FOUR!!!!

Well, she's FOUR!! December is a hard month for having a birthday. I always want to make is special for her. It wears on me having a party and Christmas in the same week, but it is just my life now. It comes with the season. We have always had her party the week before Christmas. Friends tend to scatter after the holidays so I found it easier to have it before. She had a Fancy Nancy party at Monkey Joe's. We had the party planned for our house, but the weather took a turn for freezing cold and rain so we decided to move it. Then came Christmas, and then finally her big day. You would think that all the pre-celebration she would not make a big deal our of her day. You don't know Kennedy if you think that. :) My precious child, enjoyed every minute of her day. The day started with chocolate chip pancakes. It is what we always do on their birthdays. They get sung to at breakfast. Whit wanted us to sing to him too. He had a hard time the entire day with letting her have a birthday. By the end of the day, he was telling everyone his birthday is in July. :)

It has kind of become a tradition for us to go to a movie on her birthday. She loves the movies. Last year, we saw The Chipmunk movie. I told her we could do whatever she wanted and the movies it was! We saw Yogi Bear, which I would totally not recommend to the adult viewers, but she and Whit loved it. Then we went to El Som, her favorite restaurant, and had dinner. She had such a good day. Her big gift was a big girl bike. She is getting pretty good at it. We had to ride around in the house because it was so cold outside!!

My favorite moment of the day......We are watching the movie, she leans in to me and says, "Mommy, tell me Happy Birthday again." I love the innocence. I love that their was nothing that would make her happier than to hear that again and again. It was truly HER day. So, December birthdays don't suck around here. In fact, they last longer than the normal birthday. :)

I adore you, my little girl. You have spunk, you are feisty, you love with your entire heart, you adore your family and friends, you laugh uncontrollably, you can pitch a serious fit and stick to you guns about how you feel, you are passionate about your opinions.....and you are only 4. FOUR. That would be 1,460 days of me being your mommy. I am loving every minute of it. Thank you little girl, for all that you do for me. You are truly a miracle and I am forever grateful you are here on this Earth. You make us so proud. We love you so much, Kennedy Susan!

Mommy

Dear Kennedy and Whit,

This is by far my favorite Christmas ever. I love the excitement in your eyes. You are both so excited about Santa coming to our house. Whit is dying for Robot Train Tracks. Santa is busy working on those since they don't exist in stores. Not to worry, my dear son, I am sure he can make them. :) And Kennedy, you are dying for the girly things in life, Barbie, Barbie car, and Polly Pockets! I wonder what tomorrow holds. :) Sheriff, our Elf, has been a fun part of the family this Christmas. Each morning, you guys barrel out of bed and go in search of his new hiding place. I hope Christmas is always this magical. I hope you spend your entire lives with the joy you have right now. I am forever thankful for you both. A "Whit" song will make my heart truly happy. A "Kennedy Hug" is one of my favorite things in the whole world. You are both growing and changing. I will forever say I can't believe how fast time flies. I am enjoying each new phase you take. I love you both so very much. I would love to make time stand still. Instead, we will spend each moment cherishing what we have together. I am so blessed to be your mommy. There is no greater gift in the world than the two of you. You make this mommy incredibly proud.

Love and Kisses,

Mommy

A MAGICAL MOMENT

You have those weeks when you think you might not make it you have so much to do! This week, I have taught wild and crazy sixth graders, prepped for a party, changed the party location after calling a million places, made 11 fancy bows, called a million parents to tell them the party was changed, hosted a birthday party, and threw in her first recital to end the weekend. I did not have time to be at work this week. I am exhausted. Actually, exhausted doesn't quite cut it. Then the recital prep began........and I got my second wind.


If you grew up with me, you know I danced. It was a huge part of my childhood. I think I started when I was 2 and went all the way into high school, where I decided cheerleading was much more important. It was just something I loved. I still adore the sound of pointe shoes on a stage. I always wanted a little girl. Then came Kennedy. She was girly from the start. I waited a year to start her in dance. She could have gone last year, but I thought it would be better to start at 3. I didn't want to rush her into something that I loved just because I loved it. She loved it from the moment she set foot in the dance studio this summer. I, of course, was overjoyed that my daughter loved it. Which leads me to today.......

We actually go her hair in a bun. I dolled her up in make-up. I have never put real make up on her. She looked beautiful. I kept saying, "She is beautiful!" I have never seen her look so grown up! I think it was the combo of her up-do and the make up. She's just beautiful....

