Sporty girls!

It really is fun watching the girls grow up.  It's happening WAY too fast but every stage is so fun!  We have now entered the sporty stage!  And Ry and I love it! :) Brings back so many memories and it's just so fun seeing them love it!  They just started soccer with their good friend Isabelle.  And I think it was the highlight of our week watching them play.  They surprised us with how competitve they were and how INTO scoring they were!  Hands in the air, screaming 'yay' at the top of their lungs for a goal that they didn't even really help get in!  So adorable.  They all LOVE soccer!  

 Emily and Hailey are in the blue shirts..and Addy is to the right of Emily with the green jersey on.. :)

 These pics were on my phone ... :)  Addy and Emily going after the ball.  Gotta love that sister sister competition. :)

 Then they just finished playing basketball at the Y!  They had a great time with that too!  It's neat to see how already they have their own little skills which is perfect for a team! :)  Hailey has figured out dribbling...Addy has the height advantage and can shoot and is one of those defenders that will drive you CRAZY because she won't even let you breathe she's in your face all the time! :)  And Emily is good at passing to others and shooting!  So fun!

 See how Addy was all over Emily ...ALL the time...

Hailey working on her defensive slides. :) 

 SO FUN TO WATCH!  (Hailey in pink - Em in blue - Addy in purple)

Then here they are at school the day after their birthday working on a project.  The girls go to school 3 mornings a week but could really go every day all day they love it so much. :)  

 Then last weekend we decided to head up to the lake for a short visit since the girls didn't have school on Thursday/Friday.  The weather was rainy ...but we went hiking anyway.  We stopped by the place where I go with the high school kids every year for Fall Retreat.  (Which by the way, has been keeping me VERY busy lately.  It is crazy how much planning goes into it and how much time it all takes.  I love planning it....but I do feel like any spare second I have, I am thinking about or planning retreat!  So today I took a break...and decided to update the blog instead.) :) Anyway,  there is a frisbee golf course there which the girls LOVED.  We didn't even play frisbee...but it made for a super fun hike trying to find the next tee through the trees and following the maps.  I felt like a kid again too from all the excitement!  :) Here's Ry and Em..

 Addy, Hailey, Emily

And here's the lake view in the Fall! Since I'm originally from Colorado, I often tell Ryan what the weather is like in Colorado because 90% of the time, it's better than Wisconsin! :)  Colorado wins for amazing weather (no mosquitos, no humidity, sunshine 350 days out of the year...haha) ....but Wisconsin wins for having the prettiest Fall season!  

More birthday!

 Here's a pic of the girls playing "bride."  Hailey as groom, Em as bride, and Addy was the dog in this particular shot. :)

Then last week, our sweet niece Erin had her FIRST birthday!  She is ONE already!!!  She has really changed the last couple of months and really seems so much bigger now!

 Diggin' in to her cake!  She did great!!

 Then here are some pics of the girls on their birthday.  The blue bunnies are from school  In Pre-K, when it's your birthday, you get to take "Blueberry Bunny" home with you for the day to take around with you and to play with.  Well their teacher had to scrounge up a few more bunnies for us!  So the girls took Blueberry Bunny home, Brother Bunny, and Baby Bunny! :)

 We had such a fun morning.  We blew up a ton of balloons the night before and filled their floor so when they woke up, balloons were everywhere!  Then Ryan took the day off of work since the girls didn't have school today and we had breakfast together and then watched home videos of the girls when they were only 3 pounds. ...Then we went to the mall because the girls wanted their EARS PIERCED!!  Here's Em before hand...

 Hailey..

 Addy

 My 5 year olds!! (HAE)

 So Em wanted to go first to get her ears pierced.  So Ryan took Hailey and Addison around the mall because we figured one at a time was much better. :)  So Em went first and unfortunately only one worker was working...so she did one of Em's ears...and then she BAWLED and screamed and cried and was SCARED to get the next one done.  Total refusal.  I did NOT expect this and did not know what to do!  We were bribing everything.  The worker was even promising Emily that I'd buy her tons of new toys!  (What?!?) But nothing was working.  The worker said we'd have to pay all over again if Emily didn't finish her other ear.  Ahh!  So now I REALLY wanted her to finish!  OH boy.  Turns out she wouldn't do it until her sisters went.  So we tried Addison instead.  Addy got right up there and did one ear...she got a little teary but gave me a smile like this....  like she was so proud of herself and I was too.  :)  Then she just turned and she did the other one.  No prob.  PHEW!

