The Big 0h-4

The day started out with a big girl running into her mommy's room saying, "It finally my birfday!!!"  When we got ready to head out for the day, she looked like this...

After a quick trip to Christy's, she came out looking 4 years older instead of like a 4 year old.

Daddy came and we went out to lunch and to the movie "Brave".  After that we stopped at the grocery store to pick up the cake and supplies for the party.  We also had to stop for some ice cream!!!  Then, there was a great party at Mommy Juju's...with cake and more ice cream...

And the best part is that we are in it together.

From 0 to 10

Never has going from zero to ten made such a difference in my life.  The zero on the right (and yes, the OCD in me is now wishing they were on the left...just for the linearness of it) was purchased by Lauren's Mommy Juju in the early fall of 2008.  The tens on the right were purchased by me in February of 2012...because Mommy Juju bought the sparkly ones.  I cannot even adequately express how this picture sums up her "bigness"...but even at the same time, I cannot beleive that my whole world exists in something that fits in either of those shoes.

No matter what, though, we are in it together.

TA!!! DA!!!!

Last weekend, I started another surprise transformation for Lauren.  It started with an old dresser from my bedroom at mom and dad's.  My dad cut out all of the drawer ledges and stuff.  Then, it was my turn.  I started with...

After a miss with the first color, a few trips to Spencer for various supplies and couple of burnt finger tips later...it turned out pretty cute.

The important thing is I think she liked it.

Most of the time I am the one that considers myself the lucky one...but in this case, I think she should consider herself luck that we are in this one together.

Just had to share...

I am finally getting around to ordering pics that my friend, the lovely and talented Amy Rockwell, took of Lauren and I this summer.  This one is my fave...I just had to share because I love it so much...

And then I have to share this one because I love it so much, too....

And I could not leave this one out...

It's October...

It has been quite a while since we have gotten a post in and boy, oh, boy have we been busy.  Busy doing what you may ask?  I ask myself that same question almost daily.  It never feels like we get anything done, but yet everything that needs done seems to be getting done.  We all know that the stuff like dishes, laundry and cleaning can wait til later when you have a three year old because here are the things we are busy doing instead:
                  1) Enjoying this wonderful weather...seems like payback from the hot summer, although we can do without the little black bugs that have shown up.
                  2) For two days we had a blast at the Clay County Fair!  One days was with Aunt Juju and Cody and the other was with our friends The Peats.
                  3) Lauren spending time with her daddy.
                  4) I have gotten the school year of to a successful start.  I think, anyways.  Can't believe it is almost the end of the 1st quarter already.
                  5) Lauren has totally adjusted to her new daycare and has been talking a lot about Lucas. Our new daycare goddess, Josie, has been awesome.
                  6) Have I mentioned we have been enjoying the weather?
                  7) Lauren has started her first non-daycare learning activity...she is attending First Hour of Power at our church and is totally LOVING it!
                  8) And.......drumroll, please.....I would like that announce that we are fully potty trained in the #1 department and are becoming very successful in the #2 department.  This has been a long time coming and it just goes to show that slow and steady wins the race.

Here are some things we have to look forward to during October:
                  1) Halloween, of course.  You can expect the world's cutest monkey at a doorstep near you.
                  2) #2...you knew it was coming.
                  3) Harvest.  Although Hampa's beans have already been combined, we are going to try to get a ride somewhere else.
                  4) Hopefully enjoying some more wonderful weather through this month.

Whether it is all that has happened or all that will happen, Lauren and I are truly blessed.  We have great friends.  We have wonderful family.  Most of all...we have each other.
                 

A Simple Lesson

Lauren would like to introduce you to her friend, Kyleigh.  Kyleigh is one of our Firecracker Friends.  She is three and up until last week, she lived in Schoharie, New York.  Then Hurricane Irene came through and ruined her house.  The only home she has ever known.  Kyleigh's mom, Amy, is my friend.  Over the last week, Amy has taught me a great lesson and one that I will definitely pass on to Lauren.  Take a look at this picture and see if you can tell what that lesson is:

I am having a hard time finding one word or phrase that sums up what the lesson is.  Grace.  Love.  Gratitude.  Teaching.  Humbleness.  Amazing.  There...I searched long enough.  It is simply amazing.  Here is a woman and her three year old daughter currently living at her mom's where they share a room with Daddy and baby sister and all of their possessions in that one room.  But through it all,  they both have a smile on their face and love in their hearts.  They are sending out a simple thank you.  Simple, only in the fact that it is written on a plain 8.5x11 piece of paper with a marker.  It is a thank you to people they know and love, and to complete strangers.  It is a thank you for the big things that have been given to them, but also to the smallest of the small.  What a lesson to teach.

Amy, Kyleigh, Kane and Stella...Lauren and I love you guys so much.  You are amazing people who don't deserve what happened, but we just wanted to send a big THANK YOU right back at 'cha for teaching us how to be strong, grateful and amazing.