Making Art Again

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Babs and Grandad couldn't come down for Magzie's birthday so a couple of weeks later they met us at The Great Wolf Lodge. We had such a blast and the kids are convinced that we went to Disney World.
Libby still wears the wolf ears. The weekend that we were there they were an extension of her head! Please forgive the sassy posing, I really don't know where she gets that from.

This is their "this place is awesome and can we move here face."

Kev was the coolest at TGWL. He's a big kid at heart.

It is a huge blessing to see my Dad looking so healthy this year. I feel like I need to post every picture I have of him looking so great! Looking good Daddy-o!

Cooper is loved the water park too, the evidence is him sleeping through sitting on couch with these wild girls!

Grace and Peace

xoxo

A Birthday Party

I couldn't not throw her a party. If you go to the Making Art Again archives circa 2012 you'll see another four year old birthday party that was ridiculously over the top. I couldn't do that where we live now, but I could hang some snowflakes from the room and call it an Elsa party! We had cupcakes and hot chocolate with friends and we all sang "Let it Go" at her request. She thought it was perfect.

I love this picture. She was overcome with joy when her friends sang Happy Birthday to her and her eyes filled up with tears. She hugged me so tight until the song ended. Bless her.

Dancing and singing with friends! Little people are so fun.

Grace and Peace

When You're Four

Despite all my best efforts to keep my children little, they keeping growing. Stretching every season into amazing little human beings. The sweetest little girl in all the world had another birthday this winter. She loved having a day just to celebrate her life.

We had decided to send Mags to preschool this year and at the very last moment I chickened out and kept her at home with me. I'm so happy that I did. We spend every morning together talking, playing, shopping. Most of the time I am forced to play the roll of Anna and I have to call her Elsa at all times. If I break character even to give instructions, like "Maggie put on your shoes," I am quickly reprimanded.

My Littlest girl is a mysterious creature. Sometimes I think she holds a special secret all to herself that she's not telling me. She is caring and kind. She forgives easily. She is stubborn sometimes. She is four.
In my head she is the age and size she was when we moved here. Some days it catches me off guard an I wonder who the little girl in front of me is because I'm sure there was just a red-headed baby standing there.
I catch myself the night before their birthdays starring at them while they sleep, hoping somehow I can keep them little if I watch them. It never works. She keeps growing and loving every minute of it!

So happy birthday to my gorgeous girl, may you ever be the sweetest girl I've known!

Sadly, this post is months and months late...but it doesn't change the fact that I want to remember her birthday:)

Grace and Peace

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Speaking of PicturesThat I Love

Christmas Day, For Lack of a Battle Title

Oh good. Normal looking, happy children

Smiles all around.

And the award for the best gift of the year goes to the "Elsa Dress"

And the American Girl Doll. Sigh. Whoever dreamed up American girl dolls is a genius. A very wealthy genius.

I'll file these last two pictures under "pictures that I love"

So thankful this Christmas to have my Dad back to his old self. This one is a keeper.

Jones Family Christmas

Sometimes, you just have to pick back up where you left off and I believe I left off at Christmas. The longer that I am a parent I am becoming more convinced that Christmas is probably much more fun for the parents than it is for the kiddos. Don't get me wrong, they loved it. Watching pure happiness is a whole different experience. I spent most of the morning fighting back the ugly cry because I remember exactly how they feel. I remember what it felt like to not be able to sleep on Christmas Eve, then waiting and waiting for my Mom to be ready to open the gifts, and then always starting with our stockings.
I thought we would start with the perfect family photo.

Then we could open stockings. I'm pretty sure Mags was happy at this point, I don't know why she looks so sad in this picture.

Little boy loved that train. He held on to it all morning. Then we lost it and have not seen it since. Perfect.

He loves balls. Boys are so different than girls. It's a delightful change.

Grandma's goodies, which she wears almost every day now. I have to stop her on days when everything she has on has stripes!

This is my trying not to cry face. I'm not sure why I am putting it on the internet for all to see.

Magzie's sweet little face opening some gifts picked especially for her because we knew they would make her feel special.

Libs asked for this doll everyday leading up to Christmas, I won't talk about the doll that Babette got her that completely overshadowed the doll that she wanted so badly.