30 years

It's been 30 years and in a bizarre coincidence at the beginning of this swim season I had a former babysitter approach me.   I did not remember her but she has a daughter on that team her at one point went to school with Celia.  She said "how is your Mom?" and then "how is your Dad?".   I found myself having to share that he died with this woman.  First time in likely 30 years.

In anycase, I hate this day.  Today is very busy, barely have a chance to breath busy.  These past 2 weeks have stunk but it's life and I will take it anytime.  To have the privilege to have this family life is not lost on me at all.  We fought to get our girls and know the blessing of having us all together.

This loud, hyper, teenager keeps us very busy.  

She's amazing and learning how to navigate life when you have A LOT of opinions.

These two are still best friends.  They might argue but they always come back to each other.

The little one is learning the meaning of being brave and has been working hard.  

The swim season has flown by and is nearly done.  We are headed to leagues again and excited to see what happens to these two in the water.

Another year.

Last Day of School

First Day vs Last day

I would say Celia wins on the how much did you grow contest!

       

It's been a year.  Honestly looking through the elementary school years, this has been the hardest emotionally for both girls but they had the best teachers.  I finished out the school year realizing that our focus this year was never on academics at all.  Celia of course has never ever had issues in that category but Audrey has always gone into summer a little bit behind.  This summer BOTH of my girls are going into the summer I think ahead of the game.  But don't worry I am already putting together their summer work!!  

Thank you Mrs. Korb and Thank you Mrs. Sciola!!

Graduation

Today Celia graduated 5th grade (granted she has 3 more half days to go!)

Last day of Pre K at UMCC

Kindergarten

Last day at West Chester Friends

Jumping into the next grade at West Chester Friends

How she felt about leaving West Chester Friends (I felt the same but Hillsdale really stepped up to the plate!!)

Celia started at Hillsdale in 2nd grade, along with many other redistricted kids.

She came from a Quaker school but our neighborhood was redistricted.

This school was amazing

And truly Celia you are more than ready to leave.

And Vanessa has been with us from the beginning

So has the little one on the end.

Thank you Mrs. Korb for an amazing finish to a wonderful school year.  We have had some awesome teachers along the way but by far Celia landed with her best fit teacher this year (in elementary school).  She is making her request as we speak to get Audrey in a few years (hint, hint).  It's been an awesome year for Cecelia.  Onward to middle school and she is so ready.

And just for fun, I found a quick little video of those three.

Merry Christmas

This was taken EARLY in December

Miss Cecelia has gotten super tall so that dress was a little short

We found this adorable dress courtesy of Target

The cardigan was courtesy of Mommy not following washing instructions and shrinking the sweater.

My loss is her gain!

This cutie will fit in her Christmas dress for at least another year.

Our annual Wegmans Christmas Eve discount ornament and breakfast trip

We were happy we got some nice antibiotics in Celia yesterday so she wasn't sharing her Strep throat germs with everyone and could sing in the church choir!  

We do wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and A Very Merry Christmas

Happy Birthday Audrey

Okay, my plan for the New Year ( mind you January, so I am giving myself time) is to keep up my blog.  But for now enjoy the many faces of Audrey.

Happy 8th birthday to my amazing little girl.  You are a spunky, crazy, funny, and awesome girl.  You are the best little sister to Celia and you keep us laughing all day long.

Happy Halloween

Rain Cloud and Bird watcher for 2018

At age 11

An interview with my 11 yearold.  I mean to do this every year!!

What do you want to be when you grow up:  architect

Favorite thing to do: read, draw, sing, 

Favorite book:  Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

Favorite Movie:  A House with A Clock in It’s Walls

Favorite sport: swimming

Favorite food:  mashed potatoes

Favorite subject in school: math

Good Friends: Vanessa, Grace, Addie, Elena, Courtney, Julia, Denali

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Greece

What are you looking forward to? The next Percy Jackson Book

This is the year in which I have sighed and said "Oh Celia" many times.  I love my oldest so much and she has a sweet heart but she is beginning to get the teenage attitude of life's not fair and why do my parents get to tell me what to do.  And I get it, I remember that struggle.  I have told her that we are in this together and we need to figure it out.  I am not writing this to poke at you Celia, it is a memory of what was going on at this age. 

Audrey and Celia continues to be so close and they love to play with each other.  They argue between the hours of 7:15 and 8:15 am, weekdays only (that would be from breakfast to when it is time to leave and there father gets to miss that fun part of the day)

She is smart and continues to do so well in school.  Celia loves to read and is still obsessed with all things Rick Riordan.

She loves to sing,craft, draw, write, play with legos, and play dollhouse still which is Audrey's favorite thing to do with her sister.  I thank her in my head a million times for still hanging onto that little girl part of her.  Because when she is 17, believe me I will look back and think that age 11 was such a little girl.  I think in all honest that Celia understands not to rush this growing up thing and I love her for that.

She had an amazing summer swim season and so we are testing out winter swimming.  A month in and she is enjoying it.  But she also made honors chorus (only 10, 5th graders make it) and she has church choir on Wednesdays so we are really busy.  We are trying for 3 swim practices a week when she really should be going 4 or 5 days but luckily we picked a laid back team.  The  practices for her are now 90 min long which seems so long but she is enjoying it!

I am enjoying being able to do more with Celia.  She actually did a 5k with my Mom this weekend and it was fun for both of them.  I love getting to know her a little more each year.