Happy 7th Birthday Gwen!!

 

Here are a few photos from Gwen's 7th Birthday.

 

Gwen got to celebrate her birthday at school the day before her birthday since her birthday fell on a Saturday that year.  She really wanted to wear a nice dress for her birthday at school, so she picked one out.  She got a cute little hat from her teacher, I came and had lunch with her at school, and after lunch I passed out birthday cupcakes (from WalMart...I had too much going on at home with sick kids to make cupcakes for her class) to her class and went home to prepare for Georgia's birthday that night.

 

The PTA also sends home a slip of paper two weeks before your child's birthday, asking if you want to send your child a birthday gram, which is just a plastic cup with a little bit of candy in it along with a pencil, some little erasers, a stamp and some stickers.  It also comes with a personalized message from the parents, and it's not expensive, so we went ahead and did that for her.  She got it right before the end of the day and was so thrilled with it.

Unfortunately the next day-her birthday-I came down with the nasty stomach bug the older three had already had (Gracie was still trying to get over it though), so Robbie had to cook Gwen's birthday dinner, but he did a fantastic job making Sweet and Sour (or as the girls call them, Hawaiian meatballs, because there's pineapple chunks in the sauce) Meatballs and rice for her.

Her present from Rob and I, along with a new outfit, was this La La Loopsy Little doll.  She's been asking for one for the past year.

 

A new book from Robbie's mom.  It's one of the books in the Magic Tree House Series...she loves those books!!  Some got some other nice stuff too, like a book called E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core (book 2 in the Guardians series, like the Rise of the Guardians movie) from her Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Sessions, and a marionette puppet-hand made-from her Gigi and Pappy McCauley.  I wish I had a picture of that...it's so awesome!!

 

I was able to pull myself up off the couch for about 10 minutes to help Gwen decorate her cake.  She wanted it to look like a circus since the La La Loopsy toys were supposed to be from the circus.  Don't know why we did the Oreos...but they were a hit lol!!

Despite me being sick I think she had a fantastic birthday, and was very pleased with what she got, and was looking forward to her birthday party (post to come) a whole lot!!  Happy Birthday Gwen!!

A Letter To Gwen

My dear sweet Gwen the Pen.  You turned 7 this year.  How crazy (or as Maybel says "cray cray").  You can't be 7!!  I'm not old enough to have a 7 year old yet, though you may think I am. : )

 

Two years ago you turned 5, and I couldn't believe how quickly you had grown then.  How could I have a 5 year old?  You were getting so big so fast, and a lot of big things were about to happen that have helped you grow into the wonderful girl you are now.

 

We spent those first two months going to playgroups, having play dates, visitors came to see us, and we visited others.  We also started the process of slowly packing up our things for a big move to Oklahoma for Daddy's new job.  You seemed to understand what was going to happen and you went back and forth between being excited about moving to not wanting to leave Vermont.

 

We made our big move in April, and you really enjoyed seeing a whole bunch of family before we got to Oklahoma.  Once we were there, you made a bunch of new friends at church and some in our neighborhood.  You also had a lot of fun when Daddy and Mommy took everyone to fun things like the Zoo and Mayfest in downtown Tulsa, especially when you got to use markers to color all over a mini teddy bear and take it home from Mayfest.

 

You were a bit worried about tornados since we moved right at the beginning of the spring tornado season, but you showed how much faith you have by praying to Heavenly Father to keep us all safe every night.  Your faith was so impressive and we were so proud of you for it!  A couple weeks into July we got a break from the extreme heat and had a nice vacation in Vermont where you went swimming, played with cousins, went fishing and boating, caught your first fish, and went tubing.

 

Right after we got back from vacation, we had to hurry and prepare for the start of school.   I couldn't believe you were starting kindergarten-you had become so big way too fast.  We got your school supplies, met your wonderful amazing teacher, and before I knew it, I was putting a very excited you on the bus and crying all day long until you got home, still so excited about school and just filled with joy.  I was so proud of you!!

 

The next two months seemed to pass quickly as we went through the fall tornado season, homework, silly stories at school (like you pretending a pebble was a tooth and telling your teacher you lost a tooth so you could have a tooth box...your teacher thought that was hilarious!!), and occasional sleepovers with Mommy.  One of the highlights was Halloween.  You wanted to be Ariel again, but in her pink dining gown, so Mommy made your dress and you loved it, which made me happy too.

 

The next thing I knew our Thanksgiving at home and our Christmas in Vermont had passed, and you were having another birthday!  It didn't seem possible that you were 6 already-you had just turned 5!  We had a nice little family celebration, and two week later we had a big Dinosaur birthday party with your Primary classmates.  You also started the advanced reading program at school in January, and quickly went from 5 sentence practice books to paragraphs per page books.  Reading through the books so quickly helped you reach the 20 book mark that you needed to get in order to earn an award at the end of the school year ceremony.  I eventually lost count how many books you read in those 5 months, but it was at least 30.

