Dear Mollie-Girl,
You are an absolute delight... pure joy. Even when we struggle, it is temporary. I love every single moment of your light in my world. You are an incredible human being. I have been remiss in doing these blogs, but I have at least kept up with social media (Instagram). I do feel though that I want to move further away from social media (and I have) and utilize this to document your lives. Since it has been a minimum of nine months since I have written (we have been going through a lot around here), I decided to just load pictures and go from there. I'll start with August, because I think I covered through July okay.
AUGUST 2017
These pics are of your first day of 3rd year of Primary or KINDERGARTEN! I can't believe it, but you have so many faces and so very much personality, I decided it was best to let the pics speak for themselves. When you grow up... you want to be MAGICAL. I hope you always keep that dream for yourself, because you are magical.
This pic is YOUR DADDY! You have a very Ed-like smile, and I love it when this comes out.
I have so many hilarious pics like this where you are trying to get your brother to look at and smile for the camera, and instead it just looks like you are strangling him or that he is punching you. Ha!
Mommy and Daddy are a little weepy about our girl starting Kindergarten.
But we are equally proud and happy to watch you grow and learn and all that comes along with that.
This next series of pictures I have many times through the course of your friendship with RL. Aunt Jess and I are best friends and you are RL see a lot of each other. You fight, play, and love like sisters. It is fantastic. You love to dress up together, but really it is just laying out all the dresses - choosing one, snapping a pic and then doing it again. Once you have both tried them all on (a mixture of yours and hers), you put them away and move on to the next thing.
These next pics show how you like to do your hair. It is different all the time, sometimes crazy and sometimes cute, but always individual and amazing. I try to capture pics when I can. I post them on social media a lot, and someone I know says this reminds her of Stephanie's Ponytail, which we promptly went to the library and checked out.
We received lots of visits from family over the course of the year with your Daddy's diagnosis, so we were able to spend a lovely amount of time with all kinds of family this year. I think it was really good for you and your brother.
Here you are with Grandpa Ed and you are trying to make baby doll clothes. It never actually worked out, but you tried really hard. We just never got the sewing machine working.
The next series of pics is of you and your friends at the Wilson County Fair. This is our 3rd time going with the Crawford's (Emma), The Miller's (Keenan), and The Cotteman's (Will). Keenan was in a refusal to smile phase, you were in a color your hair every day phase, and Will does not do well in the heat. We made a pact to never go during the day again. I'd rather you all be breaking down from being up too late (which I don't think would happen) than for everyone to pass out from heat stroke.
SEPTEMBER 2017
Creepy mask - Mommy and Daddy got this mask from an immersive theatrical experience we did with Aunt Jess and Steve in NYC. You guys loved it and we got lots of good creepy pics out of it... all of us ;-)
Before you guys had your own ride-on tractor, you would LOVE to ride on Epleata and Willow's at their home. Maxon would never get off and you are always so protective and loving with your brother, so you let him drive while giving him instruction.
Some more pool time with Grandma!
Keenan's church offered free yoga, dinner, and child care, so Ms. Debi and I would try to do it. We did really well in the Fall, but then we faltered in the Spring with everyone's travels, snow, sicknesses, etc. These were from the first one.
On our way to the Fall Festival and also celebrating Willow's third birthday. It was the Music and Molasses Festival and it was BURNING HOT... sort of weird for a Fall Festival.
Aunt Veronica, Uncle Nate and Donovan (and Baby Brandon in Aunt V's tummy) came for a visit and we had so much fun with them! I got lots of pics with Maxon and Donovan. We also did another Fall Festival with the Miller's (Keenan's Family).
Here are some fun family pics with our Hamtramck, MI family!
OCTOBER 2017
Don't let the smiles fool you. We had to take Cosmo to the vet to get his shots, and usually I leave you at home because you are terrified of shots for you or anyone else, but since I had to bring you - you spent the entire time squealing that you weren't going to be able to handle it. There was a chair in the room that you kept crawling into and covering your head, eyes, and ears and humming to yourself until it was over. You did, however, want some smiling pics with Cosmo.
