A Year In Review

As I look at the past year I am amazed by so many things. My little family has managed to survive a divorce and we are all in safe, happy homes. My girls what can I say they are the best. Let's start with Emma.

Emma is currently in Kindergarten. She knows all her ABC's and can count to 20. She is starting to read some. Last week, she read the word "shapes." There was no picture for a clue. She sounded it out. I was totally shocked. Please know I don't doubt Emma's ability one bit, but sometimes surprises are happier to acknowledge than disappointments. Emma LOVES school. She has many friends. When I pick her up every afternoon and we walk back to the car and she is begging for fries, her fan club waiting to be picked up by their parents begins to chant her name, "Emmie, Emma, Good-Bye!" How my heart flies when I realize that 5 year olds don't see Down syndrome. They see their friend.

Emma is still disappearing now and again at school. So far she has not left the building. The UK company that makes the GPS watch will have it available Jan. 6. We don't want to have to actually use it, but at this point we don't know what else to do.

Emma received many clothes from Santa. She has really grown the last 6 months. She is now in a size 5. :-) I think her favorite gifts this season were the dr. kit, her Lightening McQueen couch, and the wiggle racer (gravity propelled) so that she can experience what it's like to ride a bike.

Emma is talking like crazy. And get this...she writes every day at school. Her topics are about kites, robots, Nana, Gracie, a friend at school-J, and her love of popcorn. When I read her first story I cried. Now that she feels she has a voice she has begun to "write" at home too. Thank you JPS for a job well done, once again.

Now onto the Tink-lovin' Gracie. Where to even begin...She will be three in 2 months. She can say her ABC's and count to 25. She has a spirit that is passionate about EVERYTHING. She loves hard, she plays hard. She has a mind of her own and I hope no one every squelches her spirit. Right now her favorite things are SHOES. Her favorite toy is anything that sparkles and her favorite book is My Pink Purse (Need I say more).

We are looking forward to 2010 and we know that only blessings will come. Here are a few pics from the last few months.