These eyes (my youngest)

tender, spunky and sweet.  my lovely little girl.

best little sister on earth.  wise beyond her years.

carefree and caring.  smart as a whip. 

loves to laugh and play.

joy of my life.

These eyes (my oldest)

gorgeous girl, inside and out. awesome big sister. 

definitely a 'first-born' personality.  great sense of humor. 

laughs easily.  loves to be tickled.  loves hugs.

way smarter that she should be at her young age. 

joy of my life.

manure (aka poop)

When it feels like life is dumping on you, remember this...

~The fairest thing in nature, the flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.~
D.H. Lawrence

                                                              source: Shaded Memories

Buying the farm

All horses deserve, at least once in their lives, to be loved by a little girl.
-Author unknown

                                             source: My Tiny Star
Today you both were playing and A was pushing a laundry basket around on the pergo floor acting like it was a boat of some kind.  A little while later A said, "Mom, I have to show you something.  I'm sorry I damaged the floor."  I looked down and there were some light scratches that I'm sure will buff out.  Once A saw I wasn't mad, she said, "It's no big deal I guess.  We don't care.  We're buying a farm."

I had to laugh.  Yes, you, your dad and I would all like to be out on a few acres.  Me and your dad for the 'away-ness' of it all and you, so you can finally get your horse.  (Keep in mind I say 'finally' and you are 4 1/2 years old as I'm writing this. [big smile] 
Someday...we'll learn patience as we wait.  A, I think you might be like your mom and be a little short on the patience thing.  M, I think you may have lucked out and gotten your dad's genes for that...

go climb a tree

Climb a tree - it gets you closer to heaven. 

~Author Unknown

image Racey Tay

In the garden

~Cultivate the garden within.~

Author Unknown

We always had a large garden when I was growing up and as a young girl I hated tending to it.  I considered mom saying, "Go pick the green beans" to be some sort of punishment.  I am hopeful you'll see things differently than I did.  Keeping the yard up and pulling weeds in the garden and flower beds is so calming to me now. It is a task that allows me to slow down and think.

 

Some things you may not want to hear

I remember when my mom wrote me an email while I was in college.  It was short but she got her point across.  I was in a relationship that wasn't good for me.  And everyone could see that, except me.... 

~At times, we need to step out of our little box and look at the situation we are in from a bigger perspective to get the true picture of what is going on. 
(paraphrasing Your Grandma)

Roots and Wings

Someday you may have children of your own...

This is one of my favorites:
~There are two lasting bequests we can give our children:  One is roots, the other is wings.~
Hodding Carter

S-M-I-L-E

Smile........even when you don't feel like it...

(yes, that's a horse smiling just for you)

picture found on etsy, thelittleprints

I know you can!

According to Grandpa and Grandma, this was my favorite book growing up.  In fact, they bought a copy for you so we could read it together as YOU are growing up.


~In life you are going to go through some hard times...some will be harder than others and at times you might want to crawl into bed and just stay there.  Allow yourself some time to grieve, cry or just get mad ...and then get over it.  Life is too short to be sad or sulking for long.  Tomorrow WILL be a better day.~

Love, Mom