Anna, and her sweet Percy

Lizie, and her little Lucy

Lucy, in better days, with a messy-mouthed Anna.

Remember this 3-year-old? This little girl who was overjoyed to start preschool? To use her new pink lunchbox, to have teachers, and to meet new children? Wasn't this day, the first day of Cloverdale, just yesterday?

Somehow a whole school has passed and my sweet girl just completed her first year of preschool. Yesterday the parents joined the children at school for a special Bike Parade, a potluck luncheon, a singing performance, and then for the ceremonious giving of certificates. We said congratulations to the "big kids" who will be attending kindergarten next year and goodbye to friends and teachers who we won't see until next September.

Ready for the bike parade! 

Sitting outside the circle of flowers, awaiting the pomp and circumstance. 

Receiving her memory book.

So proud!

Special good-bye hug for teacher Deb. . .

. . . teacher Dee. . .

. . . and most favorite and beloved teacher, Candace.

In three short months, my four-year-old will return in September and  be one of the "big kids" at school. As much as I want her to be little forever and ever, she is more than ready for this. Oh, my sweet girl, it's going  by so quickly!

Out of all the toys we own, this is what my girls like to play with. . .

A Visit With Mimi

We love you, Mimi, and we can't wait to see you again!

Magic Butterfly Fairy Princesses

What a wonderful Easter we had yesterday. We started the day with opening the front door just to see if the Easter Bunny had come, and what do you know?! He left two baskets on the driveway, one for each girl. 

After eating warm, buttery pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and maple syrup, we figured it was warm and (barely) dry enough to have our 3rd annual Easter Egg Hung in the backyard, instead of in the house. I dressed the girls in their special dresses and Eliza kept marveling at her "tights! tights!" as she repeated over again, sticking out a leg so we could marvel too. 

Following our egg hunt, it was nearing naptime for Eliza and church time for Anna and Mama. Anna changed into a different dress since it was getting too hot for the long-sleeved one. 

At 2:00, we headed over to the Neals' home for a special meal and another Easter Egg Hunt!  The girls were devoured by the granddaughters and loved every minute of it. 

Finally Anna let me take a picture of her!

This was the closest I could get to a posed photo of the girls together.

I love Easter for the weather, the flowers, the blooming forsythia in my front yard, the rejoicing community at church, and the pastels in the Easter dresses. It was so lovely to be included in our neighbor's family celebration. We are grateful. We are blessed.

When I think of the different mothers I look up to, one of the images I envision is a woman leaning over a sewing machine, her hands feeding soft fabric through the small opening between the needle and bobbin, creating something beautiful for her children.  I can see the love these mothers have for their children, overflowing and spilling out of their bodies, morphed into a beautiful quilt or a special blanket. I browse through crafty blogs and see pictures upon pictures of homemade toys, appliqued cloth books, an adorable pillowcase dress, and knit sweaters perfect for keeping a little body warm during the winter.

I have wanted to make things for my darling girls, things that they may keep one day in a special box, things that show them, over and over again, how crazy about them their mother is.  To my excitement, I found a sewing class at a nearby "institute" and for 10 weeks, spent time learning how to use a sewing machine. The main project I worked on was a bag, and I made it for Anna in coordinating colors to match her room.  It's a special "bedtime bag," as it has a compartment for her pajamas and one for her nightly book. We hang it on the door-knob so that after bath, she gets her bag and everything she needs is organized.