a way with words

I love my kiddos. They are the most wonderful daughters in the world. I am so blessed to have two beautiful girls who are the best of friends. I know that Kennedy came to our family to be Reagan's biggest supporter. And likewise, Reagan is Kennedy's biggest encourager and friend. While I was thinking about the miracle that Reagan is, I re-read the poem my dear brother wrote for Reagan a couple days after she was born. It always makes me cry as the memories flood back in. For those of you who have never read it, here are his beautiful words:

shaping this, my life, in your sleep

for reagan mackenzie
from her uncle
september 15 2006

though we place the oil

it is you who anoints

the fingers of your father

tracing circles on your forehead

his fingers paddling toward the smile

already given

only for a daddy

.

three minutes

i wash my hands clean before you

then join your father and his father

- an uncle in tears

.

how do two days pass?

yet to hold you my first reach is this:

.

three awkward hands

stretching at you praying

if they could do more

could shape

the will of your Father

.

no

.

only the fingers know

solemnly as they pull back

that will intact

- unknown but to you

.

looking at your smallness we want to explain

everything will turn out fine

while you're the only one to believe it

the only one whose forehead is untouched by wrinkles

your eyes devoid of baggage

.

i whisper i love you and back away while you reply

a silent testimony

stronger than mine,

- shaping mine in your sleep

.

i step on each piece of sterile tile

away

but confident to know you

once for each

tomorrow

- a tomorrow

your life has already changed

for good

.

Thanks Nick. We will always cherish this beautiful poem that sits beside Reagan's bed.

playgroup fun

We love having playgroup every week, it really helps to break up the monotony of being at home every day. Plus it helps that we have some fun activities for the kids (and mommies). A couple weeks ago, we kicked off the Halloween season by decorating halloween cookies (and the mommies got to eat pumpkin cookies). The kids loved the decorating and definitely made a mess!

There was an abundance of icing and sprinkles on everyone's cookies.

And there was lots of licking of the knives, luckily they each had their own - no germ spreading :)

Last week we went to check out a new farm/cider and donut place. The kids thought they were in heaven jumping in the corn a hundred times.

And again...

Kennedy has the cheesiest little smile. I love this girl!

Making a corn angel?

They had some pretty sweet slides that the girls loved! The twisty one was Kennedy's favorite - she is her mommy's girl!

Pensive Reagan... She is always deep in thought. What I would give to be able to listen to the workings of her mind.

Dylan conducting the train. He is the most smiley baby ever!

Kennedy just being adorable.

And of course, my crazy little squirts. Gotta love 'em!

Oh, and they had some sheep/goats to feed. I apparently don't really know my animals. I think they are sheep...

How cute is this? A great little fieldtrip!

I love love love love love love love love love FALL!

my mother made me do it

So I had this ambition to make matching outfits (again) for the girls and I. I'm going to start blaming my mom, because if she hadn't taught me to sew or be frugal then this never would have happened. I have to admit though, I think these skirts are just adorable!


And this time, I wasn't gonna let Rick not match. So yes, I found a tie pattern and proceeded to spend 5 hours making his tie! Yep, I had no idea how much work a tie was... Next time I may buy one :)

Reagan the narrator

Reagan is the best at narrating life. Maybe it is because she frequently talks as if she is reading a book, using phrases I have never used in my life. For example, at her birthday party she opened a present and joyfully shouted, "It's what I wished for!" I then said, "Katie, did you hear her?" because the present was from the Rolls. Reagan turned to Katie and said, "I exclaimed when I opened it!" She says things like this all the time, I laugh, and then I can't remember it later to tell Rick. So I am going to try to write them down from now on.

Yesterday when we came home from the library with a new fairy book, she was super excited to let her new fairy friend meet the ones waiting at home. She stood by the garage door before opening it and said, "Ruby gasped when she thought Sky might be here!" Do you say 'gasped' in normal conversations? I sure don't...

redecorating again...

So we would like to possibly move out of our house in the next year. The chances we could sell are slim, but we are trying to make improvements throughout the house to increase our chances. So here is a look at the transition of our living room over the past 3 years.

Here we are a few weeks after moving into the house. I was pregnant and apparently horrible at decorating...

A few months later I decided we needed to brighten up the room, since it was winter and I don't leave the house in winter. :( So we painted the walls and bought some hideous curtains. Luckily I replaced those after about 6 months.

A couple months ago, I brought up the idea of re-painting the living room and possibly putting in new floors. Rick thought that was a great idea, so we went to work. We immediately bought paint and painted the living room and hallway over the next day and a half. (When we set our minds to something, we don't dawdle...) Then we looked for cheap flooring for about a week, found some and put it in the living room and hallway just before we left for Boston. When the girls and I returned, I finished putting the floor in the kitchen to surprise Rick when he came home a week later. Oh, and we finally upgraded our TV on a sweet black friday deal!

I have always hated eating in our kitchen, because there isn't enough room. However, with carpeted floors and toddlers, I didn't dare move our table into the living area. Here is the other half of the living room when we moved in.

Here it is again after the first redecorating job. (See the table in the kitchen)

Once we put in the new floors, it made it possible to move the table and chairs out of the kitchen! Hooray! And once we finish the basement (which we start on tomorrow) we will move all of the shelves down there to free up space. Then when we win the lotto (that we don't buy tickets for) we will buy a new dining table that will seat more than 6 when opened up. Whew. Now to just get myself pumped for starting the basement project...