A Mother's Love

Recently while reading a book, I found this passage so sweet: What they knew, what was unspoken between us, what need never be explained or said, was that nobody would ever love us again like our mothers did. Yes, we would be loved, by our fathers, our friends, our siblings, our aunts and uncles and grandparents and spouses—and our children if we chose to have them—but never would we experience that kind of unconditional, nothing-you-can-do-will-turn-me-away-from-you kind of mother love. <3  Isn't that lovely?  I'm so happy I became a mother and have experienced that kind of love.  And now I appreciate my own mother's love even more.  It's a special special thing.

I might be a tad emotional because our big girl is having surgery on Friday.  She's having her tonsils and adenoids removed.  Always scary to send them off to surgery, but I'm ready for her to feel better, sleep better, and breathe better.  Oh Mills, our beautiful girl.

Yesterday, Millie's kindergarten class had a spring music showcase.  Daddy, mommy, and Nana all showed, which Mills loved, of course (Syd was at school).  We even got to dance an Irish reel with the kiddos!

Currently

It's been fun to watch Syd make friends this year.  I don't think that really happens until after they turn three (Cayden and Mills are definitely an exception).  Syd has several friends in her preschool class that she just adores.  And over the course of the year, we've found some of these same friends have joined the white gym (mommy's gym where Syd goes to childcare) and Syd's Little Gym class!  She gets so excited and plays so hard.  It's exhausting having so much fun. ;)

We've started family movies nights this winter.  Willy Wonka, Up, Wall-E, and the Good Dinosaur have been the first picks.  Special time snuggling with the girls.

We finally made it out to the newly renovated Lake Atalanta, and it's awesome!!

Millie has conquered the monkey bars, and sometimes that means "rips".  I assume her hands get sweaty and she keeps going?  I don't know, but this huge blister was a big ordeal.  We think it's funny that Mills calls them rips.

Piddy LOVES when her fingernails are painted.  Girly-girl, for sure.

Syd's first time roller skating was last weekend at Finley's bday party.  One of the cutest things ever - she had a huge grin on her face the whole time!  side note: she likes to wear this dress to bday parties ;)

Saturday morning awesomeness at the Little Trike Theater, which put on the interactive production of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Before the show, the kids made puppets.  Amanda caught this funny moment between M & C.  Millie's face is priceless.

Everyone was enthralled!

The Fab Four got to participate and go over the bridge with the first billy goat (of course, Syd backed out and got on my lap)!

Big news in NWA: it finally snowed!  Sadly, it was pretty much just a dusting.  Millie wasn't about to miss out though.  She's been DYING for snow.  Thus, I bundled them up and let them out into the back yard.

Lots of snow tasting.

So much snow tasting.

I really wish we could've had a few feet for them to play in this year.  They want to build a snowman and make snow ice cream.  Maybe next year...

Sunday we made a quick trip to Eureka Springs to meet Tricia, Jocelynn, and Maya for lunch and shopping!

A fun little girls' day!  Mills & Syd felt very big getting to go into all of the shops.

Syd's been working on dropping her nap a few days a week.  Two days in a row gets her though.  I got her out of the car after Eureka and she refused to wake up.  Precious baby of mine.

I know this pic is hard to see, but it cracked me up.  We met C & B at the trampoline park yesterday afternoon.  Mills & Cayden worked hard on building this little house, especially the door to the house.  When Beck successfully made it through the door, Cayden celebrated!  Ha!  Love them.

Milestones

My dad turned 60!  This is mostly how I remember him from my childhood - really hairy with baseball coach shorts on. ;)  He was an active and present dad...always out in the backyard playing catch with Brandon or coaching a team or even playing on a team himself.  He certainly wasn't lazy.  He kept our house and yard in immaculate shape, and he did not like it one bit if someone rode their bike in our yard.  He loved to camp and hunt.  He was an animal lover, and I've always loved that about him.  He let us have all the pets we wanted and he gave them love too.  He's easy to love because he so easily loves.  I realize I'm talking about him in the past tense, but only because I'm reminiscing...

