a jacuzzi date with my girls.

[things i want to remember about 41/2.]

maybe i'm bias[ed?], but you girls are hilarious at this stage in life.

always questioning.

always talking. (and we were afraid you never would. jokes on us! ha!)

always giggling about something.

[always getting compliments on your gorgeous strawberry blonde hair]

constantly interrupting me. heh.

[we're working on teaching you how not to interrupt a conversation. it's a hard one to learn.]

and let's not forget, constantly tattling on each other, and in the phase of life where i hear, "she hurt my feelings!" ten times a day. 

joy.

you make me laugh harder than anyone i know.
the things you say.
the things you do.
your faces.
your interpretive dance moves.
and mad wrestling skills.

:)

[and i still can't resist taking pictures of your cute striped/polkadotted bums.]

you're finally at an age, where i actually enjoy hanging out with you.
not like i didn't before, but you know what i mean.
i always have two lil' companions when i'm bored.
and we have more fun!

you are super independent, but boy, do you love your dad & mom.
and it breaks my heart a little bit that you don't need us as much as you did.
you want to do everything yourself.
figure it out on your own.
pick out your own clothes.
tell me how you want your hair for the day.

but then there's the nights where i crawl in your bed 

& tickle your faces while we tell stories.

i crave those moments.

you fall asleep while i stare at your cute button noses.

and teeny, tiny freckles.

my red headed beauties.

you are so different. but so alike.
it's hard to explain to people who ask.

audrey, you are adventurous, witty + strong. sensitive + caring. cautious. snuggly + huggable. without a care in the world. you already wear your heart on your sleeve, just like your momma. and you could/would pray til' the cows came home if we let you.

ellie, you are loveable & brave. independent + bubbly. sarcastic + dramatic. if i let you, you would wear the same favorite outfit for days and days. and when you're asked to pray you get really shy. even though you're not. it's the cutest thing ever.

when you both discovered you could touch the bottom of the jacuzzi without your floats the other day, you were thrilled to the core.

audrey looked at me and said, "momma! this is craaaaaazy!"

and in my head, i instantly thought back to the first time your dad & i brought you to the pool for the first time. in your big blue floats. in your big pink hats. has it really been 41/2 years? are you really tall enough to walk alone in 31/2 feet?

 why, yes. yes you are.

a+e, you have taught me more than i could ever teach you.
[i think i stole that from a speech at the grammy's]
even at 41/2. xoxoxo