Libby is SEVEN!

It's been a long time since I've updated our blog... We've been busy.

My baby is seven. I can't believe she is so big. This last weekend we celebrated her birthday.

Libby had about 7 girls over to help her celebrate her birthday. We had a cooking party at our house. The girls decorated aprons when they came in.

They also decorated chef hats. This is Libby's before we made it round.

Then they made personal pizzas.

And ate them. Except Brynn.. Crazy girl doesn't like pizza - just chips

We had candy inside of balloons to pop instead of a pinata. The girls seemed to like it.

Then Libby wanted to play "musical statues". It's a dancing game with a freezing component when music stops.

Then  big girl blew out her candles.

After her party was over, 2 of the girls ended up spending the night. Brynn totally thought they were there for her so she pretty much crashed that party. Libby didn't seem to mind though. I'd say Libby had a very good birthday.

... in about 3 weeks, we will do it all again for Brynn... who will be FOUR!

Ice Skating

We went ice skating today. We think that living in Central PA we'll probably need to get a lot better at it but I think we did alright. I had not been skating since college and Mike thinks he was 12 last time he went. The girls did pretty fantastic as well.

Brynn pretty much held my hands during the time we were there. She really didn't need me much at all though. She pulled me and I made sure we didn't run into anyone.

 Brynn trying it on her own.

 Silly girl

Libby did pretty fabulous as well. We went to do this because Libby has been asking to go for about 3 years now. 

First Grade Picture

I know this isn't the best quality of this picture. I didn't feel like dragging the scanner out to scan it so I just took a picture of it with my phone - the lazy man's way...

About our girl:

Age: 6

Grade: First

Favorite Color: Pink and Gold and Purple

Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese

Clothing Size: 7

Shoe Size: 12

Favorite thing at school: Read

Best Friends: Libby: "I don't know. Pretty much everybody." Mom: "If you had to pick one person who would it be?" Libby: "Landon" - Although, I would say her first response is pretty spot on.

Favorite toy: Squinkies

Favorite TV Show: Phineas and Ferb

If you'd like to compare to last year's answers, click here. Some answers have not changed much.

Merry Christmas

Our first Christmas in Pennsylvania has been very nice. We went to mass last night and then the girls opened one gift with Christmas jammies in them. We also took this month and did a lot of activities as a family using our advent calendar. 

 Ready for Christmas Eve mass

Brynn opening her first present of the morning...

Libby opening her first one...

Playing on the "piano"

Brynn's turn

Girly Legos

Brynn with her Rapunzel Build a Bear

Libby with her Merida (Brave) Build a Bear

This month I put activities in about half of the days of the Advent calendar. The other half were candy. We baked cookies and delivered them to friends. We went to Chocolate World and saw the house they make out of Chocolate. The girls visited Santa at Hershey Park. One night we drove around and looked at Christmas lights. We had a few family games nights and nights to watch Christmas movies. Last night we read "Twas The Night Before Christmas". We also read about Jesus' birth in the Bible.There's probably a few more that I'm forgetting but I really enjoyed the activities and I think the girls did too. We just really tried to make some new traditions and memories this year. I hope we succeed.

Girl Scouts

Libby got all her Girl Scout pins and badges thus far tonight. She was so proud of herself.

She had to say the Girl Scout Promise in front of everyone all by herself. She didn't need a bit of help from the scout troop leader.

Daddy got to give her the pin.

Libby and her buddy. These two are going to be trouble. They just sat through the entire ceremony and giggled. Oh boy.

Well, I now have a ton of badges to take care of putting on her vest. I'd better get my sewing box out....

All about Libby

Libby lost both of her front teeth within about a week of each other. She is talking with a lisp now. It's so cute and funny.

Mike took Libby to learn how to hit golf balls. She did pretty decent for her first try. Her balls didn't go too far but she did hit them. She said that she had fun.

Eight years

Today is our eighth wedding anniversary. It seems like a lifetime ago and minutes ago all at the same time. When we met, I didn't even know I was looking for him. Once I figured it out, I knew I was not letting go. I have been truly blessed to marry such a great man. He is my best friend. It seems though, eight years ago, that I had no idea what I was getting into. I stood up at the alter and promised to stick it out with him in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, and in good times and bad. I meant it then and still mean it now. But standing there all those years ago, I had no idea what exactly it all was going to mean for us. We have been through a lot together. Our history is what makes us who we are. The good. The bad. The ugly. The indifferent. The exciting. The mundane. Our intellectual conversations and debates have fueled me and inspired me. His work ethic has helped me to develop a stronger one of my own. My need for planning has helped him be more prompt. We've been through some big stressors recently of losing jobs, finding new ones, moving to a new area of the country and through it all, I have never doubted that we are going through all of this together. He is my rock and I suspect that I am his. I know people say this all the time and it sounds trite but I love him more today than when we met because of what we've gone through and what I know we are capable of going through in the future - together. He is my teammate and most vocal supporter and I love him for it. Here's to many more years of happiness, trials, joy, and sadness. I wouldn't want to go through it with anyone else.