Lucy is 6!

And more birthday excitement- Lucy is now 6! Hard to believe we've been parents for 6 years now- our lives are so much fuller and richer because of our sweet girls. How I would describe Lucy these days- bright, determined, vivacious, caring, spirited, thoughtful, motivated. She loves- playing with friends, giving Clara big hugs, everything about kindergarten, organizing and displaying her toys, Mama reading Chronicles of Narnia to her (we're on our second book!).

Displaying the My Little Ponies she got from Grandma Judy and Mama and Papa for her birthday.

Decorating cupcakes to celebrate via skype with Mimi and Papa Jack.

Birthday dinner with Grandma.

Grandma brought presents for both of them- so thoughtful!

Clara coloring on her new dry erase board.

Grandma teaching Lucy how to sew.

I remember Grandma helping me make doll clothes for my barbies when I was little. :)

She loves the sewing set- it has real needles, a thimble, pins and a pin cushion.

The beautiful birthday cake, decorated with fairies and candy hearts and twisty candles.

Making valentines at her birthday party- there was an unbelievable amount of excitement and a fair amount of joyous screaming- but everyone had lots of fun. We also had a heart treasure hunt, and a dance party with the disco globe and glow sticks.

Cream cheese and jam open-faced bread sandwiches (pinterest worthy, if I say so myself).

Blowing out her birthday candles!

Huddling together to see the present Lucy was opening. :)

Clara is 3!

So, we're catching up on a bit of belated birthday happenings. Clara turned 3 over the Christmas break, and we had the joy of celebrating with Grandma Judy out west! How I would describe Clara these days- free-spirited, sweet, emotionally sensitive, mellow, affectionate, curious. She loves doing anything with Lucy, being patted/stroked, singing and music, storytime, and being out and about with Mama. We are so thankful for our little Clara-bear!

Opening the present Lucy made for her...

a rainbow loom bracelet!

Very serious, opening another present.

A Dora blanket from Mama and Papa!

Doll clothes for baby Natalie from Grandma Judy.

We had a fun celebration at McDonalds with Grandma Judy and a few friends.

The girls loved the playspace- and the cupcakes and balloons Grandma Judy brought!

Modeling her new chef outfit.

And my two beautiful girls.

Halloween!

Halloween fun, captions courtesy of Clara!

I wanna say that Lucy has a costume. A Flamingo [flamenco] dancer. Clara is a butterfly. Mama is a rocket ship [aka rock star]. Grandma have dinner with us.

Clara, a butterfly.

I wanna say that I'm little baby Lucy's hugging me. Lucy's running.

Lucy doing [demonstrating singing].

Putting buckets on our head.

Clara. Bananas chocolate chips on top- ghosts. And pumpkins!

Grandma, having dinner.

Pumpkin picking!

Clara: "I wanna say, that we ride on the tractor."

 Captions courtesy of Clara and Lucy.

Clara: "I wanna say, that you go on the tractor"

Clara: "I wanna say Mimi. Emma"

Lucy: "This is me, pulling a pumpkin in a wagon at pumpkin picking."

Lucy: "This is Clara holding a pumpkin at pumpkin picking."

Lucy: "Me on the hayride at pumpkin picking on the tractor."

Elizabeth: "Our family portrait. We didn't realize until afterward that Clara was being goofy. ;)"

Clara putting ice cream on Lucy's nose

A few weeks ago we went out for dinner and ice cream with Mimi. Lucy finished her cone first, and asked Clara to share some. Much merriment ensued...

First day of Kindergarten!

Lucy had her first day of kindergarten last week. Our little girl is growing up! She was very excited and had a wonderful time.

Her special first day outfit.

Modeling the backpack. I think it's almost bigger than her (her rest time blanket was in there too).

I love my little Lucy so much.

Clara giving Lucy a hug. She really missed Lucy during the day was so happy when she came home.

Right before the bus came, Lucy found a moth and got it to crawl up on her sleeve.

Our new chart for what Lucy needs to do in the morning to get ready. Of course, the waiting for 7am to get me part is pretty optimistic, but I can hope. :)

End of summer adventures

I wish I was writing about the beginning of summer adventures, but at any rate, here they are!

A last swim at our favorite lake.

Grandma Judy gave the girls this beautiful tree. We're using it to display family pictures in the girls' room- so fun!

We went to an island in the city harbor over labor day weekend. The girls loved everything about the trip- especially the ferry ride. Here's Lucy climbing one of the trees.

We also had fun exploring an old fort there and collecting stones and seashells.

We had a miniature golf family outing the day before school started. Lucy even got a hole in one!

I love Clara's pretend pout.

By the waterfall.

And afterwards there was ice cream!

I just had to throw this one in- Clara talking on the phone to Mimi and Papa Jack. She cracks me up.

We had Grandma over for dinner to celebrate her 83rd birthday- the girls and I made a rainbow cake, which was so much fun- my first one ever!

The birthday grandma with her cake!