first teeth!

(hurry up little teeth, you're hurting my gums!)

Before this very important date slips my mind, this little boy got his first tooth on Tuesday! The likely lower central incisor. The neighboring tooth is following closely behind. It's almost through those swollen little gums! He's a few months ahead of Lizzy, she didn't get her first tooth until she was 14 months old. But who's counting... I'm just happy to avoid the dreams of having my infant fitted for dentures because she is the only 1 year old with no teeth!

This picture was taken 4 years ago, the summer Mr. W started pharmacy school. I love looking at this picture. My little girl was 6 years old, and her life was about to change as we began a new adventure.

 She was about to learn a lot about sacrifice, hard work, and how much we really love being together as a family. Some days there was not as much time for play as there used to be. Some days daddy was exhausted and overwhelmed. Many days his day began at 5:00 am and ended at 12-1:00 am. 

Still he played, and read bedtime stories faithfully.

 And that is why I love this picture.

(him wearing the gown, her wearing the cap and carrying his hood)

It makes me cry. 

My sweetheart has made so many sacrifices the past 4 years. And so has my little girl. This picture perfectly represents our determination, hard work, and sacrifice as a family. 

 My little girl has changed a lot 

the past 4 years. She looks more like a teenager. (sometimes she even acts like one)

My Mr. has changed a lot too. What he has accomplished is no small feat. Now I know why only 3% of the American population has a doctorate degree. It was not easy! 

There were plenty of tears, much loneliness, sleep deprivation, (mostly him) 

and frustration.

But now it feels oh so good! 

I guess the saying is true, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

We are definitely stronger as a family.

This process has been excruciating at times, but happy too.

To you my Mr., I am so proud!

Not only did you do it, 

you did it beautifully!

xoxo

this girl.

so, last night after mr. w and i finish working out, we all sit together on the floor for fhe. (this semester it's moved from monday to wednesday...yucky schedule) L hops on mr. w's back and says, "ooh dad, your back's all wet. kinda like it, it's sort of sticky." she cracks me up. it was even better watching my mr. with his face in his hands laughing helplessly. kids are great!

::no pics today. camera is in the shop getting cleaned. $75 later, let's hope the spots go away.

take time to read...

..especially to your kitties! L does 20 minutes of reading each morning. She finds it much more enjoyable when she rounds up the kitties and they have story time in the mud room. This girl loves her cats. 

We did an "extreme makeover" in her room this week. These pictures are now framed and hanging above her bed. Each night we all end up laughing as we kneel to say prayers and look above her bed to see her two cats starring at us!

the best neighbors ever!

this morning our little neighbor brought us some cookies. l and b use symbols for one another when they pass notes. (radio active for b and peace sign for l) this was the best note ever! i was so relieved to know the cookies are cyanide free :)

for the mr. at school...

because we missed you this morning. but, we are happy with the weekend festivities and celebrations. thank you once again.

 

L was happy this morning. why wouldn't she be. she's worked so hard to prepare all of her 32 valentine's, (combined two of my favorites here and here) and was more excited than ever been to deliver them. of course, she's always happy when i greet her in the morning with, "would you like heart shaped pancakes for breakfast?" 

remember our conversation last night about how giving undivided attention goes a long way? still working! she got dressed with no grumbling, let max out for the morning routine..you know what i mean, thanked me profusely for such a yummy breakfast, rinsed and packed all of her dishes- without being asked, and got all of her valentine's and backpack loaded up...once again without being asked! that makes for a great morning for the mommy too!

wasn't it a great weekend? missing you...

tooth + sewing again.

yesterday i went to help in L's classroom. she ran up to me with a handmade, folded and taped envelope and said "it's for you." i shoved it in my pocket and asked her to go back to her desk..  her teacher was right in the middle of giving instructions. this little girl is always, and i mean always, doodling something for me. love it. we proceeded to the science experiment, then afterwards she said, "mom, you haven't even looked at the envelope!" i pulled it out of my pocket and she had pulled her tooth out at school! i had checked that tooth a few days ago, and it was NOT that loose. if i had to guess, she was sitting at her desk for an hour or so working that tooth, and not paying the least bit of attention to what was going on around her. i love this girl! that's a talent.. to be able to tune life out and be in your own- i MUST pull this tooth out right this very minute world. yep, i bet she missed the entire reading hour...

