Had ourselves a merry little Christmas...

A wonderful Christmas was had by all here at our house. A beautiful Christmas Eve mass, lots of presents at Grandmas (including a surprise Barbie dream house for the girls), running wild with the cousins, great food and lots of caroling. Everyone got what they wanted from Santa: Peyton got her swimming rescue dog, Barrett got her Wii, Daddy got Mario kart and mommy got her spinning shoes (and a fabulous coat too). Santa apparently doesn't know there is a recession going on! So we've all been spoiled and we are all very thankful for the extravagant Christmas -- that we will worry about later!

We hope everyone else had a beautiful Christmas too -- and a happy new year.

A Whole Lot of Christmas Goin' On...

Over the weekend, Santa visited our neighborhood and took the kids for carriage rides up and down the street.


Then, Barrett had her Christmas performance at school. All the Kindergartners sang songs to the parents and grandparents. Barrett was wonderful!


And finally, Peyton had her Preschool Christmas party. They played games, made ornaments and decorated cookies. And mommy got to be one of the class helpers.

Girls will be girls...

At Barrett's Kindergarten birthday party the girls set out to bowl...but did more of this! Hand claps and Eeeny Meeny Miney Moe? Girls will be girls, I guess.

2 parties, 2 wishes

Now that Barrett is in Kindergarten, she was granted two birthday parties this year. One with her friends. A super-fun cosmic bowling party with all the girls in her class. And one with her family. A great gathering of just about every one of her grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. 2 parties. 2 cakes. 2 wishes. And TONS of presents. She was a very happy birthday girl this year.

Happy 6th Birthday, Barrett!

Today when the girls woke up, we immediately started talking about how it was Barrett's 6Th Birthday today. Peyton asked "Barrett is SIX today?...TODAY? Barrett stand up and show me six!" Barrett stood up in all her glory. Peyton said "Six looks the same as 5 to me!"

Dear Barrett,

I can't believe you are six today! You are such a big girl. You have already learned so much this year. You are so enthused about school, especially reading. I marvel at your accomplishments so far. You have also learned so much about Jesus already at school -- it is really neat to watch. Your manners and thoughtfulness have really come a long way. Most of the time, you are a fantastic big sister! You really care about your family. And you are really talented. You are such a sweet girl...and a very fun girl...and a very smart girl. I am so proud of you and I am having the best time watching you grow into yourself. I love you.

Love, Mom

Our Christmas Tree

Make a Smilebox slideshow

One Little Indian...

Peyton had her first public appearance at preschool today with a Thanksgiving program where she and her classmates were all dressed as Indians and were to sing an array of Indian and thanksgiving songs for the parents. That is what was suppose to happen...

Brad and I geared up the camera and video recorder to see our little star shine. At home, all Peyton does is perform...singing, dancing, constant chatter of movie and TV lines. People are constantly remarking that we need to get our little entertainer into acting or something.

So we anxiously awaited her presence on the stage. "Here she comes!" She looked out at the crowd with a 'deer in the highlights' look. And that look remained...the entire performance...not a peep came out her mouth. She only sat and looked around marveling at all the people in the room. Who would have thought...my little star...stricken with stage fright. I was shocked.

It is so amazing how a child can be one person in one situation and change completely with a different environment. They have so many facets to their personality. I learn so much about my kids from day to day. And oh how they change! Barrett, my shy girl is really starting to come out of her shell in Kindergarten and the activities that come with it and my extreme extrovert is now only playing private performances!

a natural...

Barrett just keeps getting better and better with the skating. Her coaches often tell us how proud they are that she keeps up so well with "the big kids" (because they keep moving her up)and how much potential she has. It is so neat to see someone of her size so at ease on the ice. On Sunday, our family went ice skating together, and she sure had a thing or two to teach us! And as you can tell by her smile -- she loves it!

A Great Review...

This week we had a Kindergarten parent/teacher conference at Barrett's school. We knew that she was doing okay because we hadn't heard any complaints, but we were pleasantly surprised at how well. Her teacher threw out comments like "a teacher's dream", "an A+ student" and even included "if I had a daughter..."

She let us know that Barrett is a really hard worker, a very quick learner and now that she is getting comfortable in her environment, is showing traits of leadership in the classroom -- where in the pass she kept reserved and introverted. It's so great to hear that Barrett seems to genuinely like school -- just like her momma. We are so proud of you Barrett. Keep up the good work!

Trick or Treat!

Carving Day

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we go to Rombach Farms Pumpkin Patch as a family and we each pick out a pumpkin for Daddy to carve into Halloween Masterpieces and put on the front porch.

Opening Prayer

Before dinner, we always let one of the girls lead grace by saying a little prayer that they have learned in preschool. Something simple, but serves its purpose. Before bed, I lead the girls in nighttime prayers asking the Lord to watch over our family and then I have the girls say whatever petitions they come up with -- usually a blessing for grandparents, cousins and friends. That has been the extent of our prayers because they are so young. In the back of my mind, I've wondered when the right time was to start teaching them the prayers necessary for church, anxious to use these prayers in our daily rituals as well.

