4 "C" Family: August 2009

Monday, August 31, 2009

A 3 in front of a 0!

As a little girl I never could imagine being a 30-year-old woman. Today as I was in the bath, I realized that my age was a big 3 in front of a 0. I had a hard time believing it. A 1 and a 2 in front of a 0 doesn't seem like much, but a 3!!! I have been alive for 30 years and know so little. I thought I would be very accomplished and wise by now, but the only wisdom I have are my wisdom teeth that should have been taken out a long time ago. I thought I would have tons of money in the bank and be well traveled. The truth is I got married at the age of 20 and had all my children by the time I was 26. I guess I am accomplished in different ways. I am happy, in love, and enjoy being a mother. I have a bright future and feel like there is much to conquer still. "Chin up," I tell myself. "Don't cry," there is still plenty of time to do all the things I wish I had done.

I just want to thank all of those great people who make me feel like I am joining this really cool club of 30-year-olds. I also adore hearing how young I am from the truly wise adults who have been there years before. I never thought I would enjoy hearing that I am a spring chicken, a young pup, or just a child/kid, as much as I do today!!!

I do realize that 30 is just a number, but for me, it is a time of reflecting back and realizing how little I have everything figured out. Maybe that in its self is a tiny piece of wisdom that comes with turning 30.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Our Cami is growing up!

Cami's 1st day of 1st grade! All her friends are back this year, and they were so excited to see each other. There are two new girls, and there is one new boy - Cami's cousin Luke! Camille was excited to go back to school and had many little first graders calling her name and passing out hugs! This year Cami's teacher is our long time friend, Ryanna, aka Mrs. Reed. She will have her classroom completely full this year! I am expecting great things for this year for Camille and for her class. They have done a lot of growing up over the summer, and I know they will accomplish a lot this school year.

This was Cami last year on her first day of Kindergarten!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cari is 4!

My youngest is officially four-years-old now! She had several birthday parties this year and received a lot of great gifts! Time sure has flown by.

Cami's cut!

My oldest daughter is turning 7 this November, and she asked me if she could get her hair cut like mine before school started. I asked her several times if she was sure and she told me, "I just want to try it once. I will grow it back out if I don't like it." It is pretty sweet to have your daughter want to look like you. I realized this might be the only time she wants her hair like mine so we went for it. It makes her look so much older now and acts older. She could want her hair to look like Hannah Montana's, but she wanted it to look like her mother's. It made my heart very happy!

New rooms!

My girls act and look different. I love them so much. Just recently they got these new dolls that look just like them. I had been resisting the idea of letting the girls move into their own rooms instead of sharing a room and having a playroom. I finally realized that they need rooms that share their personalities and let them breathe. We finally took the plunge and moved them Sunday night. I am still working on arranging things and cleaning things out, but overall they are pretty much settled and love their new spaces. Cami said her room looks like Belle and Cari's room looks like Cinderella. I think that is a pretty good description of the girls and their new rooms.

Monday, August 10, 2009

2009 Padre Island

We just go back from a special family vacation down at South Padre Island. We arrived at our condo on Friday and stayed with family that live near there in the Valley.

Our condo overlooked the beach and was very nice!

We had dinner every night together and we even celebrated Cari's birthday there. Friday night we watch fireworks from one of the condo's balcony. Our girls had a lot of fun swimming and playing with their cousins Haley and Katie.

On Saturday Chad and I got up early and went down to the beach to watch the sun rise. It was very beautiful and peaceful there. After breakfast we all headed down to the beach to hang out until lunch.

Cari enjoyed the sand and Cami enjoyed the waves. They both loved when Dad took them out far in the boat.

That evening we all ate at Pirate's Landing and had fun while waiting for our table.

Afterwards our family of four went up in the Port Isabel lighthouse. The very high staircase led us up to the very top where Chad and I nervously look out.

Sunday was the day we headed home and said our goodbyes after lunch. Before leaving Padre, we adopted two hermit crabs that the girls picked out. Cari named her crab Queen Girl and Cami named her's Princess Crab.

The whole weekend was such a blessing thanks to Papa and Nana who eagerly want to keep the family close.

Cami's first big girl book . . .

Little Miss Cami read her first 200 page book this summer. She started to read Charlotte's Web during the end of Kindergarten (and is reading it now again) but decided to switch over to Little Women early in the summer. She has always enjoyed me reading to her ever since she was a baby and has a love for reading now herself. Her kindergarten teacher would call her a "reading machine." She is heading into first grade with a lot of reading under her belt.

I would encourage every parent to read to their children even while they are very young.