No good title for the week!

Where do I begin for the week?    This week there is no good title, but lots to share and recap. 

1) The Net Church...5 years later!    Sunday we celebrated with Ryan and Selina May the Net Church’s 5 year anniversary.  What a blessing they are to us (and we wish they still lived just houses away) but also a blessing our small group is to us.   It does not seem like 5 years have passed, but then when I realize that Gracie was just 3 and Maggie was not even born yet it puts time in perspective.  My girls will be 8 and 5 this year!  That seem unreal to me.  

Sunday pic 

Sunday pic with baby Joy

Ahh, a sweet sisters! 

Daddy's girl! 

Yes, they both are Daddy's girls! 

2)  Long weekends and a Monday off... we went skating (well 3 of us)  and Jimmy walked with Maggie so she could learn.   We had so much fun.  Gracie would stay on skates I think all the time if we would let her.   Maggie was quite determined to learn and often pushed us away.  She does not quite have it, but she is closer than I expected her to be.   

Gracie LOVES skating 

Maggie working hard to learn to skate 

Love this sweet girl waiting to skate!  

3) Daddy snuggles and lots of sweet pics...the girls were really struggling with Jimmy being out out town again back to back (it is rare for either of us to travel this much and not back to back).   So they wanted lots of Daddy snuggles over the weekend and pictures of them together so they had them while he was gone.  Its been sweet!  We were all ready to see Daddy on Friday. 

Daddy snuggles 

Well, I let them fall asleep in our bed before I carried them up while Jimmy was out.   This is why they can't sleep with us! 

I am not sure I will ever get tired of sleeping girl pictures!  its always a quite them when I get snuggles, love on them and pray over them.  

and its a time I don't have to remind them to have kind words.  The next morning they woke up and were so sweet snuggling each other.  We do have good moments.  

4)  “Kind words”.  I am not sure why I feel like the past week or so I say this close to once every minute we are together as a family.  Both the girls apparently have lost their mind and how to treat her sister!   So, we are getting creative (the Whitmer parenting in me in coming out).   We tried putting them in the same t-shirt when they are not kind, but that did not work due to the different heights.  So, we moved onto they have to share the same hula hoop space for a bit when they can’t treat each other kindly.   We will see how this works!   

Hula day at school for Gracie 

Maggie was not happy about the camera one morning! 

Despicable Me day at school 

5) Saturday--sweet connections with those that cared for our babies! Ms. Carolyn and Ms. Dreama will always hold a special place in our hearts as they were the ones who cared for both our babies when I went back to work.  They provided me all the updates on the girls days, they shared their “best practices” as we learned how to be the best parents we could be, they encouraged us through the tough sleepless nights, and most of all loved the girls as much as much as we do!   (they would tell you they love them more...that tells you how much they adores our girls).  They are no doubt a piece to the puzzle that helped us survive the first year of parenthood!   We were able to connect and have them over for lunch today.   It was wonderful to hug them and spend the time together.   I pray we are alway able to stay connected!   

Ms. Carolyn and Ms. Dreama with Gracie, Maggie and Addison! 

The Mama's had to get a picture with them too!  We are so blessed by Addison's friendship with Maggie but also our friendship with her parents! 

Daddy's Girls!

This week the was a girls week as Jimmy was in Nashville for work most the week.  The girls cried several times (especially Gracie) that they were not getting Daddy snuggles as night.  The day Jimmy was to come home Gracie came down clutching a photo frame with a picture of her and her Daddy in tears.  I hugged her and get her settled, then asked if they got this upset when I travel or this excited when I come home.   Gracie quickly said “no, we are use to you traveling”.    I will admit at first it made me sad, and think about how I balance my career and demonstrate to the girls they are priority (and is a great reminder to me to make the most of every moment) .  However,  as I was reflecting it was if God nudged me and said “your prayer was the girls would adjust to the travel schedule”...and that they have.  It has become part of our normal schedule and still provides me lots of flexibility to be involved in their activities and other things that are important.   

Gracie Sunday pic 

This is a classic Maggie look! 

Maggie Sunday pic 

Silly Sisters!   I adore these two.

Sweet smiles too!

Ellie stopped by last Sunday to play (and pick up her tooth fairy pillow …long story)

I had a sleeping buddy while Jimmy traveled this week.   

Maggie is in the stage of picking out her own clothes, can you tell? 

Sleeping beauty!   She is getting a good night rest!

