From I Love You So…
…I love you as BRILLANT
as each sparkling star,
and as WAY OUT as space,
I love you THAT far.
I love you as GIGANTIC
as a great lion’s roar,
and as DEEP as the ocean,
I love you MUCH more…
You’re my SWEETIE, my dear,
my SMILE and laughter.
You’re my PLAYMATE for always,
and my JOY ever after.
Happy Birthday to my littlest girl.
More awesome pics by Amanda Mankin.
That’s right. We are all superheros. I had planned out a great idea for costumes. The two little ones were going to be home-made hand-me-down costumes that I was very proud of. So I just had to think of something for Alyssa. Well, as it turns out, she can think on her own now. Dang! And she picked Super Girl. Well, then of course, Megan doesn’t want to be a puppy, she wants a superhero too. Then Bat Girl is born. Now there can’t be any fun unless Audrey too is one and Dad comes up with The Flash. Then he stops by Hobby Lobby on the way to work one day (how cute is that) and we all now are superheros. It was a lot of fun putting them together. All pics
Here are some others of my almost ONE year old.
And since I am a words of affirmation type person, here is my Halloween dessert. After the photo, Ethan decided the pumpkin patch needed a gum drop fence. I love him like that.
I really don’t like to do this, but realized that I have not put photos up in awhile. If you didn’t notice, well, this blog isn’t for you. I know some people that check daily to see their beautiful granddaughters. Daily may be too much. Just kidding. It’s not. Just kidding. It is. Really.
Megan, is well… Megan. There are no words to describe her other than herself. She is three. Loud. Moody. But immaginative. Hysterical. Unlike her sister in many ways, but just like her in others. God is so creative. She doesn’t want to go to school in the morning, but jumps right out of the car and comes back happy. Who knows what really goes on in there. She likes to play anything from pretend animals to Wall-E and Even. Mostly follows her big sisters directions, and in turn gives them to her little sister.
Audrey is almost one. She is everywhere and into everything, but not walking. She eats like no other I have raised. I had to give her some chocolate cake one night after dinner because she did such a good job with her green beans and I thought she needed a treat. She loves to play whatever her sisters are playing, which drives one of them crazy. She gets parented by 4 people in the house. She cannot sleep without her “nuffle bunny”. She does the roar of the tiger, says DaDa, BaBa, waves and the occasional MaMa. But she is darn cute.
And that leaves Alyssa. She is 6, in 1st grade. She loves school. She excels. She can totally entertain herself with a book, like most of the Whaleys. She has lost three teeth. She plays, but doesn’t love, soccer. She thinks maybe “it isn’t the sport for me.” Too bad, mom and dad say it is right now. She is affectionate, nurturing, and kind. She can still throw a fit like a 3 yr old, and get her feelings hurt very easily. She has several buddies in the neighborhood that she wants to play with daily. She obeys and is the one I can control when chaos comes knocking at my door. She is the one who will cuddle, give one more hug, and generally be anything you need her to be. Am I blessed with these girls or what?
After school work with the girls. Megan has started tracing her letters. Alyssa watched her do it and was so excited that Megan can “write” now. Now we just need to teach her how to hold the marker.
(Yes we have a bird sanctuary in the backyard)
After many attempts using different strategies, Alyssa finally got the hang of riding a “two wheeler” as she calls it. She has been balancing on the bike by just coasting with no feet on the pedals for a few weeks. But once Oma got her in the street today, a little push, and she took off. I think she rode for about 40 minutes non-stop. She is so proud of herself. Her friend down the street was watching and cheering her on too. Kudos to Oma for getting her going.
Proud bike rider and her toothless smile.
Nana was here earlier in the week too. We have been spoiled for a solid week with cooking, cleaning, dish washing, and babysitting. It rained for mom’s whole trip, but I have a feeling she enjoyed it just as much.
Megan turns three today. I have been telling her for the last few days, that when she turns three she is a big girl and big girls don’t scream. Megan is so full of life and that usually comes across in a loud way. I don’t think that she will immediately snap out of this issue, but I am secretly hoping that the “terrible twos” are behind us and I am looking forward to this next year.
We had a great birthday party on Saturday with Nana, friends from our old life, friends from the neighborhood, and friends from church. It was awesome to be surrounded by so many people who care about us and wanted to celebrate with Megan. Since Happy Feet came on TV a month or so ago, Megan has wanted a Happy Feet party. So I did my best to deliver. Even with 13 kids inside the house, I think it was fun for all.
Happy Birthday to our Meggie. You keep us laughing hysterically and we are so thankful God made you part of our family.
Soccer is going again. Alyssa is still enjoying to play and runs her heart out most of the time. Not many goals yet, not much contact, but she is in there. I think she is mentally picking up all aspects of the game and in a few years she will be awesome! She is visualizing. She is also on a team with several of her friends from school and 2 of her very good friends. I am looking forward to a season of fun for us all.
The first of many hot days for the little sisters.
I don’t know about you, but for the last 10 years, I have had a dreary picture of Portland, OR. My roommate from ACU lives there and the few times I have visited apparently were at the wrong time of the year. I thought it just rained there. Well, this visit proved me wrong…really wrong. It was absolutely beautiful. I took my first, and probably last, solo trip to visit Melissa, Jeff and baby McKinley. I was hesitant leaving my girls, especially a nursing Audrey, and not looking forward to the full day of traveling that it takes to get there. But I had a great time with my friends. Without Audrey, I was actually able to help with McKinley, chill out for 3 good days, and enjoy some fabulous dinners from Jeff. Little McKinley is almost 2 months old and is doing good. We went to get her first shots and I am glad I was there for support because I think it was tougher on mommy than baby. We shared some quality time almost everyday at 6:30am since I was up and so was she. I am glad that Ethan pushed me to go even though it meant he took the week off from work and was home with all the girls. I can tell that just a few days with Daddy makes their hearts grow fonder…of him that is. And I had an unforgettable time with my friend.
Oma visited us this last week and we were so lucky to have her. She entertains, she cooks, she paints, she reads, she teaches us things we never thought we needed to know. She tried to clean-up but Ethan kept shoving her outside to play with the girls. They really enjoyed having her around and I know she loved it too. Oma and Alyssa camped out (in a real tent) in the living room one night with popcorn, books and smores…then I don’t think Oma was too disappointed when Alyssa wanted her own bed. Thanks for a good week Oma. Thanks for giving the girls extra attention and giving Mommy some quiet time.
This kid cracks me up. Getting her to smile is impossible. She is so full of personality that standing still and doing just want mommy wants is just not in her. We got off to a good start today and though she was a little hesitant to enter the room, she did great. A lot like Alyssa did now that I think about it. She was in her chair coloring in seconds and said bye without thinking twice — not so much like her sister’s first experience.
Her teacher said she had a good day when I picked her up. She had a relieved look on her face when she saw me, but she was telling me in the car that she wanted to go back. She ate her lunch, colored three pictures, did not take a nap and tried to take her shoes off. She told me that she got out of her bed and a teacher put her back and she got in trouble. She told me about three times, so I am not sure if it happened three times or she was just repeating. It is difficult to really understand it all from the mouth of a 2 yr old…almost 3 though! Yeah for Day 1.
