Always!

Yesterday while I was running around the house trying to get a few minor things done, I hear Joseph say, "I guess you don't then." with sadness in his voice. I hear him say it again. A little louder this time, obviously trying to get my attention.

"What's wrong Joseph?"

"I guess you don't love me."

"What?! Why would you say that?"

"Because you didn't say it back when I said, I love you."

"I'm so sorry. I didn't hear you son. I love you more than you could ever possibly imagine."

"Even when I'm grounded?"

"Even when you're grounded."

"Even if, like, I accidentally break something like the glass duck? I think the towel was under it and I just pulled it and it broke."

Trying to hold back laughter I answered, "Even when you break things... And even when you lie." Because of course when it was broken, a ghost had done it.

Love and laughter when your children come clean

          -Jaclyn-

Dear Tressa

I don't have just one big girl, but I have TWO! I can't win for losing, can I?! Why can't you stop growing up??? I remember when I couldn't wait to grow up and be where I am now... Why can't you NOT want that?! Please?

You weigh 40lbs. and are 44" (3ft. 8½") tall. Exactly two pounds and one inch more than your sister. You wear a size 11½, sometimes 12 shoe, and a size 5, almost 6 pants, and a size 5 shirt.

You, unlike your sister LOVE to take a nap. Just like your momma! :-D On the rare day that you don't take a nap, you love to play house with your sister and even Joseph. Unfortunately, your absolute favorite thing to do during quiet time is suck on your thumb with your blankie. Thankfully you don't have to have the blanket or suck your thumb at all times... just when you're bored. Mostly when you're watching TV or going to sleep. It's been quite the experience trying to get you and your sister to quit. The blankets are allowed in the living room until you're seen with a thumb in your mouth and we've tried educating you in as simple terms as possible the effects of sucking your thumb can have and still you insist. I should have known this would happen when we saw you sucking your thumb in the sonogram.

You're a nonstop chatterbox! Well, that's really all three of you. You will tell anyone and everyone every single thought that runs through your mind. You love wearing my high heels through the house and pretending you're going to the grocery store in them. Unlike your brother and sister, you would rather stay inside coloring all...day...long! You LOVE to draw and color. Most all of your pictures end up being drawings of ballerina's or our family at a birthday party. Lol

You are the most caring little big girl. You love to hug and kiss us and are always making sure to tell those around you how much you love them. You are so easy to like and are easily attached to anyone that comes around.

There are a million things you learned this year! You learned to read, how to tell time on a digital clock, and you learned to make your bed without help. Now we just need to work on you keeping your glasses on! You are so ready for kindergarten and so I am not...

Here is to the sweetest, kindest, most perfectly imperfect daughter and sister a parent could ask for.

Love,

         Mommy & Daddy

Dear Amaya

Welcome to the "big girl" stage! At least that's what you practically told me the morning of your birthday. "We're big girls now Mommy!" Said with so much excitement in your voice. I swear I had to hold back the tears. Joseph is seven and now my baby girls are five... *Sigh*

According to the bathroom scale you weigh 38.4lbs and if I am using the tape measure correctly, you are 43" (3ft. 7½") tall. You wear a size 11½,  sometimes 12 shoe and a 5 pants and shirt.

You no longer take naps, but we have our designated quiet time for one hour after lunch. During quiet time you read a book, color, play quietly in your room, or take a small nap if you want. The naps are never part of your quiet time. You never took naps when you had a nap time. Mostly you play "house" with Tressa or read a book.

You are the most independent child I've known. You take great pride in learning and doing things on your own. You would rather spend 30 minutes trying to open your goldfish snack than ask for help. Your favorite things are playing house, riding your new bike and singing every song you shouldn't (Ciara- Ride, Rihanna- S&M, etc). You love reading and are obsessed with princesses. Your favorite things to say are, "Dang!", "What the heck?!", and "That's not fair!" (You definitely picked that one up from your brother. He's been on quite the "It's not fair." kick lately.)

You recently developed a fear of taking a shower with the door shut. We've been trying to teach you and your sister to be a little more modest (Lol) and part of that is shutting the bathroom door when showering. You keep telling me it's scary, but I can't get an answer why from you.

You learned so much this year. You learned to tie your shoes, you were able to stand in front of a crowd and sing or read without stage fright, you're able to calculate simple addition, and are able to tell time on a digital clock. All of those things before you even reached kindergarten! I can only imagine what you'll learn this year. I just love how eager you are to learn. Hopefully you never lose that about you.

Here's to being five... to being a big girl... to being an amazing daughter and sister.

Love,

          Mommy & Daddy