If I Could Keep You Little...

When the girls started another year of school this year, I was the typical mom grieving over summer's end and children growing too fast.  It was an especially tender time 'cuz my little Andi was starting Kindergarten.  Ever since she's been born, she has been my 24/7 pal, my purpose, my saving angel, and my best friend.  We've been through a lot together in her short five years.
So when I found this book, I took note. 
It says:

If I could keep you little, I'd hum you lullabies.
But then I'd miss you singing your concert's big surprise.
If I could keep you little, I'd hold your hand everywhere.
But then I'd miss you knowing, "I can go...you stay there."
If I could keep you little, I'd kiss your cuts and scrapes.
But then I'd miss you learning from your own mistakes.
If I could keep you little, I'd strap you in real tight.
But then I'd miss you swinging from your treetop height.
If I could keep you little, I'd decide on matching clothes.
But then I'd miss you choosing dots on top and stripes below.
If I could keep you little, I'd cut your bread into shapes.
But then I'd miss you finding, "Hey!  I like ketchup with my grapes!"
If I could keep you little, I'd tell you stories every night.
But then I'd miss you reading the words you've learned by sight.
If I could keep you little, I'd push you anywhere.
But then I'd miss you feeling your speed from here to there!
If I could keep you little, I'd pick for you a friend or two.
But then I'd miss you finding friends you like who like you, too!
If I could keep you little, we'd finger-paint our art.
But then I'd miss you creating stories from your heart.
If I could keep you little, I'd push your ducky float.
But then I'd miss you feeling the wind behind the summer's boat.
If I could keep you little, we'd nap in our fort midday.
But then I'd miss you sharing adventures from camp far away.
If I could keep you little, I'd fly you with my feet.
But then I'd miss you seeing sky and clouds from your seat.
If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me.
But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!
--Marianne Richmond

I love this poem...Such a good reminder of why our children have to grow.  If there's one thing I'd change about it, though, I don't think I'd put in those last two lines.  I still think a child and grow into who they're meant to be even while keeping "you close to me." 
You hear that, girls?  Let's stay close. 
:)

Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman Are Finally Home!

 

Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman arrived home from their mission in Spain on Monday the 21st.  Here's a glimpse of the evening of their arrival.

More Fall Pics Plus Halloween Festivities 2013

Love this hairdo and outfit on her.

Pumpkin carving at its best.

After last year's Ariel pumpkin that Eric carved, the girls had big ideas for Eric's pumpkin work this year.  He always does well.  :)

The finished products (that ended up rotting before Halloween, by the way.)

It was "crazy hair day" at school last week, so the girls had big crazy hair during the day.  Then at night when we took it out, they had another crazy hairdo to celebrate.  Silly sisters.

I think one of the girls took this picture.  They love Eric's fish.  Notice how the gravel at the bottom of the aquarium is uneven.  The fish love to dig through the rocks...Kinda' funny.

Farmington's Halloween Event 2013 at the Community Arts Center.

The debut of the Klein/Allen girls Halloween costumes:  Abbey as Abbey Bominable (The Monster High doll), Ava as Rainbow Dash (a My Little Pony), and Andi as Spectra (another Monster High doll.)

Bethany, Jesse, Gigi, Ron, Joann, and our family all met at the event.  Look at Gigi in her chicken costume....cutest chicken ever.

Abbey and Ava on the left goin' at it at the donut-eating contest.

Andi and Grandpa Ron making Halloween cookies. 

Ron and Joann had just returned from their trip to China to visit Aunt Ruthie.  They were super busy that weekend, but still made time to stop by Farmington and join us for some Halloween festivities.  So grateful for their support.  They are so loved and appreciated.

Abbey got a bird painted on her face--So fun!

A blue bird...perfect for Aves.

Last Saturday we went to lunch with all of my mom's family at Maddox in Brigham City.  I don't see that side of our family much anymore, so it was good to see them all again.  It was my grandpa's 86th birthday.

When I'm going to or from our garage, I often see these picturesque scenes on the mountains and I can't help but take a shot or two.

On the side of our house.  Beautiful fall.

Our backyard.

Right outside the kitchen window.

Abbey's back in Grandma Zimmerman's kitchen once again!  Abbey has missed her Grandma so much and is so grateful to have her back from the mission.  Last Sunday Grandma Zimmerman made Halloween treats with the girls.

 

Andi and I went to visit Ron and Joann in Orem while they stayed there during their official moving weekend.  Daniel and his family were there as well as Isaac.  We decided to enjoy the pool and take a swim.

Andi with her cute cousin Maelee.  That night Andi showed her grandpa and uncles how awesome she is at diving in the pool.  She was so brave and let them catch her as she cannon-balled in each time.  I was so very proud of her.

Grandma Cathi came by on the week of Halloween to drop off some Halloween treats for the girls.  Cathi's favorite holiday is Halloween, so she always has some fun loot to share with the girls.

The official Farmington Elementary Halloween parade!  Andi in her "Spectra" costume.

Abbey at the school parade in her "Abbey Bominable" costume.

Grandpa Luke was kind enough to join us at school parade.  He even carried Ava around the whole time and she loved it.

Abbey's 2nd grade class Halloween program.

Ava sure did get comfortable on Grandpa's shoulders.  :)

Andi and Gigi on Halloween.

