Happy 4th Birthday, Annalise!!!

Annalise turned four years old on October 13 - I can't believe it! How time flies. It seems like only yesterday that she was born, yet I can hardly remember life without her. She has brought so much to our lives. She's filled this house with laughter, singing, dancing, hugs, tickles, and sillyness. She is a great big sister & a wonderful daughter. She's a true joy, and we are so proud of her.

For Annalise's birthday, we had a small party at Two Crafty Chicks, a local craft studio. She had her seven closest buddies there, and the girls made jewelry boxes and the boys made treasure chests. So cute! My sister-in-law Michele made an absolutely beautiful Ariel cake for the event that was the hit of the party. The kids had a great time!

Annalise and her beautiful Ariel cake

Annalise, Ricky, and Me

Annalise, Nee, and Papa

Issa and Annalise painting

Miss DeDe reading the kids a story

Today at school Annalise had a little birthday celebration during snack time. Her class is so cute! This is Annalise & her beloved teacher, Mrs. Walker.

A Whirlwind Weekend

A Visit to Chloe...

I have been wanting to visit my friend Corinne, one of my best high school friends, for over a year. Last July she and her husband welcomed their first child, a beautiful daughter named Chloe Anne. At her four-week checkup, the doctor discovered something was terribly wrong. It turns out that Chloe has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which is the #1 genetic killer of infants and toddlers. Chloe's intellectual development is not affected whatsoever, but her muscles are very weak. Chloe is now 15 months old and has had a long road. I have been wanting to get to Orlando to visit Corinne & meet Chloe for so long, and I was finally able to do it last weekend.

We had a wonderful (albeit emotional) visit. Annalise was in good health so she was able to come along, and she adored Chloe. It was so sweet to see Chloe smiling while watching Annalise play, and Annalise would bring Chloe little toys and stickers to hold. At one point Annalise went over and gently kissed Chloe on the head. So sweet! Chloe was much more hesitant with Ricky and myself, which is to be expected since most strangers she sees are doctors, nurses, therapists, or others who are poking and prodding her. But, she finally warmed up enough so that I could sit down next to her and give her some gentle tickles, and she allowed me to stroke her sweet beautiful face as I said goodbye to her when our visit was over. And she gave Ricky a giant grin. We fell in love with Chloe, and we are amazed by my friend Corinne. What an amazing mother and caregiver she is! (And her husband Matt, of course, but he was working during our visit so we missed him.)

Thanks for all of you who have been praying for Chloe. Please keep it up!

Corinne & Chloe

Chloe's Sweet Cheeks!

Annalise admiring Chloe (Annalise loved Chloe's ponytail!)

...And a visit to Mickey!

We decided that since I was going to Orlando, it would be fun to take Annalise to Disneyworld for a day since her birthday was on Monday. We had a great time! We packed 10 rides in one day. The minute one ride ended Annalise would say "I want another ride!" She amazed me at how much "cooler" of a kid she is than I ever was. She went on Goofy's roller coaster, Snow White's Scary Adventure, and the Haunted Mansion and never got scared. I would have been freaking out! Ryan stayed behind and my parents took care of him (since he detests long car trips!). It was nice to give Annalise some time alone with us where we could focus our attention on her.

Annalise saying "Faster!" on the Tea Cups

Waiting in line for Dumbo

A GIANT mess with a Mickey ice cream bar (we changed clothes immediately!)

Exhausted!

Happy Birthday Monkey

Annalise has a favorite stuffed animal named Monkey. She loves him, although lately I'm thinking that Monkey is a bad influence on her because he seems to be blamed for everything naughty that Annalise does. I've been hearing "Monkey told me to" a lot lately. Oh well, bad influence or not, he is her beloved friend.

So, this morning Annalise announced that today was Monkey's birthday. She said we needed to "make a ton of birthday hats." We had nothing else planned for the day, so why not a Monkey birthday party? We decided to move the party to my parents' house, and my dad even bought some mini-cupcakes for the big event.

Before the party Annalise said to me, "Mommy, I have tears." I said, "Why?" She said, "Because Monkey is getting so big, isn't that sad?" Hahaha, good grief. Anyway, Annalise & I made party hats for everyone (even Monkey's "friends") and we all sang. Cheesy, yes, but not a bad way to spend a beautiful October afternoon. Happy Birthday, Monkey!

A closeup of Monkey

Monkey making a wish

Monkey's party guests

"Nee" passing out cupcakes

"Papa" and Ryan enjoying the party