 

The next few months you did a lot of fun things at school, including going on a field trip to the zoo.  You also started selling Girl Scout cookies, and did really well with that.  You loved Girl Scouts, and also loved Mommy's growing belly.  You loved it so much that you started talking and singing to the baby growing inside-something that you did the whole time I was pregnant, which made your new baby sister recognize your voice and turn to look at you and calm down so easily after she was born.  It was so sweet and I loved it.

 

In April Grandma Congdon came to visit and while she was here she not only helped us pack for our move to Texas, but we went to the Zoo, Red Lobster (your favorite restaurant-you love crab and lobster), and an awesome Dinosaur exhibit that you had been so excited to see.  We also had a nice Easter at home, cheered for you at your end of the school year award ceremony, cried with you as you said goodbye to many wonderful teachers and friends, and shared in your excitement over the new move and new friends in Texas.

 

We had just enough time after moving to completely unpack before we went on a big vacation.  You loved all the huge rock formations at the Carlsbad Caverns, becoming a Junior Ranger at the Grand Canyon, watching the bats at dusk with Great Grandpa Sessions, playing with your cousins and friends, but especially seemed to love the King Tut exhibit at the Idaho Falls museum.  You really loved looking at King Tut's actual mummy that they had on display there.  You told us over and over again how cool that was.

 

After vacation you helped prepare for the start of 1st grade (no way you are big enough for 1st grade...are you?) and for the arrival of your new baby sister.  You had expressed to us how worried you were that with a new baby, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't love you any more.  We reassured you that we would still love you, and that plus our actions seemed to help as you have recently told us that you had no reason to worry.  We could never stop loving our sweet little peanut!!  You loved your new baby sister, and did everything possible to help her and me (and you still do).  Your first day of school went wonderful, and you still continue to love going and love learning.

 

A few things that have stood out from the next few months.  First was that you fell in love with the movie Brave, and asked Mommy to make you a costume for Halloween, which I did, and which you loved.  I love making you and your sisters and your Daddy happy!!  The second was you loosing your first tooth!!  Man the excitement surrounding that event was amazing!!  I wish we could have bottled it up and kept it for sad days because you were just so happy, and that was right before our nice Thanksgiving at home.  The third was that they tested you at school to see what level you were at for Reading/English and Math.  Not only were you (and still are) excelling in both, but you are performing above your grade level.  You are doing math at a 3rd grade level, and you are reading at a third grade level, which was already apparent to us as you were reading chapter books-long chapter books.  You continue to show us every day what a smart cookie you are-and what an amazing memory you have!!

 

After having another nice Christmas in Vermont, we came home and a week later were celebrating your 7th birthday!!  How are you 7 already?!?  That's only one more year until a major milestone in your life-turning 8 and getting baptized (and you are so very very excited about that...or it could be because you can finally get your ears pierced).  It's sad to think about how much time has passed, and how quickly it has passed, since we held our tiny 5 1/2 pound baby girl for the first time.  You've grown up so much!!

 

You have been through so much the past two years but you changed and adjusted to everything so well.  Your outgoing and silly nature has helped you make quite a few friends everywhere we have gone.  Your courage to try new things and face new situations and be seen as grown up and independent has saddened us a bit, but we couldn't be prouder of you.

 Your love of learning amazes us every time you tell us a new fact or bring home another informational book from school.  Your creativity and your talent for art and imagination continue to grow and shine each year.  Your knowledge and understanding of the gospel and your sweet testimony are heart warming, and your love for outdoor activities and music have really started to pick up.  You are an amazing big sister, and a wonderful helper around the house.  You are such a smart, cheerful, fun loving girl, and we are so very grateful to have you as a part of our eternal family.  I love you so very very much my sweet peanut.  You are a blessing to all of us-one that I thank Heavenly Father for every day.  We love you so very much honey-with all our hearts and more!

 

Happy 7th Birthday!!

 

Love,

Mommy

Happy 4th Birthday Georgia!!

 

Here's some photos from Georgia's 4th birthday-I can't believe she's 4 already!!

 

A picture from that morning...she's grown so much!!  We spent the day doing fun things together-played some games, colored, watched movies, and she played with her princess and Barbie dolls.

Opening presents and loving the Tangled magnetic dress up doll set her Great Grandpa and Grandma Sessions gave her.  She also got some awesome books that we have read, and re-read, multiple times from her Gigi and Pappy.

Her present from Rob and I.  She also got a new outfit from us, and a couple other small things from other relatives.