 Then Hailey didn't even shed a tear!  She turned her head.  Pierced.  Turned her head.  Pierced again.  Not a flinch!  I couldn't believe it!  She was pumped!

 So then it was Em's turn to finish up.  Maybe she figured if her sister's could do it, she could too.  So for her second ear, she didn't even tear up!  I don't get it!  But it all took over an hour to do!  They look SO big and love their little piercings now.  :)

 Then we took them to Red Robin for lunch...(EAH)

 and then we had a little family birthday party over here with Grandpa and Grandma, Shane & Jody & Erin, and Papa Hank and Pauline!  Addison wanted pizza for dinner.  Hailey requested cantaloupe.  And Emily wanted an Angel Food Cake with raspberries.  Nice! :)

 Emily

 Hailey

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY HAILEY, ADDISON, AND EMILY!!

5 years ago today, I got to meet our three miracle babies.  I cannot believe they are FIVE years old today.  Every year I say that I can't believe it but five is REALLY big!!!  We watched their NICU video this morning with the girls and it is so crazy to look at how big and beautiful they are now and then see their entire head cradled in the PALM of my hand.  Being a parent is seriously one of the biggest blessings possible and I really do feel honored and blessed to be able to get to raise these three girls.  They are my joy!  And I praise God for them every single day.  

My Addy girl -

Addy has grown so much this year.  In inches and in WHO she is!  She is currently almost 4 inches taller than her sisters and is the tallest in her whole class!  Poor girl has growing pains all the time!  She used to be very shy...and can still be reserved at times.  But now she is the first to say hi to people or answer questions or whatever! She LOVES learning...LOVES school..loves rules :) and knowing and doing what's right.  She's my black and white girl.  :)  And tries hard at everything she does and strives for perfection.  She gets frustrated easily if she can't be the best or can't do something right away.  Addy is an observer...and then figures it out...and then succeeds with flying colors.  I am in awe at her love for books and watching her figure out how to read.  It is such a cool thing to see.  Addy loves reading, loves helping me around the house.  She loves pretty much all food and truly cares for her sisters.  She cherishes one on one time...and any sport.  She has quite the imagination when it comes to playing with her barbies or with her sisters.  They play "theatre" a lot....and "bride."  Addy - I love you SO SO SO much.  Never forget that!  

Em - I can't believe I have ANOTHER girl I love so so much too!!!  Emily YOU are so special to me to in your own little way!  I LOVE YOU honey!  Em is such a sweetheart.  Just today she was so polite with trying to share her new presents with her sisters.  She would ask to borrow the doll's hair dryer while saying please and waiting patiently.  She doesn't like to stir up trouble (most of the time) :)  and is just a genuine sweetie.  I am so thankful for her encouragement and her smiles.  She will often randomly tell me I'm the best mom ever or run by and give me a quick kiss.  Em loves to color and lately loves to play with boys at school (oh boy!) She is very into dresses right now and picking out her clothes.  She loves just being silly and goofy.  I love how that can get her giggling like crazy.  Em loves to play "bride" with her sisters too and is usually the one who gets to be the bride.  :)  Em also loves school ...I am so proud of her and so thankful she is my baby girl.  She is such an encouragement and such a blessing.  I love you forever Emily Ann!!

And my sweet Hailey Grace - Happy birthday honey!!  You are FIVE!  Five is SO big!  When I see you I still see my tiny little baby girl....but when I think of age 5, that's like a big KID!  Can't believe it! Hailey is so fun.  She has quite the little personality.  She has figured out how to raise and lower her eyebrows with expression and can be so dramatic, especially when she adds her hand movements.  So funny. :)  She still loves to tease people and make people laugh or make people chase and tickle her.  She is quite the little communicator too.  Every night, when we put the girls to bed, we always crawl into bed with each of them individually to pray and have some individual chat time.  Hailey could talk ALL night long when we do this.  I love that about her.  Hailey is also very into coloring and into playing "bride."  She is usually the groom!  Hailey is my snuggler in the morning.  She is also my particular organizer girl. :)  She loves organizing her desk and "organizing her bed."  She likes her things 'just so.' Hailey is becoming very independent too.  She loves getting dressed by herself, is trying to tie her shoes by herself, etc. etc.  She is a joy to know and love.  

We are so so blessed...happy birthday girlies.  You are loved!