Of being four and two.....

Suddenly we have a four year old and a two year old. What a busy two weeks we had with birthday celebrations, ballet recitals, library trips, lunch with friends, leave piles and a wedding. It should be no surprise that now we're sick with colds, resting and hibernating by the fireplace as the days get cooler and darker. Still, I want to always remember these special stages.  Lena is chatting away and has some very funny phrases:  "I listen to "nusic" now", "I Lub you",  "Thats a big spider web" (when she saw a batting cage), "I put on ballet now",  " I love hot godge"  (hot dogs), "Do you need to Bacuum", "Please have a snoodie" (smoothie- aka kefir), "I don't", (I don't want to),  "That fish is wearing its swimmies" (When seeing a fish at the doctor's office), "It is ok, I give you a hug", "Fara is shy" (when talking about Clara, the cat), "The Ambulam is coming" (when hearing a siren). Emmeline suddenly developed a love of folding laundry, tying shoes, reading books, counting to 10 in French and writing words. 

Four!

Darling Emmeline,

You are four! It amazes my heart heart that so much time has passed and that you are so grown up already. But it also seems like you were always here apart of our lives. You are our beautiful, smart, gentle hearted daughter and we cherish you and praise God for the gift you are to us! You still have light blue eyes and long brown hair with reddish sunlit tints. It is fine and silky. You love books, stories, telling stories, making up songs, singing, playing piano, ballet, Irish music, hop scotch, make believe, numbers, art projects and making gifts for people you love. You cry easily when there is an upset or someone else you know is sad, and this shows us your generous heart. You love to sing Holy Holy Holy and are working through memorizing the catechism. You love puzzles and games. You are a little mother, scolding your cats for not sharing and helping little sister Lena with her boots or shoes. You love sunshine and swinging, nature hunts and Papa dates. You do not like spiders or dogs. Your current favorite food is salad.  Dearest little one, how we pray that God will bless and keep you this day and all of the days of your life. We pray He will guard your heart and yet give you great love, that He will give you joy and hope overflowing. 

Autumn

And just like that, Autumn is here and we're in the thick of finding sweaters and rain boots, making applesauce and simmering our mulling spices. We're still searching for colored leaves, but maybe a dry summer will leave us with a dull landscape? Either way, we're having fun. We've gathered up our items for our Nature Pal Exchange and will send to our new friends tomorrow.  To update- Miss Lena Lu still despises ballet class. We got to hear Papa play a concert on a Diffenbach Pipe Organ and see lots of friends and family. What a special day.  We're still working on our fourth molar (please please please come in soon) and we're gearing up for the month of celebrations: so many birthdays and anniversary it feels as if we should just start celebrating and not stop. Emmeline is about to turn four and my heart can't really handle all of the sweet, grown up, little girl quirks that are spilling out over baby Emmie. I don't know if it is because I too am growing older, but I actually love Autumn now. When I was younger I really did not. It signaled the end of long, happy, summer days and less light. But now it somehow brings quieter, cozier, more introspective evenings, stories and fires.