Writing, Writing, Everywhere

The other day we went to pick Lizzy up from a play date.  The kids were outside playing with chalk, and Peter and Catherine quickly joined in.  Later, as I was piling everyone into the car, I noticed what Peter had been working on.  Wow!  What awesome writing!  I love that he is becoming so aware of letters, and so interested in writing.  It's awesome.  He is certainly ready for Kindergarten this fall.

Grandparents' Day

We are so, so lucky we have such special Grandparents.  They drove for hours to spend the morning with Lizzy at her school for Grandparents' Day.  They visited her classroom where she got to show them all around.  After, we all went to church, and heard a wonderful service from Father Edward.  How thankful we are for our Grandparents!  What joy it is to spend time together, laughing and playing, just enjoying one another.  I am so thankful for the calm, steadfast strength and support we always get from our dear Grandparents.  I'm so thankful my kids get to spend so much time with them, and that they love them so much.  What a gift!

A Mommy Sighting!

We went to the park the other day with our friend, Charlie.  After playing for a while, he asked me, Peter, and Catherine if we would sit down on this bench and he would take our picture.  Later, when I looked at the pictures, I was so pleasantly surprised.  Not only did he capture everyone smiling, but I even got to be in a picture for once.  How fun!  See kids!  You do actually have a mommy.

Girl With A Curl

Maybe these will stick........who knows?  But regardless, they are really adorable right now.  I love Catherine's soft, sweet curls.  I love to stroke her baby hair, and feel it's gentleness and softness.  I had an epiphany while doing this the other day, "Wow!  A mother literally loves every hair on their child's head!"  And, it's true!  We do!  Even Peter will often say, "I love Catherine's little curls, mommy."  So sweet!

Baby Show-Off

Whenever we drop Lizzy off at school, Peter, Catherine and I wait a few minutes until the bell rings to say good-bye.  Peter and I usually hang back, trying to give the kids a little space.  Catherine, on the other hand, runs right over to the kids where she is scooped up and fawned over.  She loves every minute of it.  Often Lizzy will run over to us, pick up Catherine, and bring her over to the benches where her classmates are waiting.  A group of little girls will immediately gather around, ooing and ahing over Catherine, begging to get a chance to hold her, and smiling and playing with her.  It's hard to tell who is  loving this more.  Lizzy absolutely loves getting to show off her baby, and Catherine, of course, loves all her adoring fans.  It's pretty amazing to see a group of little girls with a baby.  They are like a group of tiny mothers, transfixed by the wonder of the baby, dying for a chance to snuggle with her and take care of her.  I love to see Lizzy so proud of her little baby, so excited to show her off to her friends.  And I'm so amazed by Catherine.  She spreads such joy to everyone around her.  Her love is contagious.

The Cutest Shadow

Toddling little babies are perhaps one of the very cutest things ever!  I love watching Catherine walking all over, exploring her world.  She's so happy going for walks!  Seeing her little shadow prancing along  beside her is one of my very favorite things.

Little Reader

Lizzy is such a reader now, it's awesome!  My dream for her, and all the kids, is that they will love books so much that they will want to curl up with one on their own and get lost in a story.  I love when I find Lizzy on the couch, or laying on her bed, quietly reading to herself.  It makes my heart smile every time!  We still take time to read together every night, which is precious time that I treasure with her, but it's also so fabulous to see her really beginning to enjoy books.