Sweet little teacher Berkley Ella!

This evening, while I was slicing up bread for dinner, I overheard Berkley in her most sweetest of sweet voices saying, "Hydee, sit! Hydee come here!!" Soon, her voice did get a little louder and before I knew it she was following Hydee around the house with her bag of sightwords in hand.

Yes, we have a few words that we are working on and at times, Berkley will pull them out on her own and surprise me by reading a word correctly on her own-without any help! Well, tonight I guess she decided to put on her very own teacher hat.

Soon, after parading around the house Hydee was corned laying on the kitchen floor. Berkley once again started in, with bag on words in hand. "Sit Hydee. Hydee look at this word. Do you see the picture Hydee? Look at the first letter?" YES, she REALLY said that. "Do you want a treat Hydee? It's the word sat Hydee."

I do promise that I've never used bribery in our learning process, but she was pulling it out of her own hat. Great out of the box thinking Berkley Ella!! So, while pretending to be "into" slicing the bread I couldn't help but be in awe of my little 2 and a half year old----interested enough in learning, wanting to teach another (okay, so just out dog) but, she just happened to be a student that was availabe with no choice!! How sweet it was!!

Hmm.....just like someone else I know......only thirty years ago......with teacher clothes on, pencil in hand teaching her little brothers. Major, watch out!! You'll be blessed to learn from you sister as she is not only your life long sister, friend, but will want to teach you many things as you will her.

Wait!!! I just remembered this afternoon, Berkley and Major were playing with their floor Alphabet mat.....and she was telling him, "this is a "M," M for Major!" Okay, let the teaching begin!!

Major Maddox's Top Ten at Ten Months!

From the hours prior to his birth, everything about little Major Maddox has been calm and serene. (Well, almost everything.....I have a few vague memories around 8 weeks.) But those are long forgotten and overshadowed. He is such a sweet little bundle. His eyes light up a room. As happy that I am, to see him grow, change, develop-I am sad that he is seven weeks from turning ONE!! How can that be? We were just going to the hospital, three weeks early....with little Berkley-21 months at the time......

So, in random order I decided to compose Major's Top Ten:

10. Walking around the house holding your hand
9. Splashing and giggling in the tub with his big Sis
8. Crawling/scooting around on the floor, looking for anything to put in his mouth
7. Playing with sister's toys
6. Being pushed on a ride on toy
5. Being swayed to sleep
4. Pulling Hydee's tail
3. Chewing on books
2. Saying, Dada, Mama, and Baba
1. Clapping-it makes him smile from ear to ear


Now, in random order ten (of the many) things that I love about my sweet little Major

10. Cuddling with him in the morning
9. When his eyes light up when I walk in the room
8. His sweet little hands and beautiful blue eyes
7. Listening to him giggle and squeal with Berkley
6. Watching him throw-he's already got quite an arm!!
5. His sweet, laid back personality
4. His calmness
3. Watching him learn to do new things
2. Rocking him at night
1. Being his Mommy-how blessed I am!!

How many sweet pennies will this wedding cost us?

Well, it has been decided by you guessed it....Berkley-that her wedding is going to cost "twenty coins." Thanks to Grandma and Daddy Berkley has already filled up her small little pink piggy bank one time-and we've had to empty the contents into a "jar." So, maybe in thirty years we'll have twenty vats full of coins to pay for this wedding, complete with helicopter and all. Good thing, she doesn't know anything about those shows that show the most EXTRAVAGANT weddings...she may want to start watching!!! YIKES!! I think we're already heading in the direction.

In that case........ 1. We'd better keep filling up her little pink piggy bank
2. Start coordinating things this year.......

After making her own decisions on her method of transportation to her wedding, who was going to drive the helicopter (herself of course!), who the photographer would be ("ME!!") It was a great surprise to me, when I asked her, "so, are you basically going to be the boss?" "No, Mommy." So it sounds would like she would like to be in charge of a few details, (at least the ones that seem important to her as a two and a half year old) but for now, we'll leave the rest up to Mommy. Mommy would be perfectly happy with that as she once dreamed of being a wedding planner herself.

