Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! Yesterday you would have been 58!  Old Man!! :-)  I often wonder what you would look like now. . . I wonder what we would talk about. . . I wonder what you would have to say about certain things. . .

I've said so many times before that we miss you for different reasons with each passing day.  So, as yesterday kicked off around here, I thought of you.  I remembered yet again how I miss you in the little things.

Molly woke up and immediately needed her tutus.  "Two of them". . .  So, we put on her tutus, and as she peered out the window looking for "duck ducks", I wondered what you'd think about our precious little girl.  Man alive do I wish you could see her, hear her sweet voice, get one of her sweet hugs for yourself.

After breakfast, we got ready for MMO.  Ellie spent the night with Momma the night before because Jenn had to work early, so I had both girls to get ready! Watching these two girls play together never gets old.  My heart overflows every single time!  Whether it's their squeals and giggles filling our home, their little conversations about doing "gyn atics" or tending to their babies, it's so much fun!  And I wonder what you'd have to say about them, how you'd love to watch them play together.

While the girls were at MMO, I took care of a few things around the house and got a quick run in.  While running, I passed by the house Mom, Jenn and I moved into after you died.  Running around there is always good for me.  It reminds me of how far God's brought us.  I ran by 108 Senora Place and remembered the tears we shed on that back deck as a family of three, the times each of us got angry at you for leaving (likely on trash night!), the way God provided for us time and time and time again after you died.  I always wonder if we'd ever run together if you were still with us. Would you be proud of me for getting out there and pounding the pavement?

I picked the girls up and we had lunch, then we headed out for a wagon ride.  Ellie Grace loves a wagon ride more than any child I have ever known.  Molly?  Not so much. . .  She's pretty much on the fence about those wagon rides.  So, I typically end up holding her while pulling Ellie in the wagon!?!?  We headed down to the lake and the girls watched Belle wade into the water.  I watched them and wondered what you would have to say or what shenanigans you'd pull if you were with us on our wagon ride.

And that was before nap time!  See what fun you're missing, Daddy?  While the girls napped, I worked on painting our bathroom.  Again, when I do things like that, I wonder if you'd be proud of me. 

Once the girls woke from naps, we went outside to play.  Both Molly and Ellie love being outside, so we spend a lot of our time outdoors these days.  While watering our new dogwood tree Ellie and I planted a few weeks ago, we came up on this snake!?!?!  EEK!  Again, I wondered if you'd be racing us inside out of fear or if you'd be poking and prodding that snake trying to figure out what he was.  Would you egg on our fear by teasing us girls?

Lovie came home while we were outside watching Brian - ahem - get rid of Mr. Snake, so we all went downstairs for fun at Lovie's.  Ellie really likes playing Candyland these days (as long as you play by her rules!?!?!), so a game was shortly underway.  And as I watched Brian tease Ellie, I wondered if you'd be teasing her the same way, because I know you'd be right in the middle of that good fun!

Shortly after Ellie "won", the girls were entertained with "tic toc" by Brian.  Molly loves her Uncle Brian and Ellie is a Daddy's girl in her own sweet way, too.  Brian is always full of fun for the girls!  He's a lot like you.  We all laugh about that sometimes! 

And then, Lovie gave he girls snacks, and they soon had chocolate all over their faces and hands.  As I snapped this picture, I wondered how much joy they would be bringing to you if you were around, too.

So, while yesterday was a normal day for us, it was also your birthday.  We all thought of you so often as we always do.  And we missed you as much as we ever have.  Each time I wondered what it would be like for you to still be here, for you to enjoy these girls, I realized you are here with us in your own way.  We feel your spirit all the time, and for that I'm forever grateful.

So Happy Birthday, Daddy!  We love you and miss you dearly!



Molly Miller ~ 23 Months Old

Goodness gracious. . .  We are one month away from Molly being two years old.  I just about cannot stand it.  I look at her 23 month picture above and smile and tear up all at the same time.  She's getting so very big.  The way she's sitting up like a little girl in this chair. . .  the way she is grinning so big. . .  knowing she was singing her little heart out before I snapped this picture.  It all just makes my heart overflow!

This has been a busy month for Molly!  Her vocabulary continues to blow our minds.  Multiple times just this weekend, Tim or I would say, "did she just say that?"  Or "did you hear her?"  I know she's our child, and we are very biased, but she blows our minds all the time.

Last Thursday, for example. . .  I was driving down the road with Molly and Ellie.  We were in Tim's parent's Yukon, so I don't have any of Ellie's CDs in there.  Ellie had asked for her music, and when I told her we didn't have them, she said, "yet's sing, Aunt B!"  So, we started singing, and half way through our rendition of "Jesus Loves Me", Molly Miller chimes in and sings her little heart out!  I almost drove off the road out of excitement!  Then, this weekend, while we were playing in her playroom, she started singing, "hap pee bud day to youuuuuu hap pee bud day to youuuuu".  Then yesterday she started singing her ABCs along with her singing Duck!  Just precious!

Molly loves to be outside, and we blow bubbles, run up and down the drive, and jump off the curb over and over and over again.  Belle is one of Molly's favorite things, and they play beautifully together.  It helps that Molly's always wanting to give Belle "teats"!

She counts (once as high as 14, although she usually counts "one two free eight nine ten eleben telve") and often times when she's counting, she says, "eight nine ten heah I coooome!!!"  Yep, we play lots of hide and seek around here, too.

I say it all the time, and I'll say it again.  The days keep getting better and better.  Each day continues to be better than the day before, and this age is absolutely so much fun!  I cherish the moments, the many precious moments we have!

Now, the countdown is on to TWO!!!

So Berry Fun

Jenn and I took Molly and Ellie to a local strawberry patch last week.  The strawberries were so super yummy!  Omigoodness!  It was a first for all four of us, and Jenn and I were amazed at how good the berries tasted! 

Molly was quite serious about her picking. 

She was a bit amazed at the rows and rows of strawberries and at how heavy her bucket of berries got!

Ellie loved every second of being there, too. She was also very proud of her strawberries!

Elliott Farms also has animals.  The girls loved the chickens, horses, peacocks and bunnies.  If you know me, you know I cannot stand birds.  At. All.  Of any kind.  So, it made me cringe when Molly took to the chickens. 

Both girls loved this big ole rabbit.  Molly kept saying, "ribbit" to the rabbit.  I think we may be a little confused!?!!?

This may be one of my favorites from the day. . .  Have I mentioned how thankful I am that these two get to grow up together?  They are more like sisters, and it fills my heart with more joy than I could ever explain.

Molly refused to eat the first strawberry, but Ellie LOVED them! 

Yep, it was the perfect morning!