3 years 8 months

Anna,

We can't believe you are getting so close to 4.  You need to slow down little girl.  This past month you've been busy with preschool.  You really enjoy school and talk about all your friends and teachers.  You like to tell me what you have for snack each day and who you played with.  You walk in the classroom and are so confident.  You go right over to the sink and wash your hands like a big girl - I really like that habit your teacher has formed.  Maybe it will keep some of the germs away!

You love gymnastics and I'm pretty sure you'd go every day if you could.  You tell me about your teachers and the kids in your class.  I love watching you have little conversations with your friends!  So cute!

You spend a lot of time dressing up these days.  You love to wear your swim suits around the house and you also add a tutu or a robe to your wardrobe.  You make a huge mess typically during your dress up sessions, but we are working on putting things away (you just don't enjoy cleaning up).  You also can play barbies or princesses for hours.  It is so cute to listen to your conversations.  You've had a few playdates with your buddy (our neighbor), Elyse.  She's been to our house and you've been to her's.  You think it is so neat going to a friend's house without me, I guess it is a sign of your growing up!

You are working on writing "A's."  You don't really like doing work for me if it is my idea.  I hope you'll start letting me work on handwriting and other academics soon, but I do remember your brother being the same way at your age.

Here we go towards another month.  We love you baby girl!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

6 years and one month!

Drew,

You've been a busy boy this past month!  School is keeping you busy and you finished up soccer during this past month.  You've started your boys gymnastics on Monday evenings.  We spend our weekday afternoons reading together (you are doing amazing with your reading),  playing with toys or football. Lately you live and breathe football.  You love playing a game you have on the iPad or getting outside and playing with anyone you can talk into playing or sometimes even playing by yourself.    When you play football you often wear a hooded sweatshirt so you can pretend the hood is a helmet.  We got you a mouth piece because you have noticed the professional players wear them.  You are so creative and cute!  You also love watching football and have learned so much about the game!  It is a good year to be a Chiefs fan, you just love watching them WIN!

The other day you got the opportunity to play outside with our neighbor boy who is in 6th grade.  You had the time of your life.  His friend came over too and his friend ended up being your 5th grade buddy from school.  I've never seen you so excited and I've also ever seen you try and act so darn big.  It was really fun watching you.  I think you would have loved to have an older brother!

Daddy and I are just as proud of you as ever.  We love watching you grow and change each month!

Love you so much buddy!
Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Trick or Treating

 We had another great year of trick or treating!  Anna was Belle and luckily we already had the costume and Drew took a bit to decide, but about two weeks before he had to make a decision he decided on his favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, Raphael.  We walked around with some neighbors.  We left a bowl of candy on the porch, I wonder how many kids actually got some candy from our bowl.  Anna wasn't too concerned about going up to each house.  I made the mistake of bringing the stroller with us and she wanted me to stroll her on up to each and every door.  Next year, she's on her own!  Check out all the faces of Anna, she enjoys getting her picture taken. Poor Drew has to wait until I get just the right picture, oh little sisters!

 Drew and the other boys of the cul de sac - they are very outnumbered!

Anna and Lauren

 some of the kids, we didn't get a pic of the huge group, bummer!

look she's out of the stroller, don't worry she's racing back to find her chariot!

School Halloween Parties

Anna had her party on the Tuesday before Halloween.  She got to wear her costume to school that day.  Such fun!  The kids had cake pops, decorated a real pumpkin with stickers and then played a game with their teacher.  Ma & Pa joined us for the party and one little girl in particular took a liking to Pa and the next thing you knew Anna was up on Pa's lap marking her territory.  It was pretty funny!

 parade time - this is when Anna first noticed her fan club (ma, pa, and mommy)

 look at our little helper- she got to pass out the plates and napkins she brought for the party

 looks like she liked the cake pop!

 decorating

sitting on Pa's lap

Drew had his party on Halloween day and I was able to enjoy the party with him while Anna was at school.  His class paraded around the school and then went back to have treats and play games.  He had a great time!

 check out that turtle parading around!

 the kindergarten teachers!

 the class

 drew and his buddy, Colin

my boy and I