Lately all three kids have been engrossed in soccer. This will be the last weekend until the Fall season starts. I think Schmoopie may end up coaching Sunshine’s team again. I know she LOVED that he coached her this season. She is one proud little daughter. She is definitely a sporty girl that has some skills. She is a tough little thing  and is very proud of her accomplishments as a soccer player this year. School is going great for her too and she has really blossomed these past several months.

My baby Bingo,  is a great help these days. He is my right-hand boy in most of the furniture repainting I do. I’m pretty sure he is ready for me to hand over the reigns and let him have at it one of these days. Not sure I am ready for that though. I do have to say , he is one of the most well-behaved children I know. Sweet too. Can’t get enough of him.

My dear Punkin is growing up like you wouldn’t believe. I think she would enjoy a horse of her own. Look at the happy look on her face. What a doll! She is a fabulous little girl and is growing up way too fast. There are no words to describe my love for her. She is amazing. No, really she is.

I love these kids so much.

Liz

Little Miss Sunshine…

I looked at you today and saw a precious, caring little girl that can bring a smile to even the grumpiest of people. You have a charming character that makes others drawn to you and I am no exception.

You are excelling at Kindergarten and just started soccer this Spring. Your daddy is your coach this year and it’s as new to him as it is to you. I think it is great for the two of you to have this special bond. I know you make him proud out there on the field and at practice where you hustle your cute little self around. When you take a break on the bench during games, you are the loudest cheerleader for your teammates. After a game where you did not make a goal (which you have made at least one of in other games) you said, “What matters most is that I tried my best”. Nothing can make me prouder.

Although you are doing really well in soccer, fashion is definitely one of your strong suits. If you could, you’d wear a dress every single day. You’re very into having your accessories near you all the time and you like nothing more than a pretty purse or necklace. You’re definitely a diva in the making.

As non-photogenic as I am, you are the opposite. You can stand there and let me take your picture for hours, flipping your hair/hat/props this way and that. You have a natural ability to look cute. There is no faking that.

You are a pro at riding your bike now. There is no stopping you! Last month you rode to the grocery store with your daddy two days in a row. You were pretty stoked about that!

In your classroom you have a “Star Table”. When you are well-behaved you are allowed to go sit there. It is a special spot reserved for those children that follow directions very well and set a great example for his or her classmates. More days than not, you come home excited to tell me that you sat once again at the “Star Table”! You are a great model for your friends at school, but what I like most about it is that you are so proud of yourself. I love seeing the look in your eyes when you announce, first thing, that you sat there all day at school.

There are times when I worry that you get your feelings hurt too easily. You have a tendency to take everything to heart. This isn’t such a bad thing, although I have a feeling it will be painful for you in the coming years. I hope it will make you into a very kind and tolerant person. But, as much as I think you’re a softy, I also know that you are a tough little girl. You have a spirited streak and can take on anything you set your mind to. I don’t envy any of your opponents on the soccer field, your siblings in a quarrel, or your classmates in an academic match.

I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in this life of yours. You are special, sweet girl my Sunshine.

I love you very much,

Momma

My Sweet Girl,

Over the last year you’ve really started developing into your own person. You have become a strong-willed child who knows right from wrong. You know when others are treating a fellow classmate unkindly, and then you take the time to make your friend on the playground feel better. You make me so proud when you come home and tell me how you’ve stuck up for a girl in your class. That is  the one thing I want to teach you as you grow; to be kind to others. Just like the silly sign I painted on the wall outside your room, and I know some people feel it looks like “a Mexican restaurant”, but you like it, and so do I. It will stay, because every time you walk by it, even if you don’t always pay attention to it, it is there and is a subtle reminder of the way you need to conduct yourself.

This year has shown what a great big sister you are. Sunshine finally started school with you and it seems like you really enjoy having her around. You make sure she gets on and off the bus at the right times, go and get her homework when she is sick, give her a hug in the hallway and keep an eye out for her. She is lucky to have you there.

You are a worry wart these days. You freak out about crossing streets and always grab onto your brother’s shirt when he walks faster than you think he should. You don’t like when our dog Meg gets too close to the edge of the deck. You tend to freak out if you drop a piece of chocolate on the floor and the pup happens to be around. But, you are also an extremely responsible child, especially for your age.

These days, you’ve decided that it is time to start learning to cook. Nearly every night you are in the kitchen with me trying to chop, stir or mix something. You are an expert at toasting waffles and have no problem cutting the tops off strawberries. Pretty soon you won’t need me to make dinner anymore, as you’ll be the one coming up with menus and driving to the grocery store.

You definitely have your own style, and are starting to decide what is “cool” and what is not…. which are mostly things I pick out for you. That’s okay though, you should be able to choose a lot of your clothes/shoes/hair/etc. That is part of growing up. I understand. You love scarves, ballet flat shoes, flip flops and anything with a peace sign on it. You’ve realized that your hair looks prettier and longer if you blow dry it, that lotion keeps your skin soft and that a purse is always a good accessory.

Although you are getting older, more mature and can nearly do everything on your own, you still want to cuddle in your Daddy’s chair with him while watching “The Voice”. You two have a strong bond, and I am so happy that you do. There’s nothing like a daughter’s love for her dad.

I hope this next year is the best yet and that you continue to grow and develop into a lovely person.

I love you more than you’ll ever know.