:: loved the fabric on the dress so much that i had to make a top out of it too! loving this one as well..

my angel.

the big day was in june. it only took me until september to take the photos. and until november to post them. i was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 

 every time i look at these my heart melts. my little girl, do you know how much i love you? do you know how proud i am of you? do you know how shocked i was that you asked me to make your dress instead of buying the ones you tried on at that little shop? i know you really do know all of these things, because i tell you everyday. you make me so happy. 

happy halloween!

it's been awhile... but here we are, and it's halloween.

 it's been a great one! as i type, my little hippie and her daddy are trick-or-treating, and i'm here listening to "the great pumpkin" in the background.  we had a halloween party at school yesterday, and one today with 5 of l's friends. she said it was the "best party ever," thanks to these gals. it feels great to be in our house and feel like we're home this holiday season. happy...

it's someone's birthday tomorrow...

oh pray for me that this will actually turn out! i guess there's not as much pressure since it's fam this year. the cousins are coming from orem for a sleep over. somebody's excited...  wonder who?

big day.

L lost tooth #3 this morning. she wanted it out before school to show all of her friends! the little tooth is in a medicine jar, tucked into the pocket on bobby the aphid's tummy.  just in time for all of the second graders to see at the morning circle. happy day for my girl. 

soccer and house.

it's soccer season again! despite our best efforts to steer her in a different direction, she decided to play again. i don't mind the whole soccer thing really, but do you see those mountains? it's not warm. really. at least it wasn't that day.  

this year she's getting a few kicks in! see those gold shoes? they are her "lucky" shoes.




and as for the house...

we l.o.v.e. it! 

this was a scary scene for a few days. we now have temporary stairs until the metal ones are fabricated.

spring sewing.

sewing is happening around here again. it is spring after all. this is an altered (sleeves and empire waist with slight gathering in front and back) oliver +s sailboat top pattern. (for better or worse) as it turns out.. better for my girl and her little figure..
...
i have lots of ideas swirling around in my cranium for summer patterns. that's what happens to me every year at this time. it's all part of the spring excitement! 

by the way.. did i mention how happy we are to be wearing sandals and short sleeves? it's swinging weather again in this valley and we're feeling happy!

what makes you happy?

The wait is over.. we finally let miss L get her ears pierced! She has been asking for a year or so, and we gave in. I knew she could take care of them herself, and she agreed to wear only non-dangley earrings. I felt okay about it until we watched a boy get both of his ears pierced before her. Something felt really wrong. What in the world was I doing paying someone to put holes in my daughter's ears? Needless to say, I went through with it and she is one happy girl! I'll admit it, I think they are really cute and girly.

Now, I know this shouldn't make her happy, but you know L. (her obsession with doctor stuff and all) She was invited to a roller skating birthday party and, well, need I say more? Instead of being at home and preparing my Thanksgiving feast, I was in the doctor's office getting her x-rays and bandaged. Before we found out it was in fact broken, she said she was hoping to get a cast. She won.

medusa joins the halloween parade.

I love holidays! Today all of the children at school dress-up and have a costume parade through the halls. L looks forward to it every year. On the way to school she said, "I'm sure glad I had the swine flu last week and not today." Me too little girl, although I'm not sure I'm glad I had the swine flu...ever.

It was so fun to see the children file into the classroom one by one, checking out who was who and full of excitement. Ms. Checketts is so wonderful to let the children be wiggly and rambunctious and join right in the fun with them. (one little girl had to tell Ms. Checketts that her witch voice was scaring her and asked if she was going to use that voice all day. she agreed that is was probably a little frightening and would use her Ms. Checketts voice instead)

I will head back to school this afternoon to host the class Halloween party. What a fun day. Happy Halloween...