sweet friend

Friends are a huge part of our life!

They breath life into us, help us, support us, laugh with us, grieve with us, surround us!!!

Its never been more obvious than in these last few years of being home full time with tinys; friends are key to this mommy's survival. God has been so gracious in our seasons of life to provide those friendships that nudge us closer to Him.

As a parent its really fun(and scary) to watch your child make new friends.

Lillian has had a steadfast friend before she could even roll off a blanket!!

This past weekend 'the bean' came to visit!!

you see part of lillian's heart moved with Elle to Buena Vista, Colorado this past April!

we miss them so much, but are excited for where God has them!!

Lillian talks a lot about how much she misses the bean.

Lillian is very emotinally intuitive for 5 1/2...I am always surprised by how well she verbalizes what's going on in her heart...this past wednesday she was really down.

I asked her why, she said "mommy i just don't feel comfortable at school, I don't have any friends and that just makes me feel so unlovable"

after i picked myself up out off the floor and put my heart back together and tried not to cry

i wrapped my arms around her and told her she was just about the most lovable little girl i've ever known! turns out most of the feeling was exhaustion and that fact that she can't talk at school she has to work and she feels connected to friends by talking!!!

really it was that she didn't know anyone like she knew the bean.

It turned into a really cool conversation about expectations on others to meet our needs and How that's God's job and how he will bring friends into your life in some seasons and take them out for others. {of course this was in 5yr old launguage}

I reassured her that friendships like that don't come in bushels, they are really special

any chance we get to spend time with her is a treat!!

I love the unconditional Elle & Lilli have for one another.

Its a treasure to have a front row seat to their genuine friendship!!

we celebrated Elle's birthday (which was in october) while she was here!

our house was full of giggles & two happy girls!!

we love you bean!!

fairy ballerina + ferocious tiger + kitty cat

it was a happy halloween!!

this was the first year we've gone trick-or-treating as a family.

we've always had one or two tinys in bed or too little to know the fun they were missing!

we went to a friends house for some chili and trick-or-treating!

lillian our kitty cat!

ferocious tiger liam

who was refering to himself only as 'tiger' by the end of the night

we pulled back in front of our house and he said

'mommy and daddy, tiger has fun, but tiger is sleepy!!'

ferocious tiger with his stripes half gone!

lucy had on a tutu and rainboots and had to have her face painted like the other two!!

'meow'

"i got candy mommy"

liam+abby

this past week liam was star of the week!

he got to bring home abby the ape!!

they were buds!!

let it be said that the boy was extremely sad when abby had to go back to school!

big stuff

so i would say i was emotionally ready for the start of

preschool for this tiny little man....

well, until he looked at me and said

"i not gonna cry mommy, i a big boy"

i cried the whole way home

he's now been in school for 6 weeks, which is hard to believe!

love this boy :: in all his 'goliath' hair (as he calls it)

seriously mommy :: no more pictures!

she rode the bus!!

so this was a big step!

Lillian was begging to ride the bus home.

she's one of the first stops so i agreed!!

it hasn't yet made an addition to our permanent school routine::

but she had a BLAST riding!!!

we walked to the bus stop :: liam was my big helper!

tiny was longing for nap time :: can you tell?

when the tinys spotted her they started squealing!!

so i'll pull the mommy card on this one :: revoke it if you'd like

this was one too many adjustments for this mommy.

i know i may be in a bit of denial that she's growing up

but we're hitting a pause on making this our 'normal'

lillian is LOVING kindergarten. she's excelling.

making new friends!!

i have to say one of my favorite things, in this still vulnerable state of childhood, is

picking her up from school :: being her first 'pit-stop' out of that world back into ours!

its also in those first moments in the car she bursts with joy about her day :: good and bad!

so for now, we are holding that 'first moment' captive!

xoxox

2010 moxxi christmas cards

2010 moxxi christmas cards

3 collections this year!!

CLASSIC

VINTAGE

MOD

they're ready for order!!!

www.moxxi.blogspot.com

big big world

Today Lillian started Kindergarten!!

tucking her in bed last night she says

"I can't sleep mommy, I am just too excited; but I know if I close my eyes morning will come really really fast, how does that happen mommy?"

I love how the stream of consciousness and curiosity never end

and like me she talks in run on sentences!

bedtime is one of my most favorite time with the tinys.

Usually right before we pray they are at their most vulnerable, guards are down, and I get a peek into the richness of their spirit

its been a really cool process in my heart seeing public school really as a mission field. viewing it as a place our children will encounter the world at its best and worst; and our job is to help their hearts navigate life amidst that and be a light!! I am really excited about the nature of Lillian and the tenderness God has gifted her spirit and the quiet confidence she has!!

however...no amount of talk or preparation can ready you for the moment to loosen your grip.

well, for me anyway, i am a tightly gripped mommy!! (smile)

regardless of the bittersweetness in the moment my heart is peaceful in the foundation we've laid in her the last 5 1/2 years! and i stand in His grace and comfort that this is the first of many moments loosening the parenting grip.

a heart in her dress pocket to know where jesus+mommy+daddy are in case she gets sad!

the wonder in these beautiful eyes is so amazing!!!

exchanging a look with daddy!

"i love you daddy, i'm going to school today!!!"

we stopped at a stoplight not far from school and I looked in the rearview mirror; then swallowed really hard there were a million things swirling in my head

...i can't fall apart now..i can't fall apart now..don't cry, not yet, its gonna be ok

...how is she this big? wasn't i just sitting in the floor playing puzzles and rocking her to sleep? wasn't i just wiping her nose and making baby food and listening to her first words?

yup...it just blurred by!

we parked, walked into school and she was giggling, even let out a little squeal skipping down the kindergarten hallway! we hugged about six times and then she gave me 'the look'

the-'its ok right mommy?'-look i choked back tears and blew her a kiss, turned the corner and completely lost all emotional control!! cried all the way to the car!

so now, its 1030, i know she's eating lunch! and i know having an amazing first day..but don't think i won't be counting down these next few hours til dismissal!!!