Happy 5th Birthday Alli Girl

I cannot believe that five years ago I was giving birth. I look back at how much we've grown as a family and how special Allison is to us and I'm amazed. It still feels like yesterday that I was walking down the halls to visit her in the NICU and I still remember how completely empty I felt leaving the hospital without her. It was only 4 days that she spent in the hospital but it was the hardest thing I have ever been through.

On this day I say to you: I am so thankful that you are strong, and healthy, and so happy. You are intelligent, thoughtful, funny, daring, focused, and independent. You love to read and draw. You are always creating new projects and although I don't appreciate the mess, I do appreciate how dedicated you are to learning new things. You have embarked on the new journey entitled kindergarten and you love it and I love that you love it. Every night when we do "high low" your high is always something related to school. You are the greatest gift that I have ever been given and I love you so much!
Cupcake time!

Thanks to Carisse Platt for the awesome decorations


With Mrs. Passmore

Lunch with her friends


Once again I hope you never forget how much your mommy loves you and wishes for all your dreams to come true.
Better said by Rascal Flatts
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you

And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' ?til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish

I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get

Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah

My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold

And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
(My wish for you)

This is my wish
(My wish for you)
I hope you know somebody loves you
(My wish for you)
May all your dreams stay big
(My wish for you)

Summerfest

One of the many family events in Rancho Murieta is Summerfest. It's like the State Fair Midway but just up the street. Allison looks forward to it every year and the greatest part is that it is always right around her birthday. This year Kate was able to enjoy in the fun and had such a good time she refused to leave on Friday night. She was exhausted and had to pee, but like her mom refuses to go in "yucky bathrooms" but she did not want to go home. We found out the hard way that ten o'clock was too late for KG even with a nap. Thanks to Patty and Tom for coming up and attending with us. Good times were had by all.
Alli and Grace on the roller coaster

Alli and Ryan on the bumper cars

Fun on a slide. Notice the side rails...I will always associate this ride with my brother falling off and breaking his arm


Day 2
Alli and Tom...all smiles

There are only three people in this world I would get on a ferris wheel for...here's one of them

Alli's first run

Allison loves to run and since her daddy is a cross country coach they make a pretty good pair. We have started looking into kids fun run since not only does she love to run, but she runs far, and she runs fast. We came upon the Sacramento Sherrif's Department k9 run and thought it would be a great opportunity for Allison to give running a try while still doing something good for someone else. The run was created to benefit the retired police dogs and the proceeds go to their continued medical care after they are retired.

Allison took a fall during warm up and was a little hesitant all throughout the race, but she hung in there and finished 3rd overall and we are so proud of her. I see lots of these in our future.
Getting fixed up by the paramedics

Warming up...again

The starting line

Here she comes

Alli and Grace after the race

Happy Birthday Ryan

Ryan turned the big 3-6 this year. For most of his life, his birthday fell during summer vacation, but recently Elk Grove has rearranged their calendar to start earlier in the year so he now has to work on his birthday. This year, Allison's Back to School Night was also on his birthday so there wasn't much about him this year but we tried. We dropped Allison off at school and then Kate, Sarah, and I brought him lunch at school. Kate brought a balloon for him and then after Back To School Night he got a special dinner from Stonehouse Bistro...and cupcakes. Happy Birthday!
Ryan's cupcake face

Alli's cupcake face

Kate's cupcake face

1st day of Kindergarten

This was a big day for Allison. We had gone back to school shopping and she had all of her supplies including some special new clothes. She has been waiting all summer to return to school and she is so ready. All was going well, including me holding it together, until she got into her classroom and had to find her own nametag. Finding things is not a strong suit for Alli girl, so she walked past her nametag the first time. I bit my tongue and vowed to let her find it but when she got to the otherside of the room and didn't find it and started to get a little teary eyed, I jumped in and pointed her too it. She was completely fine after that but I was not. I could completely understand those anxious feelings and what mom wants to see their child go through that? She had a great day and loves kindergarten but I will never forget the way I felt that day. My little girl is growing up and for all that I do I cannot protect her from everything. I can only sit back and watch as she embarks on the first of many journeys. I know she is ready and I know she has the tools to succeed and I'll be there each step of the way for those forward steps and those that take her back a few steps too. I'm so proud of you Allison and Mommy loves you more than you'll ever know.

Sarah at 4 month

It seems like only days between these posts but here we are a month later. Sarah is sleeping well in her crib during the day and in bed with us at night. She's sitting up with help and loves the new position. She wakes up with a smile and is a happy baby throughout most of the day. Our schedule is hectic with running back and forth to school but she adapts pretty well. We love you Sarah!