Sweet Playtime

I love those moments when you find them playing so sweetly, and then you actually get a good picture of it! Doesn't always happen that way....

Kendall is really starting to pretend these days, and I love it. She's just so sweet and fun.

Basketball!

Jaclyn has given basketball a shot for the first time this year. She's played on a team of other 1st and 2nd graders at the Rec Center and has improved a lot! I'm not sure if it's something that she loves or not, but it's been a good experience for her. Up until yesterday, she had only made one basket the whole season, but yesterday she made 3! After she made the first one, she jumped up a down for joy. I caught the last of the celebration in the next picture (although kinda blurry), and it was a fun moment for her.

8 is Great!

Jaclyn turned 8 on Wednesday. She was very excited, of course, and we seemed to celebrate all week long. :) It was a fun time.


She had her party on Saturday. We had just a few girls over, and her best friend, Abigail, got to stay and spend the night. They all had a lot of fun and enjoyed being together.

So, let's see, what can I say about my sweet Jaclyn...

-She is definitely growing in maturity. There are times when she'll realize that I need help, and she'll go make peanut butter sandwiches for lunch or start cleaning up (sometimes). She's also very good at helping with Kendall when I'm trying to get something else accomplished.

-She is a good friend to almost everyone! She continues to be very outgoing and friendly, enjoying every minute with any friend.

-She enjoys doing school, which is a big blessing for me as her teacher! She loves to read, both on her own and with me. We are enjoying reading through the Little House on the Prairie series together. We cuddle up at night by the fireplace. :)

-She continues to take piano lessons and is doing very well. I enjoy seeing this talent develop in her.

-She is currently playing on a little basketball team at the rec center and we are starting volleyball for her as well.

-She's very imaginative and does well playing with her sisters and creating different scenarios for them to play in.

Yes, she is truly a blessing from God, and I love seeing her grow up.

We love you, Jaclyn.

Happy Birthday!

Time to Cut

Jaclyn has been asking for a very long time now if she can cut her hair really short. So, I told her she could grow it out and donate it to Locks of Love, and that's what she did. :) She needed 10 inches for them to be able to use it in wigs, so it's taken quite a while, but she finally made it. She was so excited and thrilled with the entire process. It was a fun time, and I'm glad that all that hair can be used for something special. Ashlyn's wasn't quite long enough to donate, but she wanted hers as short as Jaclyn's, and she loves it. It was fun for both of them.

Last week was picture week at Ashlyn's gymnastics class, so here are a few recent shots of her. She is doing really well and starting to work on some really cool things that are very fun for her.

There are times when I'm unsure if she should continue in it or not, but then I see her doing this, just for the fun of it! (Those are totally not my genes!)