If you saw something amazing you would always want me to take a picture so you would be able to remember it. Here is a cheese puff in the shape of a heart, and it was definitely picture worthy.
We were at the park this particular night and someone came out to tell us that there was a music night in the library. It was getting dark, so we went inside and enjoyed a couple hours of dancing and music. They also let you come up and learn a dance and play the instruments. You were acting shy - this was the very beginning of this phase for you - acting shy with strangers... you are slowly growing out of it now, but it came as such a shock to me that I didn't know how to handle it at first.
This is another of your adorable hairstyles that is pretty normal, but still picture worthy... look at that precious face :-)
You were just learning about Vampirina, so you wanted a picture to commemorate the movie.
We did a mommy-daughter date to commemorate The My Little Pony Movie coming out... Then we got a treat and got ponies at Build-a-Bear in the Opry Mills Mall. You are so charming, and you strike up conversations with everyone (even when you say you are shy). This particular worker knew absolutely everything about MLP, so you guys got along great.
We went to Cooper's Troopers to get our pumpkins this year. It is a great charity that benefits research to cure childhood cancer. We had a great time!
We went to Cooper's Troopers to get pumpkins and then to Panera for lunch and then to Aunt Jess's to decorate pumpkins. You wanted me to make one with a Wonder Woman sign on it, so I did and it lasted through the end of November... In fact I threw it out while we were decorating for Christmas.
FIRST LOST TOOTH. This is also when you discovered the Tooth Fairy was us... because you asked and we told you, but I told you I could still make it magical, so you decided to go with that option, so now you know but you enjoy believing for the magic of it.
First haircut by someone other than Grammie. You wanted a bob and you wanted it super short. It was adorable and you did great!
Just Goofy Mommy and Mollie being silly... again.
One of our many pumpkin carvings. All the pumpkins (besides the WW pumpkin) were rotten really early in the season this year... everyone seemed to experience this. The same thing happened with everyone's Christmas Trees.
We went to a DCA football game to support Jon Bruce (#7) in his Senior year of high school. Reme Lynn also happened to be performing before the game with a cheerleading camp she had just completed. We had such a fun night!
Another Fall Festival. The Yoga Festival. We met Aunt Jess and RL there and went to eat afterwards, but we ventured off a lot on our own and had a blast.
You weren't really interested in the princesses. Haha!
Boo at the Zoo! We try to go with a big group every year, and we ended up really just going with Keenan's family (Aunt Jess was there, but she had other friends there too, so we went our separate ways), and it was the best Boo at the Zoo we have ever been to!
Some late night fun with Snapchat.
Booville with the Miller's (Keenan's Family) - Daddy was able to go to all the Fall Festivals with us this year... usually he is traveling, but due to his diagnosis and treatment - he was home. This was one of the little blessings of that time! However... this one - was the only one without daddy.
For many years we did an annual cookie decorating date at Halloween and Christmas with all of our mom friends (and babies) from centering. Our prenatal classes. We got to be very close with all of them, but they seem to have drifted away, as often happens in life. So... Aunt Jess and I have found a new group of friends to continue the tradition with! Aunt Jess and RL, Joy and Jack, Lindsay, Hazel, and Vaughn, Kat, Elliott and Jovie, and us! We also switched from cookies to crafts and a dance party since the mommas were tired of all the sugar from the season already. It was a hit!
You are your silly brother having a food fight. :-)
Bathtime craziness!
Paigey came over and wanted to do a tea party, so she did it!
Playing outside at Fall Time!
MJMA Fall Festival! We were a family of super heroes.
Third Annual trick-or-treating at Emma's!
This is the note we left on our porch along with a huge pumpkin full of candy while we went elsewhere... It says - "You may take our candy please. It is so delicious. Happy Halloween!"