For now, it's fun to let her imagination run wild and hear her ideas.....but I don't even think that in twenty years from now, will I be ready for her to be getting married. Right now, I am enjoying her as a two year old-playing with dollies, wanting to put on fingernail polish with Mommy, needing to bring a purse on every outing, being SO sweet in her Sunday School class, and thinking/acting on ways she can take care of her little brother.

When we do visit the grocery store, and I get a few coins back....I tell her to put them in her pocket and before we know it....her little pink bank will be filled to the brim again. As I am overflowing for love for her, Major and my sweet husband and somedays wish that they would stay this young forever.

Just think how much weddings will cost in 20-20 years??...we only hope to be able to give her the best in life-not just monetarily-but more importantly unconditional love, a love for the Lord, for her family and others, while teaching her to do her best in all things. Those things you can never fill enough pink piggy banks with!

Pink Strawberry Wedding Cake

Tonight while Major was taking a later than usual nap, we had a very interesting discussion about Berkley's future wedding. She already has it planned to the tee-hopefully, this won't take place for at least another thirty years or so, because we are going to need at least that much time to plan.

She plans to ride in a helicopter to the wedding. When we asked her who would be driving it, she said, "ME, and Daddy and Mommy will sit in the front by me and Major will sit in the back. "I will have my pink purse with four pieces of gum. Two for me-one pink and the other green, two for Daddy-one pink and the other black." (We often talked that you have to be MUCH older to be able to chew gum, so I guess logic tells her that when she's old enough to fly her plane to her own wedding....she can chew gum!)

She has decided that both her and Mommy will be wearing pink dresses (I'm sure to coordinate with our matching pink purses.) Of course she has already decided on "pink flowers with some green."

At the reception, she has planned a cake that matches the color of Daddy's shirt that he has on tonight-blue!! But, she wants the flavor to be strawberry!!When I asked her who would be taking the pictures at her wedding, she quickly, replied, "ME!!!"

Berkley is already excited about having a live band and wants to dance the night away. Of course she'll have to dance with Daddy and Mommy.

Oh, so who? Who does she want to marry? Everytime I ask her this question.....the answer has remained unchanged......"SUZ!" She has said that ever since going to Aaron and Susan's wedding this past summer in June. But, "Uncle Aaron can still come," she said with a sweet grin.

She's only two and a half and has such large dreams. It's going to have to be one VERY special young man to sweet our little Berkley off of her feet-in MANY years to come!!

My Two Sparkly Cupcakes-But No Sparkly Pink Tutu For Me

"Remember to pay attention, then ask for a sucker." Sweet words of advice given to me by my two and a half year old, Berkley Ella as I was swiftly heading out the door for my first adult ballet class.

As I was excitedly getting dressed for my first adult ballet class, Berkley asked, "you are going to the same place as me?" WOW!! Yes, your 32 year old Mommy has been counting down this day for many months....okay, years now. I've always wanted to take ballet and I decided: 1. There no time like the present.
2. I am not getting any younger!! So, go for it!!

Grandma, Gramdpa and Adrian sweetly braved the cold, came over and watched Berkley and Major while I ventured off to my new favorite activity. After giving bye-bye hugs and kisses, I dashed off to the car, quickly starting it-not even giving it time to warm up on this fridged Thursday night. I zoomed off into the black night, not wanting to be late to their very first class.

I loved every moment of my ballet class. Putting on the pink fitted shoes, learning the five positions (and having my two months of classes in eighth grade come back to me), the plies, the classical music in the background, the grace, long movements and just being able to feel feminine-all wrapped up in one package.

To our surprise, I was the only student that was at the class this evening, so I was blessed with my very own private lesson. Estie, my new ballet teacher really complimented me---saying that I was natural and you could tell that I had taken lessons before. I left feeling uplifted, girly, and already excited about our next class. I must admit that I didn't wear pink-nor did I borrow any of Berkley's little Tutu's....but I am thinking that I will probably go out and buy a little wrap around skirt for my next lesson.

