The Start of a New Era!

We attended Isabelle's open house yesterday for VPK. We were able to meet her teachers and the students in her class. Isabelle was very excited but also a little overwhelmed. I have to admit that I am very nervous about her starting preschool. I think that she will excel and blossom, but at the same time it makes me nervous knowing that others will be influencing my daughter. What if she learns "colorful" language from another student? How will she feel when she is rejected by a friend? I won't be there to protect and shelter her, and that terrifies me. She will be away from her family for 15 hours a week. And I know she will learn and change and grow exponentially during that time. And I will learn, change, grow, and begin the long long process of letting go and letting God.

Izzy showing off her uniform shirt :-)

Hollywood Studios

Today was our last trip to Disney before Izzy starts preschool. We decided to go to Hollywood Studios since Princess Sofia began making appearances there a few days ago. We told Izzy she was going to meet someone new - but she couldn't guess who (even though Livi wore her Sofia dress). It was a million degrees out - but it was worth it!  The girls loved hugging and loving on their favorite new princess.

Next, we watched Ariel's show, and Livi was absolutely entranced! She sang along with every song, and clapped exuberantly at the end. We also saw Beauty and the Beast and Disney Junior. Paga joined us and was a big help!

Sleeping Beauty

She hasn't sneaked into bed with me in a long time - and, frankly I usually don't allow it. Only because she insists on sharing one pillow, and I usually get jabs from her little fists at least twice a night. But, I allowed her to sleep with me last night, and I was rewarded with waking up with her hair in my mouth and this sweet sight in the morning.

Making meatballs!

Izzy got to get her hands dirty in the kitchen today!!! In an effort to get her to eat red meat, we let her get her hands really gooey forming meatballs. We even used goldfish (her favorite) as the bread crumbs. It was a success and my little vegetarian ate beef!!

Little Livi

My sweet baby is getting so big!  She loves to play imaginative games with her dolls... giving them all their own unique voices. She has a real fascination with Disney villains ... constantly asking for "beast" or "Ursula." She still LOVES to cuddle and gives us "monster hugs" all the time!

My little swimmer!

Our most important goal this summer was to teach Izzy to swim! Not only is she swimming now, she is picking up rings from the bottom of the pool!! I'm so proud of my sweet girl - and it is a huge relief knowing if she ever fell into the water she would be okay!!

Details

I am having minor surgery tomorrow, and I will not be able to hold either one of my girls for 4-6 weeks.  I thought about this as I rocked and prayed with Isabelle tonight.  What if something happened to me?  What if something happened to Brian? 

No one else knows how Isabelle INSISTS on saying the "in Jesus' name, Amen" part of the prayer...

And how when I say "thank you for the blessings you give us every single day" she stops me and asks (every single time) "What's every single day mommy?"

how she has to have her little blanket (buddy) silky side up on her pillow underneath her head before she lays down... 

how if there is even just a little bump in her buddy she will meticulously smooth it out before laying back down...

and how her buddy has to lay with the longer sides laying horizontally....

how she has to hear "Colors of the Wind" before she closes her eyes...

and she will usually stop me to say her favorite line is "come roll in all the riches all around you"..

how it relaxes her to have the back of her ears rubbed...

I could go on and on and on about both of my children. The point it, I don't want to fast forward to a time where I don't remember these details... or wake up one morning and realize my children no longer share these little intricacies with me.  I don't want to be too busy to notice... or too self absorbed to care.  They are the most important thing. Period.

I will clutch these moments tightly... and let my girls know that I love every single little detail that make them mine.