The journey begins again....

Gracer D,

Here we go again.  Within days you are getting the chance to be the Biggest Sister.  I have such confidence in your ability at this undertaking.  2 1/2 years ago you began your job as a Big Sister with such pride when you welcomed Caroline into our family.  Caroline has become one of your best friends.  You watch out for her, you teach her new things, and you even argue with her from time to time.  Most importantly you love her.

I know you will do the same with Hudson.  You talk about how you are going help take care of him.  You claim you are going to learn to change his diapers, only time will tell.  I am certain that you will set a great example for him to follow as you have done for Caroline.  Hudson has big shoes to fill when it comes to being like his Biggest Sister.

Even though we are welcoming another child into our lives you will always be the first born.  You are the first child who called me "momma" and you taught everything I needed to know about how to be a "momma" and loved me despite my mess-ups.  I pray you always know how deep my love runs for you.

With all my love,
Momma

Tonsils No More

What kind of a parent schedules a tonsillectomy on Good Friday?  The parent who is pregnant with her 3rd child and doesn't want to spend a month of summer vacation recovering when you could be outside playing and soaking up the sun.  At least the parent was nice enough to schedule her sister to have a tonsillectomy as well so she had someone to share the experience with.  

The Dickmeyer girls were troopers!  There were no tears during the pre-op blood work and no tears the morning of surgery.  Now the recovery was a different story.  

The procedure lasted about 20 minutes and we were home with both girls about 3 hours after checking in at the surgery place.  Emmy met us at home with McDonald's for the girls and Starbucks for the adults.  

The girls ate cheeseburgers and french fries like no body's business.  

We spent lots of time cuddling, but only with mommy.  Daddy was the butler and got anything we needed.  

We also spent a lot of time on the couch watching Doc McStuffins.  

Arts and crafts time with Daddy.  

New jammies from Emmy for we were stylin' during our recovery.  

Through the midst of recovering Grace picked up an ear infection and a stick neck.  While Caroline decided to cut some teeth.  We survived which is all the counts.  I hope that when I look back on this 5 years from now I am like the other parents who told me that they know their child had their tonsils out, but they just don't remember it.

School just keeps getting better

In the eyes of Grace there are few things better than a morning at school.  This month brought many adventures at school:  a Valentine's Day, 100th day of school, Dad's night and Transition day.

Up first was Valentine's Day.  Grace loved picking out valentine's for friends.  She gave each of the them a crayon roll and coloring book.  The Valentine's party was combined with the 100th day of school celebration as well.

Ready for the party.

Taking 100 steps in the hallway

Exchanging 100 pennies for $1

A plate of 100 snacks

Counting to 100

Decorating the house for a Valentine's Day party

Heart-shaped pizza

Showing grandma all her valentines

Playing Aggravation with grandpa and grandma

Next up was the long awaited Dad's night at school.  Mommas were not allowed!  However, it was ok to tell momma about the secret things that were planned.  

Ready to go

Dinner at McDonalds first

Signing songs

Playing the African drums

Her theatrical debut as "Little Bush Deer" 

Building with "magic noodles"

The Amazing Mrs. Wagoner!  

The fun went on until 8:30!  One little tired girl came home from Dad's night and said, "That was the best night ever!"  

A week later was Transition Day.  This meant that Grace got to stay at school until 1:30 to get a glimpse of what a full day of school would be like in kindergarten.  She
had informed Mrs. Wagoner that she would need to take her to Lincoln because she would not be going to kindergarten at Canterbury because she was going to go to school with her mommy  Mrs. Wagoner told her she thought she would be ok with staying a Canterbury for the day because they do a lot of the same things that Lincoln does.  After Grace got in the car at the end of the day I asked her how the day was and she said, "I didn't want to stay that long I just wanted to stay for lunch!"  I later said "Well when you go to Lincoln in the Fall you will have to stay longer than you did today."  She said, "I know momma but I will be 5 by then!"  I guess 6 months can make a big difference!

I continue to wonder what Grace's years of school with bring for her.  I hope her love for learning continues to grow.

A daughter is the happy memories of the past, the joyful moments of the present, and the hope and promise of the future. ~Author Unknown

4 1/2 years ago I had no idea how a daughter could forever change my life.  Grace has left an imprint on my heart as well as many others she has come in contact with.  It is very common for someone to mention to Rich or I how they have noticed Grace's sweet and gentle spirit.  When she started to school I worried that she would allow others to simply walk over her.  At first that is what happened but as Grace has grown I have come to realize that she is the true definition of grace- undeserved love.  Grace wears her heart on her sleeve and loves anyone she comes in contact with.

Over the past month or so Grace has said a few things that have stopped me dead in my tracks.  Some have made me laugh, some have made me cry and some have made me really think.

While driving home one night she was disappointed that her favorite Christmas lights had been taken down.  I told her she could see them again next year.  Her response was, "Momma, I may be in Heaven next year with Papaw."  This made me cry.  As I thought of friends of late who have had to bury their children  I am not guaranteed a lifetime on Earth with Grace, but I am guaranteed an eternity with her.  Grace is teaching me to live "IN" the moment, while enjoying life and to not be fearful of Heaven.

