We Have A Birthday Girl! Gabrielle Is the Big 2!

Dear Gabrielle,

Wow, here we are.  Another year has passed and we are now celebrating your second birthday!  This past year went by so quickly and yet time slowed down just a bit just enough for us to watch more accomplishments and milestones.   What a wonderful year it has been watching you grow and become this wonderful, beautiful, sweet little person that you've become.


Today, you eat anything and everything as long as it's cut up into bite sized pieces. Although, Daddy and I would both agree that you should stop shoveling the bite sized pieces into your mouth.  It doesn't always end too pretty. It's recommended that you slow down and chew your food first.  Your favorite things to eat are eggs, bread/toast, and Nutri Grain Bars ("B Bars").

You LOVE being outside.  If you can't play on the playground, then you love to go for rides in the car or in the double stroller.  Whenever there is mention of going outside or putting on a coat or gathering of car keys, you're the first to run over and gather your shoes for us to put on your feet. 

As far as talking, you can identify everyone in the family.  Daddy, Mommy, "Rah-Rah", "Mam", "Baby" and of course "Nee-Nee".  You say good morning with the biggest of smiles.  You start the day off on the right side of the crib (so to speak) and just laugh for the sake of laughing.  You love to wave and say "hi" even at complete strangers. You know automatically to fold your hands before each meal, and you proudly say "AMEN" when we finish saying grace.  You're saying "thank you" and working on "please" and have a great handle on the word "no" which has never been a problem.  We love how you hug everyone when we're getting ready to leave the house, or when Samantha and Sarah get ready for school or especially at bed time.  Hugs and kisses for everyone.  The "Mmmmm-MA" sound makes the kiss so much more meaningful too.

Well Gabrielle, it certainly has been a wonderful year with you as part of our family.   You've definitely helped us to realize just how to stop and appreciate the smaller things.  You've added so much love and happiness to our home and we can't thank you enough.  Thank you for being so entertaining and always making us smile.  We can't wait to see what else God has in store for you for your future.

We love you Gabrielle.  Happy Birthday to our sweet girl.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Halloween 2016

Our Madore-ables had a great Halloween this year!  Our girls never cease to amaze us with their creativity for their costumes.  This year was extra fun as it was Alexandra's first Halloween, and Gabrielle's first trick or treating experience. 

Mommy and Gabrielle started out the day heading to the library for a toddler size Halloween party/sing along.   Gabrielle really had 0 idea on what was going on, but she had a great time sitting in my lap and hanging out with her friend Ameliah.

Gabrielle and Ameliah

(Gabrielle's first lolly pop)

Flirting with all the library patrons

Then, ironically enough, Samantha and Sarah were scheduled for their 6-month dentist check ups.   The dental hygienists gave great reports for the girls.

And last but CERTAINLY not least.   Our little Alexandra of course celebrated her first Halloween today.  She tried on a few different costumes to get the right look. 

Gabrielle had a great time just running laps around the dining room in an old witch's hat

Alexandra made a BEE-utiful bumble bee

(See what I did there?)

Samantha and Sarah checking out their candy stash they walked so hard for.

O Christmas Tree

I love to watch Gabrielle.   She's so curious.    Normally, we keep the doors to our downstairs office closed because we're not quite sure how Gabrielle would be with the Christmas Tree.    So, rather than take a chance, we just keep the door closed.    

Well.

A certain someone snuck in.

And surprisingly didn't do any damage.   

She knocked off one (non-breakable) ornament off the tree and one candy cane and spent about 30 minutes playing and talking with them both.

Love those eyelashes

Loves opening and shutting doors too!

She is such a ham

Sarah's Big Birthday Weekend

This past weekend, we celebrated Sarah's birthday with family and a few friends.    

The birthday girl!

 After cake and presents, the girls wanted to play hide and seek.    When the girls started running out of ideas on where to hide.   So who better to ask but Daddy for help?

Hide and seek didn't seem to interest Gabrielle.   However, Aunt Leeann's bracelet sure seemed fascinating.

I love it when I can get a photo of the girls all smiling and looking at the camera.   

We Have a Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 7!

Dear Sarah,

Today you turn 7 years old!   It just seems like yesterday that we met you for the first time.   You came one day before your actual due date.  My water broke at my doctor's office, and you were born just about two and a half hours later.  (Yes, two and a half hours).   Things just moved so quickly, there was no time for an epidural even if Mommy wanted one.  You arrived just in time for lunch.

Last year you had two really big milestones happen in your life:  (1) You became a big sister when Gabrielle was born, and (2) you changed schools in the middle of the school year because we bought a house.    Mommy and Daddy are so impressed with how well you've adjusted to both of these milestones.  You transitioned so well, it's as if you never left your former  school.  You've taken to the big sister role very well.  You are such a huge help to us and play with Gabrielle so nicely.  She responds so well to you and giggles whenever you're around.   Right after Mommy and Daddy bought the house, you were so excited to start full day school instead of half day.  Today, you are halfway through your 1st grade year and absolutely loving it.  You love gym and math lab at school.  At home, you enjoy your screen time and listening to music.  At your teacher conference recently, your teacher told us that you're excelling in reading and your addition and subtraction in math is becoming better and better.    You're also taking gymnastics as well which you really enjoy each week.

We have thoroughly loved watching you grow up and change everyday.  Each year you grow you add more freckles to your little nose.   You lose more teeth and your smile gets bigger and bigger.  Everyday is a new adventure with you.   You teach Mommy and Daddy everyday just how strong willed you can be sometimes but we thank God everyday that you are here with us.

Happy Birthday sweetheart.   Here's to many more celebrations with you.   We look forward to it!

Love you always, 

Mommy & Daddy

The Start Of Christmas 2015

Today we began our yearly tradition of the start of Christmas with finding the Christmas tree.   We decided to have some fun before finding our tree for the next month or so.

Gabrielle is a huge fan of candy canes.   She was curious at first, and then we couldn't keep it away from her.   Baby with candy cane = sticky mess

Thanksgiving 2015

This year's Thanksgiving was extra special to us as it was our first Thanksgiving in our house.   We hosted this year and if I don't mind saying so myself, we did pretty well!   Everything came out amazing.

4 Generations with my Grandmother on the left, and my mother in the center 

"Put the camera down and come eat!"

Gabrielle hanging out and chatting with Nanny Olive and Nanny

Gabrielle wasted no time once the tryptophan hit everyone else

Gabrielle's favorite past time is climbing stairs

Selfies with Nanny

After giving up on escaping to the stair case, Gabrielle settled on playing with her toys

Being silly with Daddy

Family (minus Samantha)