Nutcracker girls night

This November while sitting in the doctor's office waiting room Addie saw a poster advertising a local performance of The Nutcracker Ballet. We decided to make a girls night of it! Addie has read the story of the Nutcracker and has seen a movie about it, but this was her first time to see a live performance. We both enjoyed it so much! We're hoping to make it a new tradition.

what really matters

Sometimes you have to set aside your to do list and remember what {who} really matters.





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Girls Night Out

Saturday night Addie and I had a Girls Night Out. Sometimes I feel like I don't get to see my sweet girl very often, and one on one time is hard to come by these days. So we took a few hours to get dressed up and go out just the two of us.



Keri and I try to have one on one dates with all the kids and love this tradition that we have started.



I have been craving La Madeleine and I knew Addie would love going to a French restaurant. She loves all things French thanks to Fancy Nancy. I got my tomato basil soup fix, while Addie picked mac & cheese. Addie chose the table next to the fireplace and in the middle of dinner she said, "Mom, how about every time we eat here we sit at this table?" Sounds like a great idea to me sweet girl! I hope to have many more meals at this table with Addie.



I can't get over how grown up and how beautiful Addie has become. I treasure every day with her and loved every moment of our evening together.


On the ride to "town" we heard a few songs that stuck out to me that I want to remember. The song on the radio when I turned the car on was Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman. This song reminded me how quickly Addie is growing and how I need to cherish every day of her young years. The next song that came on the radio was Beautiful by Johnny Diaz. The words to this song reinforce what I already knew to be true. I need to purpose every day to parent Addie while keeping the future in mind. I want to daily tell her that she is beautiful on the inside and out. I want to keep the worldly influences out of her life for as long as I can and fill her up with truth now before she is bombarded by lies during her difficult teenage years. On the drive home Addie requested one of my favorite songs, The Best Day by Taylor Swift. I have so many wonderful memories of special times with both of my parents and I pray the same will be true for Addie (and the boys) someday. What a blessing it is to be a parent.

“The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.”
- O. A. Battista

a little girl time

Last Friday, Keri came home early, around 2 p.m. I had just nursed Brock and Doak was happy to stay with Daddy so I took off to get Addie by myself. I don't get much time alone with my sweet girl these days so I took the opportunity to have a short Mommy and Addie date. We drove "to town" and got some delicious frozen custard. I loved having some one on one time with my girl and I think she enjoyed it too.

embrace the camera

My sweet friend, Kristin, recently started posting a picture of her and her little girl each Thursday as a part of Embrace the Camera. The idea behind Embrace the Camera is that moms are usually behind the camera and rarely get into photos with their kids. But our kiddos will want to see pictures of themselves with Mommy when they are older, even if Mommy has no makeup on and a ponytail! They love us no matter what right? So I'm going to try to join in the fun. My first picture is of me and my big girl Addie on her fifth birthday.