President Hinckley

I just love this picture of President Hinckley. It is exactly as I will remember him: with his beloved Marjorie, smiling, and laughing with the youth whom he is so loved.
The girls were so sweet when we told them of his passing. Emerson simply said "I am so sad. I really love him" and Rileigh said "Oh, he was a gweat pwophet".

Here are some quotes from him for our girls for the future:

To the YW:
"When you save a girl, you save generations. I see this as the one bright shinning hope in the world."

"You are young enough that the future world of which you dream still lies ahead of you. Each is a child of God. Each of you is a creature of Divinity. You are literally a daughter of the Almighty. There is no limit to your potential. If you will take control of your lives, the future is filled with opportunity and gladness. You cannot afford to waste your talents or your time. Great opportunities lie ahead of you. "

"You need never feel inferior. You need never feel that you were born without talents or without opportunities to give them expression. Cultivate whatever talents you have, and they will grow and refine and become an expression of your true self appreciated by others.”

“Reach out to help one another. All of us need help from time to time. We need encouragement. We need friends who will stand by us through thick or thin. I ask each of you to be that kind of friend.”

To us:
“You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children turned out.”

“People wonder what we do for our women. I tell you what we do: we get out of their way and look with wonder at what they are accomplishing.”

in honor of Marie ...

Our friend, Marie, recently reminded me that she met two of our three daughters the day they were born. She and her husband, Richy, held our daughters before everyone but Mike and me. I recently found some photos of Emerson and Rileigh when they were younger. People are always telling us that Kate looks different than her sisters. We think she looks just like her sisters. Below are our three daughters at the same age. Can you guess the girl?

little ladies ...

For primary, the girls had to fill a spotlight form. While I was making dinner Mike and the girls filled out their forms. Mike came in to show me their forms, in particular the question pertaining to their hero. They both had the same hero. I was so touched.

(Here are their answers. I cropped most the form) Emerson's is the first and Rileigh's is the second.)

I hope they always feel this way. I seriously sometimes worry though. I am a pretty strict Mom. Emerson was doing impressions of Mike and me a little while ago. When she imitated me her voice went into a falsetto and she said "Remember, I always want you to be little ladies. That is most important." Mike just laughed. I am ALWAYS reminding the girls to be "little ladies".

Parenting is such a fine line. I watch parents who are too lenient with rowdy children and I just cringe. But then I watch parents who are too strict (although there seems to be few of them) and I cringe.

You only get one chance to do this. I have lately been asking parents of youth (parents of young women in particular) that I admire for parenting tips. All their daughters are polite, kind, not boy crazy (that is huge for me, you can like boys but do let it become an obsession), and intelligent. The type of girls that excel in many areas. Their parents are always happy to share, but each has a different method. I have noticed, though, two strong reoccurring themes: the youth that I admired most had parents who set very strong limits. And the young women I admire most play sports. I think studies may be correct about the correlation between sports and teen girls' self-esteem.

So if anyone has any great parenting books to recommend I would love some. I really want to get mothering right. You cannot go back and change it if you don't.

Happy Birthday, Kate!!

Yesterday was Kate’s first birthday.I cannot believe that we have had Kate for a year now. She has been such a source of joy and happiness for our whole family this past year.
I remember when Kate was two weeks old. I was up with her during her night feedings (I have never once let Mike get up with our daughters when they were babies at night. I love that special alone time and get quite possessive of it). I remember looking down at her little face and it was so familiar to me. And I was so surprised by how familiar this new little face was to me. It was so tender for me to realize that you could show me all the babies in the world with their similar delicate and precious features and I would know my brand new child. Even though I had only known her for two weeks. Even after just two weeks I knew her cry and smell and her sweet wide eyes. I knew that she was mine and I was hers. I couldn’t remember life without her.
I am so grateful for that sweet baby. I love the way she hugs so tightly when you wake her up from her nap. I love the little smile she gets when you say her name. I love to hold her up to the bay windows and watch her watch the world so intently. I love her baby laugh. It is deep and all consuming like her daddy’s. I love to watch her play with her sisters. She adores her big sisters. I especially love the way Emerson and Rileigh love Kate. It is amazing that that little 18 pound person can bring so much joy into our lives. I am excited and sad for all the changes the next year will bring. I just wish these girls of mine would stop growing up so quickly. It doesn’t seem fair.

Happy First Birthday, Kate!! We love you, CupKate.

Emersonism

Tonight I was reading to the girls in the Book of Mormon the story of Lehi and the Liahona. Emerson turned to me very excitedly and said "Mom, the Liahona is a GPS".
She may just be as profound as the man she is named after. I just love her!

