Powerful Beyond Measure

"“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
by Marianne Williamson,
from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles"

Happy New Year!

It was a wild 2010 and we are moving on to an action packed 2011! We rang in the new year laying in bed, completely exhausted from our three little spitfires with imaginary glasses. After saying a "Happy White Rabbit Day" to one another (long story), and I won by the way, we promptly rolled over and enjoyed our first snore of the new year.

We celebrated Kinsey's second birthday with her totally adorable little friends all around her. We waited a couple of weeks after her real birthday to allow things to settle down (and for me to get the Christmas decorations down) to make sure that she was the focus of the celebration. She had a lady bug themed party and she was clad in her red & black tutu that I made for her. She is so sweet and will ask you "snuggle me?" Everyone once in a while she'll say "I lu you" (I love you) and it is so stinkin' cute! Yesterday at preschool I was running a little late and her teachers were telling me that she was walking around the room saying "mommy, where are you?"

Bella is still enjoying preschool and dance. She totally blew my socks off with what a big girl she has become when we went to Tori's birthday party and she asked me to unlock her skates and then rolled right out onto the "big kid floor." She was amazing! Her heart is so big and so tender. Sometimes I look into those big blue eyes of hers and am totally amazed at the wonderful, caring person that is budding within her. You just SEE her and want to give her a hug!

Taylor is turning into a remarkable young lady as well. I was extremely proud of her when we went ice skating with the Daisies and then roller skating at Tori's party. I watched her take something head on and conquer it. It is unbelievable the feeling you get as a mother watching your little girl stride out with confidence. She's gotten pretty attached to me here recently to the point that she even gets a little sad at school because she misses me. I tell her every day that I will be here waiting for her when she is done with school and that it is okay to go and have fun. I love it that she loves to be home and be with me and her sisters. I WANT her to feel safe, but I also want her to be free.

Oh how my babies have grown since the last time I posted on this blog! These are my "good ole days." Nope, not high school with all of its responsibility free boasts...not college with its promises of experimentation...today.

1-2-3 Imagine with the Kids

We took the kids to see the Sesame Street Live concert "1-2-3 Imagine." It was mainly for Bella because she LOVES Elmo and the rest of the Sesame Street crew. When we left we asked Taylor what her favorite part was and she told us "the pinata" and Bella told us "Elmo...and lots of stuff!"

We started the morning with breakfast at Perkins where the kids ate their pancakes before we trudged down to the Sprint Center (AKA Canada*). We got to the Sprint Center and Jay let Taylor, Bella, and I off at the front door to go to Will Call to pick up our tickets. There was no line and no waiting. So we waited in the foyer for Daddy and Kinsey. The kids had a good time looking at the junk for sale while we were waiting. Once Jay and Kinsey arrived we went up to our seats which were very close to the entrance and we noticed that NO ONE was there! I had messed up the time and we were there 45 minutes early! So...Bella and I went exploring. We found a QT and bought some snacks for the rest of the crew.

When the concert started Kinsey was dancing like crazy and Bella was grinning this HUGE cheshire cat grin from ear to ear. They started to get a little sad at intermission, but when we told them it was coming back they were ecstatic. When the second half started Kinsey was ready to start dancing as soon as they started singing.

The kids were so good and they didn't even cry when it was over!

Why a Mommy can't look away from her children...

Taylor's 1st Soccer Practice

Taylor started Bitty soccer today at the Liberty Community Center. She did very well at practice and looked terribly cute in her little soccer shorts, socks, shin guards, and shoes. I had her hair pulled back in a little pony tail that was braided so her hair wouldn't get in her face. She just looked too stinkin' cute! Bella had a good time watching her big sister play and a couple of people brought their dogs to the field and she enjoyed looking at them as well. She calls them "woo woo" because thats what they sound like when they bark. Kinsey slept quietly in her carseat that was set in the stroller during the whole practice. Andy Reiger was Taylor's coach. Andy is Meg's dad, one of Taylor's best friends from our MOPs group.

DC Father-Daughter Dance 2009

Jay took his three little ladies to the annual DC father-daughter dance. He intended on taking them out to dinner before taking them to "the ball", however I wanted to go to the dance to get some good pictures and you know me...I'm not going to miss out on a good meal. So I tagged along with them and we went to the casino for the buffet before the dance.When we arrived at the dance Bella was TERRIFIED of the balloons. We honestly thought that I was going to have to take her home because she would just sit in a chair in the corner and cower away from the balloons. As the night wore on she got much more brazen and even chose several dance partners other than her daddy. She even danced on the stage with Taylor!Both girls got in the middle of the big circle to dance when it was the girls turn. They were much braver than their daddy. He wouldn't get into the circle and dance when it was the daddies turn.
They really didn't want the night to end and it was definitely one that he will cherish for the rest of his life. He even won the prize for the youngest daughter for the second year in a row. The prize was a gift card to Chipotle. I told him we were NOT going to try to win this prize next year.

Kinsey's First Smile

Jay got the best birthday present that he could've asked for, Kinsey gave him her first smile! We went to Ginger Sue's for his birthday breakfast and as he was talking to her she smiled. He teared up when she gave him that award winning grin.