Merry Christmas!

 

Look Alikes!

I was looking at some pictures today and did a double take when I saw this one of my Mom (on the right) and my Aunt (her sister, on the left).  

 

 

 

I thought......wow......that sweet little face looks so familar!

Don't you see it??

For Memory's Sake...

Goodness, it has been another two plus months since my last blog.  I'm struggling when it comes to blogging.  I have two full time jobs and one that involves a lot of time in front of this here computer, so it's hard to drag myself back to it once the little ones are in bed at night.  All I really want to do is crash on the couch, next to Matt, with a pint of Ben and Jerry's and let some mindless TV wash over me. 

 

However, the girls are growing up before our very eyes and I know I'm going to forget the hilarious things they do and say.  My only hope is really this blog because I'm not keeping any other kind of scrapbook.  So here goes.....bullet style today!

• Hannah Cate is just over 4 and 1/4 years old.  We are really starting to see her personality develop and I feel like I'm really just now learning just exactly who she is and what makes her tick.  She is quiet and reserved in new settings and around new people.  It takes her awhile to warm up.  I feel like this is a fairly new thing and she's just going to be the tentative type at first. 

 

But as soon as she warms up, she's tons of fun and will cut up with the best of them!

 

• I think HC is really going to like school.  She's has loved learning how to write the alphabet, how to spell her name and she counts just about everything in site.  She comes home and teaches Maddie about the rules she's learning at school - Treat others as you want to be treated + You get what you get and you don't fuss a bit are the two that we hear the most.  HC's teacher is wonderful and she loves on her and is teaching her so well, we are so thankful for Mrs. Eastman!

• We were driving home from school the other day and the girls and I were just talking about their day.  HC saw something and asked me a question about it - something to the effect of "Why is the sky blue".  When nothing else would suffice her inquisitive mind, I finally responded with, "That's just the way God made it".  Little did I know that would open up one of the sweetest conversations I've had with HC to date.  After thinking on my answer for a second, she came back with - "Mama, how did God make Himself?".  Wow, good question my little theologian!  I explained that God just has always been - He was, He is and He is to come.  I also called Daddy to see how he might answer and he reminded Hannah Cate that there are some things that we just won't be able to really wrap our minds around this side of heaven and until we can ask God face to face and even then we might not be able to understand.  I explained that to Hannah Cate and she pondered some more.  Then came out with - "But Mommy, I don't know how to get to heaven".  Oh sweet girl, I do!  I explained to her how we can ask Jesus to forgive our sins and come live in our hearts and how he is our Savior and that's how we get to heaven.  She didn't say anything else, but I watched her in the rearview mirror and could see processing.  Later that night, she and I were walking hand in hand to dinner.  As we were walking, she looked up at me with her big blue eyes and said, "Mommy, I love Jesus!".  Melt my heart and sweet music to my ears.  That's really all I ever could ask for or want for my girls.  That they know and feel the love of Jesus and love Him in return!

 

• As for Maddie's contribution to that conversation - upon hearing that Jesus lives in your heart, she chimes in with "And babies live in your belly".  Glad to know her little mind is processing too!
 
• My sweet and hilarious Maddie.  She's 2 and 3/4 years old and just a bundle of energy.  I mean look at her.....

 

• Maddie and Hannah Cate are at the same school this year (cue the chorus!) and she has the same teacher HC did her first year at CDS.  We do love Mrs. Corte!  We managed to bite the bullet and get Maddie fully potty trained (cue the cash register, Cha-Ching!) right before she started back to school.  When I picked up Maddie from school one day, Mrs Corte said, I just have to tell you what Maddie said today.  She proceeded to tell me.....Many times in our class we have "group potty time" - when one has to go, they all want to go watch.  I always tell the boys when they are tee-teeing to "point it" down to make sure it goes in the potty.  Maddie has certainly heard me say this quite a few times by now, so today when she climbs up on the potty to go, she looks up at me (her teacher, Mrs. Corte) and says, "Mrs. Corte, I don't have a pointer!!".  Mrs. Corte said she about fell out laughing.  This girl keeps us on our toes.  She processes everything and is super observant.
 
• Super observant Maddie can count to twenty.  Hannah Cate just started to count to twenty this year.  Anything you can do, I can do too!

 
• Now as for the littlest one among us, she is 15-almost 16 months old. Her hair continues to be a definite shade of red. See.....

 
• And those lovies.....oh goodness is she ever attached.  One of them (she has about four) is never far.  She's my first that has been this attached at such an early age.  She chews on them and loves on them and rubs her face all over them.  They really are a comfort to her and I'm happy to oblige.  I really love that there is something that can soothe her when she's sad, sleepy, whiny - insert emotion, they just about do the trick!  Still loves the paci too!  That makes three for three Miller girls that have had pacifier addictions.
 
