What's with this kid?

That's right, this long-legged beauty is my little Chloe May. When did she grow up? Last time I looked her arms were so short and chubby that they couldn't reach over her head! Last time I looked, she had a round bald head and pudgy feet! Last time I looked, she was a curious baby holding a book up with her toes practicing her "reading". Little did I know that my little seedling would sprout into this happy, bright blossom! She'll be turning 8 a week from today and she'll be getting baptized a week from Saturday. She has the beginnings of her own testimony. She's been taught right from wrong and wants to choose the right. Seeing the ways that Chloe has learned and grown these past eight years gives me great confidence that she is ready to make good decisions on her own. I can't wait to see how this blossom grows in the next eight years!

My Buddy. . .

. . .my buddy, wherever I go, she goes. . .

Ashley is my cute little buddy while her older sisters are at school. Being the only kid home, Ashley doesn't like to play downstairs by herself. So most of the time, I'm either playing Barbies with her or she's cleaning the kitchen with me. This child who has had the least attention because of birth-order is finally getting her "Mommy time". Its fun to talk to her and find out what she thinks about things. Her tiny voice and witty sense of humor make me smile. I'm going to treasure this time with my last baby home. She can't wait to go to kindergarten next year, but I can.

Happy All Hallow's Eve!

Jessica gave an awesome presentation in 1st Grade about the history of Halloween. This holiday has been her favorite ever since she watched "Nightmare Before Christmas" when she was two. If we needed her to stop crying we would just pop in the CD or DVD and her eyes would get big and the cries would fade. As part of her presentation she drew a poster-sized mummy. She had a great idea to cut it into a big puzzle that she and her classmates could put together as they learned about the puzzled history behind Halloween. I was so proud of how confident Jess was in front of her friends. She read with expression and was very fun to watch.

Instead of a treat this Halloween, we got tricked! I took Jess into the doctor to look into an ongoing problem and we left with two ghoulies diagnosed with Strep! It made for a quick trick-or-treating session and then it was off to the grandparents house for Sloppy Joes and scary Shaun the Sheep episodes. Thanks for the great time, Jim and Janice!