When Did They Grow Up?

It seems to have happened over night. One moment Jasmine was my baby, my only child and then in what seemed like a blink of an eye she has grown into a preteen. She is no longer clinging to my ankles and hasn't been there for quite a long time. She has her own personality that's often makes me wonder where she's picked up certain traits from. She begun seventh grade and has now officially been abducted by your church..!!..? Wait.., what!?! 

That's right, this morning our drive way was full of vehicles and people who were here to take my daughter on a initiation of sorts, into our church catalyst group.

They woke her up and took her off to enjoy her first day as a FUPC catalyst member. 

 She was excited and I was so proud of her, who she is and who she is becoming. She is going to be alright, this girl really has her head on straight and I couldn't be prouder to be her Mom. 

You know that saying, "It takes a village"? Well, I never really believed it until recently. The more (healthy, positive and well rounded) family and friends that are involved in the upbringing of a child's life, may actually be better than I once thought.

And then there was this picture of Vada that made me realize I must be walking around with my eyes closed because I didn't see her change from my baby girl to my toddler...

but look at this girl who is now very much a little girl who has grown considerably this summer, maybe even over the last couple of weeks!

And she isn't the only one! We went to our 2 & Under group at GiGi's today. Its been awhile since we've been there due to all of the summer activities, but all of the group had gone through huge changes! Two kiddo's had started school, one was in her second year of preschool, the other was just beginning. (some of the kids in our group are over three years old but because of the small amount of children that age we kind of combine our groups which is great because they are all friends.

And today the group welcomed a new friend who is pretty close to V's age but younger! There are a couple of babies in our group that attend off and on but before this addition Im pretty for sure that V was the youngest by about six months and for awhile there her age difference was evident. Now she is no longer the youngest or the smallest (I think and besides the babies).

And what about Miss Kiliegh? 

Well, she is at her dad's this week but I have noticed drastic changes in her over the summer, as well. She has embraced what it feels like to be the oldest sibling (at her dads) and I think that she really likes what that feels like. She is a little less shy and knows herself more than she did last year at this time. She started fourth grade and for the first time she has a male teacher whom she says that she really likes. 

Have I mentioned lately that I love being a mom?
I love what family is and where my family is going!

Meeting April

I had such a beautifully busy day, yesterday. I walked out of my house with Vada and the diaper bag in hand at nine in the morning and didnt return until a little after seven in the evening.

 Our first stop was GiGi's Playhouse for our play group and then one of the mothers and her three year old daughter went to lunch with Vada and I. 

After lunch I stopped back at the house to quickly grab my camera because I had a very special "date" that would require at least one photo. 

April Vernon, from Living By Faith was in my area and we had decided to meet up. It's so nice connecting with other blogging mothers who not only have a love for Jesus Christ but a child sharing a bonus chromosome in common with Vada. Its nice to swap stories and to feel connected outside and away from the computer. April has two ADORABLE little boys. Her youngest, Levi happens to have Down syndrome. He is about three months younger than Vada and is simply perfect in every way! Don't believe me? Then you should go check out her blog! 

April, it was such a blessing to meet you and to have been able to spend some time getting to know you more! Thank you for taking the time out of a very long drive home to meet with me and with Miss Vada. I am sure that if V could conjure up the words she would also thank you for reading to her even after she drooled all over your water bottle! :)

After April and I said our good byes Vada and I headed over to my good friends house for pizza and relaxation. It was the perfect end to a very, looong day! 

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve Justin had to work a twelve hour day shift. Jasmine and Kiliegh were at their bio's and Vada and I spent the day together. We hung out all day. We played and she napped. I cleaned and she played. It was a typical day, only it was Christmas Eve. That evening we went to a special Church service where Vada received her first candy cane and learned more about the true meaning of Christmas.

Once we were home I let Vada have her Christmas gift from her Grandpa Augie and Grandma Suzan, it was too big to not notice.

I had left my cell phone at home while at church and after being home for only a few minutes I realized that I had missed a call from one of our closest friends who happen to live only a couple of blocks from us. They had invited us over for dinner and we gladly excepted their invitation. We spent a couple of fun hours just hanging out and catching up before we decided to head home.

Once we settled down for the night I was giddy for Justin to open his presents and I really wanted Vada to open hers as well. We always open one gift on Christmas Eve and while presents isn't what Christmas is all about, it felt odd to not do this small Christmas ritual now that Vada was here and old enough to do it with us. So Justin opened some of his gifts and then Vada got to open one of hers.

The tree had been up for around a week and there have been gifts under it since day one. Vada was at first curious but learned that she shouldn't bother with the tree or the packages and it was never an issue. When it was time for her to open her gift she was a bit confused. Like, why all of a sudden could she now have it...

I called her first tear a tester. She was feeling things out. Being cautious.

It didn't take long before she got the hang of it and had that decoy shoe box unwrapped and the lid fully removed.

The gift, you ask?

It was a "vintage" Leap Frog ABC Fun Food Magnet Set. I had to buy it used because it's no longer being made. I had been watching the price climb higher and higher over the past couple of months (on the only two left sets that I could find, online) and I was beginning to think that I wouldn't be able to get it but then one day I found it at a local children's thrift store! I was thrilled and while Vada hasn't come out and said it, I know that she is too!

After Vada and Justin finished opening their Christmas Eve gifts Vada was ready for more. She had had her taste of what was under the tree and she didn't want to stop tearing paper and playing. Luckily, since it was well past her bedtime, she was more than willing to call it a night and do some "rocky rock" time with her Mamma. Shes pretty easy going.

Kindermusik and Vada's Date

Our first stop this morning was to Vada's (rescheduled) date with Jack and his Momma Jodi for a class of Kindermusik! Originally, we were going to meet last Tuesday but because of Vada's ear infection, shots of antibiotics and her fever, I thought it was best to keep her resting at home and so I did. However, today we were able to meet up with our friends. We had such a blast, Kindermusik was very, very cool. Jodi had invited V and I to this class and from her it was the first that I have ever heard of it. Im so happy that we went. We sang and danced, played musical instruments and read. It was a really great way to spend time with Vada as well as the other Moms and their children. I didn't take pictures during the class because V and I were guests and also, because we were having such a good time together and I just wanted to enjoy the moment.

After class we went into the children's museum and played for awhile. Jack and V had a good time. He is such a sweet boy and was so much fun to watch. He even picked a flower for Vada from the counting garden but she was too busy trying to catch a butterfly in the lily pond to notice. Good thing Jack is patient and understanding of her scattered attention span (it runs in the family) but maybe that's because he knows that he will see her again. Jack and V not only play at Kindermusik together but at GiGi's as well.

Make-Your-Own Cupcake bar

 My husband's birthday was on the twelfth of November but he had to work so we were unable to really do anything to celebrate him so we held off until today. We asked one of our favorite family of friends over for dinner-- Grilled chicken, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli and salad. For desert I had set up a make-your-own cupcake bar. I baked dark chocolate fudge cake and had a small assortment of frosting and a great deal of different sprinkles to choose from. I have really enjoyed making fun cupcakes in the past like Vada's birthday cupcakes and the corn on the cob ones but since this was kind of a last minute thing I decided to not stress myself out with trying to do something like the what I have done in the past, those usually require a good deal of planning and time. Anyway, I think the make-your-own idea went over pretty smoothly. The kids enjoyed it at least and Justin and I just really enjoyed hanging out together and with our friends.