December 24, 2010

I know it's been a while...

But, the good news is that I got a new camera and a huge memory card, so I can take lots of pictures! I got a few great ones today as we celebrated Snip and Snap and Christmas with Don's family.

Hot Chocolate!

Sisters ready to go sledding!

Sledding behind the golf cart!

All bundled up, but still smiling!

This year you really bonded with your cousin Hope. You two look like trouble...

Opening an adorable puppy purse from your Aunt Tracy!

Cousins! Sam, Molly, Emily, Sarah, Hannah and Hope

I am just enjoying every moment with you, Molly. Although you can be challenging, your feisty attitude is something that I will cherish forever! You have recently begun calling me your "best buddy" and I love it! You've been calling things "normal" and/or "terrible." Basically, you have learned those words and love to say them - whether or not they make sense in the context you are using them! It just cracks us up! Don't ever change!

November 23, 2010

Since my last post was pictures, this one can be text. I keep delaying writing in hopes that I will get to Meme's to use some of her great pictures, (my camera was smashed to pieces when I dropped it on the floor a few weeks ago) and in the mean time, I am forgetting things that I want to write down. And so, this is a word only post!

You are growing up so quickly. You have the silly charm of your daddy and the impulsive, feisty side from me. You make us laugh every day with the words that come out of your mouth - newest phrases include, "OH, Darnit!" Yilly? (Really?), This is terrible!, Momma!!, I told you like an hour! (one of our favorites...said to Daddy often when he is doing something to irritate Molly and she wants him to stop.).

We are still working on staying dry at bedtime - we've tried unsuccessfully to go cold turkey but the sight of you in the middle of the night, soaking wet, breaks my heart. We've gone back to pull-ups and you get marbles for each dry night. You are getting better and better each day!

On the potty note, I have to document the story about preschool! You have been going to preschool Monday through Thursday with Mrs. Albright and Mrs. Barrier. You do lots of painting and playing outside. A few weeks ago, you began coming home in different outfits almost daily. Your clothes were piled in a bag in your bookbag, soaking wet. I could not, for the life of me, figure out why you were having accidents at school so often! I understand once in a while if you were busy playing, but every day?!?! YILLY??? So I decided to go a little early one day to pick you up and watch you outside. I got there and peeked out the window but didn't see you! Mrs. Albright poked in and said that you had come in to the bathroom. I waited outside the door for about five minutes and then knocked to see if you were okay. When I entered, you had about three outfits lined up on the floor, trying to decide what to wear! (The bathroom holds a cabinet with extra changes of clothes!) We figured out that you were possibly having accidents in order to "shop" for a new outfit! You little stinker!

In regard to school, you are doing fabulous! You love to write your name and practice other letters. You also bring home a painting almost every day! I am loving how smart you are :)

Well, duty calls - you need help with getting dressed today, so I guess this will basically be my Potty Post. I'll write more soon!

October 29, 2010

Fall is here! Here is a picture update of my goofy Molly :)

We had lots of play dates with Cayden this month. Here they are tuckered out and Molly is being her usual goofy self.

Classic.

Wooley Bear Festival 2010

Black day at school.

After disappearing for a bit, Molly reappeared in this huge leaf pile!

Festivals we attended this fall - Molly loved this tractor trail and the bubble party!

Train ride fun!

Check back soon :)

October 9, 2010

Okay, so I am horrible at updating with pictures, but today I''m happy to have pictures to go with my post!

We had a very busy day today! While I woke up early to go to a re-sale event for Avon Lake PTA (otherwise known around here as "Christmas Shopping"), you and your sister got ready for our day. Daddy helped you take a bath, eat breakfast, get dressed, clean the kitchen, and then proceed to chalk outside and completely ruin your outfit! No worries, though! I returned in time to change your clothes, do your hair (Daddy is still struggling a bit with that one!), and feed you a quick sandwich before Aunt Doodie arrived with Cayden and Mya! Then, we set off for our adventure at a local pumpkin farm. We had a blast!! We did a hay maze - Cayden found his way out first!, you all rode tractor trikes through a corn maze, played on a huge swingset, went for a VERY long hay ride, and rode a barrel train! You got your faces painted and touched some sweet baby sheep! After our two hours there, Cayden could hardly keep his eyes open and both of you girls were starving and ready for a nap!

After our nap, we loaded back into the car (you, Sarah and I) to go to Rex Gee's Orchards to pick apples! You guys had a blast! We picked a ton of red and golden delicious apples. You became pros on how to find the best ones on the trees :)

Our day didn't end there... we traveled to Apple Hill to check out their Pumpkin Land! We saw more live animals, some cool pumpkins and even some scarecrows!




Lastly, we headed to a little farm nearby where you can buy pumpkins on the honor system. I've always loved getting our pumpkins here because it is a family home and farm, and I just love the old fashioned feeling you get knowing that they just trust people to be honest. We picked about six pumpkins and headed home. After such a busy day, you were pooped! Dinner and bed and fun all over again tomorrow!

September 11, 2010

As Summer transitions to Fall, I felt the need to document a few more pictures of Miss Molly's summer vacation. As an educator, I've dealt with my fair share of youngsters. This little girl is one of a kind. I have never seen another girl like my Molly. Her heart is truly made of gold and kindness molded into her very core. The things that come out of this girl's mouth astound me. Sometimes this astonishment is for good things...other times, not so much. Either way, I wouldn't trade her for the world!

