Talents

Mia has been taking tap/jazz this year at ADA and is really loving it. Although I never pictured myself with a dancer (mainly because it was never my thing or really encouraged when I was young), I am so happy that she has found something she loves and is good at. She is really small for her age and has played soccer for several years and basketball this year, but because of her size she sometimes has a hard time keeping up to speed, and she gets older that is probably only going to get tougher. I was also small for my age, but had a much different personality then she did. She has a calm, gentle spirit whereas I was much more aggressive or a fighter. Dance is something she can do despite her size/personality. I have to say I was a tad disappointed when she chose to dance in the Lion King rather than play soccer this season, but I realize that this may be her "thing" and we want to support her in the things that she enjoys and is good at even though it may not have been our "thing". So we are excited for her and look forward to seeing where this takes her.

It's funny because when she first started at this studio, there was one little girl in particular who really bullied her and would purpose to be mean to her just because she was the new girl. So I told Mia to ignore her rudeness, still be polite to her and just dance. Well Mia has quickly picked up dancing, and now they all fight to stand next to her because she learns the steps quickly and they like to follow her. The teacher has asked her to stand in the front or the middle to demonstrate which has been huge for her confidence. I love how God gives us each unique talents and it is so enjoyable to see each of my girls begin to develop their own.

Averi on the other hand cannot wait to get back to soccer season. She has enjoyed playing basketball but says she misses soccer:) Our theory is that we let them try many things while they are little and let them figure out what they are best at or enjoy the most. I mean obviously they are both still young, but Mia is naturally bent towards dance/the arts and Averi has a more natural athletic ability. We will see...

Lila (8 month catch up)

Time to catch up on Lila and the past 8 months of her life...Lila has been such a perfect third and final baby for our family. Many of you have followed her story and know the pain and losses (6 known miscarriages) we went through before conceiving sweet Lila. At the time little did we know that God had this amazing and wonderful child in mind for our family...She is SO funny, reactive, beautiful and amazing in every way. I'm sure some people don't understand why she is so special to our family because they don't know the background. I certainly don't favor her over my other girls. I love different things about each one of them (of course). She was just the child that completed our family...that we prayed for YEARS and went through a lot of heartache before she came along. Sometimes I think God allows these things to happen so that we will appreciate them EVEN MORE once we receive that blessing... She is SO loved and adored by her big sisters. As a matter of fact, she had her first stomach bug last week and it KILLED Mia and Averi that they couldn't love on and kiss on her for a couple days. I love how they love each other...

Anyways, she has been a super easy baby. Very happy and always going with the flow. She misses naps for soccer games or has late bedtimes because of the girls activities and handles it like a champ without fussing or complaining. She is SO very social and outgoing. She just wants to be with people. As long as someone is in the room or around her, then she's happy.

First Valentine's day...with your roses from daddy;)

Curly blondie:)

First reactions to baby food..lol! Not a huge fan the first go around.

First time to roll over - 4 months

Drinking a bottle all by yourself. You started this early...around 5 mos.

First piggie tails - 5 months

First sitting up - 5 months (you sat up early because you had a good base;))

6 months picture

Averi's Story of How She Came to Know Christ

So mommy and daddy have both noticed recently that you were really starting to ask both of us a lot of questions about Jesus dying on the cross and had several conversations with you about it. But we never wanted to push you into making a decision and knew that you would come to it on your own. So on April 19th you asked Jesus into your heart all on your own when you were in your bed. The next morning you came in and told mommy that you had prayed and asked Jesus to take away your sins and come into you heart. I was SHOCKED and of course over the moon excited. So mommy spent some time talking with you to be sure you understood your decision and we prayed together again. When daddy got home from carpool you went running to him and said "guess what?! I asked Jesus into my heart AND we might be going to the zoo today" :) SO cute and such an Averi thing to say. We are so thankful that you came to know Jesus Christ at an early age. Averi with her new Bible from mommy and daddy

Averi turns 5 (6 months ago...lol)

Starting writing this months ago and never published it... My BEAUTIFUL girl turned 5! I have NO idea where the time has gone. It is so insane to me. But anyways here are a few facts/memories of the past year... You attended Hunter Street for K-4 and LOVED it. You only go 3 days a week but ask me every morning if you get to go to school that day. You did not want me to walk in with you on your first day of school (unlike your big sis) and you are little ms independent. You became a big sister! You are an AMAZING sister to Lila. Since the day you found out mommy was having a baby you were over the top excited. And you have been loving to her since the day she was born. You constantly entertain her and make her laugh. The two of you have an amazing bond and it has been so awesome to watch. Your personality has really blossomed this year. You always have a big smile on you face, and are so joyful and bubbly, bouncing around the house and everywhere you go. I love your spunkiness too. You are totally my mini me:) You are extremely thoughtful and always drawing pictures for us, picking us flowers, constantly giving us hugs and kisses and "I love you's". You are full of affirmation always telling mommy she is pretty or daddy he is handsome etc... We are SO thankful that God blessed our family with you because you sure do add a lot. LOVE YOU SO MUCH SWEET GIRL!

Gonna try this whole blogging thing again...

Okay, so I have been out of the loop on blogging for well a whole almost 8 months. It just became too overwhelming to try and keep up with it once sweet Lila came along. But I have to say that I do not want Lila to miss out on all the fun stories that I had with my other girls about them growing up. We love looking back through my blog and reading stories and seeing the pictures. So I am going to do my best to start blogging at least once a week again. And I'm going to try and somewhat catch up on at least some pictures of Lila:) I do have a million of those at least. But she's really getting to a very fun age and starting to do some really fun things that I know I'll forget about if I don't put it in writing. And believe it or not the little stinker is turning one NEXT WEEK (insert tears here). Can't even handle it. Get ready for a big picture dump...

Averi Starts Soccer

Averi has begun her first season of soccer. We decided to play Mia down for one more season since she is little and they play with the boys, so they are playing on the same team. She is loving it so far and is SO my mini-me. Totally looks just like me even when she plays soccer:) Hilarious! Here are a few pictures of Averi playing soccer...

Before her first practice...

Daddy coaching her on where to kick...

Team Spain:)

Waiting to go in...

Dribbling (LOVE her cute little lanky legs)