Maile is oficially 4!!!!

We had a pizza party for her this Sunday with a bunch of her friends and she got spoiled with LOTS of presents.
Today, she is oficially 4 years old...wow...that is almost difficult to grasp. It seems like yesterday she was an itty bitty.
You are such a special little girl, Mai and we love you to the moon and back.







Happy Birthday, princess!!

A beary special person

During the first few weeks at Maile's school, in order to help the students get to know each other better, they are doing a couple of special "get to know you" activities. After each student has been recognized, the first project they will be doing is called "Beary Special Person". Each child gets to bring in their "Beary Special Person" poster board which will be shown during circle time, and then displayed for the week. They also get to be line leader for the week.

For Maile, this little project is gonna be that much more special as she has been designated "Beary Special Person" during the week of her birthday.

We were asked to use one sheet of regular poster board and fill it with baby pictures, family pictures, vacation pictures and remember to show a picture for each year of the child ( one, two, three and four).

For an added touch, we were also asked to write a special message to our child, so it may be read to them by the teacher after they have shared their posted board to the class. We were asked to tell our child why he/she was so special to us.

After a few days worth of work , this is what we came up with.

I am BEYOND excited for Maile to have her special week in class.

Dear Maile..

I will always remember the day I found out I was pregnant with you. I was so shocked, scared and excited all at the same time. We had been trying for 2 years.

I remember getting my first ultrasound and finding out you were going to be a beautiful little girl.

I remember carrying you for the longest 9 months ever, I wanted you out so badly, I was soo anxious to finally meet you.

I remember the morning you were born and the first moment I got to hold you in my arms. You were so beautiful. You looked like a little doll.

I remember when your daddy held you in his arms for the first time and he couldn't get his eyes off of you.

I remember the moments when you would look at me, those big blue eyes shining so innocently, so sweet, so full of love and so unsure of the world around you.

I remember your earliest tears, how I just wanted to keep you as close to me as I could and rock those tears away.

I remember those first steps how you smiled so proud of such an accomplishment and then for the first time let go of everything and stepping for the first time into my arms. So proud and sweet and innocent. I turned you around and you walked towards daddy as he looks as proud of you as you were of yourself.

Those big blue eyes - I remember thinking you were such a beautiful girl.

Soon you started preschool, making new friends and becoming more and more independent. "I am doing it mommy, I am doing it" - you'd always tell us.

You have already grown so much, wanting to do things on your own terms, always taking the long way because you wouldn't do it my way.

My dear Maile, you amaze me! You teach me. You have taught me more about what unconditional love is than anything else. It's given me a first glimmer of how God must feel towards us. I am a better person because of you, so thank you!!!

You are now almost 4 years old but you will forever be "our baby". Please don't grow up too fast.

I love you, princess.

Mommy

Crazy Hair Day!

Today was CRAZY hair day at Kinderbugs and I gotta say I was feeling a little nervous. I asked a bunch of people for ideas and most of them suggested tons of pigtails and some color hair spray. I think the result was pretty darn cute. Audrey had a blast with it and Maile can't wait for her turn.

Friendship bracelets

Maile had such a special day at school today. This whole week they have been learning about friendship, and reading all kinds of books on the subject.

Today, they all made friendship bracelets and she was so excited to present her sister/best friend with a bracelet of her own. She even made Audrey close her eyes so she could say...SURPRISE!!

Mai, you are such sweetheart and we love you a bunch.

The center of my world

I don't mean to start belting "Sunrise, Sunset"...well if I had a voice I would, but lately I've been struck by a discordant thought. I look at my girls and I can remember going through all these stages with them, and yet can hardly remember that these spunky, beautiful girls were ever my big chubby babies. And they were immediately the CENTER OF MY WORLD. Now they are both so independent, it's hard to remember when I held them everywhere.

Everyone tells you, "It goes so fast", but it doesn't feel like that when you are in it.I realize I have not aged that much in their lifetime, yet they are a totally different person, so yes, it goes so fast. I still wear shoes and clothes that I wore when they were born.Yet, here they are...a full person.

So, when I go out to eat with friends and I get this feeling of guilt that I have missed a night of my girls' childhood..... Why did I leave? Why did I go for two hours? Before I was a mom I would have thought I was crazy to worry about a few hours.

But, then I think of how the girls looked here…

And here they are now...

Is that the same person? Sure, you can see the shape of the eyes, and the rosy cheeks, but what a difference 3- 4 years makes. At my age four years barely adds a crows feet. Not that different.

It's a person who TOTALLY depended upon you and while they still do... they can now wipe their own butt and put food in their own mouth but it is so different.

And your first child changes your brain chemistry forever.

I so get my parents gazing at me growing up. And me thinking, "I'm not that great", when they would praise me. But, now I can't help myself from gushing to my little girls about how much I adore them.