Feeling so blessed for the opportunity to pursue one of my lifelong dreams, I was doubley blessed as I walked into the door to "Mommy!! You're home!!" And sweet little Major wanting to wrap up in Mommy's arms right upon my arrival.

We thanked Grandma, Grandpa and Adrian for coming and playing-gave hugs and kisses to go around and then went to out little window to watch them walk to their car. "Bye-bye Grandma. Bye-bye-Grandpa," said little Berkley. "Bah-bye".....said little Major!!

Yes, he's beginning to talk!! Having a sweet sister to giggle with, play with, laugh with, and talk with is such a blessing to all of us-Berkley, Major, Mommy and Daddy. Dada, bye-bye, Mama, pee,pee and bah (for ball) have all made it on his list. And just as his Mommy enjoyed every movement in her ballet class-Major too is wanting to move!! Move, by cruising, "crawling, "swaying" to music. Looks like we have a mover and a shaker!!

Even at the end of the day, they are my two sweet cupcakes with sprinkles on top!! Sprarkley sprinkles, that come in many bright colors!!!

Sweet Beginnings!! Welcome 2010!!

WOW!! Can you believe it's another new DECADE? I mean, it just seems that Y2K was just around the last corner. Happy Sweet Beginnings!!

Spending time with family and friends through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season is something that I look forward to each and every year. Thanksgiving helps me to stop and again remember all of the many blessings that my family has been blessed with throughout this year and in years past.

Christmas-a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and well, when you have little ones the gift giving is a million times more exciting. Berkley said that she heard Santa on the roof this year, bring her top requested "Pink Scooter and Pink Helmet" although she is confused that he about the fact that he such a big belly and he fit through the chimney!! Major was giggling with delight as he loved unwrapping his gifts and anyone's gifts that he could get his little nine month old hands on.

Now, on to a New Year!! A year filled with many blessings and many firsts!! Major will have his first birthday!! Wow, my wheels are already turning....should we have a monkey party or a puppy dog party? But, then again I have three more months to ponder that..... Soon, he'll be talking and even eating Daddy's favorite-pizza!!

The first week of May, Berkley and the "Tiny Tutu's" will have her first ballet recital!! I am already looking forward to seeing two and three year olds perform in their first recital. I'm sure we'll have to get a special new outfit-if not, some new hair bows for the special occassion.

Our family is looking forward to venturing to Sea World for the first time later this spring. While getting out of the bathtub, Berkley was talking about wanting to feed the Dolphins and then she declared, "I want to ride one too Mommy!" We'll see if that makes it into our book of firsts!! I love the innnocence of children-at such a young age-they don't have many fears and she seems willing to try many new things, explore and learn.

As I've written in a prior post, one of Berkley's currenty ambitions is to become a pilot, now along with an Optometrist. She has flown to Michigan a month after she turned one, so she doesn't remember the experience and is already very excited about going on a "BIG plane" as we will be traveling to Michigan later this summer to spend a week, on Lake Leelanau. Excitingly, we will be renting the same yellow cottage (now painted grey) that my Grandparents rented for a month each summer while we were growing up. It will be a first for Berkley to remember being on an airplane, the first time for Major to fly, the first time for our family of four to all fly together and just relax at the beach. Being at the lake for a week, will be a first for Charlie and although I've experience it many times-I have such great excitment for him because he is going to LOVE every minute of being on the serene, beautiful lake and enjoying God's creation.

So, with our year of firsts I'll end this post with a first from sweet little Berkley. Prior to getting into the tub, she wanted to pour some bubbles. What girl doesn't LOVE bubbles in their bubble bath? The more the better!! So, after pouring the "mom suggested" amount, she said......"Mom, I think that the bath tub is thirsty!!" Ha,ha!! Okay, so I know that "right disciplinary" response would be- "no I told you that was all." But, when she comes up with something so innocent and CREATIVE......I had to give in. What a sweet beginning with SO MANY more to follow!

May your New Year be filled with sweetness as ours is each and everyday-some small and some big. Just don't forget to stop and be thankful for the sweet things in life that bring us so much joy! Off to a bath filled with bubbles!!