Holiday Fun!

We kicked off the holiday season by going to a winter carnival at Molly's school. I volunteered at the raffel both while Duane took the girls around to games and crafts. It was wonderful to see all the parent support at PVN. Such an awesome place! We picked out our Christmas tree on an absolutely freezing evening so we were pretty quick about it. It wasn't the best looking tree we've ever had, but it looked a lot better after it had a few days to settle. Aunt Susan came down for a weekend and we took the girls to see the Nutcracker. I really loved getting the girls dressed up in the Christmas dresses and taking them downtown to the Schuster Center. It's such a beautiful ballet. It was Molly's first time seeing it. We all enjoyed the day! I had a chance to sneak into Molly's class holiday party. She wasn't expecting me so it was quite a joy to see the look of surpise on her face. Rosanna joined us for a special holiday lunch at Mallory's school. We enjoyed having time to visit with her. Duane took the reins with the gingerbread house this year and it turned out great. Once school was out we spent lots of time baking cookies and cooking or favorite holiday foods that we enjoy every year. I love how excited the girls get about our family traditions! Dressed in our Christmas best, we enjoyed mass together the evening of Christmas Eve. Mallory is so well behaved in church. What a blessing. We came home and had meatball and sausage sandwiches and our famous wedding soup during a candle lite dinner. Everyone got into their jammies and we read some Christmas books. Of course we never miss Twas the Night Before Christmas. Madison wrote a letters to Santa and everyone helped put out cookies, milk and carrots. Duane and I tried to cherish every minute of their innocent excitement, because as each year passes, we know those days our numbered. The next morning we woke to find a letter from Santa, magic glitter footprint in front of the fireplace and loads of presents! We saved the best for last! The girls got the gift that they had been waiting for for a very long time...a new puppy. After breakfast we staying in our jammies and enjoyed spending the day together playing with new toys and snuggling with the newest member of our family. We headed to Massillon for a few days filled with more presents and lots of visiting with family and friends. We were blessed with good health and wonderful memories this holiday season!

More Mallory Milestones

So much has changed with Mallory over the past several months! She has blossomed into a little girl. Madison moved into her own room and Mallory started bunking with Molly. The change was well received by everyone. Shortly before school started, she had her teeth cleaned for the first time. She was a little nervous, so I let her sit in my lap and she was fine after that. A week before preschool we said goodbye to her beloved paccie. She was very attached, but with school starting we knew it was time. We got rid off all of them except for one and every evening we would snip a tiny piece off without her knowing. We told her that the "paccie fairy" needed it to make new paccies for little babies. She wasn't happy about the idea, but she started to go along with it. We thought we forgot it at Rosanna's and knew there was no turning back. She cried herself to sleep and that was that. I couldn't believe how easy it was! She started preschool in a young 3's program. At first I second guess myself about starting her so early. But it didn't last long. She loves school! She always asks if it's a school day for her. We're thrilled with Carousel House! She also started gymnastics. She was just like her sisters were starting out. All over the place! With in a few weeks she had the routine figured out and was quickly improving. She definitely has Madison's strength and agility. Her instructor just comment how amazed she was with Mallory's improved skills. She loves being able to look across the gym and see Molly in her class. They are pals. She is growing and changing so quickly! In September she got her ears pierced. She was such a brave girl. Only a few tears and she was fine. She hates getting her hair fixed, but when she is finished she immediately goes to a mirror or Duane if he's home and primps. Mallory is full of enthusiasm, spunk and energy. She always has something to say. I love to listen to her when she has something exciting to say. Her eyes light up. She is very imaginative and is always coming up with some animated and comical situations for her dolls. She brings us so much joy. Numerous times a day she will come up to me for no reason and say "I love you mommy". It's the most precious gift! Of course she has her challenging moments too like every child. She has a bit of a temper when she doesn't get her way. Although they are buddies, her sisters have endured her wrath on many occasions. I love that she is growing and thriving the way she should. But it's hard to see your babies grow up so fast!

Mind in Motion!