I always expected to teach you, but I never could have guessed how much you would teach me about life. You inspire me to be the best person I can be. I want to make the world a better place for you. I wish you to only know happiness, but I plan to be there when your heart breaks with sadness. I want you to be surrounded with love, family and friends always. I am already so proud of you and honored to call you my daughters. I plan to hug and kiss you and spoil you rotten for the rest of my life.

Doodlepro fun

In anticipation of an afternoon pool play date with friends, Maile drew pictures of everyone.
First, she drew Carlie with the long hair and then herself and Audrey. Then she drew Mrs Jaquie and Mr Steven. Running out of room, she squeezed her daddy and mommy. She gave Carlie especially long hair for some reason (something she usually reserves for herself).

This is a cute little video of her having more fun with her doodlepro after the party.

I hope you dance

I love how music can change your mood in a minute. How listening to just the right song can completly give you another view on life or the situation. I always love to share songs when I find myself changing my perceptative when listening to them. Here is one for you now:

First day of school

My beautiful girls both started school this week. Maile is now in Kindergarten Prep and Audrey is in the preschool class at Kinderbugs.

Both girls couldn't have been more excited. I am loving both schools and I am certain that both girls will have a great year. Hard to believe Mai will be in Kindergarten next year...not sure I wanna think about that right now. I guess it's easier to look at her as still a lil baby, although I know she is not.

She will be 4 years old in just a few weeks and soo independent.

A quick shot of the girls talking about what a great day they were gonna have and Maile passing down some of her wisdom onto her little sister.

First stop...Kinderbugs

Next we're making our way to the Kinder Prep class at Centennial Elementary with Maile holding my hand the whole time.

Maile's class at Centennial Elementary is nothing short of AMAZING:

Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of Audrey's class...it is just as nice and completed with one way viewing mirrors and also webcams for the parents to access throughout the day.

Can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us!!

Also, on a side note.. Audrey had her 3 yr old appt and she is now 31 lbs and 37 and 1/2 in tall. My sweet girl is growing up wayy too fast.

Audrey's Birthday Party

Here are a few of the pictures we took at Audrey's pool party that we had this year:

Hugs from mommy to help me get warm after a good swim
My little pony cake ( made out of cupcakes)

My beautiful cousin Jaime and I

Time to open some presents...yayy!!!

Enjoying my birthday cupcake..yumm!!

A lil present from mommy and daddy...was it something off of "my list"...?

Audrey turns 3!

Dear Audrey,

In just a few short days, you will turn three years old. It's so hard to believe that a mere 3 years ago, I first laid eyes on you. As I think back to your beginnings, my mind immediately goes to the moment I found out I was expecting you. In that instant, my instincts kicked in and I felt an overwhelming need to protect my tiny yet perfect baby. As you grew in my tummy and I could feel your little kicks and hiccups, the excitement for what was to come intensified. When we found out we were expecting yet another girl, our mother-daughter bond began taking shape. You were deeply loved from the very beginning. I remember being so excited to know that Maile was gonna have a lil sister, one that was always going to be so close to her, in age and every other way.
The day you were born, it was warm and sunny. We had made so many preparations waiting on your arrival. Your grandma and grandma were in town and so was your "buny" who had come all the way from Romania just to be here so she could welcome you into this world. We had all been waiting so anxiously for this moment. We had to induce you the morning of August 8th around 9 AM and you were born just a mere few hours later @1.31 PM weighing 7 lbs. 10 oz, and measuring 21 in. long.

My precious girl, I did not dream of the joy you would bring. It's so hard to remember life before Audrey. Your sister Maile and you quickly became our world.
Your first steps seem like they were yesterday. I remember vividly playing with you on our living room floor in the Gilbert rental house. One...two...three!! You were quickly toddling all over the house. This was just a couple of weeks after your first birthday. You were so determined just like everything else you do.

Somewhere during these 3 years, I blinked. Somehow, my tiny baby soared through infanthood, surpassed toddlerhood, and became a little girl. This past year, you have really grown into your own personality. I love your independent spirit, your unwavering determination, and your hilariousness.It makes me sad that you are no longer an itty bitty, but are about to step into a whole new world of childhood. I'm excited too though, because as great as these three years have been, I know the best is yet to come.

A couple of our favorite pics taken by Uncle Brian at the Queen Creek Olive Mill. Priceless

This next year, you will start preschool and already have your own personalized lil backpack that you are so proud of. I can't wait to see what this year brings and I am positive that you will surprise us all with your willingness to learn and your determination to be at least as good as your sister.

As you continue to grow, I want you to remember that you are so very special. God loves you and has a special plan meant just for you. It is my prayer that you will trust in Him to show you the way and guide you daily. You have such a vivacious personality, and you can do anything you set your mind to.
When you blow out your birthday candles this Sunday, I will be holding back tears just a little. But I'll also be cheering you on with all my might. Watch out, World, Audrey is three!

Love,
Mommy