• EA has developed quite the streak of feisty-ness lately.  She's not afraid to let her sisters know what she wants, when she wants it.  Maybe it's the red?  We are working on breaking her of it, but I think she's going to give us a run for our money!  Here's a pretty good example of I can't get to what I want and you are not moving fast enough!

 

• Emma Ann really only wants to be doing what the big girls are doing - so she just inserts herself and generally speaking they are super sweet and are glad to have her play alongside them. It's really super sweet and I love I happen upon them sitting in a little circle just playing together!

We've got some super fun Halloween costumes planned that we'll break out for the first time tonight.  Hopefully I'll be back soon with some pictures!

 

Love - Hate Relationship

I have a love - hate relationship with this thing called blogging.  Have I said that before, because I know I've thought it!  It hangs over my head as just one more thing that I need to be or should be doing.  But on the other hand, I love blogging for the sake that I know I'm recording memories and one day I'll love looking back on these days that are just absolutely flying by in the blink of an eye. 

I know that I'll laugh out loud at the memory of a two and a half year old Maddie bringing me her raincoat and saying, "Mama, will you please put this on me because I'm too sweaty?".  Cold baby girl, I think you mean cold!

I know that when I look back at pictures of Emma Ann's birthday party that the two strongest memories I have of that day are EA loving her cake and the sweet time I spent with my sister getting all the party details ready. 

I know I'll smile when I think back on these days that a four year old Hannah Cate won't hardly let me out of her sight without wanting to give me a hug and a kiss.

So, for those reasons, I'll push through and try to catch up.  I know I'll be so glad that I did and hopefully you will get some enjoyment from it too! 

I'm going to back date, so if you are not a Google Reader type of person.....keep scrolling so you don't miss anything! 

Her Party

So, this party was a big deal for me.  It was the first, first birthday that I've made it to where I wasn't carrying a sister in my tummy!  This was a two-fold celebration for me and I wanted to do it a little bigger than what I was able (read - felt like) doing for the first two.  Sorry HC and Maddie if you feel slighted one day....I'll make it up to you!

Absolutely would not have been able to pull off any of it without the help of my amazing sister (and Pinterest!).  So thankful for our time spent together working on the details - laughing and talking while worked!  Such fun times and makes me so thankful my girls have each other the way I have her!

Get ready for picture over-load......

Birthdays especially remind me just how thankful I am for our friends and family that support us and love on our girls!

Now, when it came time to eat the cake...Emma Ann did not disappoint!  She was our best cake eater yet....by far!

Please notice that Maddie is near by to "help"!

Now she's getting it figured out!!

And finally, this is what we like to call "cake coma"!

All cleaned up.  Love these four!

And to round out the night we had a little fun with some sparklers!

I had to include this because Dr. Nebrig was the most b.o.r.i.n.g sparkler participant I've ever witnessed!

Now Shands on the other hand - the most Cool!

And AJ the most brave!

Ultimately, I think it was a great night and perfect way to celebrate this most precious girl.

Happy Birthday Emma Ann!

Happy First Birthday Emma Ann!

   

My dear Emma Ann,

How could it be that you are already one year old? I can remember like yesterday giggling when I learned that you would be joining our family - how could we have been such lazy planners.....again!! But God knew better than us and He knew that our family needed you and His timing is always perfect! The news of your impending arrival came at a time when we needed some happy news and for that I will always be greatful! You are a true light and joy. Your sisters just delight in you and are so happy to have you around. I can see the bonds of sisterhood forming and it is so much fun to watch. I see bits of both of their personalities in you - laid back like Hannah Cate at times and then spunky like Maddie at other times. In truth, you are just the perfect you! You make our family complete and I couldn't imagine life any other way than with you in it. I love you sweet baby girl and am so thankful that you are mine!

Always,

Mama

Hannah Cate's Birthday Party

Hannah Cate has been talking about this birthday party since September of last year!  She's had her heart set on a pool party and everytime we drove by the pool where she wanted to have her party....she reminded us "that's where I want to have my party next year".  And I mean EVERY time we drove by, which was quite frequently.  At least there was no guess work!

We were all geared up and I was pretty excited about getting to just show up with minimal decorations, some pool toys and food. 

A couple of hours before the party was supposed to start, it because pretty obvious that the weather was not going to cooperate.  We gave it our best shot and even headed towards the pool in hopes that the rain might hold off, but on our way we saw a big bolt of lightening.  Hannah Cate was so gracious and never even shed a tear.  We just moved the party to our house and made the best of it.  I think she still had a great time!