It is well known that in 5 short months our sweet little Mace is headed off to Kindergarten. *sigh* And until that time I for one will be making every effort to soak in the imaginations of her magical, unadulterated little mind. So, while many of you and others all over the world are celebrating Easter this weekend, the Millers are celebrating the last ever Brewster.

You see, last year, after Easter was over, Macie and I were home and she wanted to read the "Brewster" book. For the life of me I could not figure out what in the world she was talking about, so I had her go get this mystery "Brewster" book for me. Lo and behold she brought down her Easter book. I just figured , okay, whatever, she got the word wrong and I just let it go figuring it would be forgotten by this year. Well, a month or so ago, she began asking me if it was almost time for Brewster. I couldn't believe she was still calling it that so I told Jamie and we got a good chuckle about how our girls always seem to rename things. We were going to correct her, but I just sort of love her 5 year old mind and the amazing and creative thing that it is. So, as I have often done with our girls, I sort of encouraged the whole Brewster thing. Jamie fought it at first, but then sentiment took over and he realized this will most likely be the last Brewster ever. Next year when she hits school there is no way we can have her call it "Brewster" when everyone around her will be calling it Easter, just like Tori and Isabelle had to learn that garbage does not go in the "frash can" and you are not reading this blog on a "macuter". Growing up happens....but not quite yet. ;)

So I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Brewster. And most of all I pray you embrace the full and beautiful life that is ours because of the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Much love,
Gretchen

 As the last moments of November slip away, I had to share something that just makes my heart melt into thanksgiving. Family is a high value to Jamie and me, so that means for us that we are rarely home in Minnesota over the holidays, but rather we hit to the road to spend time with family. This Thanksgiving we were in good ol' Iowa with my family and we had a wonderful time.  Even more so, the kids had a wonderful time and that makes my heart super happy (to borrow a quote from Kailan). I am so thankful for precious cousin bonding and for the genuine love all the kids feel for each other. We have much to be thankful for.

Let the Advent season begin!

Deep Breath. :)

Last week was the start of school, the start of 2 girls in soccer, and the start of a new part-time work-from-home job for me. I think it took a little longer than usual to find our school groove, but I think I am finally finding my stride. So a little delayed, but not too bad- the first day of school post. :)

The first day of school was not nearly as highly anticipated as in years past. I think they were both a little nervous because we missed the back to school picnic and they were completely dependent on Jamie to tell them who their teachers were and what friends were in their classes (he got the teachers down, but the friends piece was pretty much a total loss).

One last sister group hug...

3rd grade

5th grade

Last year, we found ourselves running frantically to the bus stop to make it in time, so this year I was more than ahead of schedule for our pick-up. We arrived about 5 minutes early and waited patiently. I snapped all the usual pictures and waited for the bus to come over the horizon to get that final shot of them loading the bus. So we wait and wait. And twenty minutes later, Jamie has abandoned the wait and wished the girls well on their first day. I begin to get a little antsy and concede that maybe somehow I had missed the bus or messed up the time and we head back to the house so I could drive them. No worries- we would just regroup and take the loading the bus picture on day 2 of school. They arrived to school on time and thus begins the 2011-2012 school year. One week in and they are doing great. I am excited to see how they will learn and grow this year.

A 3rd and a 5th grader--how did that happen? I remember when Tori walked down this sidewalk as a kindergartner....sigh.

(Note: I did not miss the bus. The bus finally passed our house about 25 minutes after our scheduled pick up, but there was no way the girls (or I) could have waited that one out).

It is almost more than one mama can bear. I mean really--look at these little cleats!

And wait for it.....

Look at that little soccer player- I think she is pretty much the cutest little thing on two legs. 

Her soccer team name is the Minnows, and I can't say I know a lot about minnows, but the name just seems to fit.

Saturday morning was Macie's first game and the whole family walked down to the soccer field to cheer her on. Big sister Tori helped Macie get warmed up for the game and her coach led them in a few warm up drills before they lined up to play. The team they were playing against was the Missiles, and I am going to say that unfortunately for the Minnows, that name pretty much fit, too. The whistle blew and the two forwards from the Missiles dash down the field and kick the ball in the goal before Macie's Minnow team had time to stop smiling at their parents on the sidelines. 

The whole game went about that way. One little girl on Macie's team had a little breakaway, but tripped over her feet and gave the ball back to the striking Missiles. And Macie took off one time with the ball, but sadly she was headed in the wrong direction.  Thankfully, she was having fun and still had a smile on her face as she ran around the field, completely oblivious to the fact they were probably losing 8 or so to nothing. 