Bike riding with the kiddos!
I wish I could load the videos from this day in here. You did flips through the mud and Maxon followed along. It was a little chilly and you guys were a mess, but best day ever. I love these moments with you guys!
NOVEMBER 2017
I went to the Mom Prom hosted by your school where I get to dance the night away with other Mom's and then I can't walk for two weeks - totally worth it. You sent me off with a big hug and kiss. Grandma was home to take care of you since daddy was gone.
Maxon did his first bike race while Grandma was here, so we got to watch Maxon come in very last with style and win a trophy. Ha! You and grandma ended up going to Target to find a gift from her while we finished with Maxon. Then we took Maxon to get ice cream and you got a Minnie Mouse House.
Grandma and I took you guys to the zoo while Daddy was gone. It was fun!
These next series of pics are from the 6th Birthday party of your friend Linden Bruner (one of our besties) at Sky High Sports. You liked to smile so hard your face would turn red. I sure wish you had some personality ;-)
You really wanted to give Linden her Unicorn necklace. You got one that matched and you guys would wear them to school every day for a month or so before you both forgot you had them. Ha! She loved it and Mila wanted one, so you told her you would get her one for her birthday. I sure hope we don't forget. Mila (Linden's sister) has a birthday on the exact same day as Maxon.
The three amigos being without their fourth amigo decided to do some crafts... a turkey hat in honor of Thanksgiving.
Random pics I found on my phone of you... I love these. You also loved to chalk color your hair for a while. :-)
You love making Zoodles, so we made this delicious meal... well, you made it. It was FANTASTIC!
These next pics are from making zoodles and making some gluten-free, low sugar apple crips, which were delicious.
Loss of your second tooth. :-)
You got an actual Wonder Woman Doll.
I took you and Maxon to the dollar store to pick out decorations for the house that were cheap, but that we could either make or add to our existing decor. You and I sat down to craft up these simple wreaths... We had a lot of fun coming up with decorations for every single door.
I decided to make cinnamon rolls on Thanksgiving weekend and Maxon wanted to help. I started at 5:30am and you joined us later in the process around 8am. Maxon was VERY helpful. It was a blast with both of you.
Here is you making a from-scratch pumpkin pie. It was really terrible. Not because of you, but the recipe was bad.
2nd Annual Christmas Tree Farm with the Millers. 16th Annual Christmas Tree Farm for Daddy and I, and 6th Annual Christmas Tree Farm for you. :-)
3rd Annual Dancing Lights of Christmas with the Miller Clan! This year it was at the Fairgrounds and bigger display and better experience. We rode a train!
Annual Decorating of the Christmas Tree - You and Daddy do the light and you do the star. I'll have to think of something Maxon can do that is his for when he starts to care that he doesn't get to do the star. Ha!
Sooooo cozy...
You LOVE scavenger hunts, surprises, and treasures... your grandpa Ed loves GPS and navigation, so he combined the two to create a scavenger hunt for treasure in our backyard before your very first camping trip in our backyard. You had the time of your life and didn't come in the house one time from 2pm in the afternoon until the next morning around 8am. Your brother had a fever, so it was a good thing you were away and busy. You then wanted me to help you put together a scavenger hunt for your grandpa, which he did and enjoyed. However, mommy isn't good with directions -so I messed it up a little. Ha!
I love decorating our home for Christmas. Here is upstairs and downstairs. All so cozy and festive. This year, I wanted to get everything done on Thanksgiving weekend, because your daddy's surgery was on December 1st and I wanted to be focused on him and enjoying our home when we brought him home.
You left me this note one morning... First time you have ever written me a note (you've made lots of pics), and I never wanted to forget it. It made me cry.
Little man had a fever, so due to his seizures... either daddy or mommy sleep with him until it passes.
Another cozy pic of the living room upstairs.