Ready for school. 

Maybe one day I can get a picture of Maggie looking at the camera!

The week we spent lots of time snuggling and doing school work.  This weekend I had three grocery shopping buddies (yes, the whole family went which sometimes is nice).   We enjoyed Ellie coming over to play and a birthday party for Logan who is one of our small group friends who turned 3 (but is a smidge taller than Maggie!).   Its been good to all be together!  

An early Saturday morning (the girls were up before 6am) playing battleship and a good cup of coffee!  

Maggie enjoyed a little downtime on her iPad! 

FROZEN and warm friendships

We are still loving the movie and soundtrack to FROZEN and it describes well how our week began....the coldest winter in years!  Monday we hit a low of I believe 4 degrees with the prediction of an inch of snow.  Well the missed the snow but the cold sure came.    

Sunday pic!  Such sweet ladies. 

Ruth Grace 

Margaret Faith 

How we enjoyed a cold Sunday…a little FaceTime with the grandparents!  (yes, they love their "super sister" shirts and Maggie LOVES to sleep in her cap like Little House)

Jimmy did as always was a great Daddy the last part of the week juggling the girls, work and still cluster headaches mixed in.     I love to brag about how he engages with his daughters and supports my career as well and our family as a whole!  He is one special man to me! 

We all ended the week with wonderful time with sweet friends.  Gracie had a sleepover birthday party with some small group friends and Maggie had a sleepover with Addison her best friend who have been together since the infant room at school.    Since the girls were both settled we met up with the Bowen’s and Browns for dinner and dessert.  We manage to grab dinner at least once a year together and it is always a sweet time together and sharing life.  We are all so blessed by such special friendships.  

Silly Girls!  

They told everyone they could at school they were doing a sleepover!  They were beyond excited!   I love how close they are and pray that only grows as they grow! 

Lily and Gracie!  Happy Birthday L!   

Today we picked up Maggie later than Gracie which gave us some extra time with Gracie.  I took her roller skating and then we met up with Jimmy for a special lunch before we got Doodle.  Since both girls went to bed about 11pm and were up between 5am (Maggie) and 6:45am (Gracie) we have tried to have a low key evening with two tired ladies.  

Doing great on skates! 

She looks sooo grown up!   

Sweet Daddy snuggles after a short night of sleep and lots of play time! 

Welcome 2014!

We are not big “Happy New Year” people and I don’t really know why.  I never (rarely) am up to even think about seeing the ball drop and not really big on new years resolutions, but I do love thinking about what the year will bring and then looking back at how we grew as individuals, a couple and a family.   Let the year begin!  

We enjoyed a great end to 2013 with some sweet friends who have two boys around our girls ages.  We ate, kids played and watched movies and the adults enjoyed an hour or so of visiting and games too!   

Maggie loves her sleeping cap (just like on Little House) 

Fast asleep! 

One of our favorite things in 2014 by far is the new Disney movie, Frozen!  The girls LOVE it.  They have now seen it 3 times and can sing every song on the soundtrack!   I love it as much as they do, however I think their Daddy is ready for a new interest! ha! 

a little popcorn as we watch Frozen! 

Frozen captured Maggie's attention for sure! 

Papa came New Years Day and then kept the kids Thursday and Friday which allowed us to work and not burn vacation days so quickly in 2014.   The girls enjoyed every minute from playing tea, breakfast and lunch out, bowling and some sweet snuggles.   I do think the break has gotten to them as they are tired and acting out a bit which by Friday night had caused them to loose their iPads for the evening for poor behavior.   

Ahh, Maggie!   

Last snuggles before Papa left!  

Maggie would not sit still for a snuggle but sure did enjoy teasing him! 

We have introduced the girls to some fun “new” shows including The Cosby Show and Andy Griffith Show.  Gracie really loves them and Maggie eventually get into it too.   Its fun having some good new wholesome shoes to watch now that we are almost done with Little House.  

We had a birthday party for one of our friends girls and then wrapped up the night with my Brother, SIL and Ellie!  It was a great week. 

Gracie stretching!  She has missed her gymnastics class as we took a break for December/ January, but are ready to start back. 

Gracie and Lily!

Maggie was all over the gym and trying to sneak in front of the lines to jump! 

I had to document this….this is how the entire house has felt all break.  I think the girls are as tired of picking up as we are.   

Our sweet visitor tonight!   Love you Ellie!