A decade

My baby is ten years old.  A decade.  It doesn't seem possible.  

It's not like it feels like it was yesterday that I was carrying around this sweet little face, but it does not seem like ten years could have gone that fast. 

Because now instead of a adorable, but sometimes fussy baby, I have a beautiful girl that fills my heart and days with more sunshine and laughter than I could have dreamed.

"If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."  - Roald Dahl

This girl of mine has always been special.  I don't know what it is about her, but people are drawn to her and what she puts out into the universe.  It has been that way since she was a baby.  She is meant for great things.  I know she is.  She just has to know it for herself.  

I know what is ahead.  I can see the tweenage insecurities starting to try to take root.   She is embarrassed by things that I do.  She is starting to be particular about what she wears and how her hair looks.  I know that is a part of growing up but I am going to try my hardest to not let it get to her and change the person she is too much. 

On her birthday we were sitting on the couch and I was showing her all the Facebook birthday wishes she had received and we were looking at the photo montage that I had posted.  When we were finished I noticed that she had tears welling up in her eyes.  When I asked her what was wrong she just shrugged her shoulders and didn't want to tell me - kind of embarrassed that she was crying.  I asked her if they were happy tears from all the nice wishes but she shook her head no.  Finally she agreed to write down what was bothering her.   She wrote that looking at all the pictures of her as a little girl made her sad because she didn't want to be ten anymore - she didn't want to grow up.  

After my heart broke into a million pieces, I hugged her tight and told her of course she wanted to grow up.  I told her that little baby girl would always be my baby forever and I loved her dearly, but I was excited for her to grow up because that little baby girl was growing up into the most awesome bigger girl and would someday be my little girl and my best friend.  

We celebrated her birthday by going to dinner with Grama Bonnie at Red Robin and then coming home for cake and presents.  She couldn't decide what she wanted to do for a friend party this year so she didn't have one yet.  There is talk of maybe a half birthday party/sleepover this summer. There are so many more options for fun things to do in the summer.  Early January is a hard time to feel motivated.

She was so excited to get her "fit bit" from Grama.  She told me that was all she wanted for her birthday.

Until she opened her "Flip a Zoo" from Grama.  Then she was super excited about that too!

She made a wish and poof - she was a decade old.  Hailey Marie, you bring so much joy to our lives.  I know it seems cliche but you have the ability to light up a room just by walking in the door.  You have the biggest heart and so much empathy for people.  I can't count how many people comment to me about how sweet you are. I hope you never lose your sense of humor and goofiness.  You have so much to look forward to and we can't wait to come along for the ride....

...from first to tenth....it has been amazing so far!

Happy 10th Birthday Sweet Girl!

Monday moments...a couple weeks worth

Two weeks ago this girl turned double digits.  I can't even believe it.  I have hopes to do a whole post on her birthday but I jinxed myself and can't get my big girl camera pictures to load to the computer now.  I am quickly growing weary of ever changing technology. 

Her birthday gift from Mother Nature was a snow day the day after her birthday.  I know it doesn't look like much snow, but there was ice underneath that layer.

The cutie picture we posted online to try and sell GS cookies.  Sadly, we haven't had many takers.

A text I got from Spencer.  It is rare to get words out of him lately let alone an I love you.  I thought I better document it.

The birthday decorations that Hailey made for herself.  I had to snap a photo before it all came down.

When I was organizing some papers I came across this note that Spencer wrote to himself who knows when.  I laughed so hard at the "work out after last dress rehearsal".

Another snow day.  The principal posted a challenge to send in a photo of yourself reading and you would get a prize. Hailey made a fort and read in there.

She looks pretty stressed out huh?  Another week, another snow day, another reading challenge.

One night last week when Trent was home late for dinner, Hailey set up a whole dinner scene for him including decking out herself as a waitress at the Blue House Restaurant.  She fashioned a costume out of a box and packing materials.  We couldn't stop laughing.  The girl is a hoot.

Evan and Hailey competing in Chopped Junior.  They needed to make desserts using a croissant, whipped topping and Reeses peanut butter cups.  They LOVE making stuff in the kitchen.

Monday moments...the first of 2017!

Happy 2017!  I know a lot of people who were wishing good riddance to 2016 but my family had a pretty good year and we are looking forward to an even better 2017.   Change is inevitable and all we can do is be positive and pray that more good days than bad are in front of us. 

The first day of 2017 was unseasonably warm so we took a walk down to the beach.  Now that Christmas is over, the sunshine and warmth can not get here soon enough for me.

We finished puz puz over break.  This has become one of our favorite traditions.  This one is getting modge podged and put up in Trent's classroom.

Back to school and it didn't take long for Hailey to earn a Spirit Stick.  It was funny to me that it said I love cats and she was wearing cat leggings and a cat shirt. 

Hailey's teacher (who also taught both her brothers) has always been a huge Steelers fan.  He was so excited that they made the playoffs he had last Friday dubbed Steelers day.  He told the kids he had enough jerseys at home they all could wear one if they wanted.  Hailey was so excited for this day she didn't even perform her nightly snow day ritual.  

When I saw her teacher in the hall and told him "Happy Steelers Day!"  He told me he had given Hailey first pick of the jerseys because she was so into it and she picked the twin one to his.  So cute!  When I snuck into lunch to take this picture she told me "Mom!  I'm Antonio Brown - just like Mr. Osborne!"  

Saturday night we went to dinner at Red Robin to have an early celebration for this little lady's birthday.

After dinner she got to open some gifts.  Grama has bought her one of these dolls since she was one year old.

She got the game Googely Eyes - which was a big hit.

It is hard for me to believe that my BABY is ten!

On Sunday we woke up to some fresh snow and temperatures that were not below zero.  It seriously felt like a heat wave! 

Silly girl messing around with a pair of my "cheaters".

All three kids got these super soft blankets from Grampa Dan for Christmas.  I swear when they are home they have them all the time.

Fooling around with phone selfies while watching some of the Golden Globes.  Can you tell we were kind of bored?  That's what happens when you don't know or have never heard of the shows or movies nominated.  I guess I don't know if that is good or bad that we don't watch that much TV.  Or maybe we just don't watch good TV?