Molly is quite the character! She always has some big plan in her head that she is working on! Her memory and her vocabulary are truly amazing. Some of her big plans have consisted of organizing a neighborhood party, making a fort in the backyard and directing a singing performance with the neighborhood kids. She spends a lot of time making lists and pictures. School is going well for her. She is pretty wiggly so it took the teacher a little while to figure out that Molly was still soaking it all in. She comes home with lots of very specific details so even though she seems to be tuning out, she's obviously not missing anything:) That was a relief to both myself and her teacher. She really enjoys school and loves her teacher. She is a wonderful woman and a great fit for Molly. She is making lots of progress in gymnastics. She is getting quicker and a little more agile. Her cartwheels get better every week. She has been excited to spend some time on the "big" equipment. Her size and her age are starting to even out a little more so that helps. We've been working on helping her to be a little more aware of her surroundings. She is determined to get from point A to point B, but she forgets to look out for anything in between those two points. She's been known to plow over a classmate from time to time:) She is so tall! She was very excited to have her first Daisy Scouts meeting. She has waited a long time for her turn to be a scout. We were very excited when she was chosen to be in a music enrichment class for students that show some gifted ability in music. She loves to sing and has wonderful pitch for her age. It's hard to believe that she is almost six! It seems like yesterday that I was looking at that bright eyed baby who always had a smile on her face. She is still that happy girl, but definitely not a baby anymore! We can only imagine what the future will hold for our blue eyed, blond haired beauty with the head full of grand plans!

Big Things for Our Big Girl!

On Madison's first report card with official grades she got 4 A's and a B. One of the A's was in math which is her hardest subject. We were so thrilled with her. She has an awesome teacher! She couldn't say enough wonderful things about Madison. She said she was bright, beautiful, well manner and liked by her classmates. She said that Madison is the kind of kid that every teacher wants to have in their classroom. I was elated! We have had our challenges since Madison started school. But it was obvious at that moment that with patience, determination and love things fell into place. I was excited to get the opportunity to lead a literature circle group with 6 advanced readers from Madison's class. As a teacher with a passion for teaching reading, it is such a thrill when your own child is excelling in reading. I love teaching first graders how to read, but meeting with a third grade literature circle group has been a refreshing change. The discussions have been awesome! I'm looking forward to meeting with the group for the rest of the year. Madison has had some big events over the past few months. She was chosen to read a line at the Veteran's program at her school. She did a beautiful job. She decided that she wanted to participate in the science fair for the first time. She decided that she wanted to do a project related to chemistry, so we went to the library and did a little research. She chose to make crystals. It was a learning process for both of us. It was also an opportunity to see how much alike she and I are. We both like to be in control. It was a a challenge for me finding a balance between giving her the appropriate level of support and giving her the reins. I don't think either one of us realized how much time and work it was going to be. There were some bumps along the way but in the end we were both so glad that she was able to have the experience. She was nervous about having to be interviewed by a judge. Another likeness that she and I share! But I talked her through it and she said it was easier than she thought. She enjoyed being able to share her project and seeing all the other displays. She ended up with an outstanding achievement award. We were so proud of her! But most of all she was proud of herself! There are many changes that I'm getting used to as Madison gets older. She is done with happy meals, wants to wear her hair down instead of the ever popular pony tail and comments regularly "Mom! I'm too old for that!". She is thrilled to have her own room and her own space now. But every night she insists on listening to the same lullaby CD that I played for her as a baby. I will cherish that for as long as it lasts. I fear that it won't be for much longer! She is such a lovely long lady!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We were happy to have the chance to host Thanksgiving dinner again this year for the Scott family. We'll felt honored that everyone wanted to come back again. It made us feel like we must have done a good job last year for the first Thanksgiving in our home. The pressure was on again. This year we weren't going to have help with the turkey and stuffing. It was all up to us. I am happy to say that everything turned out delicious! Duane and I talked about how much it meant to us that the girls were so excited about Thanksgiving. They were probably even a little more excited than they were for Christmas. They love having all of the family here for the holiday. I love having special traditions with them and making memories in our own house. Everyone arrived around the same time and the house was full of hugs, kisses and laughter. There were 16 of us all together. We were very cozy but comfortable. My favorite part again this year was during the last 30 minutes of preparing the meal. All the adults were huddled in our kitchen and everyone was busying themselves with some task to help get the meal finished and on the table. The kids entertained themselves with toys and playing the Wii. We didn't have to mediate even once. Duane brought a projector home and they watched a movie on the big screen later that night. Everyone had full bellies and happy hearts! It was another great Thanksgiving with much to be thankful for. I'd love to continue having Thanksgiving here!