I love love these cutie pies!  You may have noticed, but Rose’s shoes are on backwards, which is totally perfect!  Even better, I didn’t notice until I saw these pictures on the computer… no telling how long she wore them that way!  That’s just our life right now; crazy busy, rollin’ with the flow, doin’ our thing, trying to have fun amidst a whole lot of deep thinking.  These girls are beyond anything we could have ever imagined, and we are crazy about each one as if they were the only one. 

Anna Kate is my comfort child!  She is always ready to give me a hug and afterward she’ll ask, “Do you know why I just hugged you?” and I’ll say, “No, why?” and she’ll say, “Because I love you!”  She is coming out of the terrible 2s that goes into the 3s, but it wasn’t that bad.  Her brain wigged out on her, and she has had tantrums with the best of them, but it was all expected, and we gave her time and space to work through the norm of her age.  She’s always been so easy.  I give her the credit for us having enough energy to attempt a third child.  She was a perfect baby (our only one without colic), and she’s always been a sweet snuggler, now more than ever!  She still loves to be rocked, and when we get her in bed, she loves for us to lay with her and talk about letters.  We do this every night.  I can’t kiss her enough!  She’s witty, funny, and a very good girl.  We are proud of you, Anna Kate!  You’re awesome!  Love ya!

Rose is coming into her own these days… to say the least.  Right as one comes out of the funk, the other is moving right in behind her.  But she’s so stinkin’ cute that it’s so tough to stay consistent, especially the third time around.  She’s been given a lot more grace, but she’s had to deal with a lot more action around her too.  Rose knows how to stand her ground and defend herself and her territory (toys, blankets, anything she has first).  I love her spunk!  I never worry about her being too sensitive or standing in the back wondering if everything is going to be okay.  She’ll be the one right up front and center, working it out.  On the other hand, she’s so grateful, friendly, and appreciative for everything.  Rarely does she not say, “Thank you, Mommy!” after I change her diaper or “Thank you, Daddy!” when he puts her in her high chair.  It’s amazing!  When we run errands, she’s waving and blowing kisses, engaging everyone she possibly can.  This little girl has put more smiles on people’s faces in a given day than I do… she has a special gift of openness and friendliness.  I think she’ll be our one who will be able to talk to anyone about anything.  I’m just so excited to watch her grow!  Baby Rose, we love you to the moon and back! 

 

I started cleaning out some of Noelle’s kindergarten folders today and came across this picture and sentence… I loved it last May when she brought it home, and I love it even more now that she’s spelling everything correctly (wow, how quickly that happened).  It says, “If there was no TV, I would have a das paradey.”  Her illustration is so cute too!  I love the rug design, our living room fan, her crown, high heels and signature eyelashes! 

I’m so thankful for you, Noelle.  Always have been.  Always will be.  You are so innocent and happy, totally care free and alive!  One of my favorite things in the world is to watch you do your thing during our dance parties.  Thank you for bringing us so much joy!  Everything about you is contagious!  You are one of my very best friends in the whole wide world!  I love you, Bella!

 

Last week was very busy for Anna Kate at school!  They visited the science museum, fed the ducks, and made homemade blueberry muffins!  Mrs. Paula was so disappointed her camera battery died right after they got to the museum, but I am just so thankful she is always taking pictures of the kids; it’s amazing and so is she!!!

 n

You go girl!

Pictures by Mrs. Paula

                   

We moved Noelle’s kitchen into Rose and Anna Kate’s room this weekend… Noelle was ready to pass it on in exchange for Anna Kate’s desk.  It was an awesome trade, and the littles have been busy cooking all weekend.  It’s like Christmas just to move toys around!

 

The littles and I had fun surprising Noelle at lunch on Friday!  Our week was pretty low-key, just getting back into routine after being gone.  I had several doctor’s appointments, but other than that, we stayed pretty close to home.  By Friday, we were ready to get out of the house, so off to lunch with sissy we went! 

