SEVEN....

I can not believe that seven years ago today Jaden was born.

Seven Years.... but it seems like yesterday.

Jaden:

You are an awesome big sister to Addie. Even when Addie is driving you absolutely crazy you are still the first person to come to her defense. When your new brother/sister arrives you will have to show Addie how this big sister job works. I know you will be just as good to the baby as you are to Addie.

The past year has seen you go from playing T-ball to now playing pitching machine. I know you were really excited about this change from T-ball, that is until you got hit by a pitch. I know you are still a little scared of the ball, but you are working through that fear to try to get better. I love when you ask me if we can go outside and practice hitting! You are also becoming very good at trying to catch the ball in the air. You have decided you are going to try your hardest, and that is all I could ever expect from you. You are by far my favorite cheetah girl #5!

I have always known that you enjoyed doing creative things. It seems you are constantly drawing someone a picture or making something for those you love. It was no surprise to me that after we carved pumpkins I found you trying to "carve" and make things out of the leftover pieces mommy and I had cut out of the pumpkins. I hope that you NEVER lose this part of who you are. Your creativity makes up a HUGE part of who you are, and I love that about you!

You have one of the biggest hearts and kindest souls. I love when I pick you up at school and Mrs. Fletcher tells me how much she enjoys having you in her class. It makes me so happy to see the way you go out of your way to make sure you let those you love know how much you truly care about them. You light up a room with your smile, and you have the most infectious laugh!

Jaden, your Aunt Niece loves you so very much. I can not believe you are already SEVEN! It really does not seem like it was that long ago that I held you for the very first time. I know that before I know it you will be older, and you will not think Aunt Niece is that cool to hang out with. But until that day comes I will enjoy every day I get to spend hanging out with my favorite oldest, blond haired, blue-eyed girl!

Happy Birthday my girl....

I thought I should blog...

before September is over! I know, I promised to post more often. The truth is I have not taken many pictures lately. I really have not been a good aunt in the picture taking or blogging department.

I want to blog about the summer, Jaden's new adventures of pitching machine, Addie's antics, and so many other things. Tonight is not the time. Tonight I just want to share a new favorite image of my girls...

I will be back soon...we have a lot to catch up on

First Day of School!

Today was the BIG day. The first day of school.

It was a big day for both of my girls...

For Jaden - the first day of 1st grade!

Jaden was so excited.

This was her first day to be at school all day...

The first day to take her lunch...

And most importantly, she finally gets to play on the playground with SWINGS!

To us swings may not be a big deal...but all she talked about last year was the fact that the kindergarteners have their own playground with NO SWINGS!

It was also a big day for Addie...

The first day of Pre-K!

Addie was also very excited.

We have been telling her that she has to be extra good at school.

When she got in the car today she told Paula the funniest thing...

"Mommy. I didn't kick anybody, or hit anybody, and I made lots of friends. I love school!"

I can not believe how big these two are getting!

I hope you both have a great school year...

Just One Picture...

I promise to blog again soon...

Really, I promise...

For now I offer one picture...

Addie is always in motion...

Playing, swimming, torturing Jaden, talking...

At the lake we have several different floats, foam noodles, etc. that the girls both enjoy hanging out on. My personal favorite is a "recliner" float that keeps your head up out of the water, but allows enough water to cover the rest of you that you are comfortably cool, and not too hot.

A couple of weeks ago Addie discovered she can lay with her head at the opposite end of this float and talk to whomever is enjoying this wonderful air mattress.

After a couple of hours of swimming, splashing, and torturing her big sister Addie climbed into the float with Barb,(or as she calls her "My Barb"), and begins one of her usual conversations.

After asking the usual questions:

"What are you drinking?"

"Are you floating in this float?"

"Can I use some of your dark tanning spray to tan my legs?"
(Yeah...she actually says this.)

Addie then asked a new question...

"Can I have a foot massage?"

Of course Barb is very happy to massage Princess Addie's feet. After about a minute or two Barb asked Addie if she would like a hand massage also. And of course Addie said YES!

After about one minute this is what happened...

She was O-U-T!

Addie actually slept this way for almost an hour...

In my favorite air mattress...

With "Her" Barb...

Our Little Butterfly...

Ballet : an activity that most little girls dream about.

Jaden has wanted to take ballet for about a year.

As one of her christmas gifts, her dancing dream came true.

Two weeks ago her the dance studio she attends had the end of year performance.

All of the students performed an actual ballet, Coppelia.

Jaden's class performed in the first act.

They were all butterflies...

Jaden did so well. I could tell she really enjoyed performing.

All Jaden talks about lately is that she can not wait for ballet to start again...

Jaden, I thought you looked so beautiful as a butterfly.

I know you love taking ballet, and you plan on taking lessons for a long time.

Great Job Jaden!

Addie is 4

June 10, 2005. 9:14 am . Addison Rene entered into our family.

I will never forget that day.

I just can't believe it was FOUR years ago...

This should have been our first clue that Addie would love to eat cake...


At 21 days Addie first experienced the lake...


Four years later she still enjoys going to the lake...


Addie loves music and dancing.

She told me the other day she wants to be a singer when she grows up.

We discovered last fall that Addie loves to listen to an ipod.

The result of the ipod listening is usually the same...

Addie loves to TALK, just like her mommy did as a little girl...

Addie is very stubborn, but also very sweet...

Addie can use the word please to her advantage...

Addie loves to tell jokes. Over and over again...

Just like Jaden, Addie has her grandparents wrapped around her finger...

Addie has always tried her hardest to do everything that Jaden does.

I have been trying to get her to jump into the pool.

The answer is always "No, I am scared I might drowned!"

And then for some reason yesterday...


I asked her later why she wanted to jump in...

"Because tomorrow I will be four. That means I will be big. Big girls are 4!"

Yes Addie Pattie...you are a big girl.

But you are still Aunt Niece's baby girl

End of School

I can not believe it is already time for school to be out!

It seems like a few weeks ago was Jaden's first day of Kindergarten

Then last week...

Our little Kindergarten Graduate ...

We all love you Jaden and are very proud of you!

Bring on the First Grade ... but let's enjoy the summer first!