Dex and Anna on the Slip N' Slide...Not so safe?

THE VIDEO...

Good Bye to Great Grandma Dorn

Just two weeks before our entire family were set to hop on a plane to Houston, Great Grandma Dorn passed away at age 98.  What a full and long life she lived.  It's easy to say that to make yourself feel better, but in all honesty, her passing affected me more than I ever thought it would...I was sad, real sad.  

This post is dedicated to her.  She never met Declan, but Anna was lucky enough to see her twice.  Adell always remembered them, loved to hear stories about them and even managed to predict the gender of each child correctly, way before anyone else.  

I loved her stories about life on the farm, I loved her old-school cooking (pot roast, ginger snap cookies) and most of all, I loved visiting her up at Lake Wisconsin, sitting on the swing, staring out onto the lake eating cheese balls and drinking lemonade.  

Those are my best and most favorite memories of my Grandma.  She may have been more or less than that, but my brain doesn't seem to let me remember beyond being eight.  And that's okay with me because the make me smile even at 32.  

That's the point, isn't it?  That we live our life a certain way as a mother...we love and nurture the best we can.  We will certainly fail and we'll have a few triumphs, but in the end (for me), all I want is for my kids and grand kids to remember me for simple pleasures - things that made them happy in a moment that will hopefully be locked in time forever.  

We love you Great Grandma Dorn.  You were a wonderful wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, grandma and great grandma all wrapped up into one person...what an accomplished life.

Did I Mention Dex is Walking?

Yeah - our lives just got a tad more difficult and fun and chaotic all at the same time.  Our little bruiser just got up one day (June 10 to be exact) and starting walking.  He was ready...you could just tell that that little brain connected with that little (well, not so little) body and together, the decided it was time.  One step turned into two, three, four and so on.  In just one week, Dex managed to perfect the art of "the walk" and was back and forth the entire length of our house with unstable and wobbly perfection.

Another milestone, another round of applause, laughs and screams for my babies.  I'm so proud of my little guy to take a giant step in a somewhat scary world (for a one-year-old).  However, he hasn't looked back.  Why would he?  He's now got access to so much more!  Shelves, tables, cabinets and more...so much new stuff to discover and so little time.  

Yay for our Declan...we love you and we love watching those two little feet do their thing!

Dex's "Walking" Video...

Anna's Last Day of Preschool and Dance Recital

Anna's second year of preschool came to an end the first week in June, 2013.  It began in August at Cardinal Bernardine Early Childhood Center in Chicago and ended at St. Michael's (and Toddler's Campus) in Wheaton.

My little girl managed to hold it all together, remain happy and excel through quite a lot of change in her life.  A move, and new house, a new city and a new brother - nothing phased this amazing four-year-old.  I'm relieved but not surprised in the least.  Anna is a strong, level-headed, mature little girl.  Sure, she has her moments, but she never ceases to amaze me with her grace.  

Beyond the changes in her life, Anna had a wonderful year!  She made great new friends like Taryn Foley and Evan Trantkowski.  She learned sight words, Spanish (from Ms. Diana, our nanny) and how to count (and write) to 100!!!  She also learned how to share the dress-up clothes at school (the Belle dress was a hot commodity) and discovered a growing love for history - specifically the presidents - and geography.  

It's amazing how she's grown in just one year.  I can see it in her eyes and the simple questions she asks each day...it's a greater understanding of the world around her.  You know she's thinking or "absorbing" some bit of information when you're speaking to her and telling her a story and her eyes wonder to the side and up.  It's that sponge inside her head taking it all in - creating a new connection, memory, piece of knowledge.  It's another special moment for a parent to experience your child discovering her own unique strengths and interests and growing into the person they'll be for the rest of her life.  

Thank you to Mrs. Carl, Mrs. Liss, Mrs. R and all of our new Wheaton community for welcoming Anna with open arms, exposing her to new friends and experiences and making this transition year nothing by truly successful!

In addition to school, Anna continued with her love of all things DANCE and BALLET!  Yup...she caught the dance bug (it seems to be in our family) and I love it.  I'm that Mom.  Not so much a stage Mom, but I'm the Mom that puts a little make-up on her, does her buns just right, and screams like hell after a performance.  I want Anna to hear me through the crowd of people so she knows that we're her biggest fans and we'll ALWAYS be in the audience for her.  

Congratulations, Anna Sophia, for the beautiful, smart and talented little girl that you are.  We love you desperately.

Dex's First Birthday Bash!

My Baby Boy turned one. 

I haven't quite come to grips with the reality even since my last post.  But, life happens and babies grow and boy o boy, did we throw him one fabulous birthday party.  All of our family, friends from all over and even our new Wheaton neighbors joined us for the celebration.  He loved every minute of it (especially eating his own giant cake) and Anna loved getting presents even though it certainly was not her day. 

I've included some pictures and videos of Dex's big day (Saturday, April 27)!!