5 Years Ago..

5 years ago my beautiful baby girl, Marley, was born. She was a bit of a trouble maker while I was pregnant..I spent many days in the hospital months before thinking she would make an earlier entrance. Everyone who has meet her knows she is my "wild" child, but in a good way of course. She is very outgoing and a friend to all. It is hard for me to believe that 5 years have past since she arrived, it has gone to fast for me. She often asks me what she was like as a baby; sweet, beautiful and always funny! She has brought so many smiles to our entire family, we are blessed to have her.
Happy Birthday Marley!

Saying Goodbye, Again.

Once again we are preparing for T to go on a very long trip. I haven't really told the girls the specifics yet, I hate that moment when Marley says "No, I don't want him to go". Until months ago they didn't really know what he did, but I decided it was time for them to be told so that they could understand why it is important that he goes away.
You know I can't tell what I told them, but I had an opportunity to show them first hand how their dad impacted someone else's life, McLayne said "my dad is cool". I have to admit, he is pretty cool. Marley's reaction was a little different, she asked "does my dad swing from vines like tarzan?" I said not exactly, but anything is possible.
I know Terry will miss them as much as we miss him, when he comes back school will be at its end and our little girls will have changed. A friend asked me the other day, doesn't it suck when he is gone? I said of course, but I'm very proud of him and our family. So our first few weeks apart there will be many tears, lots of hugs and extra love for my girls. Saying goodbye never gets easier!

Marley's First Soccer Game

Marley's 1st soccer game was today. All the kids had a great time, would fall down and get right back up without batting an eye - an awesome group of kids! Marley has her dad's love of sports and she must have gotten her talent from him too! The pics say it all:)

Marley starts Preschool

Marley didn't make the cut off for K this year, so off for another year of preschool. She loves school, she is my social butterfly. At the airport a few weeks ago a woman talked to Marley and M and a few minutes later she said "I can tell who your wild child is". Marley is Marley is what I have always said about her. From the moment she knew how to act silly she wanted to make everyone laugh...and she still does. Mark my words (and all those people who know her can vouch)...she will be the one that T and I are tracking down in high school. She has so much personality, she makes me smile every morning when she crawls into our bed and taps me on the nose.
Have fun at school baby girl!

First School Bus Ride

McLayne is starting 1st grade today. Last year she went to a private kindergarten, so this year is her first year to be able to ride the school bus. At first she said she wasn't going to ride it, but by the end of the summer she is excited to ride it, but asks why there are no seat belts or booster seats and why so many kids can share a seat....same questions I wonder! She was very excited today, the rain but a damper on walking to the stop, so we sat in the car and watched for the bus to arrive. I got a little teary when I saw her walk on, my friend and I looked at each other and quickly looked away because we both knew the tears were coming on. She got on and waved from the bus, so brave!
She is ready, after many years of being shy and cautious she has now much more outgoing. I'm happy she is a little stand offish, it definitely helps her in choose the right friends.
I'm a little scared for her today, a big school, a big classroom...wish I could peer in the window and see how she is doing. I'm not going to follow the school bus to school today either, even though I secretly want to.
Good Luck today M!

One Last Summer Trip to Grandma's House

The girls had been asking me for weeks if we could go to Grandma's again before school started, T had a quick trip planned so the girls and I jetted off to Ohio. The trip didn't start off well, our plane was delayed for hours in Baltimore due to bad weather, but the girls were so well behaved! Today is our last day here in Zanesville. We are sad to leave, but happy to be able to see T again.

The girls have spent hours riding bikes in Grandma's driveway and making all kinds of crazy creations in the backyard. My mom lives in town, but to my kids who live in a beach house with a very small yard, her yard is one filled with nature and all sorts of possibility.

Last night we went on a walk, on a hunt for deer as the girls call it, and we saw a Doe with a set of triplets..they were amazing, they just sat still in the grass and gave us a brief look. Marley couldn't hold the giggles in we were so close.

All good things must come to and end and this trip has reminded me that summer is almost over, as I watch my kids outside in sweatshirts this morning. I'm a summer mom, I don't look forward to the school year beginning...I guess I will start dreaming of our next years trips.

A Little Sibling Competition

T and I have been trying to get our two girls swimming for over a year now! We started swim america swim lessons two weeks ago and now both of them are swimming under water! Once Marley saw McLayne do it, she jumped right in and did it too! The lessons we take are based on system of reward when you pass a station. Both of my kids are all about doing what it takes to get that sticker, so off they went after a few days! It makes me realize how big they have gotten. McLayne is now asking her Daddy all about swim team....and for those of you who know McLayne, once she decides she is going to do something that is it! I'm still secretly hoping she turns out to be my tennis star, but whatever she decides I know she will be good at it. Marley is still being 4, mad that she can't do what her sister is doing, but I have no doubt that one is my little athletic maniac (just like her daddy)! One more day of swim lessons then we are going to enjoy our last month of freedom before M starts 1st Grade!!