She is a real lover. Her big sister is her whole world. Here, she eagerly approaches Sarah as she steps off the bus from her very first day of kindergarten. Molly couldn't wait to hear about Sarah's new adventure!
Molly often just watches Sarah and later tries to do whatever it was that Sarah was doing. Many times, Molly will work to perfect this certain act in a secret hiding spot before coming out to proudly show off her accomplishment.

This includes not only riding bikes, saying certain things (Molly struggles with a few letter sounds!), writing her name, or even singing in a pretty voice. All of these things are things that she has watched Sarah perfect and mimics until she can do them as well. Usually, her big sister is right behind her complimenting her on her feat!

Her newest favorite animal is her Pillow Pet named Spotty. She loves this thing and carries it all around the house! Each night, she starts off in her own bed and somehow travels to our bed by morning. What a trickster. Along with Spotty, she loves to fall asleep with a wet washcloth on her head. The other night she almost got in big trouble for her washcloth fascination. She couldn't have just wet the washcloth. Instead, she fills her play cleaning bucket, drops the washcloth in and makes her way down the stairs at midnight. I am already asleep in my bed when I am awoken by the sound of a clanging bucket being smacked into my nightstand. I look up and see Molly standing next to my bed. Half asleep, I reach to swing her up onto my belly where she still prefers to sleep. As I'm lifting her up, the bucket of water that I was unaware of dumps on my head. I was ready to explode and yell at her when she quietly explained that she was just bringing a washcloth down for her head,
"like you use, Mommy." And snap. She wins. I can only say that she is a cutie and then help position the washcloth on her forehead as she drifts into sleep.

She had a blast at our McDougal family reunion this summer. Hitting the pinata and bonding with her cousin Max were a few of the highlights!

This girl just melts me. I can't say it enough. The following pictures are some of my favorites - I love catching her when she isn't looking.

Isn't she fantastic?

August 24, 2010

Da da da da! There's a new preschooler in town!

With a hug from Cayden, you head off to your very first day of preschool!

Look how proud you are to have a bookbag and a place to go! I can't believe that my baby is heading to preschool already!
I just can't get enough kisses!
Heading into preschool!
As we enter, you find your name tag. You know your name is

M O L L Y!
Find your cubby to hang up your bookbag, then get a big hug from your big sister! Sarah has been working hard to help you get ready for preschool. She is excited for you!
You head over to the carpet as your day begins. Mommy has to leave at this point, but I wish I could stay and watch you! You will have so much fun!
Silly Molly!
After that was all said and done, you said,

"I wish preschool was ALL day!"

August 5, 2010

I am writing this post solely for my baby girl. Readers are welcome, however my words are meant for one little angel.
Molly,
You spend your days being feisty, bossy, silly, goofy, angry, sweet, happy, and loving. Today was no exception. While your mood changes in the blink of an eye, you still melt my heart. Today was a normal day. We played outside, we had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, talked about our day, showered, cleaned, played some more, and talked. Throughout the day, you were your usual self. Spending odd minutes on the "time-out" bench for hitting your sister, yelling or screaming, or simply not listening to your mommy. The other minutes of the day you spent being a mommy to your baby dolls, playing in the toyroom, helping me cut the grass, or trying to sneak into the candy drawer. I spent the day like most days, running around like a maniac, pausing only every other minute to revel in my fantastic world here. Loving the minutes spent with my girls at our new home, loving the room we have to run and play and grow. Loving watching you and your sister grow and learn. I spent today thinking that I was content with my decision to stay home and be with you each and every day. I spent today thinking that I knew what you were up to all day long.
I was wrong. I missed something.
Something so innately small that probably most others would miss.
But I didn't miss it as I went to my bedroom to get ready for bed. Mere minutes before this, I walked a cold, wet washcloth up to my crying baby girl (This is a habit that I myself do often to help me fall asleep. You have noticed and picked up on it, and every once in a while you need a washcloth to help you sleep). I came back downstairs after whispering my favorite phrase to you "you are so special to me." As I walked into my bedroom, I saw that my bed was neatly made. Neatly is kind of an overstatement. My bed was made by the hands of a three year old.
You see, Molly, my girl, on a typical day, I wake up in my bed with you right beside me. We have been battling over you staying in your own bed all night long. When I wake up with you next to me, you always ask to make my bed for me. I love that you like to be helpful and sweet, and that you like to do big-girl things.
Today, was different. I woke up all alone. Daddy is working in New York, and you and Sarah both made it all night up in your own beds. I was alone in bed. I woke up and went upstairs to find my girls laughing together in the closet. In the craziness of the morning, I never went back into my room to make my bed. My two fancy pillows and one long body pillow remained on the floor near my dresser. The sheets and comforter remained rumpled.
It was not until minutes ago that I walked into my room again today. What I saw melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes. I quickly ran upstairs to thank you for this sweet, simple gift, only to find that the washcloth trick worked and you were already fast asleep. And so I am here, thanking you and telling you that even the smallest gestures make the biggest impression. Molly, sometime during this hectic day, you noticed that my bed was unmade. You took time out of your play to do a chore without me asking you to do it. You did something sweet for me and never asked for any recognition for doing it. You acted selflessly. You acted in a way that I work everyday to teach you.
Thank you.
I love you.

August 2, 2010

There is just something about this face.There is no one in the world like Molly Carolyn Walton.
Precious.
She melts me.
Even on her crazy days!
And then we have the days when little miss Molly thinks that she is a "binsess" and decides to dance her heart away. Unfortunately, Molly was blessed with a bit of an uncoordinated gene, and cannot for the life of her, stay up on her own two feet. Give her credit though, she gets right up and tries again! Gotta love it!