DECEMBER 2017
December was a busy, crazy, scary, amazing, stressful, fun month. Mostly due to the fact that Daddy had surgery on December 1st, and ended up being in the hospital for about 10 days. Grammie was in town thankfully, but trying to navigate everything with you guys and take care of Daddy was crazy.
Here are pics of me scared that I am going to miss seeing Daddy before he goes into surgery. The plan was for Grammie to go with him to the hospital, I would take you guys to school, and then follow, but NASHVILLE TRAFFIC! I made it and got to give him kisses and love as he was going back. Grammie stayed with me all day. You and Maxon each went to someone's home to spend the evening until we could get there to get you, and I ended up putting you to bed that night.
Your Daddy is one tough cookie!
Mommy and Daddy were both crying in this pic.
This is four days after surgery... He finally got to put on regular clothes.
You spent a lot of time with friends over the course of those 10 days and also with either me or Grammie. You went to some Christmas festivities with Ms. Debi and Keenan.
Our 4th Annual MJ Christmas Parade. This year it was actually FREEZING! You enjoyed the parade - a Star Wars theme, because the new movie came out, and Maxon got candy from a Storm Trooper, and he has talked about it all year!
We had such a great day... We missed Daddy so much, but I'm glad we kept our tradition and went to the parade.
You also spent some time with one of your other besties Shaunee Dunnagan. Her Mommy and Daddy took you out to eat Hibachi and to a movie, and then you spent the night. Shaunee's is the only place you will stay over... you've been dealing with fearing death, and being scared that something is going to happen to mommy and daddy, but I'm glad you still go over to Shaunee's... It let's you know that everything is going to be okay, as far as we can control it.
No matter how much we brush, floss, and mouthwash... you still get cavities. On this day you had four cavities filled and one crown put on (a silver tooth) - hopefully all of your adult teeth grow in healthy.
You were very brave!
Christmas Crafts with Grammie - Maxon had no diaper or underwear on here - naked bum!
Cooking with Grammie!
The FOUR Christmas party! This is our 2nd Annual FOUR Christmas party. We invited Linden to be FIVE, but they couldn't come this year.
We exchanged gifts with Mommy's best friend's family on this day, and boy were you all happy with your gifts!!!!
MLP Equestria Girls! Your favorite!
This year we created a banner, which I will do every year. It is called the 25 days of Random Acts of Kindness. You helped me create it, and even with Daddy in the hospital for 10 days and all the craziness... we completed 15 of them. One was to wash and clean out Aunt Jess's car. You did a great job (I helped, of course, but it was such a cool thing!)
Our poor tree from the tree farm was a dud and died within 15 days. They reimbursed us, and we purchased a new artificial tree. We will still do the Christmas Tree Farm, but give it to a family in need!
Daddy's home and we are decorating the NEW tree - DO-OVER!
Opening Christmas presents from Grammie before she leaves.
You said you wanted to be a scientist so you could invent a potion to keep our family alive forever, so Grammie got you a lab coat and microscope kit!
Maxon got a Backhoe!
Maxon's FIRST haircut!
We went to see our friend's Jovie and Elliott in their first play ever at Chaffin's Barn - It's a Wonderful Life!
The angel - Clarence was your FAVORITE!
You got to play in the fake snow!
Pajama Day at School! Best Pictures ever!
Special Christmas presents from our neighbor Ms. Mavis!
I REALLY wanted to create Christmas cards... sometimes I get to it, and sometimes I don't - this year... I printed one and posted it on Facebook. It was the best I could do!
Our annual tradition for taking Paigey out for her mani-pedi for her birthday and Christmas combined started including YOU! Now you will go with us every year. After this, we met Aunt Pam at First Watch for Lunch!
Pics of our new tree upstairs!
While we were opening our one gift on Christmas Eve - we had some carolers. They were our friends Kat, Wayne, Jovie, and Elliott Mathis.
