Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Chapman Turns 4

Chapman is FOUR
 At four, she is the funniest, spunkiest, spiciest, busiest, sweetest, bossiest, loveliest little girl ever!
 She adores her sisters when they are at school and then competes to be just like them and do just like them when they are home; she loves ballet; she loves a good PBJ sandwich; swimming is a pleasure and she loves jumping in!
 She insists on sleeping in our room at night even though she has her own room upstairs - no worries tho because mama will miss her when she does decide to move on up!  She adores all animals, even the little ants that bite her little hands up when she tries to play with them.
 Her expressions and her exasperations when she speaks are hilarious - she doesn't just chatter, she always has a story to tell.  
We just love this little girl so much and we are so thankful for her life.  She is the perfect little caboose and will surely continue keeping us all in line as she grows.  Her birthday is always going to be significant.....we met her the day after she turned two years old.  This year, she turned 4 AND she celebrated being with us longer than she was in China.  This is huge but in no way takes away from where her life began.  Being her family, her forever, is one of my greatest joys in life!

Sunday, September 23, 2018

A moment with Pop....
 My partner each day for school drop-off and pick-up....she is a trooper!
 First dives into the pool....
 filling the pool was a task that someone had to do :)
 One Friday, just minutes before we should have been getting into the car to go watch our favorite 16 year old play his football game, I chose to get into the pool....sort of :)  The girls were so excited!
 A girl and her thumb....you swim some, you rest some...all in a days work!
 One little Drafts isn't quite a swimmer just yet so she goes to swim lessons each week to learn to swim like a dolphin!  And she tells me every week, "I can't swim! I sink!  Way down, I sink!"  Goodness!  We are hopeful that she will be swimming very soon!
 I am loving having my baby, my last four year old, home with me for a bit of alone time....four years is my favorite age, it is so sweet, so innocent, so funny, so perfect!  The last time I had one four year old at home alone with me was when Pryce was four....I loved it with him and I am loving it with C.  We often find ourselves poolside and she enjoys cooking up an assortment of foods for me to try!
 When the sisters are home, they play games with her and build float houses to giggle in....so fun!
 My babies are growing up....
It's homecoming season and that means it's time for a bit of flower shopping for big brother's date....
 and sometimes you just have several late nights that lead to falling asleep while watching a fun show....
 and when you are the baby, why wait for someone to help you get whatever it is you desire....it's just as well that you try to get to it yourself!
 We love the little girls' school.  It is a local arts infusion charter school and they are always updating the parents with pics of activities throughout each day.
 Fall has sprung and my favorite snack is always on hand at home.....
MK's fourth production as a member of our local ballet company....
 shows mean rehearsals most days and weekends, and theatre week which can mean long nights....
 but every second of preparation is so worth it once the curtains go up!
 MK is full of grace.  She loves dancing with her friends.  She loves the challenge of learning new roles with each show.  
 She was cast as a Fireflie for Cinderella and she did beautifully!  
 Sweet friends came to see her dance....
 And we love the support she gets from them!
 Maddox was especially thrilled to see her teacher dance the role of Cinderella....she did a beautiful job!
 I am thankful for the mother's that watch out for my girl when they are backstage....
 photos under the light are the best!
that's a wrap for Cinderella....up next, Nutcracker!  It's MK's favorite!
We went to visit our favorite guy at his college on Saturday!  This pic is funny because Chapman was  a bit out of sorts to see Colin and Kayla holding hands.  We dubbed her the "couples police."  She would see their hands together and pull them apart saying, "No!  I tell you no holding hands!" and they would stop yet try to get away with it after a few moments passed....and then Chapman would see and she would fuss at them again!  Ha!  Even the ice cream didn't stop her from policing them!
 Thankful our guy is doing so well!  He loves school, loves the newfound freedom, and he is thriving!
 Chapman wanted to touch the bear's mouth so big brother had to help her out!
Our friend, Daisy....Maddox and I love our monthly visits with this sweet girl and her mama!
 They've grown to be good buddies in the past seven months.  Daisy visits each month from Colorado for treatment from a team of doctors in our hometown.  We are so thankful for the doctors who want to do so much to help this little girl and many others who are battling childhood brain cancer.  
That's a wrap for now!  Football, ballet, tumbling, bible study, Upward sports, school, and a little of other things in between....we are blessed.