only go up to size 12.  I'm hanging on to these next 4 years when I know I can find matching dresses. 

I have very limited time on the computer (because I won't be on it when they're awake and I'm too tired at night to start trying to learn something new) but I'm learning so many new things at once. It's slow going for me on the computer but I'm taking baby steps toward photoshop, lightroom and editing. It seems that once I learn one new tool, something changes and I have to learn 10 new things along with it. So for a while my pictures will be straight out of the camera until I can figure out these new editing tools.

More rose garden shots to come.  They were so silly that evening and had so much fun together.  Most of my shots are so funny.

Anna's Day in NYC

We love taking the girls to New York City.  It's a short 2 hour drive or a 1 1/2 hour train ride away.   It was a hot one... 90 in May!  Our first stop was Central Park...



After too long on the tire swing Anna was sick, poor thing.  The water spray area cheered her up a bit. 







A short walk to FAO!






Abigail picked out a little doggie and named him "New York City"


No day in NYC is complete without a taxi ride.



We always take a picture of the girls in Times Square. 







Super fun day to celebrate Anna's birthday.  Looking forward to going back again in the fall.

ballet

A few pictures of Anna's end of the year ballet recital. 






I love how Abigail adores Anna oh so much and wants to do everything she does. 














Honestly, I was so proud of her but (shh) glad the year of ballet was over.  Only because it's on a very busy night already and at a difficult time.  Somehow in the fall and spring I didn't mind it but yuck, in the winter I never wanted to go.  Maybe next year her class will fall on a better day.  I do know that I'm so enjoying the summer unscheduled! 

It's great to be 8!

While everyone is posting their summer pictures I'm still back in the spring busyness.  I just don't want to forget these moments. I'll be caught up soon...

Anna wanted go to NYC for a day instead of a huge "friend party" this year.  I was excited!  So we headed to to NYC with our special friends at the end of May (pictures to come soon) 

We had a pioneer themed dinner party on her birthday with family.  Anna loves the Little House on the Prairie books.  (my all time favorite)  I've been reading them to her at night one after another.  Yes she can and does read them but I still like reading to her at bedtime.  We are on 'By the Shores of Silver Lake'.  I love the descriptions in those books.  I love the pure hard work that went into raising a family.  I makes me so grateful to simply throw my clothes in the washer.  I find myself complaining less when I have to run the vacuum while I'm reading those books.

We found some slates for the table.  Anna picked out the wild flowers in mason jars for the table too. 

























Anna's birthday is always a bit difficult for me because I wasn't there when she was born and I missed her first birthday.  I always find myself with such mixed emotions on her special day.  So happy for her, a regular kid loving turning 8 and then remembering back...  Her birthday always reminds me of her first year of life and it makes me sad.  It still does and always will make her Dad and I so very proud of her for enduring more than anyone I know has ever been through.  No child should ever know a life without parents.  No child should ever spend infancy without love.  But they do and she did. 

8 great things about Anna:

1.  She's a fighter.  No matter how hard it is to overcome PTSD she gets better each year.  She lets our love in a little deeper with each birthday.

2.  She is fiercely devoted to her little sister.  I love how Abigail is truly her best friend.  She is the one she wants to play with when she comes home from school and on weekends.  She watches over her everyday.  She is kind and considerate about her food choices around Abigail and her allergies.  She shares her most important toys and actually wants Abigail to play them with her.  She gives her special jobs to do when she's busy.  She just loves her more than I could have ever imagined.

3.  Anna has a wonderful childhood imagination.  Rather than play a game, watch TV, or play something the way 'it's meant to be played,' Anna creates a world of play all on her own.  She is especially creative and comes up with the coolest ideas.

4.  She forgives easily and has to since she is my 'first' and I often make the most mistakes with her.

5.  She still lets me (most of the time) pick out her clothes.  And that's a big on since I would list one of my hobbies as 'loving childrens clothing'.  I'd rather buy a georgeous dress for my girls than a new something for me.

6.  She is content where she is (which is younger in emotional age).   She is not at all interested in what the 'older' 8 year olds are.  She loves the shows her little sister watches.  She's drawn to 'old fashioned' books, she listenes to fun and silly children's cds.   It sure makes my job easier and I adore that she's still enjoying her young childhood.

7.  She creates awesome 'shows' for her and her sister to perform in for her dad and I.

8.  When I look deep into her eyes I can see and feel what God's love is.  We are all His adoped sons and daughters.  Anna is a mirror image of that love.  I love you sweetheart.

Anna's First Holy Communion

It was in the beginning of May and here we are at the end of June... wow this has taken me a while! 

I began to dream of this day starting when her Baptism was over.  I remember taking off her Baptism gown and giving her a bath that night.  I actually remember putting her baby footie jammies on her and feeling, really feeling, that she had been blessed that day.  It all just felt different.  It was a wonderful feeling.

I love being Catholic.  I love everything about it especially the Sacraments.  I knew that her First Holy Communion would be so very special.  Our Church exceded my expectations.  In addition to weekly Religious Ed classes she attended two all day Retreats, and many Bible Studies. She was emersed in the Sacraments and I was so very proud of her for giving it her all. 

And then there were the yummy moments I had because there was so much to get ready for.  I bought her dress a year ahead.  Oh how beautiful she looked in it.  It's packed away now waiting for her sister.... I get to do this again in four more years, yeah! 

So this is part one... more to come on the party that followed.  These pictures were taken by an amazing professional, Matthew J. Wagner.  I knew that I knew I couldn't get the shots I wanted that day.  And I was right.  My pictures were not my best.  I was too involved in Anna's moments, I could barely remember how to change the settings.  I'm so glad I had her pictures taken.  These are those.

These pictures were taken at a flower park close to my house.  They make the pictures extra special to me because they make me think of my Grandpa who loved flowers and loved this park.  He would have loved Anna. 

Spring Jobs They Love

I love the way it looks when it's all done.  They love planting.  Each late spring we plant cheerful marigolds lining the walkway to our front door.  It's kind of storybook'ish' and I'll do it forever.