I have a video of you talking for about 3 minutes about Santa, his reindeer and Ms. Claus and what you put out for everyone. Again, you asked about Santa, we told you the legend of St. Nicholas and how Santa came to be, but you (my little magical one) wanted the magic. I obliged... it makes me happy that you want the magic, but also ask the questions to know what is real. You are learning critical thinking, and it is magical for me. Also... I love being magical with Christmas, so YES! I'M IN!
CHRISTMAS MORNING!
Grandma came back into town to help out after Christmas and it was a wonderful time!
New Year's Eve 2017! We spent it with the Bruce's minus Jon (he's a teenager, driving, and a senior... we don't see him much anymore)
2017 was an amazing, traumatic, crazy, adventurous, joyful, incredible ride! Having you and Maxon by our sides for all of it increased the beauty and pricelessness of each and every moment. I love you girl!
JANUARY 2018
Playing games with Grandma during her visit! Grandma Mollie and you share a love for games... same for me :-)
Mommy and Daddy are not church goers, and we wanted a place for non-church goers to gather and talk, enjoy each other, and be there for one another... so we created FSBC or First Sunday Brunch Club. The core members are The Miller's (Aunt Jess, Steve, and RL), The Stott's (Ryan, Michelle, Epleata, and Willoa), Us, and Mark & Ellen. We have two other families that have been invited, but these four families are our core. This was our very first one.
You and your brother having some play time!
Making and decorating cookies!
We get a couple good snows for us (about 2 inches) in TN every year, so we are sure to get out and enjoy it. You guys were pretending to ice skate on the trampoline.
A fun girl time with Mommy, Mollie, Aunt Jess, and RL
Aunt Jess and I took you and RL to your first ever Women's March! We have a very frustrating President that is not a very good person, and the world is in a shake-up mode right now. We wanted to teach you girls about activism and about owning your power as girls and someday women. You two are fierce and beautiful - we want to teach you to own that and know how to command respect.
Maxon is going to get me for this one one day!
I just love this very perfect picture of your glorious goofy-ness!
FEBRUARY 2018
We have Keenan and Neve over a lot, but this particular time it was just Neve. You read to her and played with her, fed her, and watched over her... oh, you also helped her go to the bathroom. You keep telling me and other moms at birthday parties that you would like to be a babysitter when you turn 6, but your mom told you that you had to wait until you turned 12, so you decided you could practice in the meantime.
Amazon Prime bag head??? I dunno... Ha!
We pulled out all our money and did money counting and exchanging. We had $70 from just change! It mounts very quickly!
Bowling night with the fam! This was our first time ever to go bowling, and it was so fun!
At Christmas you got all the Equestria Girls from us and various family members. By the beginning of January - all of them had lost their legs, and we couldn't get them back on. I called Hasbro and told them what had gone on... they sent me a mailing label and told me to mail the broken toys to them and they would replace them. Well... the box came in the mail, and it was like 2nd Christmas. They didn't just send you the girls... they sent you kits! It was so much fun to get all of that. You love those Equestria Girls!
Opening up Valentines from School.
SUCCESS!
A family trip to the park - picnic and all!
MARCH 2018
March was totally action packed. We had your 6th Birthday and Birthday Party, we went to TX and Mommy and Daddy went to Hawaii, we went to the Fort Worth Zoo, Six Flags, a Helicopter Egg Drop, and so much more! I love doing life and having fun with you, my sweet girl!
Wizard of Oz Rehearsal, Mollie Style... with a lot of sass and pizazz!
Wizard of Oz viewing party with Little OZ at Ryman's house!
All the munchkins and flying monkey's enjoying the movie.
Crafts!
Little OZ!
We said goodbye to Kramer on march 5th. He was suffering so much and just unable to do life. We took a lot of final pictures, but you were very sad. You loved on him a lot that week. We sure do miss him!
March 5, 2018 - Kramer crossed over the rainbow bridge
Park time!
Mollie moves into a BOOSTER seat! Many other kids did around four, but we kept you in for safety reasons. It was a ton of fun to see how excited you were in your big girl seat!