In honor of Curt Ziemke, to directly help others diagnosed with ALS and their families by providing support with equipment, money and household needs, please send donations to:

CZ Cares
c/o: Cindy Ziemke
3182 Woodstock Road
Rossmoor, CA 90720

Even if it is only $5 or $10, whatever the amount, it would be such a blessing for CZ Cares to be able to get up and running.  Cindy has the best organizational skills around, and what she has learned over the past 3 years to effectively care for someone with ALS is priceless.  She will be able to go into these newly diagnosed families’ homes and make their journeys easier by teaching them what she has had to figure out herself, saving them time and energy to be with their loved one with the time they have left together.  Cindy is a business person, and she knows how to get the bang for the buck, so if you donate to CZ Cares, it will be stretched to help as many families with as much strength as she has to do it!  This is a way for Cindy to give back and continue the legacy Curt has left us all.  At the funeral, they played a memorial video, and during one part, they interviewed Curt and asked if he had any wishes for the kids.  One thing he wished for them is to “Always help those that are weaker than yourselves.”  What an amazing man and an amazing legacy!  Thank you in advance for showing the Ziemke family you care, whether you know them personally or not.  They treasure your thoughts and prayers, as the winter months will come on strong!

And if you want to continue checking in on them (more often than I’m physically able to do, lol), the family has an amazing blog, full of faith, hope and love.  Their address is http://curtziemke.blogspot.com/

 

 

This weekend Mike and I had the honor to travel out to California to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Curt Ziemke.  Here are some pictures of our journey to wish him farewell! 

Since the trip was last minute (just like it was when I went out two weeks ago), we had a layover in Phoenix to keep it affordable… which worked out great 3 out of the 4 travel days to Cali this month… save the best for last!

 

I loved these pretty glass flowers in a Phoenix airport gift shop but just didn’t have it in me to protect one all the way home, so I took a picture instead!  :)  We stayed with the Ziemke’s great friends, Mark and Kelli Hunter.  Their house was so pretty and felt so warm and inviting.  I loved this HUGE Charlie Brown Christmas tree sticking up over their neighbor’s roof in their back yard.  They have the coolest varieties of trees here!

Friday night, we ate Mexican food by the beach!  It was beautiful, and our evening was relaxing just being together!

Saturday, we got to both grieve our loss and celebrate the life of Curt, father to these great kids; Cayden (17), Clarissa (19), and Corbin (13)!  He was the best!

 

Clarissa with me and Zachary.

Cindy and her awesome employees at American City Pest and Termite, Inc. who knew and loved Curt so much!

 

Curt had the best friends in high school!  Here is a picture of Cindy with some of their wives.  So sweet!

The Ziemke ladies… so beautiful!

 

Toasting to Curt and enjoying being together, just as Curt would have wanted!

The weekend was overcast, rainy and dreary… totally fitting for the occasion and how we felt.  However, it was cleansing and refreshing too!  I felt really connected to our maker and his love for us as we were hurting.

 

After the most delicious, hand squeezed OJ on the planet, Cindy and Corbin took us to the airport and we said our goodbyes… until next time!  I enjoyed taking scenery pics this trip… with a layover in Phoenix, being so low to the mountains was breathtaking.

I’m always so amazed at the miles and miles of perfect crop designs.  I never stop staring out of the window once we are out of the clouds.  It’s fascinating to me.  People are cool!

Check out these houses surrounding this lake!  We were somewhere over Phoenix.

I loved that we were flying on top of the white clouds but the mountains could still be seen.  I took these pictures, mostly for the girls to see what it looks like but am glad I have the pictures because this was an emotional flight that I’ll never forget.

 

 

After a 4 hour layover due to a delayed first flight and missed second flight, we were ready to get home!  We stretched a good meal and conversation as far as we could, but 4 hours is a long time!  When we saw this play land, that just topped it all off; made us miss the girls even more.  We couldn’t get out of there quick enough! 

On the way home, I saw this high heel made out of lights on a lake and knew Noelle would love to see that!  We had a long day of traveling, delays, and missing our layover, but it was so worth it to say farewell and celebrate our friend!  We love you, Curt!  Always will.

Love getting good quality clothes at really great prices to pass down times three!  Makes life a lot easier!!! 

Rose picked out her outfit today (just like Noelle started doing at her age).  She’s a mess!  She had her baby in the back of her stroller this time because that’s the way she wanted to roll!  Whatever works!