I Like Mike

OK I need to remember tomorrow to get a gratitude journal so that I do not have to keep using this blog for one. But for today I am grateful for Mike. Mike has decided to help me with this contest. So he will be doing everything that I am (except the no soda part, he's a diet pepsi ADDICT - yes, dear, you need help). Last night he came home from work and worked out with me, read scriptures with me, and even wrote a little something in an old journal of his ( a few of the requirements for this contest).

I really love Mike. This year marks 12 years together. I have to say, for people who were so independent before we met we really are the most co-dependent couple I know. Mike is truly my best friend. I am not going to gush as to all the reason why I love him. But I really really do. We are always so supportive of one another and we love to help one another. We really like each other and we hate to be apart, even for a day. And the one thing that I recently noticed is that we still make each other laugh. Alot. And I love that man's laugh.

Kate Ate - Part 2

Apparently Kate really really liked lunch that day. Here she is licking the plate clean. I cannot get enough of this baby!

She is just the sweestest baby.

Of all the presents under the tree ...

... Emerson's favorite was Sophie!
Emerson's best friend in the whole world since birth, Sophie, came to sleep over Christmas night. Emerson declared that Sophie was her best Christmas present. They have not lived in the same state for more than half their little lives but they still adore each other.
This is her little brother. He is sooooooooo cute. And so much like Rileigh.

Christmas Traditions

We had the greastest Christmas this year. The nice thing about being home for Christmas is that we can begin to establish our own Christmas traditions. It allows us to incorporate what we love most about both our Christmases growing up and incorporate some of own own:

• We begin the Christmas season by taking the girls to the Boston Ballet Co.'s Nutcracker with Mike's firm


• We read mostly (and only if the girls will let us Christmas books beginning in Dec.)


• We decorate a ginger bread house


• We get a great tree and as we unpack each of the ornaments we tell the girls their significance (some from our travels, th Lenox ones for girls were born and one from the year we got married, and our favorites - some that Mike made with his beloved Grandma Eunice. We just love to tell the girls about her)


• Once the tree is decorated we ceremoniously light the tree for the first time and gather around it and read Luke 2. Hearing Mike read it still makes me cry


• We dust off our Italian and German Nativities that night


• We have special mailbox that Santa has direct access to. Throughout Dec. he will leave "Naughty" or "Nice" notes. Luckily, rarely there are naughty notes. But when there are boy! are the girls really good the next day


• Before we pack up the ornaments, we use the same mailbox and write the gifts that we want to give the Saviour this year. Next year when we unpack it we can review that list


• We adopt a family to do Secret Santa. This was our most amazing year!! Honestly, it was best part of Christmas for us. E-mail us if you want the details but I know that Mike and I will never ever forget this Christmas for that reason


• On Christmas Eve morning (except if falls on Sunday) I go to the Italian Bakery to get some cannolis and Italian cookies that my grandparents served (the cookies are so dry, so this year Mike and I decideded we get them less for the tasting of them and more for the "Center Piece")and we go to my Uncle's. Just like I did as a child. Santa makes a visit there. This year the mantle of Santa was passed on to a Santa that mommy can attest she has kissed under the mistletoe


• Before we leave for my uncle the girls hang notes on the front door for Santa asking him to stop at our house and we put out a carrot for Rudolph


• While we are gone Santa's elves bring a new pair of pjs for the girls and put them in their stockings to wear on Christmas Eve


• When we get home we put out cookies for Santa (and tell the girls the story of the real St. Nicholas), and open one gift


• On Christmas Eve we read only Luke 2 for the girls and then sing many Christmas carols around the tree. Mike and I talk about the true meaning of Christmas and what Christ means to us.


• Grandma sleeps over


• On Christmas morning the girls wake up way way too early. We say a prayer to thank our Saviour for the incredible gift that He gave us. The girls have a very hard time during this prayer.


• Then in Chatwin family tradition we line up according to age and march to the living room


• We open stockings first, which also have oranges in them (Chatwin Family tradition)


• Then Santa gifts (they are never wrapped)


• Then Mike hands out the gifts and everyone creates their pile of wrapped gifts around them and we each take turns opening one, youngest to oldest (Chatwin tradition)


• Family and friends come over later for dinner


• We read the Christmas story that night again

We also started two new traditions whcih I love

• This year we went to Sarah's and slept over and made and decorated sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies and then sled. It is so charming that we decided that we should do this every year.


• And we deliver treats to a local fire station to thank the firemen for working on that day
  

The girls got the American Girls dolls. Emerson got Samantha and Rileigh got a Bitty Baby and named it the same name as Emerson's Bitty Baby. The girls LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE their dolls. I do not know how we can ever top this Christmas
Wile we were busy unwrapping Kate's gifts for her she snuck off and stole the cookie that Santa left half bitten. Showing early signs of genious!
My favorite gift - GPS. I am famous for ALWAYS being lost. My friends tease me constantly and the girls have had many faith promoting experiences do to my lack of direction.The girls and their beloved dolls. It really was a magical Christmas.
Kate might have been a little overwhelmed.