Near the end of the game, Macie took her turn as goalie. She had a grossly oversized tie-dye shirt on and Jamie showed her how to be down in ready position. Sure enough the Missiles had a breakaway and kicked the ball at the goal. Macie reached down with her hands and stopped it. We cheered like crazy. She looked over to smile- you know that half nervous, half happy smile- and put the ball back down on the ground. The little boy on the Missile team took advantage of her kind gesture and kicked it in the goal. Macie was still half smiling at us on the sidelines. Oops. They line back up again and we tell Macie to get ready. Jamie instructs her from the sidelines that if someone kicks it at the goal and she stops it, she needs to hold on to it and not let go until they tell her to. She is down and ready and once again along comes another Missile breakaway. A pretty decent sized little boy heads right for my little Mace standing in a ready position in the goal. Macie moves forward and grabs the ball as the little boy goes to strike. She holds on to it just like her Daddy told her and the boy lands right on top of her. We cheer wildly. She stands up, holding on to the ball- this time 15% smiling (because we are cheering) and 85% ready to burst into tears. I can see them start to well up in her eyes and she moves her tongue along the inside of her lip like she always does when she is fighting back tears. Her coach, who is an incredibly sweet man, leans over and gives her a shoulder hug and tells her what a great job she did. She looks over at us on the sidelines. We keep cheering.  She is completely unsure as to what just happened. My heart is somewhere in my throat at that point and I am pulling my hat down to hide the tears that are welling up in my own eyes. I stand eagerly at the sidelines with Jamie firmly speaking in my hearing, "Don't you even think of going out there- You leave her be. Don't even think about it. Don't baby her."

So, I wait like a good girl by the sidelines and watch as my little soccer goalie gives the other team high fives and retrieves her snack. I give her a big hug, tell her how proud I am of her, and pull her home in the wagon. She tells me she had fun.

I am not sure I will endure the season without overflowing and exploding with love for this child. She captures my heart over and over again with her little ways. I never realized just how hard it is to be a soccer mom. :)

The girls can't think of a whole lot of good reasons to leave Grandma and Papa's house and come home. As they get older, they are less and less convinced that living at Grandma's house all the time would not be a good idea. I will not ask for her opinions on that matter; she is probably still sleeping to recover from their visit last week. :)

And while I sometimes wonder why we are not a little closer to family myself, I have found coming home to have one particular benefit when it comes to the girls. In Ohio, it is cousin central. There is a cousin to match each of my girls and then some. They literally disappear into cousin world (with some occasional Grandma and Papa time) and then reappear as we load the van to go home. They do not spend a whole lot of time playing together in Ohio because there are way too many other people to play with, BUT when they come home, it is like they are reacquainting with an old friend. For at least a few days after we return, I do not hear that they are bored or that they want to go somewhere; they are normally lost somewhere in their rooms or outside playing make believe together.

This particular return from Ohio has brought on a new, be it somewhat frightening, new game of "salon". Tori is the salon owner and the other two are her willing patrons. This is a double win for me as it kept them occupied and it also got them to wash, condition, and brush their hair. And if you would have seen Macie's hair when we got home you would know how much of a win that is. :)

So, they visited the salon, then had a photo shoot, a  dance party, and a concert.

So, imagine away little girls. I am so glad that God gave you so many wonderful cousins and friends in Ohio- people that you truly love and enjoy spending time with. But I am also so thankful that God gave you each other to play and enjoy life with right here at home.

And then there were 2....

Tori left this morning for camp. It is her first time going and it is the first time she and Isabelle will be separated for more than a sleepover night. Macie fell asleep on Tori's lap last night and the three of them attempted to all sleep in the same single bed until poor Mace got bumped (or fell) to the floor. They don't always act like they love each other, but what is most true is they are the best of friends and I kind of love that.

Being the firstborn, Tori is typically experiencing things in life first. After she went to school the first time she immediately came home and played school with Isabelle, teaching her all about what was to come. I can already guess that "camp" is going to be the next new world of make believe when she returns; another adventure that Tori will teach them all about (if Ponsi and Mace can survive each other this week without their mother hen).

Remodel underway! We bought our house almost 5 years ago and as with most people we had a list of things we wanted to do with it. The list has been ever-changing as life shifts and re-shifts our priorities.
Having 3 growing daughters in the house and having had our church meet in our home for the past four years, a second bathroom has always been high on my list. Jamie has gone back and forth (depending on how much the girls have been invading his bathroom time), and it seems the time has come for us to add the bathroom.

On Saturday, Jamie, Dan, and Jamie's new favorite toy, the jackhammer, broke up the concrete in our current laundry room. According to our wonderful plumber Richard, our pipes look like artwork so we are well on our way to bathroom #2.

Here are some before shots: