We're Gonna Party Like It's Your Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!!!

Lucille's 5th Birthday

Dear Lucille,
You have had such a beautiful year.
You have had so much fun in your preschool class with all of your friends and you have learned so much from Ms. Jess. Your favorite things in school are playing in Home Living with dolls and dress up clothes, Arts & Crafts, and Phonics Group Time.
You are so lucky to have so many girl friends in our neighborhood your age! You, Piper and all the girls have a blast bopping from house to house playing School, House and Wedding, building forts, and having sleepovers.
Your favorite color is still purple, and you still sleep with Blankie and Sheepie every night.
Your new favorite food is pickles and cream cheese!
You are the Wii Bowling Champion in our family, well besides Uncle Lance!
You are Spunky, and have the cutest Booty Dance in the world!
You are gentle, helpful, and you love to snuggle - you promised me that even when you are a grandma you will still watch movies and snuggle with me...you promised!

Happy Fifth Birthday Princess!

Love,
Mama

birthday party pics coming

Potty Conversations

Lucille "Mom. Why does poop come out before the pee?".
Mom "That's a great question. I'm not really sure.".
Lucille "I think it's just the way the good Lord intended me to be."

Piper Susanne is 6 years old...

Wow Piper - you are 6 YEARS OLD!

What happened to my little baby that slept in my arms and played peek-a-boo?
My little toddler that said Bungdy for Bunny, Shooey for Lucy, and Hoga Me for Hold Me.
My little Preschooler that couldn't get enough Fraggle Rock, Dora, Blues Clues and Wiggles. Who wanted me to read Good Night Moon over and over again.

In the last year you have learned to blow bubble gum bubbles, read, ride a bike without training wheels and how to tie your laces. You graduated Preschool and became Kindergartner. You have a brilliant sense of humor and tender heart.

A few of your favorite things are:
Reading Hog and Dog, the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, and Cat Traps
Watching The Little Mermaid, Arthur, Martha Speaks, iCarly, and of course Sponge Bob.
Playing with your sister and neighborhood friends Elli, Natalie, Camie, and Brooke.
Coloring and creating beautiful artwork.

I just love watching you grow and learn new things. Every morning when I wake you with kisses and snuggles and wonder "what's she going surprise me with today?".

Happy Birthday Princess...and remember my favorite thing in the whole wide world is being your mommy.
Love,
Mama

A Letter From Lucille

Lucille is sitting quietly at daddy's desk writing, cutting and taping things in her tablet. I am organizing Christmas clutter in the living room. I hear from the office "Mommy where's an envelope". I reply "Oh honey, I don't know where daddy keeps those. Just make one with your paper". I continue organizing and see Lucy skip up the stairs with her paper. I think nothing of it. Hours later she asks if she can check the mailbox. She returns with the saddest look on face. I asked her why she was so said and she told me that the mail lady didn't take her letter. I ask "What letter sweetie?". She tells me "The one I wrote to all the kids on the other side of the world". I stand there speechless and Trent explains that she may need one of his envelopes and a postage stamp. She returns and shows me her addressed & stamped envelope and I see written in her handwriting:

To: All The Kids On The Other Side Of The World
From: Lucy 1077 Van Buren Street Shakopee the Black and White House

I asked her what the letter was about and she explained that Santa had already been to our house and he was on his way to the other side of the earth and she wanted to let all the kids know he was coming.

I love you Lucille Susanne, you make my heart smile!

December 22, 1974

New House $34,900

Income $13,900

Gas $.55 per gallon

New Car $3,750

Loaf of bread $.35

President Nixon resigns

Gerald Ford becomes President

People magazine published for the first time

Popular tv shows - All In the Family, M*A*S*H, Fat Albert, Soul Train, Land of the Lost

Popular music - Sweet Home Alabama, Piano Man, Kung Foo Fighting

Christmas Traditions

These Norman Rockwell pictures always give me that warm, fuzzy, Christmas tradition feeling -in other words - they get me in the gooch...

Trent and I started a tradition, about 12 years ago, of watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving. We watch that movie just about every weekend, even if it's just background noise, all the way through Christmas. "You're little twinkling lights aren't twinkling Clark"...I LOVE THAT MOVIE!!!

It has also become tradition to freeze our butts off at the Holidazzle Parade.

On Christmas Eve, we cook a HUGE breakfast for dinner. This became a tradition because just have something small like cinnamon rolls or bagels Christmas morning and who doesn't love breakfast food for dinner?!?!? After our breakfast dinner, we play games, look at old photo albums and tell stories. The girls each get to open one gift, usually pj's or a game. We read the Polar Express and set out cookies and milk before bed.

In the morning we wake up super early and sneak down stairs to see what Santa left under the tree. After Santa gifts and stockings, it time for much needed coffee and rolls. We then take our time opening the packages under the tree.

It has been tradition for many many years to go to my grandma's house Christmas day. It was a hard decision, but we have started a new tradition of staying home in our pj's Christmas day playing with our new toys, watching A Christmas Story and napping!