 

Every year on their birthday, the girls get to pick their favorite dinner and we have it that night.  Georgia picked homemade Mac and Cheese, and told me it tasted delicious.  Because of birthday parties, I no longer do a big special cake for their actual birthday.  We just do something easy, and the girls have really come to love having some of their favorite toys on their cakes.  I found this Tangled birthday set at Wal Mart and it was too perfect to pass up, so we used it on her cake and she helped with the sprinkles.

Despite the fact that the stomach bug was making it's way from person to person in our house, Georgia said she had the best birthday ever, and was super happy with everything.  Can you guess what the theme of her birthday party was (post to come later)?

A Letter To Georgia

 

My letter to you this year will actually cover the last two years since Mommy was too sick last year with Genni that I didn't write a letter to you and I am so sorry.  I hope you can forgive me.

 

Last year you turned 3, and that was just so weird to me.  You had been my baby for so long that it didn't seem possible you were old enough to attend preschool!!  A lot had happened from the time you turned 2.

 

Shortly after you turned two we found out that we would be moving to Oklahoma.  So in between playgroup, play dates, spending every other weekend at Grandpa and Grandma Congdon's, and visiting with other family, we started to pack up our stuff.  During all that we continued to do little preschool lessons and art projects and your love for learning really started to bloom-and so did your do it myself personality.

 

Right after Easter we made the long trek to Oklahoma.  You did so well in the car though, and you really enjoyed visiting with the Fletcher side of Daddy's family and the McCauley side of my family.  Once we got to Oklahoma and got settled, you made a lot of new friends at church and played a lot with your new best friend Sarah.

 

At the end of July we took a vacation back to Vermont to visit.  It was the first time you had been on a plane, and you did so well!!  Flying really thrilled you, and so did catching your first fish while we were on vacation, as did all the other fun things we did.  Once we got back and your sisters started school, you enjoyed one on one time with Mommy doing our own little school lessons and projects, and sometimes just snuggling and taking a nap.

 

Your love for everything girly really started to shine in the next few months.  I thought your sisters had been girly, but compared to you they looked like tomboys.  You loved wearing skirts and dresses, constantly wore your princess dress up shoes all around the house, and you always wanted to wear jewelry.  You also developed a love for the movie Tangled, and was Rapunzel that year for Halloween.

 

The next thing we knew you were 3 already!!  Your personality continued to change and grow, and we started to notice just how stubborn you were.  We also noticed your love for Christ, and the great love you had for church (though that may have had something to do with nursery).  You and I had a lot of snuggle time during the next few months as Mommy's body was tired and sick due to growing you a new baby sister.

 

We had a lot of fun just spending time together in the mornings and going to Mommy's doctors appointments together.  You helped Gwen sell Girl Scout cookies, and helped Daddy play Wii games.  Your desire to help others and show how much of a big girl you were becoming started to shine through.

 

A lot happened in the next few months.  Grandma came to visit in April and you had so much fun having one on one time with her.  We moved at the end of May to Texas, where you showed just how outgoing you were by immediately making new friends.  You also showed how stubborn you could be by continually refusing to be potty trained.  No matter how hard we all tried to get you to use the potty, you kicked and screamed and threw a fit and refused to do it.

 

The next few months after we moved were busy again.  We took a big vacation to a bunch of national parks-Carlsbad Caverns, the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park.  We also got to see a lot of family that we hadn't seen in a long time-Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Sessions and mommy's aunt and uncle and cousin, Aunt Diana and Uncle Quinn and your cousins, and Uncle Matt and Aunt Jamie.  We also went back to Idaho and visited some really good friends.  We had an amazing time.

 

After we got back from vacation we prepared for school to start for your sisters, and while you were disappointed that you were too young still for the preschool program here, you were excited that you got to spend some time with mommy again.  We also prepared for your new baby sister to make her arrival, and when she did you adjusted so well and loved her and cared for her in any way you could. 

 

Things calmed down over the next few months, and you continued to amaze us with the things you learned and how you grew.  You finally decided to potty train (YAY!!), and once you did, it only took two weeks for you to be completely trained.  Your love for all things girly continued to grow as you started playing with princess dolls and Barbie's all the time, dressed up as a fairy (with sparkles on your costume) for Halloween, and asked for even more princess, Barbie and fairy stuff for Christmas.

 

 Now you are 4, and in Primary!!  I can't believe how much you have changed in the past two years!!  You and I were just talking to each other as I was writing this letter to you, and I was struck with just how much you've grown.  You are not only almost as big as your sisters, but your knowledge of things and your imagination is amazing.  You have been through so many life changing events in the past two years, yet you have adjusted so well.  Your outgoing nature has enabled you to make friends easily each time we have moved, and your courage to face new situations has impressed us.

