3 Years, 10 months

Hey Drama Queen,

You are THE most. My best girl.  You make me laugh so much.  Having just gone through a really tough year, and an even tougher holiday, you (and your brother and daddy) remain the joys and lights of my life.  Your laughter is infectious, and it has inspired my 2016 resolution to laugh more, enjoy more, find the joy in each moment and really live for that.

I find that it is easy to slip into "mom mode" or "stress mode" and see the stress, what isn't done, what I haven't accomplished, what I don't have, and so on, instead of my new motto "WHAT IS!?"  What is great? What do I have? What can I laugh at? What has filed me with joy today? And so on.  believe me... There is a LOT more good and wonderful than not in our lives, and we have everything to be thankful for.

You are obsessed with bodily sounds and happenings. It can be unnerving when at dinner you say "this is poop" "I farted" "my butt stinks" none of which I have taught you. It can be funny, but also gross and inappropriate, but you think it is so hilarious. How do I balance teaching you with just letting you be a kid?  I want to let you be a kid... That laughs and giggles as much as possible every day! 

I love how you say "glankie" instead of "blankie," "bitamin" instead of "vitamin," " temshapure" instead of "temperature" and I am NOT going to correct you.  I love how you want to do the same nighttime ritual with your babies that we do with you, and how good and conscientious of a little mother you are. You do get frustrated with them, because sometimes they don't listen, so you send them to the thinking chair, but always end with a kiss and a hug.

You have a thanks saying that you learned at school and we say it before every meal:

Insert "kankful" instead of "thankful"

We are thankful for the food before us.
We are thankful for the friends beside us.
We are thankful for the love among us.
We are thankful.
Now we may eat.

Sometimes you don't want us to say it, and it frustrates you when we do. You are funny. I tell you that you are weird a lot, because you are, but I also tell you I love that weirdness and I am glad that is who you are. You are my BEST girl.

We spent new years eve together. I was supposed to be in Times Square with daddy, a bucket list item for me, but I would not have had it any other way.   You had been sick and I didn't want to leave you... Not to mention that I tried to buy the flights too late. We laughed, shared some sparkling cider, you did my hair and makeup, for a zombie film clearly, tickled, colored, etc. I think your love tank was full when you asked to go to bed at 11, and so was mine.

I love you, I'm "kankful" for you every single second. Help your mamma laugh more this year, okay?  Teach me to loosen up... All I have to do is watch you, really! 

You are so sweet with your little brother and he ADORES you!  Keep being the sweet, loving big sis that you are.  He will always need you!

I love your sense of style... the clothing choice is all you, girl!

Our new star wars due... you ask me for it many days for school!

My New Year's Eve date... SNUGGLES!

You said, "Mommy, I want to fix your hair and makeup!"  Then, "Mommy, you look very pretty!"  okay... ;-) 

"Mom, take a picture of all the faces!"

Friends!  Will and Keenan!  We had a lot of fun, and you guys were laughing really hard at something in this picture!

Our adventure to ICE... 9 degrees, a few sculptures, an ice slide and hot cocoa... "one for me and one for the pot"

"Mom, take a picture of me with the sticker on too!" 

My monkey in a tree!

Uncle A-Aron with the boys at Christmas 2015

All the kiddos waiting to open presents.  I don't think Max and Henry cared much!

The calm before the storm.  After you kiddos went to bed, I sat up with a hot drink, the tree, and It's A Wonderful Life.  I made it to bed before Santa arrived, though!

I adore you, my little monkey!

This cracked me up.  "I want to take one by myself"

Right before you climbed up and jumped.  You have done this high jump thing many times, but this was the first time you did flips... backwards.  People were cheering.  You tried front flips and couldn't get them, but it was hilarious to watch you try! 

3rd haircut, 2nd professional one... You were having to look up at me through hair... it was time ;-) 

Santa!!!  You know him!!!

Mommy-Daughter date to get our nails done!

Jellystone Lights... you sat in my lap and fell asleep about 15 minutes in.  haha!  I got snuggles and cuddles, which I rarely get these days because you are so ON THE MOVE!

You, Aunt Jess, and Reme Lynn before the lights at Jellystone!  It's tradition!

I love you so much... I would use all the words if I could.  You are my BEST girl!

Fun Christmas happenings.  Cookie decorating with our friends... we do this every year.  Sarah & Charlotte, Aunt Jess & Reme Lynn,, Mindy & Ellie Mae.  We were missing Kristin & Evan Miller and Yani & Hannah. It's Tradition!

You love decorating cookies.  "I will do it all by on my own"  One of my MOST favorite things that you say!!!  YAS girl... you do it!

I tried helping... you needed me for my muscle in getting out the icing... nothing else. 

Working hard! 

Our Christmas Card, I made it at the last minute and never sent it out.  I tried, I did not succeed, I let it go and posted it on Facebook.  "This is the card you would have gotten!"  We win some, we lose some!