Lyric's 6th birthday party in Knoxville, TN at a trampoline and jump park.
Last Day of Swim Maintenance!
Final few days of being five... we went to eat at your favorite restaurant - El Rey (the same place Mommy ate my last meal before heading to the hospital to have you!)
Bike riding and Park time!
The sunset that night on the way home!
Read time at bed time!
Since your birthday is on St. Patrick's Day - you have finally gotten into the whole Shamrock idea... you get excited everytime you see green and shamrocks around your birthday, you say "Look Mom! More things for my Birthday!"
Play time with Reme Lynn!
Your Birthday celebration at School - Your trips around the sun! I love this celebration so very much! We look forward getting to talk about all of your milestones at home and at school, and seeing you so proudly walk the earth around the sun. You are one of my three greatest joys (Your Daddy, YOU, and your brother!)
Then after your celebration (March 16th) we took you out of a school for a day of celebration with just you, Mommy, and Daddy! First up - El Rey! Again!
Second Up - Fired UP! You painted a heart plate and Daddy and I painted coffee cups!
3rd Up - We all got our nails done!
Fourth UP - We met up with Aunt Jess, Steve, and RL for Hibachi Grill! So fun!
Grammie's Gift to you!
Birthday Tradition on March 17th - Rainbow Waffles! Also, the morning of the party!
We had time to jump in muddy puddles, get totally wet, take baths and get dressed (with rainbow hair) all before your party!
Party time at Universal Gymnastics!
The Crew! Linden, Mollie, Willow, Willow, Epleata, Jovie, Elliott, Keenan, Will, Tucker-Paul, Hazel, Megan, Logan, Lincoln, Olivia, Mila, Reme Lynn, Vivian, and Whitley!
Willow from your class
Linden, Keenan, Mollie, Will - to have such friends at such a young age!
Emma and Mollie
The booty! You got a ridiculous amount of presents... we took polaroids of each gift and sent in the thank you card to each friend!
Maxon inhaling one of the beautiful rainbow cupcakes by my friend Tara Henson (the cupcake goddess)
During the gymnastics party!
Helping Shaunee on the beam
The next day... an Easter Egg Hunt at Universal Gymnastics!
This kid really thought Maxon was Spiderman and wanted to be with him the entire time!
Paigey came over for a while and brought you your favorite Starbucks drink - a vanilla bean frappacino!
We begin the trek to TX and one of our stops in a rest area to play for a while!
rock climbing and creek navigating with Grandma and Uncle Abe, Jimmy, Ellie, Mommy and Daddy in Springtown!
Mommy and Daddy head to Hawaii. It was hard to leave you guys for six days, but I knew you were well taken care of and after the last few years - Mommy and Daddy needed some one-on-one time together. We had a trip to remember and it was so relaxing and amazing! We came back refreshed and ready to go do fun things... here are a few pics from our trip!
We did the trampoline park with Uncle Abe, Jimmy, and Ellie the day we got back!
On Thursday the 29th, we did the Fort Worth Zoo with Grandma! So fun!
You guys were exhausted!
On Friday, March 30th - we went to Six Flags with Aunt Jenny, Olivia, Lily, and Henry and had a ball - we were gone for 10 hours! You rode some crazy-amazing rides and were absolutely fearless. Your favorite was the water ride, Aquaman, and rode it like six times! Such joy!
On Saturday, March 31st - we did a helicopter Egg Drop Easter Egg hunt with our family in Fort Worth and had a blast!
As you can see... we do not lack for fun and adventure. You told me recently that we have the most magical family and house, and my heart lept with joy... you couldn't have given me a better compliment if you tried. We are magical, and I love you with a love that is pure magic. You, my sweet love, are MAGICAL every single day and being joy, laughter, surprise, hilarity, adventure, magic, fun, and pure love into our home. Thank you for being you.
Love, Mommy