Last night at dinner, we got on the topic of things that my kindergartner, Barrett, is learning is school. For some reason, my husband asked if she had ever heard of the "Hail Mary" prayer. Barrett proceeds to recite it perfectly. Then my husband threw out "The Our Father". Again, Barrett smiles and delivers the Lord's prayer word for word. I was floored. Not only did I assume she was too young to remember all of those words -- she had learned this without my knowledge. I beamed with pride...and told her so.

Both in School...

I can't believe it...now both my girls are in school and for three mornings a week -- I am on my own. I was not sure what I was going to do with myself -- but it turns out those 2 and 1/2 hours of alone time go very quickly...too quickly indeed!

Peyton started preschool wonderfully. On the first day we visited her classroom together for about an hour...and she cried...WHEN I TRIED TO TAKE HER HOME! The next day she went by herself for an hour. When I dropped her off, she simply said "Bye, Mom" and when I picked her up she asked if tomorrow she could stay longer. And so she did. On the third day she had her first full day of preschool from 9 to 11:30, and she loved it!

Her reaction to all of this is so different from her older sister. For now...knock on wood...there is no separation anxiety, no nervousness and she is embracing becoming a big girl better than I could ask for. It is such a relief!

Breakaway Barrett....

Barrett had her first Kindergarten Soccer games over the weekend. Her school had a tournament over Saturday and Sunday and she got to play in 3 games. She really enjoyed herself and seemed to get the hang of it fairly quickly, considering they have only had a couple of practices.

A few times she was able to get the ball and dribble in front down to the goal. This excitement made her enjoy the sport even more(however, no points made yet). I heard a few of the moms on the sidelines calling her "Breakaway Barrett" when she would do this...saying she was small and quick and nobody could see her. I hadn't realized what a cheerleader I would enjoy being for her games -- I am surprised I still have my voice! I am a very proud mama.

Before her last game of the tourney, Barrett asked..."mom if I make a goal this game, could I get a really BIG ice cream?" I, of course replied, "the biggest one you've ever seen!" Maybe next time.

Kindergarten....

Barrett started her first official full day of Kindergarten today. She loves it already. She began Wednesday with a half day in her new classroom. There was much anticipation built up for this day and whenever Barrett was confronted with the question of "Are you looking forward to Kindergarten?" Her response has always been "I'm not excited about it...let's not even talk about it." Her biggest concern was the long time period away from home.

When I brought her in that first day, surprisingly, there were no tears from either of us. Little Peyton seemed to be the only one to express sadness for this huge occasion. Barrett's classroom was adorable, we couldn't have asked for a nicer teacher and my nephew Jaden occupies the seat next to her in class. So far so good. When I picked her up from school that day, Barrett said "I don't even think I'll notice the long day because I've made so many friends." What a pleasant surprise. My little girl is even braver than I expected.

Today, she walked into school like it was old hat. She put her things where they belong, started her coloring and didn't even flinch when we bid her farewell. She even brought lunch money to purchase the meal at school. I can't get over her maturity! She's decided that she is really going to like it there -- I think she'll actually miss it over the weekend. All that worrying for nothing. Yay!

Fun...Lake of the Ozarks Style!

When you can skate...you can skate

As I've mentioned, Barrett has taken up ice skating. She has been taking lessons since January and has been moving up levels quite quickly. She's got a knack for it and catches on fast.

This week Brad went to the Play it Again Sports store looking for soccer spikes for Barrett because she is signed up for the Kindergarten soccer team. While there, he came across some inexpensive roller blades in her size, and decided they would be good practice for her.

Last night, Barrett and her daddy went out in front to try them out. She was a natural! The two boys in the neighborhood (who got their roller blades at the beginning of the summer) were taking note of her techniques -- asking "Barrett, how do you do those swizzle things?" First try and she was already blading like an old pro.

I guess she's going to be one of those kids who can excel at anything athletic (like her dad was, not me), coordinated and quick-learning. I'm so proud of her -- and I think she's pretty proud of herself too!

My Girls Role "Model"

On Saturday, Barrett and Peyton went to watch their 13 year old cousin, Ashlynn, perform in a fashion show she was performing in for modeling classes she recently began attending. Ashlynn is who my girls MOST look up to. They want to look like her, dress like her, be like her and go wherever she is.

Quite frankly, I couldn't ask for a better example for them. Not only is she lovely...she is an all-around awesome kid! She is smart, responsible and polite. She is kind, caring and generous. She is admirable, honest and reliable.

I don't know if Ashlynn's goals for these classes is to become "the next supermodel", but I do know that in them she is learning things about style, poise and self-assurance that have already made a difference in how she carries herself. She is developing confidence in herself that she deserves to have. Ashlynn is a true beauty inside and out. Ashy, we love you!

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While we were waiting for the Fashion Show to begin -- Barrett decided she would give the runway a whirl. Check her out!