XOXO,

Momma

I admit that I purchased some of the popcorn I made. Yes, I’m that mom.

~Liz

For the most part, the kids have all been getting along. We’ve had fevers off and on, coughs, sickness for the past couple of weeks. I just hope we are all better this week to enjoy this time we have together.

I think we are going to try and have a few playdates this week, in between me working on some furniture for our upcoming sales. I’ll have to post some pics of our booth at Urban Mining from last month. Apparently we did great as a first booth and even made a new record in sales. Who knew!!

Okay, I need to get the kids ready for soccer practices, feed them a snack and fill water bottles.

Hugs,

Liz

Once again, I sit here on my computer late at night, while you are fast asleep, thinking back over the last year of your life. It’s hard to try and document everything into one little post, but I will do my best.

You’ve become such a little buddy to me in the last few months. We have always been close, but something changed recently and you have become more like a little boy who likes me but doesn’t always “need” me. Does that make sense? You are capable of doing so many things on your own now. Yet sometimes I feel like you only ask me to do things because you think I need to be asked to do them. It’s almost as if you know you are growing up to fast for me to handle. It’s true though. You are growing up.

This past August you started preschool. You have two wonderful, caring teachers that help you learn two mornings a week. Some days you like to go and others you don’t. Most days your daddy takes you and I think you handle the drop-off a lot better with him. When I drop you off it can drag on and on, even though I know I should go in and get out as fast as possible. Remember I was a preschool teacher, so I know how this thing works. But, when you are my own baby, it is a lot more difficult. You would much rather hang out with me all day and honestly, I’d prefer that too.

When we do spend our days together, they consist of doing laundry, grocery shopping, running errands and working on our booth. Yes, “our” booth. You are the third partner in our business. You love to go to estate sales, garage sales and thrift stores. You know the way to the basement or garage at most estate sales we go to. You take your Gigi’s hand and head straight there, picking up items that interest you along the way. You have your own little wallet and budget each time we go. When it’s time to paint a piece of furniture, you are the first one to pipe up and tell us what color you think it should be or not be on several occasions. You’ve gotten great at sanding picture frames and the legs of chairs. If I’m not careful, your grandma won’t need my help anymore!

Aside from me making you work long hours sanding items, staining furniture and tagging pieces, we tend to watch a lot of Star Wars while at home. You have become quite the fan this past year. Your daddy bought the BluRay DVD’s, hoping the two of you would watch it together. Turns out you like it even more than he does! Being a super Star Wars fan, you were Yoda for Halloween. I have to admit that you were the cuter than the original Yoda, though.

Lately you’ve been climbing into bed with your daddy and me at night. You have been having nightmares quite a bit and you wake up screaming and crying for it to stop. This breaks my heart every single time. I can’t tell you what it does to me when I hear you scared to death like that. If I could take them away I would.

Most mornings I wake up to find you snuggled in between us, unaware that you climbed over me to get there at some point during the night. I say that I should stop you from doing this, but secretly I like waking up with you there.

I’ve been working with you on writing letters and your name, but you show absolutely no interest in it. You even tell me that you “just can’t do it”. I know in time you will learn how and will want to show it off to everyone. Your time will come. Right now is not it. You still prefer to find the “diamond rock” out in the rocks in front of our house, cut pieces of paper into confetti, paint with watercolors, and play with your many, many toys. You can almost ride your bike without training wheels, although not quite.

You are still as tough as nails though and unless you see blood there are rarely tears after getting hurt. You amaze me at times. When I want to swoop down with my mommy arms to comfort you after what I think was a bad fall, you are already up and on your way to wherever you were headed. I’m afraid that this is going to be more and more what it is like having a son.

You will continue to grow into a kind, considerate, honest young man. I have no doubt that you will grow up and continue to be someone I am proud to call my son. You are special, little man. I love you and cherish this time we are allowed and blessed to have together.

I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Happy 4 years!

Momma

Sunshine will get to have me in her classroom in the morning as I help her teacher out with things. I will also help in Punkin’s classroom as well. Bingo’s Valentine’s Day party was re-scheduled from Monday to Wednesday because of the snow. They were afraid too many kids would be absent for the party and didn’t want them to miss the fun.

Speaking of fun…Bingo, Meg and I spent 15 minutes outside today. I had just gotten my little boy from ShaSha as she had watched him so I could go with Punkin’s class. We got home, let the dog out and decided it would be worth our while to spend a few minutes in the sunshine.

Meg sure has grown. I have no clue how much she weighs now but I’m sure it is over 30 lbs.. She is fitting into the family nicely, although we are still working on potty training. She is pretty good about letting us know when she wants to go out, but if we aren’t paying attention she finds someplace quickly.

I broke the camera out today. It seems it has been few and far between lately.

Crazy dog.

Have a wonderful evening!

XOXO,

Liz

She didn’t know what to think of the snow at first, but it didn’t take her long to start hopping and biting at it. At least it isn’t my arms, feet, legs, chairs, beds, toys, stuffed animals, pillows, etc. like everything else. She can bite snow all she wants!

From the looks of it, she has no problem with that!

She had a great time out there! Now, to give her a bath (she’s getting stinky) and some movies with the kids. Great way to start the beginning of our weekend as the kids are out of school Friday and Monday.

Have a great weekend if we don’t “talk” before then.

Liz