Then the recital started. I starting thinking about all those times I sat behind a stage waiting on the curtain to go up. I loved it so much. Then my daughter, my precious 3 year old, walked proudly onto the stage. Her head was held high and she had a huge smile on her face. Then the music started. She danced her heart out. She did it like she had been on stage her whole life. She sang and danced. She smiled and blew kisses. I tried to soak in the moment. I guess it is what a dad feels like when their son makes the winning touchdown. This was my moment for her. It was her shining moment, but for me it was so much more. It was truly one of my dreams come true. So sappy, I know, but for me, to see my daughter shine, in front of so many people, doing something that I love so very much, made me so incredibly proud. And so, as she danced and sparkled, I wept. I wept like a baby while trying to take pictures. I wept like I would at her graduation. She doesn't get it. Greg doesn't get it. My mom does though. All those times she sat in the audience and let me have my moment, I know now how proud she was. That was me today. What a precious gift she is, my Kennedy. She sparkled and shined, just like I know the person that she is. I am proud and happy today. I am exhausted. I am happily exhausted. What a magical moment............

Almost DONE!

I love my brother. I love my brother for lots of reasons. One of my most favorite things about him is how much he loves his wife and family. He has always been like that. We are different is so many ways, (for example, I hike in flip flops and he thinks I am retarded) but when it comes to family we are the same. Tonya's radiation treatments are almost DONE! She just posted on fb that she has 3 more. Of course, that inspired a blog from me. :) 3 more....it has been a LONG year for them. They will tell you that they will take one really crappy year for many more years together. So, as they begin a new phase, I ask for your continued prayer. Pray that it stays away. Pray that God has truly healed her entire body and rid it of all of the cancer. Pray that these two get to spend a long, happy life together. It is my prayer everyday. I know He hears us and I know it is in His hands. Here's to being DONE Aunt Tonya! :) You truly are a survivor.

A Walk Down Memory Lane.....

4 short years ago I looked like this......

It is hard to believe it has beenf 4 years! Greg just found these pictures and of course I had to share. She's changed our lives forever. Here are some of our first moments together. My precious Kennedy, you are such a blessing. You've made my house a home. You've made it a very busy home, but a home none the less. We love you so very much!

My new life. :)

LOVE this one! I loved her all bundled up. :)

Learning how to be a daddy. He did such a good job. :)

I love this one because it is such a memory for me. From the moment they placed her in my arms, I instantly took the role of being her Mommy. I have always been independent and wanted to do things on my own. I was never scared or doubted myself in anything I did with her. It just came to me. I love that moment. It was what I waited for my entire life. A little girl of my own, all dressed and perfect. She truly is a dream come true.

Meeting Jen for the first time!

And one of her most important moments in life. The moment she first met Drew......1 day old! :)

Our new little family.

Going home!

And love at first sight....

We love you, Kennedy Susan Olliff. We love you very, very, much!! Happy almost birthday! :)

Fa La La La La!

I adore this time of year. I love the magic of Christmas. I have always loved it, but when you have a 2 and a 3 year old, you see it even more sweetly. It is almost better than being the child with the gleam in your eye. You get to know the world, and know how truly sweet it is to have that innocence. They love Santa. They love to hear about how he is going to fly and land his reindeer here. They love their elf, Sheriff. I caught Whit standing on a chair yesterday yelling to Sheriff, " I want some robot train tracks, Sheriff!" Kennedy loves to hear about baby Jesus. She also knows about grown up Jesus, but she said, "I really like baby Jesus better. Grown up Jesus helped those people and that was nice of him. " hahahaha! LOVE it! I hope, hope, hope, that as we walk through this Christmas that I forget about the drama, the worldly things and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. For me, that is the fact that God sent His son for us. And all that I have is owed to Him. My little miracle turns 4 this month. 4????? I can't imagine a day around here without here. As I always say, it is all about Kennedy and Jesus in December at the Olliffs! Here's to one of my most favorite months and making memories that this sappy mommy will hold with her forever!

SAY CHEESE! yeah right.....:)

I have never had a Christmas card with just one baby. Kennedy's first Christmas was the announcement of the future arrival of Whit! So, I don't know what it is like to take just a precious pic of your one baby. I get the bonus gift of trying for two smiles. It is more the stress of having them do this on a day that I have them dressed in the perfect outfits. I have learned that it takes a long time to capture that perfect moment. So, now, I just snap pics all the time and keep my fingers crossed. Stay in suspense for the one I chose. I won't share it until you get it in the mail. :) Here are a few of my "Christmas Card Gone Wrong" photos. The first one is the best one.

Tongue out, being bossy....yep that is Kennedy.

Then being sweet. Yep, still Kennedy. After this, Whit is screaming, "SHE KISSED ME!!!" while rubbing his face so hard I made him stop. Disgusted! ;)

Loud? That doesn't even describe her adequately.

I named this one victory and defeat. He totally shoved her off of him.

Merry Christmas! Christmas cards are printed, they just need to be addressed and mailed. I am working on birthday invitations and those are next! Lots to celebrate in the Olliff house this month!