Family Picture- Christmas 2010

I am so blessed with such a beautiful, sweet family.

You are all, truly, my favorite things.

Student of the Week

This week, Dakota is the student of the week.  Here is the poster we made for her to show her class

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all that we have been blessed with.  

In 2004, the day before Thanksgiving, Dakota was born.  She was a beautiful, healthy, happy baby.

In 2005,  Dakota celebrated her first birthday on Thanksgiving.  We spent the holiday in Montana with the Allens.  I was thankful for family and the chance to travel so far to spend time with those we love and don't get to see often.

In 2006, Charly celebrated her first Thanksgiving.  She was just starting to crawl.  That year, I was thankful for her big sister who kept her entertained.

Cheyenne joined us for Thanksgiving in 2007.  We spent the day with the Pulham family.  I was thankful for Grandma & Grandpa Great and that you girls have a chance to get to know them.

We had just moved to our own place in 2008.  That Thanksgiving I was thankful for plenty of room for you girls to grow and explore.  I was also thankful for your adventurous spirits and Daddy's ability to keep you entertained.

2009 brought us sweet baby Cassy.  I was thankful for the amazing medical team that quickly took control of a bad situation and brought Cassy and me through her birth, healthy and happy.

This year, I am so thankful for each of my amazing girls.

I am truly blessed!

Pickin' Punkins

A few days ago, we went to Grandma &Grandpa Great's to pick pumpkins.  They planted two seeds and got over 20 pumpkins!  I guess the lousy growing season for everything else was a good thing for the pumpkins.

I have the cutest kids EVER!

Do you get Scared?

Yesterday Dakota was telling me about what she did at school.

She told me about a book they read about a mom that kissed her child's hand before she sent him off to kindergarten so that he would feel her love and not be scared.

I asked Dakota if she was scared at school and she said,

"No.  I just get excited and then I fart!"

Thanks for the blatant honesty, Bear!

BFF=Sisters

After school yesterday, we stopped at the park on the way home.  A little girl about Kota's age was there playing and the girls instantly befriended her.
After a few minutes of girl talk and tag, I overheard this little bit:

Dakota:  (talking to her new friend) You are going to be my new best friend.
Charly:  Momma says sisters are our best friends.
Dakota:  That means you are my new sister.

A little background:
When the girls fight, I tell them that their sisters are their best friends.  They will always be there for them and they will always love them.  So they shouldn't treat each other badly.  They should treat their sisters how they treat their non-family friends.
What did the girls glean from this?
If you are a sister, you are a best friend.  If you are a best friend, you are a sister.

I love how little minds work!

Engagement

After dating for a little over a year, Nate proposed to me on April 1st, 2004.  I know, the irony!  April Fool's Day.  I have been asked several times if I thought it was an April Fool's joke.  Honestly, it never crossed my mind.  So it's a good thing it wasn't a joke!

Nate took me into my room where he had put in a cd that played "Will You Marry Me?" by Alabama.

I, of course, cried as he got down on one knee and opened up a little blue box.

Oh how I loved that ring...

{A not so funny story is attached to this ring and I will post that later.}

Things moved pretty fast after that.

We took engagement photos

{Wow!  I can't believe how young we were!}

And set the date for June 26, 2004

Kindergarten: Day 3

After some tasty mac & cheese, Dakota headed off to her third day of school.

She has made a couple of friends but can only remember one's name.  Sadie.

She is loving school.  Everything about it.  She can't stop talking about everything she has done.  She talks the most about the songs she is learning.  Her favorite is "Days of the Week", sung to the tune of "The Adams Family."

She also loves the playground.  It amazes me everyday, watching the kids play together.  They have all been so patient and polite to each other.

I hope things stay this perfect!

Kindergarten: Day 2

Before school started today, Kota was playing on the playground. 

A little girl came up and said,

"I love your outfit.  Where did you get it?"

Dakota answered,

"This store that sells clothes and backpacks."

Where do five year olds come up with this stuff?? :)

Dakota's 1st Day of Kindergarten

After a lot of begging and crying (all from me), Dakota headed into her classroom for her first day of Kindergarten.  I can't even tell you how emotional I have been over this.  I have been begging her (and only half joking) her to stay home for at least another year.  It isn't that she will be away from me.  I have spent time apart from her.  It's that this is a big step in her life.  It's the beginning of a new chapter in which I get demoted from costar to supporting character.  I'm happy that she is growing up and experiencing new things.  I am sad that she is growing up so fast!

A few pictures:

She is SO gorgeous!

The outfit

Princess Backpack

1st Homework Assignment

She had to have white buttons to put under the blue beads to show that her eyes had white around the blue!

Today is the first day of Kindergarten for Dakota.  I've been thinking about starting this blog for a while now.  But I decided today, after dropping Dakota off at school, that I can't put it off any longer.  I want to remember 13 years from now, how I felt dropping her off for her first day of school.  I need to keep a journal and since I seem to to better with a blog than an actual book, I decided this was the way to do it.