 

 You act so grown up that sometimes its hard to remember that you are only 4.  Your love of learning and your creativity, and even your little lisp, just make you more of an interesting little girl.  You have such a sweet spirit and cute little testimony, and you are a fabulous little and big sister.  We love you so very much Shmooie, and Mommy loves you with all her heart more and more each and every day.  You are such a bright and happy girl, and we are so very blessed to have you in our eternal family!!  Happy 4th Birthday!!

Love,
Mommy



Spending Time With Rob's Parents

 

After opening presents on Christmas Day we drove 3 hours south to Rob's parents, had Christmas with them, and then spent a little over a week with them.  Most of these pictures are from their place, and all the fun we had with them.

 

My parents waited to decorate their Christmas tree until the girls were there to help them.  Gwen had to wear these beautiful cleaning gloves because Gwen is allergic to any type of pine tree pollen.  If she breathes it in she sneezes a ton and her it's like her seasonal allergies are back (or it makes them way worse).  If it gets on her skin or in her blood stream, she breaks out in hives-bad.  So it was a little harder for Gwen to help put ornaments on the tree, but she still had fun.

 

Genni was born on the same day as Robbie's Nana.  They now share a birthday, and not only is there that connection, but Genni's middle name Eva is Robbie's Nana's mother's name (or Robbie's Great Grandmother's name, if it makes it easier to it explain it that way).  It was great to be able to take Genni to see her and Robbie's Pappy.

Grace loved taking my mother-in-law's camera and taking pictures of everything, including herself.  What a cutie!!

Rob's mom had a bunk bed for Gwen and Grace to sleep in, and Georgia slept on a mattress on the floor.  Except for this nap.  I don't really recall why she went to take a nap.  Sometimes she just goes and lays down when she's tired and goes to sleep, all on her own, but it could have been the end to a temper tantrum.  It was just funny to find her wrapped up in the curtains when we checked on her (don't worry...they weren't anywhere near her neck, and we checked on her often).

My sweet Genni playing on the floor.  My brother-in-law's daughter, who is only 2 months older than Genni, was playing next to her.  Genni sure loved that little duckie toy, just like all the girls have.

Practicing sitting up on Grandpa & Grandma Congdon's couch while hanging out with Gracie.

One of the girls favorite things to do (and has been for a while) has been to play on my mother-in-law's ipod.  They asked for it all the time...some days we had to set a time limit and make them take turns because that's all they wanted to do.

We took the girls bowling while we were there.  They love bowling, and had so much fun.  Genni slept most of the time in my arms, and when she did wake up, she wanted to eat.

Georgia got so excited every time her bowling ball knocked down even one pin...though she got more excited when a lot or all of them were knocked down.

We went to visit someone in Robbie's parents ward after church there who has been to sick to get to church for a while.  He had been holding onto three jewelry boxes for Robbie's mom, and gave them to her while we were there.  The girls got a whole bunch of screw on and clip on earrings and a bunch of pins.

Gwen especially loved the earrings because she is excitedly awaiting when she turns 8 in 2014 because she gets a special day of shopping and dinner out with us, and is then allowed to make her first big decision concerning her body and get her ears pierced if she would like.  As I said, she is eagerly awaiting that time.

 

Our visit with both of our families was wonderful and although we were there for 2 1/2 weeks, and saw so many relatives, it just didn't seem like it was long enough.  We miss them all and we can't wait to see everyone again!!

Christmas Part 4-Christmas In Vermont

 

The girls woke up so super excited Christmas morning.  It was great to have both of my brothers and their wives there, and my sister Melissa, who had stayed with us for a little while.  A bunch of us sat at the top of the stairs with the girls while everyone else made sure things were ready downstairs.  Once we headed down though all you could hear were a bunch of excited squeals.  Here's a few pictures from that morning.

 

Genni with her gifts from both of her Great Grandparents on my side.

Genni with her gifts from Santa-a bunch of new books.

Georgia and her Santa gift-a Monster High Frankie Stein doll.

Georgia and her Magic School Bus Science Kit that my Dad's parents gave her.

My Mom's parents made the girls a ton of puppets and a puppet theater.  Gracie is playing with one of the puppets in this picture.

 

Gracie's Santa gift-a Monster High Draculara doll.

Gwen playing with another one of the puppets the my Mom's parents gave the girls.  You can also see her science kit there on the floor that my Dad's parents gave her (Gracie got one too).



 Gwen's Santa gift-a Monster High Clawdeen doll.

We once again read a part of the Christmas story from the scriptures to the girls every day as we counted down to Christmas, and between that and the happy looks on my girl's faces each time they opened a new present, we ended Christmas day with my heart filling full and blessed, and looking forward to the new year!