ONE year older!!

On Saturday we celebrated Lexi's FIRST birthday.
Our baby girl is ONE!!!

Was it really just one year ago that she looked like this?
I'm still trying to get over it.

The kids could not wait for Lexi's birthday to arrive.
Madeline couldn't even wait to give Lexi her present later that night.  As soon as she woke up she wanted her to open it.

Despite my intentions to throw Lexi a huge birthday bash it just didn't happen.
Her day was very low key.


A few presents, a little BBQ, a happy birthday song, and one huge cupcake.

The best part of the day?
Watching the Birthday Girl DEVOUR her Birthday Cupcake.

 

 

I'm pretty sure Lexi thought that was the best part of the day too.

The past year has been so much sweeter because of that little face!!

Happy Birthday little lady!

Maddie and the Bee

Last month Madeline competed in the school spelling bee.

To get to the school spelling bee she had to first win her class spelling bee.  She also studied a lot. 

And when I say a lot, I mean a lot!

But all her hard work paid off. . . . 

She won!!

It was a pretty exciting afternoon.
I can't imagine how nervous she must have felt.
Standing up there in front of ALL the kids in the school and the panel of judges.
I was just sitting in a chair the entire time and I felt like I was about to have a heart attack!
It was pretty intense!

She was the runner-up last year and really wanted to win this year.
We were all super excited for her.

On Saturday she's off to compete in the County Spelling Bee.
The winner from that spelling bee heads off to compete in Washington DC.
Wish her luck!!!!

I Can See Clearly Now . . . .

Madeline and her newest fashion accessory (acquired this past Saturday).

Glasses!
It was inevitable.  I'm pretty sure that all my children have inherited both of their parents blindness and will all need glasses at some point in their childhood.

Doesn't she look darling?!!   (And so much older too)!

Megan is . . . Out of This World!

A few weeks ago the girl's school had their science fair.

Janie did a butterfly project with her class.
Madeline did an experiment about cleaning up oil spills.
And Megan made a model of the solar system.

Out of all the girls, Megan was the MOST excited for the science fair.
She had chosen to have her project be judged  (at their school you can choose if you want your project to be judged or not.)


Her project was called, "Out of This World!"
She worked SO hard on her report and on her model.
With only a little, very little, help from mom and dad.

She did a WONDERFUL job and ended up winning one of the FIRST PLACE ribbons!
Can you tell she's excited?

 A week later the first place winners went on to compete at the District Science Fair Competition.

 

It was CRAZY!  The entire high school cafeteria was filled with 300 science projects by fifth and sixth graders from all around the district.

It was a LONG night.  Megan had to sit by her project for over 2 hours while the judges walked by and asked questions about her project.

No parents are allowed into the judging area and at first I was a little nervous (hello!  she's only in fifth grade!), but then I realized it was Megan in there.  My Miss Independent, Miss Social, Miss Unintimidated girl.  

And the worries fled as soon as they came.  

She didn't win anything at district, but it was a great experience for her to have.
I'm glad she took the initiative to be judged and went for it.

CONGRATULATIONS Miss Megan!
I hope you always reach for the stars!

She's in SEVENth Heaven!

On Friday,

this little girl had her birthday.

Our Janie is now officially SEVEN!
Our new seven year old had been WAITING  AND WAITING and WAITING for her birthday to arrive.
Everyday I'd hear the countdown:
"Mom, only 7 more days till by birthday."
"Mom,  in 6 days it's my birthday!"
"Mom, do you know how many day until my birthday?  Because I Do!"
"Mom,  tomorrow it will be Monday, then Tuesday, then Wednesday, then Thursday, and then MY BIRTHDAY!"

All day long, morning and night, before school and after school, until FINALLY her big day arrived!

She had her birthday breakfast.  On the menu:  pancakes, bacon, eggs, and chocolate milk.
After only 2 bites it was onto the presents.

She got exactly what she wanted.
A few DS games, Legos, and her 'snorkels'.

Modeling her snorkel gear.
STILL making me laugh!

Big sister Madeline was so sweet this year.  

She got her a singing card ( it sings 'Fabulous' from High School Musical 2-Janie's FAVORITE), candy, and a coupon for either a massage or good for Madeline doing one of Janie's jobs. 

 

The birthday girl didn't want a big party.  All she wanted was to hang out with the family at Trafalga (laser tag is her new favorite) and have a movie night.  (Didn't get any pictures of those activities-trying to live IN the moment!)

Overall, I think she had a fun day and felt special. 

Which is my goal on each of my children's birthdays.  I want them to feel loved and special and so important.

SEVEN YEARS with this cute girl!    

How did we get so lucky?

(February 2005)

(April 2005)

(May 2005)

(with Grandma Sullivan, July 2005)

(Spring 2006)

(October 2006)

(April 2008)

(6th Birthday, February 2011)

Happy Birthday my Janie Girl!

I guess it's time to start another countdown. . . . . only 360 days until your eighth birthday,

just try not to grow up too fast, okay?

Our little lady at 8 months old.

EIGHT months!  (FYI to myself: She'll be nine months in a week!)

Oh!  We can't get enough of our sweet, but serious girl.

A little 8 month update:

• She is SPEAKING!   Three words to be exact: dada, mama, & nana.   In full disclosure I will admit that dada was spoken before mama. 
• CRAWLING!??  umm.... I'm going to go with YES, but this baby has her own unique style:                               crawl, crawl, bum in the air, collapse and repeat.  crawl, crawl, bum in the air, collapse and repeat until you get to your desired destination.
• She has discovered DVD's!  And yes, I am a mother that doesn't feel bad about having my baby watch a half hour of something.  She likes our Dancing Bear video, but she'll sit through ALL 25 minutes of Mickey Mouse Beach Sing-a- Long.  It's heaven-I'm not gonna lie.
• She STANDS!  All the kids (especially Megan) were obsessed with trying to have her stand alone and not holding on to anything.  Poor little thing had no choice, but  learn how to do it.  Her personal best:  about 55 seconds (give or take a few).
• She has a love affair with food.  She LOVES to eat.  I've never had a baby who liked eating so much.  She growls when her food comes and it still cracks me up.
• She is now the proud owner of 4 teeth.  The top 2 just came in.  
• Which means she's starting to look older and more grown up and why can't they just stay little forever?