Family photos

My beautiful friend Bethany, after learning of my cancer diagnosis, offered to take pictures of our family. She is an amazing photographer and I'm so grateful for these images.  To document this time in our lives.  It's difficult and painful, but at the same time, I want to remember it.  I'm so thankful for my little family.  These beautiful girls.  The man of my dreams.  I'm so blessed.  I will let the pictures speak for themselves because they are just gorgeous!  

Thank you Bethany.  I will be forever grateful to you for these photos.

The independent side of my five year old...

The first week of school, Julianne wanted nothing to do with the car line drop off.  A week in, she now wants to be dropped off and walk in by herself because "she is a big girl".  How did my baby get so big?  Walking into that big school all by herself and finding her classroom on her own.  I seriously want to cry every day when I drop her off and see this:

She looks so tiny walking into that big building.  She is learning so much and just loves school.  For that, I am thankful.  This whole letting your kids go thing is difficult.  Five years ago I had a little baby in my arms.  Now, I have a little girl who wants to walk into school by herself.  I feel like I'm going to blink and I'll be watching her drive away to go to college.  I'm determined to enjoy every moment in between now and then.

The day she has waited for...

This girl has been waiting to take dance class since she first started watching sissy dance two years ago. Last year was especially hard.  She would go to Julianne's dance class and just want to join in.  She would sit there each week and watch through the class saying "when is it my turn mommy?"  Well, her turn is now. She is finally old enough to take a dance class.  She had her first class today and she was so excited!  Like, super excited!  

This little girl is so full of personality.  I can't wait to watch her dance each week, learn new things, and shake her tail feather!  Go Claire!

Favorite part of the day

Claire loves to pick sissy up from school.  It's her favorite part of the day.  I'm not sure if it is because I let her sit in the front seat while we wait or if it's just because she can't wait to see her sissy.

 It's one of my favorite times of the day too.  One on one time with my Claire bear.  Love this girl!

I knew You Were Trouble

This kid kills me.  She is so shy.  Until you turn music on....and point a camera at her.  I especially love the hair flip and the closing of the eyes.

First day of school 2013

So, this happened today:

And this:

How did this happen?  My babies are no longer babies.  Julianne started Kindergarten.  Kindergarten!  I want to cry (ok, maybe I did a little).  

Daddy helped get the girls dressed.  Can I just say how much easier it is to have a second person to help get the girls ready for school?  I'm not used to it because Shaun is always at work early but man, I could use an assistant! 

 Daddy kisses!

 Pancakes for breakfast!

 Pictures, pictures and more pictures.  

 When did miss pre-k 3 get so big.  I swear she turned into a little girl overnight.

 Always posing!

Outside of the school.

 Mimi and papa met us there so they could wish the girls a great first day!

 This picture cracks me up.  Julianne was getting ready to cry.  And Shaun knew it.  This is his "Oh no, she is going to start crying look!"  She did.  But only for about 30 seconds.  We looked in the little window to her classroom after we left and she was fine.

Claire cried too, which is why I don't have a picture of her in her classroom.  I bolted out of there because it's just better if I go.  Her teacher said she cried for about a minute and then had a great day!

My babies are growing up way too fast!  Make it stop!