The Next Step

Today, I took the next step.  Its a long story of what God has been doing in my life over the past several months but the next step for me was starting a ministry website.  So, today I did.  Its not done and doesn't look like its final product but I posted my first blog.  

Check it out at http://bobiann.com 

Let me know what you think and and if you like it share it.  

All I Want for Christmas

Things Kati Ann Likes

Kati Ann drew this at school today.  She told me that she didn't have time to draw me in the picture but it was a picture of her family.  I love the drawing of Jared!

Another Visit from the Tooth Fairy

I captured this picture immediately after Kati Ann pulled her tooth yesterday.  Is she not the cutest thing?  She was so excited.  The tooth fairy left her $.75.  She got an extra quarter since she pulled it herself.  The tooth fairy left pixy dust on her pillow too!

3 Year Old Preschool

Our little man started 3 year preschool on Tuesday.   We are so thrilled that Kie is in Mrs. Lyman's class and will be a Busy Bear just like his sister was 3 years ago!  Its hard to believe that Kie was just 5 4 months old when Kati Ann started Busy Bears and now his is going himself!

!st Grade

Monday was the start of a whole new season of our life.  Kati Ann started 1st grade at Farley Elementary.  Her teacher's name is Mrs. Melton and she loves school.  The very first thing she said to me when she got home was "Mom, can I eat lunch in the cafeteria?"  She thought it was great that they had hot lunch and CHOCOLATE MILK!  So, she ate cafeteria lunch on Wednesday and thought she was big time!
Tuesday morning Jared took Kati Ann to school and had to walk in to put money on her account in the cafeteria and she said to him, "Dad, can't you just drop me off?  I can walk in by myself!"  Of course he explained that he was going in to drop of money in the cafeteria but we were so pleased by her independence.
She is adjusting beautifully to the new school schedule.
In fact, we are all adjusting well.  I was probably most nervous about my own personal adjustment to a new routine but now I understand why parents get so excited when their kids go to school.  I'm kinda digging this new school schedule!  However, I do miss my girl during the day but I'm so glad that she loves it.

An Open Letter to my Daughter

Dear Kati Ann,
Today we received a private tour of your new school.  It was unplanned and just another example of how God is in the details of preparing all 4 of us for this new chapter of our life.
Words are not sufficient to tell you how much I treasure the chapter we're closing.  You introduced me to love like I had never known.  I have never been so tired, so spent or so drained at any other time in my life than when I became a mom.  However, I have never been so blessed, so full and so grateful at any other time.  We are closing the chapter of our life when you receive almost entirely all of your influence from your dad and me.  We're not done but now our voice and influence will be mixed with other voices and other influences.  Some of those voices, I have prayed for.  I have asked for them because they are necessary for who you will grow and become.   Some of the other voices I am afraid of.  I am afraid because they will be filled with lies and distractions.  Understand, you are not the first child to turn this page, your daddy and I both faced this chapter with our parents so many year ago.  However, you are OUR FIRST child to turn this page.  Your daddy and I want to help you.  We want to be there to help you recognize the difference in the truth and the lies.  But we won't always get it right and neither will you.  You'll hear lies and believe them.  You'll make choices that will cause you to hurt and certainly cause me & Daddy to hurt.  But there is ONE that won't mess up.  There is a voice that will never let you down.  God is always right.  He knows your mistakes, your fears, your frustrations.  You can and should always go to Him.  There are things you won't want to talk to me about and that's okay.  But always talk to HIm.
As we turn the page on this new chapter, know without question that we are so proud of you.  Not because you are perfect but because you are Our's, at least for a little while.
We are your cheerleaders.  We want to dream with you as you dream.  We want to encourage you and cry with you.  We look so forward to all that God  has in store for you.  Trust me, Child, He certainly has a plan for you.  Thank you for being my little princess and loving me and laughing with me and being you.
I'm cutting just a little bit more of those apron strings because my  job is to let you go with every passing day.  You're not gone but you're going...into the next season, the next adventure.  You are treasured, you are loved and you are ready.
Love,
Your mom

Super Sweet at Six

This girl just turned 6.  Where did the last year go?  We've had a great year.  Kati Ann makes us so proud.  She has such a sensitive, compassionate heart.  We can't wait to see how God will use her.  We know He has something special just for her.

1.  How old are you?  6

2. What makes you happy?  my toys and a movie

3.  What is your favorite animal? kangaroo

4.  What is your favorite thing to eat?  chicken with ketchup

5.  What is your favorite things to do?  play and watch a show

6.  What is your favorite TV show?  Sofia the First

7.  What are you really good at?  putting away the silverware

8.  What is your favorite movie?  Peter Pan

9.  What is your favorite song?  "I'm Not Ready to Be a Princess" on Sofia

10.  What is your favorite color?  blue

11.  Who is your best friend?  Greta

12.  What do you and your mom do together?  love and cuddle

13.  What do you and your dad do together?  sleep together

14.  What is your favorite sport?  ballet

15.  What is your favorite place to go?  Appleby's (we've seriously been there 2x in 2 years to eat pancakes for a fundraiser)

16.  What is your favorite book?  Tangled

17.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  partners with Greta as doctors and ballet teachers

Disney 2013

We love Disney.  That's it.  We do.  As parents, we love the look of wonder in the eyes of our children and to see the magic come to life for them.  We took KA when she was 4 and said we weren't going back until Kie was 4 but we couldn't wait.  We just had to go back.  Well, it had a little to do with the fact that if we went before Kie was 3 he got in free so we decided to go back just before he turned 3.  What an adventure we had.

On our first day, we met Tiana.  Obviously Kie wasn't real sure about her and used his sister to hide but  it didn't take him long to begin warming up to the characters and discovered that he LOVED the rides.  At first, he didn't much care about standing in line (but of course neither do we) but he quickly caught on.  He didn't, however, ever catch on to the idea of a ride being over.  He was devastated every single time.

 We enjoyed having a character breakfast with the Disney Jr. characters.  Of course, our favorite character is Jake from the Neverland Pirates.  You can tell Kie certainly warmed up to the characters.

We finished our trip at Animal Kingdom which we all 4 thoroughly enjoyed.  We got to see Pluto and Goofy as well as lots of real animals.  It was such a treat.  It was such a sweet time of making memories together.