After hearing that she was going to get a baby brother in May Grace said, "I'm sort of excited."  When asked why she was sort of excited she said, "I really liked the name Ainsleigh and wanted you and daddy to use that name."  She is so honest.

This past week I attended Grace's parent/teacher conference.  Her teacher told me that she shed a few tears when she learned that Grace would not be at Canterbury in the Fall and was jealous of the teachers she would have and would get to see her everyday.  She followed the comment up by saying, "I am confident that Grace will succeed in anything she attempts."  This made me proud.  Dr. Landrigan once told Rich and I that our job was not to raise a princess but that our job was to raise someone's employee, spouse, friend, and mother.  I can't believe God picked us to raise this amazing little girl who is growing entirely too fast before our eyes.

Grace Elizabeth, I will love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

Her favorite job ever: Being the best big sister there is!  

Christmas 2012

Seeing Christmas through the eyes of a children is wonderful.  You can almost not even begin to put into words the beauty of it all.  I found myself simply sitting and soaking in the "moments."  We continued with many of our "old" traditions but also began with some new traditions.

Emmy continued with making the Christmas outfits for the girls.  I found these skirts in April while we were at Hilton Head at my new favorite kid's store Janie and Jack I will only be shopping at the outlets thought.  The skirts were regularly priced at $46 each and I got them for $8.99.  The hat was originally for Caroline but Grace wanted one too so we went to the dress up bin for help.

We also made our yearly trek to Coney Island just in time for Christmas.  We were there to early in the evening for our picture to turn out but we made it none the less.  Grace asked if next year she could get 2 hot dogs instead of just one.  

Santa continued to leave his presents on the door step.  Grace did get to meet "The REAL Santa Claus" at Canterbury this year. When I asked Grace how she knew he was the real one she said, "You could just feel it.  He wasn't pretending."  

Santa brought exactly what she wanted!

We had our annual Christmas Eve with Emmy and Uncle Chris, Christmas morning at home, and Christmas late morning at Grandma/Grandpa Dickmeyer's house.  

Dora gymnastic doll!  

The famous Uncle David scarf.  "Momma, butterflies go with everything!"  

Some of the new traditions that we started were that Grace made gifts for her grandparents, cousins and aunts/uncles this year.  I think it really helped to show her that Christmas is not about getting presents but giving.  She made blankets for her cousins, original pieces of art for her grandparents, and baked goods for her uncles.  

Rose snuggled under her new blanket.  

One of my new personal favorite traditions was that Emmy wrapped up 25 different Christmas stories.  Some were religious, some were wintery, some were Santa, etc.  Then each night the girls took turns picking a book to unwrap.  After Rich read the Bible story I would then read the book for the night.  We will certainly keep the this tradition going.  The books are packed away and ready to be rewrapped next year.  

Last of all we took the train into Chicago with the Wilson's to see the Christmas lights.

The windows at Macy's.  Papaw used to take Momma to see these every December.  

The whole clan.

We've enjoyed 2 weeks of Christmas Break but the other day Grace said, "I think I'm ready to go back and see my friends at school now."  She is definitely a teacher's daughter.  

The Holiday Season is Upon Us

The holidays are here and Grace is ready to CELEBRATE!

We kicked off the holiday season by "decking the halls."  Grace loves to put the ornaments on the trees.

These are the little trees.  All the ornaments are from Rich's grandma and grandpa Dickmeyer.

Next up was the long awaited Grandparent's Day Thanksgiving Feast.  Grace was very excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Dickmeyer and Emmy there.

Grace sang with all her heart!  Many grandparents asked who the girl in the turquoise shirt with the lively spunk.  

Then Grace went on a field trip to the Gingerbread festival with Rich.  They had a blast but Grace told me that the most important rule was that they were to look with their eyes and not their fingers.

Last up was an afternoon of Christmas at Canterbury.  Grace loved it!  She loved listening to all the different groups perform.  Her favorite was the high school concert choir.  Probably her favorite part of all was getting to wear her new Christmas outfit compliments of Emmy.

Grace is finishing up making her Christmas presents and getting them wrapped.  She is enjoying the sights and sounds of the Season.

School Days

School has been in full swing!  Grace is loving every second of school!  Just last week we had Grace's parent/teacher conference.  Her teacher told us we were one of her easiest conferences.  She was glad to report that Grace occasionally has problems where she talks a little too much to her classmates.  Her teacher was happy to know that Grace was not perfect at everything.

Junior Kindergarten has brought along a lot of activities.  The first field study was to the fire station.  Not only did the students get to try on firemen gear they even got to sit on a real fire engine!

Next up was a field study to Fox Island for a Fall hike.  

Finally the month ended with the anticipated Halloween Party.  There were costumes, there was candy, there was games and there were crafts.  It was a great time had by all.

Oh the joys of school!