Connecting with our school girl, and things I miss...

Our sweet Anna is loving school! I couldn't be happier for her, but Norah and I are still trying to get used to not having her brightness around the house during the morning hours. My sweet Norah and I are getting good time together though, and I'm thankful for that.

The first couple of afternoons when Anna came home from school I felt like I was either preparing, cooking, eating or cleaning up after dinner and then she was off to bed.

I missed getting to just hang out, talk about the day, and play with her and Norah together. Well, we have tried to change this by going out and doing things together in the afternoons. Some days it happens, others it totally doesn't. One day we went on a hiking adventure, it was drizzling, we were running, smelling wild flowers- I think it was just what we all needed.

Here are some pics showing how we are coping :)

School lunches with Anna

on our hike

One of the things I miss the most about Anna is that when she would wake up from her nap, she would come out and quietly play or color. Sometimes she would color pics for everyone else in the house and then slip the pictures under the door of the sleeper :) (even Jack!)

One night I was cleaning up our room (where Norah had taken a nap that day) and found that Anna had slipped Rosie a pic and it was still on the floor. The pic was of Norah with a pretty dress, shoes and hair-bow to boot!

Here is that picture for Norah and one that she slipped me that same day.