Snapshots

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

NORAH!!

Here's a little video of our sweet Norah just laughing, playing, dancing and being her amazing self. Enjoy.

Norah from James Younger on Vimeo.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Family~

Norah on her first day of Thursday School :)

Fun visit from Grandwoman!

'Siah and Norah playin' around

The girls playing "wedding" in their dresses from Aunt Paba

Abby had such a good time, she seemed to like listening to all of the kid's chatter (or screams, however you like to label it :)

Our lunch @ Panera

Levi snuggling with his Mama during our post-bedtime hang out

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

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.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

School girl

first day of Kindergarten girl!

Norah gets the honored post of lunch box carrier

Anna finds her name

Anna with her favorite thing in her new

Kindergarten room: teeny tiny animals :)

Our lil' Anna had her first day of Kindergarten on Monday. We parents had some tears, but our gal was all smiles. She loved it- her teacher, the other kids, and especially the bucket full of teeny tiny dogs and cats she got to play with.

Lately I've been reading the memoirs of the great Corrie ten Boom who survived brutal imprisonment and the horrors of concentration camp during WW II for creating a hiding place for Jews in her house. Some of her words have been encouraging me as I face this new phase in my little daughter's life.

She says "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see."

Lord, her future is in Your hands, help us to trust You as You grow her into the woman You want her to be.

We love you Anna, and are so proud of you just for who you are.