Dear Lex,

Once in a while we are treated to a real friend.  I have been incredibly fortunate to have some simply fabulous friends in my life.  Alexa, you are amazing and aside from being intelligent, and fun, you have been my dearest friend for more than 15 years.  You stood up for me at my wedding and have supported me and my family through ups and downs with the support I can only hope my kids will give each other as they become adults.

**There should totally be pictures in here with you and T or of all three of us.  I have a couple in mind that I cannot locate- like of you two working on a puzzle at Kezar or in Austin.  It seems though that mostly he is the picture taker when we are together**

You have helped me with big decisions and listened with an open and non-judgemental ear.  You have climbed mountains with me (in fact you took me on my first backpacking trip in NC).  Here was that trip to Crested Butte where we learned we could have moments when we didn't necessarily "like"each other but can still love one another and work it through.  You have taught me so much.

The Diamond!!!!!!!

I have had the good fortune to hear your beautiful voice sing through the years, starting with Suzanne Vega on the roof in high school, to the pubs of Ireland on a trip during college, and in recent years of Sacred Harp.  A few of the awesome memories I have from that trip.  We had so much fun!!

I thought this one was especially fitting given the most recent move!

You are so brave and inspirational.  I love that you are unafraid to follow the path that you lay and the world is truly a better place to have people like you who have true passion and live that passion each and every day.  I am just so proud of you.

Since having kids you have helped fold unending piles of baby clothes, and this fall while visiting to meet William, helped winterize the chicken coop.  That I say is the sign of a true friend.  My kids adore you and feel how much you love them.  You are never afraid to get down on the floor and just play with them and they just love their Aunt Ayexa!  I know, Ada doesn't say it anymore but we have a few more years of hearing it with the younger ones at least ;)

Best New Year's ever.

Are you kidding me with the cuteness of this shirt...that you made!  So talented. 

One of my favorite pictures ever!! 

I love you my dear dear Lex forever and ever and could not be more grateful for your friendship through the years.   Here's to many more!

With love,

Leigh

Poof, you're 5

How can it be that yesterday Ada was born and today she is 5?  FIVE!!!!!

It's been an awesome adventure Ada, my love and I love you more everyday.  You are truly a kind spirit who is generous and and thoughtful and smart and one of my favorite people ever.  Thanks for making me your mom.

I love you!

XOXO

Happy Thanksgiving

This came home with Emma this week from school and I think it's perfect.  I am of course tremendously thankful today as I think about my family and friends.  A little too emotional to write a sappy post about how I really feel, so I'll relay a conversation I just had with Emma.

Emma: Did you grow William?

Me: Yes.

Emma: Then why did you go to the doctor?

Me: Because I needed the doctor's help to get him out of my body.

Emma: Oh.  So me and Ada could have him?

Me: Yes Emma :)

Then she continued on with her adorable sounds and tickling that had William roaring with laughter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Three times around the sun

Our sweet, strong-willed, smart, funny Emma has turned 3.  It all at once feels like she was just born and has been here all along.  She is a wonderful sister and friend and while her strong opinions and determination does not always make my life easier as her mother, it will serve her well in life I think.

She loves to sing songs, some known to all, some known only to her;) She is flourishing in school and enjoys hanging with the bigger kids (she is in a mixed room with 3-6 year olds).  Emma is strong and runs everywhere she goes, seriously everywhere.  Swimming is her current outside of school activity and she is rocking at it.  And Happy bear still remains an ultimate favorite- although he has needed a few more repairs.

I love my Emma Roo so much it is impossible to put into words.  Thanks for making me laugh and being one of the best daughters a mama could ask for.

At school she did her Montessori sun celebration and Ada and I were both able to go.  It was very sweet.  They hold a globe and walk around a little sun and stop each year to reflect on what they were doing at birth, one year, two years, three years and all the kids sing a little song as the child walks around.  Clearly, she loved it!

For her birthday this year she declared she wanted to "go to the zoo with her whole famiyee."  So, we took the girls out of school for the day and headed to the Minnesota Zoo.  It was awesome!

All told an awesome family day!  Happy Birthday Emma!  We love you!

Halloween

This year has been rushing right along since school started and I'm mostly trying to keep my head above water between the kids and my own school work as a part-time grad student.  Last weekend my mom and Tony's mom came out to visit and stayed with the kids while Tony and I got away and celebrated the wedding of a truly lovely couple.  We are settling back home again and my mom has been able to stay for a bit longer so we go to celebrate Halloween together.

Last night we carved a few pumpkins together.  The girls each drew a design on the pumpkin they picked out.

Then we scooped out the insides and Nana and I carved where they drew.  Ada collected a few seeds that she decided she wanted to grow into new pumpkin plants and we gave the rest to the chickens.

As it turns out, nursing while one-handed pumpkin carving is now one of my talents ;)

William was mostly just hanging out in the K'Tan.

Tonight after swimming lessons, we all got dressed up and headed out to trick-or-treat.  William was pooped so after we got a quick photo he went into the stroller and fell asleep.  The girls got tons of candy and we all had fun.  So glad Nana was here!