Cutie Patootie

Charlotte sporting her new coat from Tutu. Love the buttons!

Head Shots

I had these taken a couple of weeks ago for auditions, etc. My friend, Jill Tew, is the photographer. She did a beautiful job! Check out her work at www.daytewdayphotography.blogspot.com.

Sisters

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips. ~Author Unknown
In this picture, Hannah is giving Mia a horsey ride to cheer her up after she had been crying.

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown



Oh, sisters. You know, having grown up an only child I don't think anything could have prepared me for everything involved in raising siblings. Wow - the fighting, the screaming, the drama, coupled with the beautiful moments of pure sisterly love and affection - what a roller coaster! All I can say is I'm so happy my girls have each other. Here's hoping they make it through these growing up years in one piece! Some days we're as likely to see them playing side by side as we are to see them with the other in a headlock. Oh, the intensity of sisterly relationships! I hope they will grow up to be each others' best friends.

Hannah

Hannah started 1st grade about a month ago. She was a little nervous about going to school all day, but has made the transition really well and is loving it. She started Ballet/Tap and Cheer classes, as well, and is enjoying them. She is bright and creative and inquisitive. And, what a reader! She is reading like a champ and even takes turns reading the scriptures out loud during family scripture study all by herself. Her favorite thing in the whole world is playtime with friends. She is a great big sister and tries so hard to be patient with the little ones. She recently got her own room, which she has wanted for so long. We love to hear her sing and see her choreograph her own dances. We love our Hannah Banana Fofana!

First day of school


Hannah with her homemade stick puppets. She made these to go along with a special Halloween story she wrote for Tutu.

Amelia

Mia will be 3 in November and is quite the talker. She would be content to talk with Mommy (or anyone shopping in Walmart, at a restaurant, etc.) nonstop, all day long; especially about very tragic things like her fish dying, anyone dying, her latest owee, how Shadow Man (from Princess and the Frog) stepped on a bee (which is really a firefly named Ray), and how she is always suffering from one ailment or another. Of course, there are the happier subjects like Nursery, her favorite Barbie movie, and, best of all, HER Bah-ray (ballet). Mia started a ballet/tap/tumbling class 2 weeks ago. She is tickled, no, thrilled, no, ECSTATIC about this class. She knows which day of the week it is, she knows she is old enough to do dance and Charlotte is NOT, she knows she gets to wear pretty ballet clothes and pants (tights) and her ballet shoes. She practices when the music comes on at home, and she cannot wait to go back again and again. We love her exuberance and her affirmations ("You right Mommy!" and "That's weally nice!"). We love you Mia Sophia!

First day of ballet

Charlotte

Charlotte will be 2 in November. Crazy, huh? Time sure does fly. She is a true-blue girly-girl who loves accessories and shoes and pretty princess dresses, cars, airplanes, and animals. She is quite the little dancer, and she gets her funky groove on in the car to the radio beats. She is so polite with lots of "thank-yous" (that sound like "welcome"). She now shares a room with Mia, whom she adores and enjoys having screaming/hitting matches with all day long. We call her our little "pterodactyl" because she can produce sounds any prehistoric animal would be proud of. She gives sweet kisses and hugs that make us all smile. We love you Charlee Pants!

Girls Nights Rock!

I love you, my Girls Night Peeps! Michelle, we'll catch you in the next photo! And, um, Girls, we need another girls night ASAP!

Happy 6th Birthday, Hannah!

Hannah chose 101 Dalmatians as her party theme this year. It was great fun. We had a dogie obstacle course, pin the tail on the Dalmatian (notice the awesome Dalmatian drawn by Brent), a pink cake, chocolaty puppy chow, hot dogs and, of course, dogie bags.

Hannah's Kindergarten Graduation

Our little girl is growing up so fast (dramatic sobs, hand flapping)! No, but really, I look at her some days and marvel at how the years can pass so quickly, while the days pass so slowly. Hannah graduated from Kindergarten in May. It was an emotional day for me. I'm so proud of her!








When it was Hannah's turn to get her diploma, she walked straight up to Mrs. Peterson, took the microphone and told a joke: "Why did the banana go to the doctor?" "Because he wasn't peeling well!" "Get it?" The whole room erupted in laughter.


Hannah with Kyle, the sweet boy who asked her to marry him several times during the year.


Mrs. Peterson and Miss Sherri, Hannah's teacher and classroom aid. Wonderful ladies!

Trip to California

In May we took our summer vacation to Southern California. We got to see Adam graduate from college, we went to Disneyland, we spent time with family and friends. It was a great trip and the girls were troopers! And, we came home to find our tulips finally in bloom.