Between the girls being silly and the sun shining in our eyes, it was hard to get a good pic.  This is more real life anyway, I suppose.  

We sure do love you, Papa!  More than we love cake...

A fun day celebrating my dad.  I love seeing him and Grandma Tricia with our girls.

Then we had a sleepover at Mimi & Pa's house so we could help celebrate Blake's 30th the next day.  Pa loves puzzles, and the girls love trying to help.  Papa is so funny when the girls are there.  He laughs all the time and gets a kick out of their energy and cartoons.  I enjoy the time with mom and Mimi (& the wine); we are all so comfortable there.  It's fun staying at Mimi & Pa's!

Early morning co-pilot trip to Target

A special treat while we shop...

...two minutes later, of course.  *sigh*

Oh my goodness, I love being around Blake.  Millie really loves being around Blake.  He's always smiling.  And he's a really good bowler.  It was so awesome to celebrate him, for once!

Syd was upset her face wasn't in the picture more ;)

Silly string shenanigans...can you see Millie hiding the can behind her back?  I think Blake had a really good day celebrating with family and friends!  We love you, Blaker!

Millie made this tiny teacup at school.  Cool, huh?

Syd is still hanging on to her naps, most days.  She can skip a nap every once in awhile, but it's hard on her.  Thankfully, she's great at napping with other things going on.  I'll go to pick her up from school and she'll still be snoozing with the lights on and kids playing all around her.  More often than not, she'll nap on our family bike rides too.  World class napper!

A local art studio has Friday fun nights for kids.  Millie loves seeing her friends she doesn't get to go to school with, and their giggling is out of control.  This pic cracks me up because these girls are 7 and 10 months older than Millie, respectively.  Our girl is going to be so tall!

Guess what?  Syd can skip!!  I remember this being a big deal when Millie could do it, and it's no less special with Syd.  She's so proud of herself and has been skipping every place we've gone this week.  It makes for slow-going but also makes me smile to watch her.

Love is in the Air

I love Valentine's week.  So much heart-shaped goodness.  It's a feel-good holiday that celebrates love...which I love!  Syd decided she needed some colors in her hair to make it all the more festive.

We've had very little winter weather this year.  Global warming, perhaps?  It's great for me, as a mom...we get some random park days in the middle of winter.  It makes Millie so sad though.  She's dying to go sledding and make a snowman.

These four play so hard <3

I got to attend both girls parties this year.  Millie was very proud of her Valentines box.

She loves Pop Rocks, so these Valentines were perfect for her!

 Syd gets to attend most of Millie's parties too.

Syd loves getting to be a part of it, and Millie loves showing her off.  win-win

Christie came back to OK for the week, and we were able to meet her at the zoo.  It was 80 degrees that day!  In February!  A couple of little girls were sweaty, cranky, and tired by the end of the day.  The thing with kids is you never know what you're going to get....this day just happened to be a really high maintenance day.  But at least I got to spend time with my friend.

This is the same turtle I used to stare at as a kid.  Looks more like a dinosaur than a turtle.

This makes me so happy.  I love Christie.  My girls love Christie.  Wish we were able to see her more often.

Is there anything cuter than this face?!

Kind of love this

Lots of geese to feed lately!

Poor Syd.  I realize this pic is hard to make out, but Syd's crib has been turned into a toddler bed.  One side is missing, which makes it too easy for her to fall out.  Or in this case, to turn perpendicular where only half of her body is on the bed.  She complains almost daily that she wants the side put back on.  I've got to get her a bigger bed pronto!

Millie has conquered the monkey bars!  She's worked so hard on this.

Syd's party was actually on Valentine's Day this year.  Her valentine is Mrs. Kim ;)

 Sassypants picked out Shimmer and Shine valentines for her friends

Piddy and the boys.  She loves her friends at school, especially the little blonde boy on her left.  His name is Christian and they are such good little friends.  It's so sweet to watch them.

My forever valentine <3