Rileigh's Holiday Performance

Unfortunately I cannot upload Rileigh's very favorite song "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel". She has been practicing that song for so long. She sang it today with such gusto!

Keep in mind as you watch these, they are rocky because I also had Kate in one arm.

Rileigh and our beloved Ms. Lucy. Emerson had her as well. We truly love Ms. Lucy and there is no one in the entire world we would rather have teach our babies.

This is Ms. Mona. Rileigh absolutely adores her. She is kind and patient. She is so soft spoken and absolutely loves loves loves the children. She substituted for Emerson last year and we loved her then. We are so grateful that she now teaches Rileigh.

We just love our preschool. We couldn't imagine a better place for children.

Christmas in NYC

We had such a great weekend. We went with our good friends to NYC for the weekend. Although, I think the children's favorite part was being on the same floor at the hotel as their buddies, swimming with their buddies, and staying up really late with their buddies. Here we are in Times Square. I felt a little cheesey taking our picture in Times Square but I really wanted it for the girls someday. Mike and me in front on the tree at Rockerfeller Center.
These two get along so great. They are fun to watch play together.
Imagine this: New York - Christmas time - hoards and hoards of people on 5th Ave. - and two families trying to stick together with double strollers.
Of course, no trip to New York is complete these days without a visit to the American Girl Store. We had to wait in line to go inside.
Samantha, the doll on Emerson's list.
Rileigh hurt her lip the day before jumping on the bed. Mike has always called her "monkey" for that reason.
Tired out!!

The babies taking a bite out of the "Big Apple". Couldn't resist

The weekend by numbers

The weekend by numbers:

Nor'easters (n: heavy amounts of rain and snow, producing hurricane-force winds, and creating high surfs that cause coastal flooding) 2 - Thursday and Sunday

Snow: 20-24 inches

Hours spent shoveling snow and chipping ice by Mike and Dina: 5 1/2 hours with plenty more Monday morning from the plows (if anyone wants to help, you know where we live)

Lost boots in snow: 1

Frost Bite Scare: 2 little feet due to the above mentionned

Feet in Snow pile in yard from shoveling: 4 1/2

Visible teeth on display at once: 32, As shown by Mike in form of huge grin at 11:00p.m. Thursday night while coming home and founding super hero wife in driveway who just spent 2 1/2 hours shoveling while children were all nestled and snug in their beds (super hero wife checked on children frequently)

Bathes drawn by husband to thank super hero wife: 1

Amount of shovels it takes to clear end of driveway after plows came through multiple, multiple times: 37 (by Dina, Mike certainly would be much less)

Heating Bill for month of December: $1,453,278 (o.k. that may be slightly high) in spite of the fact that we keep our heat on 66-68 degrees during day and do not ask about night, it goes lower. We loves sweaters in this family! We hate the heating bill.

Nutcracker

Every year Mike's firm hosts a mini-matinee (about one hour of samplers from the more famous numbers) showing of the Nutcracker performed by the Boston Ballet Company. We love taking the girls. It really is magical watching little girls watch ballet. I am in awe of the dancers. They are truly some of the best in the world and yet some are so young. We look forward to this event all year.

The wiseguys, er, I mean, wisemen and a little girl's Christmas wishes!

Our nursery performed a nativity play for the ward party this weekend. Rileigh and Aileen were the wisemen. It was so sweet and fun. Honestly, it was the best nativity play I have seen. What a great idea to have the nursery children perform it. Rileigh helped me make the beards. They were so proud to be the only wiseguys, I mean, Wisemen with beards. Aileen is to Rileigh what Emerson's little friend Miya is to Emerson. Rileigh and Aileen go to school together, they have at least one playdate a week together, their parents are friends, and they are in the same nursery class. These two are so mischievous and fun. Can you believe that they are only 3 days apart?
Emerson wrote her Christmas list all by herself. It reads:

I would like

Samantha Doll

and I would like

Groovy Girl

I would like

special markers

Thank you Love

Emerson

Most children this age seem to have a list a mile long. When I asked Emerson if she was done with her list she said she had everything she needed. I am always so touched by her maturity.

Rileigh only asked Santa for one thing ... a Bitty Baby.
Here is what happened when Cakey met Santa for the first time. I am sure in time they will become good friends.

I feel like I write this all the time, but I am so grateful to be the mommy to these little girls. Christmas through their eyes really is magical.