Just some fun family photos of the past year

Really trying to catch up from not blogging for 3 months.  I always enjoy looking at all of the photos on my computer of the past year. It makes me realize how quickly the girls are growing.

Miss Emily on Halloween

Princess Becca on Halloween

Emmy and Deb

Becca reading to Emmy

First trip to visit Santa...who is that man???

Mimi, Becca, and Grace celebrating Becca's 3rd birthday

Grace, Becca, and Caroline

Playing with daddy

Miss Emily

Miss Emily started crawling around 7 months and now at 10 months has really started to try and walk on her own.  She stands for about two seconds before falling, but she is determined to move on her own.  I think she wants to keep up with her big sister.  She is always following Becca around and thinks that Becca is hilarious.  Becca is not always so thrilled with this though.  We have had many talks on being nice to your little sister.  Here is a short clip of Emmy walking with her V-tech walker.  She even waves to the camera and dances! :)

Beethoven's Fifth

Becca is on a Little Einstein's kick right now.  I really like this show.  Love how it incorporates classical music and artists.  She watched the episode that had Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on it and immediately sang the theme in tune right after!

Happy 3rd Birthday Becca and 9 months to Emily!!!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Becca's 3rd Birthday! Where does the time go?  Joe and I are continually amazed at her growth over the past three years and have really noticed the clearness of her speech and sentence structure lately.  We had a great party with family and friends.  Of course we had to have a Toy Story theme.  After watching the first Toy Story movie Becca fell in love with all of the characters.  She loves Jesse, Woody, and Buzz.  It is fun to see her recite entire lines from the movie and to act out different scenarios.  She has an amazing memory.  Becca can watch something once and then sing or recite it verbatim.  I'm also intrigued by the fact that she can tap or clap the exact rhythm to any song that she hears as well as sing on pitch.  I don't think this is normal..... Aunt Meghan gave her a guitar for her birthday and she "strums" to the rhythm of the songs.  Pretty cool....

Seems like a trend with me, but I haven't blogged in awhile.  Life has just taken over and I'm so tired by the end of the day that I crash.  It has been a struggle this year trying to keep up with two young kids and a full time job.  I don't know how other moms do it, but I struggle.  My doctor said it best...you want to do everything well but you feel torn between doing your job and being with your kids.  Right now I feel like I can't do either well.  I know this is a season of life that we go through, but it has been hard.  I think it makes it harder that Emily has been sick and has had to have so many tests.  Every since we figured out that she was aspirating it has gotten better.  She still doesn't always like to sleep through the night though.  Very hard to work on 4 hours of sleep at times.  :(

Joe and I have loved being able to spend a little more time with the girls.  We are really trying to make this a priority.  Time does go quickly and Emily is almost one!  I want to treasure each moment with them.  Both of them are a joy and have a joyful spirit.  Becca is outgoing and full of energy.  Emily is our quiet observer and we love her big goofy three toothed grin.  Emily is very sensitive and startles easily.  Becca is now hitting the three year old stage...lots of whining and strong will...screaming....it takes lots of patience and prayer.

I love how Becca wants to curl up and read her Bible before bed.  Right now though she loves "the Zoo book" as she calls it.  I think the Dr. Seuss books have always been her favorite.

We have had lots of struggles and laughs this past year, but the Lord has been with us through it all.  At times I get frustrated because it seems like someone is always sick or tired or frustrated, but when we get through the tough times we always are stronger.

I feel like these are a bunch of random thoughts thrown up on the page, but this is how my brain works right now! Sometimes I make sense (on the days that I actually get sleep), and sometimes I jabber. :) Hoping to get some fun videos of the girls interacting with each other on here soon! Love to watch them with each other.  Becca will make a funny face and Emmy will laugh hysterically.  It is so fun to watch.  Of course we also have the moments when Becca will push Emmy and then there is crying.  At least for the most part right now they are getting along!!! :)

Our Little "Jesse"

Becca's cool Birthday cake!

Miss Emmy with "MiMi" and Grace

Yea! Becca actually blew out her candles this year! She still won't eat cake or anything sweet though!

Daddy "tuning" her guitar.

Becca singing "Hello Everybody" to her birthday guests.  Amazing that she is actually strumming the rhythm of the song and singing at the same time!