BFF's

 

3 friends since birth having to say good-bye to 1 is not easy by any means.  

Ellie, Lily, and Riley were all born within 6 months of each other and being neighbors, and their moms being great friends, their friendship was inevitable.  

Playdates, carpooling, neighborhood and birthday parties only brought these three closer together.  I could listen to their giggles and stories all day, and never tire.  They were three peas in a pod. 

Now Riley moves to California tomorrow and Ellie is beside herself.  "You can be penpals!" I tell her.  "We'll go visit her someday."  She gives me that look, like that is just not good enough for me.  

Riley, you will be missed, sweetie!We promise to write, email, call.  BFF's forever!  (Karen, you know I miss you already)  :) 

Oil and Water

There are a lot of things about raising 3 girls that scare the crud out of me.  Good old Mother Nature, for one. We might as well just put a huge sign on our front door saying, "Enter at your own risk!"  And driving... ugh. This one makes me feel all panicky if I dwell on it too long.  Erika, yeah, I'd trust her behind the wheel... but Ellie?  Uh, let's just hope they raise the driving age to, like, THIRTY!  Let's see, what else?  Oh yes.  Boys.  'Nuff said.  Oh and I can't forget just the sheer amount of money it's going to cost us in the end- proms, car insurance, college, weddings, etc. etc. etc.

Just thinking about it makes me feel a little panicky.

But there's one thing in particular that weighs heavily on my mind more than all that above.  The one thing that I worry about, constantly think about, pray about and probably drive Rob crazy talking about.  And that one thing is my relationship with each of my girls.  

It's so easy finding things out there about the relationship between a daddy and his daughter, or a mama and her boy.  Mom's and daughters?  Like oil and water.

We give birth to these precious, innocent, dependent little souls.  And we spend the next 18 years teaching them how to fly, so that ultimately they leave the nest.  And I don't think any mother, looking down at their precious sweetie tucking them in at night and saying prayers with them, anticipates or looks forward to letting go and letting them learn from their mistakes.  

"Let go and let God."  That's my motto.  At a recent retreat I went to, after having experienced the best confession I've experienced (is there really such a thing?!) I left with the message, "Be still and know that I am God."  That's good, I need that.

So how do you get there?  What needs to be happening in a home to foster a safe, close and intimate relationship between a mother and her daughter?  How do you ensure that you are not a helicopter mom (one that hovers)?  These are the questions I'm dwelling on these days.

Indian Princess:

1. Girls get really dirty and don't change their underwear for the weekend.

2. Girls play in the fire with their dad.

3. Girls learn silly songs and chants around a campfire ("The Moose")

4. laugh and giggle with their friends until the wee hours of the night.

5. Experience the outdoors from morning until night with their dad, without their mom telling them what to do, and always seem to be just fine.

Dairy Farm at the Kelly's

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 OK, so I thought I grew up on a farm!  I have quite the memories of farm life with cousins on our farms with the horses, goats, sheep, pigs, gravel pit, New Holland Store, Gravel Pit, combining, baling hay, and so much more.  A few weeks ago, we visited a Dairy Farm.  The girls saw hands-on milking the cows, stirring the manure and fertilizing the fields, how the crops and combined, where the corn goes, where the milk goes (once it's milked) and so much more!  What an amazing moment in these small hours of our kiddos in their lives- only hope they remain!

Disney On Ice

 

 

What an awesome night!  My sweet friend called me and told me she was going and wanted me to get tickets with her- it was her first girl after 3 boys- and I had been doing this "princess thing" for years.  So when I asked my girls, Ellie said she didn't remember ever going, and Erika said she'd love to go!  So we ordered tickets, (lots of dollars later) and had soooo much fun!  

Em's 9th

 

Posing with mom and my sweet sis Kate

 

Making wishes for her sweet 9th birthday with everyone she wanted at her party (her family- how sweet is that?!?!)

 

Opening gifts (and watching football game)

 

trying to retrieve kites out of trees- it was pretty cold, but all the cousins had so much fun playing outside! 

(Really wishing I would've taken more pics, but with a splinted arm, makes it kinda difficult)!)  :)

Emily... I Wish I Could Give You Everything

Another year has passed. I look at you and wonder where the time has gone. You have grown and matured into a beautiful little lady; you are a precious and essential part of my life.

My pride in you is unsurpassed, and the happiness that you bring to me is unending. You are like a precious gift that keeps on giving, and you have fulfilled my life in unique and wonderful ways.

I know that I can count on you, for you are helpful, dependable, and trustworthy. Your smiles and laughter light up my life, and there's no one else I'd rather spend time with.

May your birthday bring deep happiness to you, like you have brought to me. May you have peace, love, faith, a sense of humor, and an optimistic attitude.

May you appreciate and notice all of your blessings and find joy in all of the wonderful little things life offers. I wish that I could give you everything you could ever want, and guarantee you health, safety, and joy. But all that I can promise you is my love -- unconditional, complete, and forever.


I love you, Emmy, with all my heart!
Love,
Mom

A Taste of Fall

 

  Went to the park in the afternoon to sit under a tree and finish schoolwork (look at how amazing that tree is we sat under) and then to take a few spins on the playground, before heading home to get our Ellie-belly.

Em's Birthday Gift

 

                   The girls are having lots of fun making smoothies from Nana's birthday gift for Emily!