April updates on the Girls

Let's begin with the eldest.  Kayla.  She is quickly approaching 8 years (only 2 more months!) and even more quickly approaching her First Holy Communion (this weekend!)

 

She is silly and goofy.  She insisted on taking a "silly picture" with Kolbe after church on Palm Sunday and made me take one too.  

She continues to loooooove reading.  She doesn't LOVE reading TO her siblings all the time, but when it's her choice, she is ALL about it.  She really enjoyed reading Kolbe his new book on Easter. 

And if we can't find Kayla, we usually check behind the couch, which is her currently favorite reading spot.  

The girls all got nasty colds and coughs at the end of the month, and slept pretty horribly for about a week (I'm still recovering from all the sleepless nights I had then).  This picture, though, that Chris caught of Kayla sleeping one night made us both smile.  Wrapped her blanket around her head like a veil.  Maybe she's dreaming of her First Holy Communion.  

Here she is making a monstrance project during her First Holy Communion retreat. 

Next up is Elise.  She is a bundle of energy, giggles, and mischief.  

 

She and Ava are forever making up silly games to play together.  Alternately they are fighting like cats and dogs and I'm losing my marbles.  Can we all just get along??  But then they've made up and are off pretending that colored pencils are people and making up a whole story to go along with...

She loves her new American doll, Therese.  Ava got a doll from a friend, too, so they often play dolls together.  

 

Elise volunteered to changer her first potty diaper this month.  Kolbe even helped out by laying still, not trying to roll over, and not peeing on her.  win for everyone.  I just can't believe my little Elise is already such a big girl!  How did she grow up so much??

Ava is growing up fast too.  She's already 4 1/2 and I still feel like she's one of my little ones.  Maybe because she still wants all the cuddles and is a bit sensitive and tends to cry easily.  

 

 She dropped her nap the earliest of our kids so far.  At 4, she was just done and no amount of effort on my part would convince her to just sleep.  The others napped until they were 5 with minimal effort from me (except for a few little stubborn phases where I had to work hard and insist on naps).  And most of the time, Ava does ok without one these days. But when she gets sick....all she wants to do is nap.  It's like she's making up for not napping the past year with one sick week.  

Anyway she is a snuggle bug, but she's nearly as mischievous as her sister, Elise.  The two of them can often be found getting into trouble together.  Climbing on things they've been told not to, coloring on things that shouldn't be colored on, etc.  But they also color sweetly together, pore over picture books, and play imaginative games for hours in the basement.  

And last but not least, Sophie.  

 

 She has had a very emotional month.  High highs and low lows.  When she is healthy, she is fairly happy.  When her sisters include her, she is happy.  When she is not healthy or is left out, she is NOT happy.  

Thankfully she has more of the highs than the lows.  She loves to be goofy and loves to giggle.  She comes in each morning with a bright smile and a "Hi mom!"  She loves to dress herself.  Her favorite mom approved outfits are dresses with tights.  She always wants to wear tights.  Her other favorite outfits include swimsuits that don't fit her, Kolbe's clothes (that don't fit her), and ballet leotards.  

Love these little gals and all the joy they bring to our life.  And all the snuggles. And even on their hardest days, I try to remember that these little ones are sanctifying me.  They are helping me achieve holiness by teaching me to die to self and love and serve others with my whole heart.