Happy 3rd!

My baby is getting older - officially three years old today.  She is social, adventurous, athletic, funny, tough and at times, stubborn. As with most three year olds, she has a unique way of seeing the world and it often makes us smile to hear her try to convey this view.  If we are out and about and she sees something that she likes, she says "I want that at my home". She calls hand dryers in restrooms "microwaves" and the cup holder in her car seat a "cup folder". She associates darkness (night time) with sadness and daytime with happiness.  Natalie refers to Tangled as Rapunzel and Rapunzel as "let down your hair". When given two choices, she never says no to one option but instead says "we can do that one tomorrow, OK?" And "I do it myself" is something we hear often these days.

Natalie also has a great imagination.  She has an imaginary friend named Popcorn and often tells us tales of their crazy adventures together. One of my favorite things is when she says "remember at Disneyland when..."(and she will explain in great detail one of the memories she overheard us talk about from our last trip). Everyone gets a kick out of it because she stayed at home with Grandma during this trip and has never been to Disneyland. 

Nattie loves her "lovie" (the zebra she has had since a newborn), likes to color (just learned the names of colors), sing "Wheels on the Bus", do "homework" (which is one of her Pre-K workbooks), carry a backpack and do puzzles.  She is quite the fashionista  - often changes outfits multiple times per day because her "pants aren't beautiful" and has been known to throw a huge tantrum if you ask her to wear a pair of shoes that she doesn't like that day. Natalie would eat a cheese quesadilla for every meal if I let her. She doesn't mind getting her hair done in the morning and is not a big fan of potty training yet (hoping this will change in the next few months - fingers crossed).

Nattie spends about half of her life in the car, being shuffled to and from kid's activities, which is probably why she can sing most top 40 pop songs.  She will often ask me to change the radio 

station when a song starts playing which is sung by a boy. She only wants to listen to songs sung by a girl.

According to her, her favorite color is orange, favorite tv show is Umizoomi and favorite movie is Frozen.  When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she will say a pig.

Here is Natalie's third birthday in pictures.

Good Morning and Happy Birthday!

Next we were off to Soccer Class...

Scoring a goal on her big day!

We stopped by Starbucks on our way home for a birthday cake pop and chocolate milk.

Then it was time for some rest, lunch and a little nap before the celebrating continued.

Love those little cheeks!

Next we headed to Red Robin for a birthday dinner, 

back home for her special cake and then presents.

Nattie's Frozen cake!

The kids always makes very special cards for their siblings and it warms my heart every time!

Nattie got some new pajamas for bedtime.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl! 

Love you more than you'll know!

Rest In Peace Grandma

My Grandma, just 3 months shy of her 100th birthday, passed away this last week.


Although we lived in separate parts of the country for most of my life, we would visit frequently and as a child, Grandma and I were "pen pals" for several years. I still have some of her letters which I love to read from time to time. Her cards and letters were either written in cursive (which generally required my Mom to translate for me) or  typed on her typewriter. I will always think of my Grandma whenever I see a typewriter. One of my earlier memories was of my Grandma teaching me how to use a typewriter in the basement of their house and I loved practicing on it whenever we went to visit.

I also have fond memories of going to Cubs games at Wrigley Field (my Grandma loved the Cubs) and eating breakfast in their kitchen (we always had toast and cubed pineapple which we got to dip in sugar with toothpicks while watching the Today show on a small TV in their kitchen...seriously, a TV in the kitchen was just about the most awesome thing ever for a kid!)

My Grandma LOVED crossword puzzles and was very good at them.

She always had a crossword puzzle nearby.

Despite having a tough life, she was fighter and as my Mom would often say "tough as nails". She survived world wars, the great depression, cancer, the loss of 2 of her 3 kids, a grandchild, and her husband. She was determined, stubborn, funny and fashionable (I don't ever recall seeing her without a pair of pantyhose or a wearing a piece of jewelry). I will always remember the love she had for my Grandpa and how she seemed the happiest when her family and grandchildren were all together. I know she would have loved this picture of all of her grandchildren, which we took at her funeral.

I can only hope she is sitting in Heaven surrounded by all those that she lost too early in this life; with a completed crossword puzzle in one hand and a glass of Sherry in the other. Rest in peace Grandma.

My Awesome Little Dribbler

Nattie started soccer classes today.  She was not only the cutest soccer player on the field but also an awesome little dribbler.  I guess she is finally reaping the benefits of being dragged to all of her siblings' practices and games since she was born. 

Last Day at the Pool

One of the best things this summer has been having access to a pool. When we got one last day of sunshine, the kids and I headed directly to the pool after school for a final jump.

Gymnastics

Today was Natalie's first day of gymnastics class.  

She loved it, especially swinging into the foam pit!

Look Mom!

I dropped the kids at Young Art today while Nattie and I ran around the mall taking care of a bunch of errands. They came out with pictures and smiles...definitely money well spent.  Well done kiddos!

First Days of School

Today was the kids' first days of school. It was a big day, not only because it was the first day of 4th grade for Abi and 1st grade for Brady, but it was also the first day at their new school.  We did have a brief meet and greet with their teachers and got a chance to walk around the school grounds over the summer but it is still a big change with everything being new - teachers, routines, activities, friends. I'm sure they will do great as being social and making friends seems to come pretty easy for both of them. Regardless, I will be anxious to pick them up at the end of the day and find out how it went. Mom might be more nervous than the two heading to school :)

End of Summer Haircuts

With school starting tomorrow, some haircuts were in order. 

It's amazing what some shampoo and a pair of scissors can do.

 Now we are ready for back to school!