This little girl of ours is such a treasure.

Madeline is an old soul with a heart as big as Texas.

She wants to please everyone - not in the insecure kind of way - because she has more confidence than any girl her age I know . . . 

But she genuinely wants to use her gifts and talents to bless others.

As I told her when I kissed her goodnight Sunday, "Thank you for being so helpful today.  You bless my life!"

My happiest moments of parenting come when I see these girls grow more and more into capable women.  This past summer we worked really hard.  Since we only had a few short months together of all-day time, a lot of our time away from the pool was spent learning life skills (because I needed lots of help, and these girls are great helpers).

Madeline was a champ.

This girl knows how to wash dishes by hand - even when she's grumpy - (wearing high heels makes it all better!)  She can make fresh guacamole, fresh tortillas, and from-scratch chicken taquitos.  We were on a Mexican kick.  She saved the day when I was down with a migraine, and she made us all dinner.

And now she's back at school, and I miss her happy help!

Madeline is one of those kids who likes to be around the adults more than the kids.  She makes the perfect teacher's pet, and once again this year, that's what she is. 

Kensington and Madeline after school on the First Day 2013

It's been fun to see Kensington and Madeline become little buddies all over again because now they ride the bus together.  Usually Raleigh takes on the role of "big sister" to everyone, but now it's Madeline's turn to be the wise, all-knowing-one.

Madeline, can you just stay nine years old forever??

Dear Teacher

"I kiss you and kiss you,

With arms round my own,

Ah, how shall I miss you,

When, dear, you have grown."

-- William Butler Yeats

Kensington, age 6
Second Week of Kindergarten

Dear Teacher,

Thank you for the opportunity to write to you about our daughter, Kensington.  She is so excited to be in your class this year.  Going to kindergarten is something she has looked forward to her whole little life!  We have waited an extra year for her to start because we sensed that she wasn't quite ready, having turned five the week before school began last year.

She has been at home with mom (attending a private preschool three times a week for half-days), so she does feel a bit nervous about starting, too.  She is a special, well-loved child in our home, and we think you will really enjoy having her in your class.

The first thing you will notice about Kensington is that she may seem shy or stand-offish when you talk to her.  This doesn't mean she doesn't like you.  She acts this way when she receives unwanted attention or is in the spotlight, or when she is receiving attention of which she has no control.  After she warms up a little, you'll find that she will be one of your happiest, most outgoing students.  She has a ready smile (dimples and cross bite included), an eagerness to learn, and she is a natural leader.  Her contagious laugh will win you over, and you will forget she was ever the quiet one.

She catches on quickly and lives wholly in the present, enjoying the people around her and whatever life is bringing at the moment.  She will take everything in, especially if her "love languages" are met.  She needs physical affection, little gifts and tokens of appreciation, and positive words of affirmation.

The best learning environment for her is a nurturing one.  She responds best to praise and encouragement, and she is motivated best when rewarded with "treasures."  When threatened with criticism, she shuts down pretty quickly because she is a pleaser and wants you to appreciate her efforts.  You will find that she is a quiet nurturer and a first-responder to those who need help.  She is happiest when she feels needed, and she has a lot to give.

Please help her to stay away from what our kids call "Sassy Girls."  She adapts well to the people around her, including the kids who might not be so nice, so we hope she can retain the good we try to teach her.  She can be a picky eater as well, and she has somewhat of a sweet tooth, which we are trying to curb at home, so please limit the amount of sweet treats she receives in class.

Please take good care of her.  The seven hours you have her at school is more than the six hours we get with her at home when she's not sleeping.  How quickly these years go by . . .

With gratitude,

Kensington's Mom and Dad

Three Years

We were at the doctor yesterday, and the nurse asked Emery what her name was.  Without skipping a beat, she replied, "I'm Pink Belle."

And Miss Personality is so excited for her "Pink Birthday Party" tomorrow.  I don't know if we'll have everything she's dreaming of . . . (pink cake, pink ice cream, pink candle with pink fire, pink cupcakes, pink kiwi juice, pink EVERYTHING) . . . but we hope she's tickled PINK with how much we love her and how excited we are to celebrate her little life.

Playing with Big Sister Raleigh

On the first day of school last week, after I shed about 30 seconds of tears, I told Dallas that we're just going to keep having kids forever because I miss having all of my little buddies at home!  Emery and I have had some nice one-on-one time since the older girls have been at school . . . but we sure miss the others when they're away.  

Here's Emery standing up in her chair declaring, "I'm the boss!" to every single older person in the room.  Ha!  Isn't that the lifelong desire of the youngest sibling?  Not for long, Emery!

"I'm the boss!"

We sure love you, Pink Belle.

Raleigh Junior

I asked this little friend to set the table for us using paper plates.  And this is what we ended up with:

Personalized pictures on each of our plates.

Looks like we have another Raleigh on our hands!

We sure love you, Kensington!

(Dear Santa, Please send reams and reams of paper . . . )

Rosie-Pie

Miss Personality Herself

I cannot find the words to describe the personality of this here child.  Let this picture do the talking.

Sometimes I find myself playing Mad Gab with her as I try to figure out what she is saying.  She actually speaks very clearly, but tonight after I put her to bed, she kept yelling,

WANDER FOOLS ING ING!!

WANDER FOOLS ING ING!!

I opened her door and said, "What?  Wonderful singing?"

And she was like, "Yes.  Wonderful singing."

And I said, "Thank you."

And closed the door.  Except I wasn't the one singing.

She was.

Waiting for Bailee

Meet Choobers.

Miss Choobers has a BFF named Bailee.

One morning she found out that Bailee would be coming to pick her up for school and a playdate, and Miss Choobers was very excited.

She was so excited that she got out a piece of paper, a library book (to bear down on), and a pen.

Then she wrote down every minute until Bailee arrived JUST like she saw on the clock on the oven.

She didn't want to write normal numbers; she insisted on writing in digitized oven-numbers.

Here is her masterpiece:

These girls keep me on my toes, I tell ya.

R&M's Apparel Mart

A few weekends ago Raleigh and Madeline did some modeling downtown at America's Mart while Dallas and I worked at the market there.

The next day all of the girls were busy for hours upon hours working on this:

(This is the wall and ceiling of their bedroom.)

Learning all of the ins and outs of the market, Raleigh, in usual fashion (pardon the pun), set out to make her own.  She even gave each clothing line its own brand name.  Here are a few.

Kensington made some of her own in her corner of the room.

After ordering some clothing on this order form . . . 

 . . . Kensington took her purchases to her "boutique" where I had the privilege of buying as much as I wanted "fo fwee."  Kensington always likes to give me a good deal.  :)

She's a proud shop owner.

 After several days of "Apparel Mart," I had quite enough of the mess.  The girls happily took down every last outfit . . . 

 . . . and handed the pile to Emery. . . 

 . . . who hung up each piece of paper on all of the kitchen cabinets.

Such is our life around these parts.