A Quick Fix

Well, I completely filled up my little laptop hard drive for the second time.  I'm a mess.  I have little time to deal with these issues and an unbelievably consuming and passionate need to take more pictures.  What's a girl to do?  A girl runs to Best Buy and purchases yet another back-up external hard drive in record time...cause that's all the time she's got...and she successfully clears enough space to get just a quick fix.  Just a little fix is all she needs.  No way she can get through all her pictures.  But this will do.



Technology today...such a love/hate relationship.



But this child had an ice skating birthday, and I can't wait to uncover more of it.



It was a Strawberry Shortcake ice skating birthday.  A delicious one.  Jonah helped us keep it all organized, and I wish I had a video of him on the ice.  The boy fell like a million times and laughed each time till he finally got it right.  Jesse is just a natural at it, and everyone that came made it so unforgettable.  We had a blast.



I have chased her everywhere recently to record a bunch of pictures during this amazing turn in her life.



She got her Soccer jersey and had a blast running on the field at her first team meeting.  She wasn't shy.  She was ready to play.  She has watched Jonah from the sidelines for long enough.  It's her turn.



We took the kids to the Circus too.



I do love the Circus.  Jesse does love cotton candy.  Jonah does love light up swords.  My love does get the emails when they are coming to town and sends me little texts like..."Circus?"  And I'm usually already on it.



Can't wait to finish going through these.



I love those two smiles.  I love how much fun we are having.  I love capturing it all in photographs.  Let's just say, I'm going to have plenty to do when I retire one day!  I imagine a stack of hard drives to the ceiling.  I imagine diving in to them one by one and crying and laughing and calling both of you to remind you of the time we went to the Circus and saying, "Jonah, remember that snow cone in the elephant cup?  Jesse, remember how you were excited more about the cotton candy than the actual Circus."  You'll both say, "Yes Mom.  Sure Mom.  I remember."  You'll hang up and shake your head and think I've lost my mind going through all these.  But I hope you will know how much joy you brought to your Dad and I.  We are having the time of our lives.

She's 4.

Hey there my sweet, baby girl.  I know you just turned 4 and all, but you are still my baby girl.  You still have some of those cheeks, so that qualifies you as baby to me.  Shoot, who am I kidding?  I'll still be calling you my baby when you are all grown up right?  Thank you for being my most perfect and wonderful, best baby girl.



This past year has been so great for you.  You have overcome your asthma entirely.  You have been well.  You have thrived with every breath.



Your inner self is emerging and showing off it's beauty, and so were those curls.



You've continued to appreciate the beauty of the earth, the sun and moon.  I can't tell you how many times you have told me, "It's such a beautiful day today."  Yes, my love, it is.



I feel like you already have an understanding of mother nature and it's beauty beyond your years.



Those eyes have beauty deeper than the blue.



You are full of love and sweetness.



Looking back at some of these, I already see so much of a change.  I see the transformation from a toddler to a girl.



But even so, you carry that depth with you through the stages.



We have admired your love of music and appreciate how much of a positive influence your Ms. Kelly has in you.



And your admiration and love for you brother, may it never change.



Somehow, I can already tell that it wouldn't.



You know Jesse...



I'll never forget these red boots.



Or this red hat.



Or that smile right there.



This face is so incredibly perfect to me.



But, it doesn't compare to your zest and love of life.  I love you my sweet 4 year old.  I love you so much.

Happy Birthday my Jesse.  Never, ever change.  When days are hard, just look at the sky like you do, close your eyes and breathe it in.  See the beauty and the joy and life will be delicious...always.

Second Grade Spelling and Icup

So, I was talking to my twin (I don't really have a twin, just my friend who shares my name and one of the few that even reads this, but anyway).  We were talking about school work and spelling tests.  I thought of her tonight as I was doing the spelling drill with Jonah.

He's in second grade and tonight he learned to spell "nuisance."

I asked him if he knew what it meant.  He said, "annoying."

"Dang, pretty good!" I said.

After math and spelling were complete, I put him in the tub and he said this to me, "Mama, spell Icup."

I said, "Icup?  What is Icup?"

He said again, "Spell Icup!"

"Ok Jonah, hmmmm.  I-C-U-P."

Then he started laughing at me.  And he started saying, "I-C-U-Peeee, I-C-U-Peeee!"

How in the world was I not supposed to laugh at that?  He totally got me.



He said he made that up.  Who knows?  I think it is great though.  I'm all about using silly songs and phrases to help you remember things.

It was a nice laugh, because homework is such a nuisance.  (That's not how we used the word tonight though.  No, no!  Homework is fun!)

Yeah, right.