My favorite part of the entire Halloween season...Seeing all the Luke cousins in the amazing costumes!  We all met at Grandma and Grandpa Luke's place before we headed out in our own neighborhoods for some trick-or-treating.

From left to right:

Luke as a "miner zombie," Spencer as a referee, Chase as a policeman, Connor (you can barely see him) as a dinosaur), Chloe as Ariel the bride, Lydia as a darling eskimo girl, Noah as a pirate, Carter as the "scream" ghost, baby Bowen as a lion, Abbey as a Monster High doll, Ava as a My Little Pony, and Andi as another Monster High doll.  (Notice Abbey and Andi's wigs...they saved the wigs for Halloween night and boy did they complete the costumes.)

Hangin' out at Mom's.

Noah the Pirate...age 3.

Chase as the best policeman ever.

Headed to our neighbor's for some homemade donuts and then off to trick-or-treat.

Eric was a good sport and took them trick-or-treating this year.  He ended up wearing his infamous Halloween wig.  :)

Look at that lady...Hard to believe it's Andi!

Two peas in a pod.

 

Halloween season is definitely one of the best times of the year.  Hate to see it go.  On to colder months, holidays, and no yard work.  (The latter being my favorite.)

Fall 2013

Here's Eric and Abbey enjoying each other's company one evening.  Isn't that a good picture?

 

Leslie's Baby Bowen got blessed in September.  Here are the girls playing in Leslie's backyard on the blessing day.  Fun day.

Andi helping Daddy Eric clean out his aquarium.  So nice to see them spend time together.  I love it.

One evening the girls performed "on stage" for Eric and me.  Some pretty good tributes to their parents.  :)

This is how I found these two sitting one Friday afternoon.  Andi's sisters were gone, so look who she resorted to...

 

The view from our driveway.  How I love these mountains.  So fun to see the autumn color changes.

House proud. 

I decided that our front door is the perfect autumn color.  Makes for fun fall decorating.

Harry keeping me company while I do yardwork.  Our weekly routine.

I got to tend my friend Carrie's baby, Avery, one afternoon this last month.  She is so dang cute!

Andi made a sign for her room's door.  Made me smile.  Abbey helped her write "room."

On weekday mornings when Abbey and Andi are gone to school, Ava keeps me good company while I workout and get ready.  She often brings coloring books, toys, or puzzles up to my room.  Here she is doing a puzzle.  One thing about Ava is that she knows how to get the job done when it comes to puzzles, blocks, or coloring.  She sticks to those tasks very well.  She's quite persistent and smart as well....if I do say so myself.

One Saturday morning in October we all got up early and ran a family 5k for a Farmington Elementary Fundraiser.  I loved this morning...So fun.

 

Before the race...Being goofballs.  Such cute pictures with Daddy Eric.

During the race Eric pushed the girls in a double stroller while I ran with one of the girls.  They each took turns running and they all did so well!  I was so proud. 

Notice Ava's "jogging" suit.  A perfect outfit for the occasion. 

Love this girl.  She's a good running buddy, come to find out!

Andi looked so cute that day I could just eat her.  I couldn't keep my eyes off her while we were running.

At the finish line!

A yummy new recipe I found...Pumpkin chocolate chip bread.  A perfect fall tradition.

This last month Abbey officially lost her fourth tooth!  I think Andi was more excited for her than Abbey was for herself.  It was a big development in our family.  :)

My mom turned 66 this year.  I just can't believe it. 

This cake is perfectly her...She loves the frosting roses that Dick's bakery makes...(and so does Andi, unfortunately for Mom.)  Each year Mom requests this banana nut flavored-cake that has become a family tradition.  I love it.

Happy birthday, Mom.  Love you so.

One Sunday in October we had the whole Luke family over at our house for a Eric and Mom birthday celebration.  Sure do love my fam.

Grandpa, Luke, and Connor.

Eric's loving his new iPhone that can take panoramic pictures. 

Singing to Grandma.

The birthday boy and his new phone.

Eric's birthday cake alternative.

Ava, cousin Chloe, Andi, and Abbey. 

Ava's recent favorite:  Making grandma give her rubs and tickles.  Grandma's the best at that kind of stuff.

My view each morning as I watch the girls walk into their classrooms after I drop them off.  I always have a hard time seeing them go.  Love them.  Loving this school so far.

Ava having a playdate with her friend, Anni Romano.  They get together almost every Monday.

Bethany's darling baby girl, Gigi.  I get to watch her every Monday now and I LOVE it!  She's a total spaz.  This girl has personality.  She's adventurous, talkative, happy-go-lucky, and she loves to play with the girls.  She follows them around and observes them all day long.  She loves her cousin "Anni" and smiles every time Andi walks in the room.  She also happens to love Harry, which is pretty adorable.  She often requests "mac an cheese" at my house.  She also is very skilled at climbing out of her bed and locking herself in our downstairs bedrooms.  Luckily I found the key.  :)

We were waiting for Andi to come out of kindergarten when I took this picture.  Gigi loves going to pick up "Anni" from school.

Ava the big girl.  Lately one of her favorite things to say is, "I big now because I'm four."

 

In mid-October, we headed down to Pack's Pumpkin Patch in west Farmington for some pumpkins for our porch.  They had hay mazes and all kinds of kid fun.  Can you tell the girls loved it?

They were being their typical "Silly Sister" selves.