Haleigh's Gap

In late October Haleigh lost her first tooth. She was so excited! She "wrote a note" to the tooth fairy to ask if she would leave it for her memory box. She also requested the tooth fairy leave some money and a toy ;) We explained the tooth fairy really was too small to carry a toy around.

(This tooth pillow was Mark's when he was a little boy.)

Just before I was walking out the door to one of our Christmas parties, Haleigh ran over and asked me to pull her second tooth. She is now very proud to be sporting a cute little gap on her beautiful face!

Our Sweet Mackenzie

Three, really!! It is hard to believe all you have been through in your three years, but through it all you have been such a trooper. You are full of spunk, strong will, fun, and laughs. You crack us up with your little attitude and the looks you give us. You (and the journey you have taken us on) have been such a blessing in our life. Who would have imagined that at three you would be so strong and healthy! We thank God for that and for you!! We love you big girl!!

Mackenzie's 3rd Birthday

On Mackenzie's actual birthday we were fortunate to have perfect seats at the Nutcracker Ballet. The hardest part of the performance was deciding if I should watch the ballet or my girls' faces as they watched in wonder!

On the way home the birthday girl shined as she listened to loved ones singing "Happy Birthday."

The following day we had a party for both Mackenzie and Haleigh at "Giggle Bugs."

Highlights from Christmas so far...

Mackenzie helping make tassies.Watching Christmas movies with Daddy.

A helping hand with wrapping.

Granny lights up whenever Sophie plays "Granny's song."Mom and the three of us "girls" slipped away for a special trip to a dainty little shop.

Cousins playing in the snow.

My favorite gifts to give this year were the "Gratitude Jars." My sister was the ring leader of the idea, it was a joy to think back to many memories of growing up to the present and thank Mom and Dad for the parents they are to us.

Poppy and Grandma with all their grandkids.

Playing in the snow was a blast!

Having time to laugh and soak up family- unbeatable!!

He (and he) Said Just Be

Late last night, in reality early this morning, I looked at the girls dresses ready for the morning hustle that Sunday morning brings and I was excited. Not so much to see my precious girls all decked out in their Christmas dresses (though is was a sweet thing to take in.) I was excited to stop all the "doing" that we are all doing this time of year and just "be." Be focused on Him. Be still and know He is what it is all about. Be quiet and know He is my rest. Be with Him fully, focused on nothing else.
I woke up feeling nasty with a cold, then DayQuil kicked in. We had fun with our first grade Sunday School class. Then we were there just being, sitting, waiting for the choir... oh the choir! The praises being raised about took my breath. My Sophie praising beside me looking to heaven, hand raised, singing her heart out. Mark beside me singing, holding my hand. It was about all I could take. Then, one of our Pastors, Brian Onken, spoke such passionate words of Our Father God, how incredibly good He is and loves us- not just Jesus loving us but God, the Father who we make out to be distant... The freshness of the Word.
Mark canceled a dinner we had planned on having at out house and told me to just rest for the rest of the day. I spent the rest of the day on the couch, intermittently napping and watching football. Yes, a day of just being and resting. Exactly what I needed!!
(I have many many events waiting to be posted, but we've been doing too much to even stop and record it all. Soon a massive update will come!)

Whose The Best For Good Queen Bess?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYQKDvZ-UVk
Sophie's "Essentials of the English Language" class had their big event of the year this evening. Faces of History is an evening when the students get to show the work they have put in over the last several weeks as they learned and practiced the steps of writing a "mini research paper." Once their reports were written, edited, dressed up, and edited again, they were shifted into first person. This evening each student "became" their character and shared what they had learned.
From the first day Sophie learned of this assignment, that would finalize itself with her dressed up as a queen entertaining a crowded room of strangers... she couldn't wait! Sophie originally wanted to "be" Elanor of Aquitaine, but that character had already been claimed. Sophie hustled to get her second choice Queen Elizabeth I. She was to pick one topic of the Queen's life to speak on. Right away she knew she wanted to research the many suitors after the Queen's hand.
The evening was great. I was so proud of my girl's confidence, boldness, and that cute little accent :) I almost burst into tears when it was over, but then got tickled at the final curtsy long enough to recover from my ball of emotions. (On the way home Sophie was thinking of what next year's time period might be and who she might portray for the next Faces of History:)

Good Queen Bess - quick pic

Here are the quick pics till I get the video loaded :)

Kickin' Off the Christmas Celebration!!

Who Cooked Your Turkey?

"You should have run faster!" were the words spoken by our new chef to our Thanksgiving turkey.

Our Medieval Feast

Monday was the last meeting of our co-op until the new year. As we wrapped up week 12 we celebrated with a Medieval Feast (much of our history memory work has been from this time period.) The kids dressed up in some type of Medieval costumes and were treated like royalty. The older students in the co-op had the day off, but many still chose to come and serve the younger ones. Some of the Daddy's even showed up as Musketeers! You should have heard the girls squeal with delight when they saw that Daddy was there and part of the festivities!(Sophie was all about the curtsy!)

Each class gave a small presentation. Haleigh's class sang a song about the different kinds of stars. Sophie's class spoke on the significant symbols and colors of family crests. Sophie's teacher even made each of her students a crest that symbolized their personal strengths.

Many families created a family crest for the feast. Here is ours...

Mackenzie got to have a "picnic lunch" in extended nursery time. A special grandma, who is actually a clown, came to care for the youngest children during this time and shared her talent of face painting. Needless to say, Mackenzie was very proud of her puppy face! (Even the next morning, forgetting we had washed it off the night before, said, "Don't wash my face it is cute and beautiful!")

As we ponder the many, many things we have to be thankful for our CC co-op is high on that list. Monday was such a great experience for the girls (and for Mom and Dad ;)

Fillin' Up the Love Tanks

Life has been moving at a pretty quick pace around here over the last month. We haven't had a lot of time to just slow down and be a family. So Saturday we cleared our daytime plans and headed up the into the mountains. Our destination was Highlands, NC. After a bit of a drive we soaked in the quaint little town with a sweet downtown. We started in a coffee shop and then headed to a toy store to observe what could make the Christmas lists this year.

After a great lunch with our young ladies we drove about seven minutes down the road and there was a little turn off that steered you right behind a waterfall. It was pretty cool!!

About another tree miles down the road we arrived at Dry Falls. Two sets of stairs led us down to some beautiful falls.

Guess what... you could simply walk behind them. It was pretty amazing!!

Another skip up the road took us to a beautiful lake with a little wooded path around it. We walked, skipped, and ran around it. By the time we finished our lap pockets were full of rocks, hands were full of sticks, and hearts were filled with love!! Then of coarse, we headed back to town to fill our bellies with ice cream!!

It was a much needed, beautiful day of family!!

Simple Joys of Sisterhood!