We've had a full and fun summer, blessed with lots of giggles, park playing, water fun, friends and family visits. In early June, you stayed with Grammi and Papa in Marysville for the week to attend Vacation Bible School at the Methodist Church. It was a new experience for you and Grammi said it wasn't always easy to drop you off and leave you crying at the door, but once you calmed down, you seemed to enjoy it and certainly learned a lot. You're still singing some of the songs and came home with a big bag of crafts, just like I did when I was little! One of your summer highlights was (of course) your birthday, which we had at the shelter in the park up the street. We wanted to make a great memory in that park so that whenever we drive by, you'll remember being surrounded and celebrated by your loved ones when you turned 4. It was a HOT day, but we had coolers full of water, tea and lemonade. We ate pizza, snacks, and one of Grandma Jeanne's famous cakes (a princess castle with waffle cones as towers). Grammi and Papa helped us set up (what would we do without grandparents?) and lots of your preschool friends, neighbors and other loved ones came. When it came to pinata time, we couldn't figure out how to hang it, so Daddy used jumper cables. It was hilarious, and it got the job done! The weekend after your birthday, we took a family vacation to Colorado. You and Jalen had a blast. We stayed in some "all-American" motels along the way and you bonded with Uncle Mark's daddy, Mr. Davidson, who we stayed with in Denver. We also spent time with Auntie Tami, Uncle Dick and Aunt Nan, Canyon and Autumn in Golden. You've grown to know and love them very much, just like Mommy does. We saw the Royals and Rockies play a game at Coors Field and enjoyed a great fireworks display afterward! Back in KC, we visited the farm of one of Daddy's friends out in the country. They have their own cow for milk, chickens for eggs and a huge garden. You and Jalen ran all around, blew bubbles with all the kids and had a blast. At the end of July, you and I picked Grandma Jeanne up in Leavenworth for a girls' weekend. We headed for Lincoln to stay at Aunt Julie's, picked her up and headed to Columbus to meet Aunt Kathy at Grandma Seal's. We spent the weekend playing with all your favorite toys at Gma Seal's, visiting old cemeteries to learn about some of your ancestors, eating at favorite places (Glur's -- your Great Grandpa Walt's favorite hangout), shopping at thrift stores, and seeing some of the places that were special to Daddy's family when they were all growing up. They also taught us songs that GGpa Walt taught them when they were little -- Mares Eat Oats and The Handkerchief Song. You loved that we set aside this "girls time" and we plan to do it again next year for our third annual visit! Even though I've been so busy with my work, I've been trying to spend as much one-on-one time with you as possible to help you know how precious you are to me (Daddy does this too -- he spends a lot of time helping you to discover your inner-strength and building your confidence in different ways.) You continue to play pretend every day. Yesterday we got the entire Muppet Babies cartoon series from the 1980's in the mail. I ordered it because it was all about using imagination and heaven knows yours is incredible! (plus, Daddy and I LOVED it when we were kids.) You continue to grow, overcome fears, try new things (with a little nudge from us!) and reach out in new ways to the people around you. Lastly, my favorite new tradition we've started is each night you and I climb the stairs to my prayer room and light candles to pray for our loved ones and others in the world who are in need. It has made our prayer time very special. You choose 2 towns on the world map for us to pray for each night and then you climb into my arms in the rocking chair and I hum you the lullaby your Great Gram Eileen used to sing to me when I was little. We both savor this time. I can barely hold you on my lap anymore, but I will do it as long as I can until you're ready for me to let go.

You are a delightful, imaginative, sensitive, curious and generous little human being. I think your favorite thing in the world right now is giving people gifts that you've chosen especially for them. The other day you and Grandma Jeanne went shopping and you were overjoyed when she let you choose a gift for Daddy, Jalen and I. You even chose special wrapping paper for each of us. You're getting a little braver about some things -- you're not quite the daredevil your brother is (which is FINE with me!) Your curiosity is more about ideas, feelings, how things work and why people do what they do. Music has helped to ease the slight fear of nighttime you had. I put in a soothing yoga CD every night and press "repeat" so it'll play all night long. (If you wake up and don't hear it, you come and let us know!) You rarely wake up, though. You play hard all day long -- constantly imagining, asking us to pretend to be this or that queen, stepsister, princess or villain. You're completely devoted to your brother. You call him J-Boy or Tooty. When we wake up in the morning, you're already in his room reading him books and entertaining him. You love to play Granny's Trunk in the car and with your excellent memory, you're good at it! You've become, to our surprise, a barefoot summer girl. Papa pointed it out when we were visiting Marysville recently and you were running all over the yard, just like Mommy used to. You used to hate letting your feet touch the grass and just last week i watched you running through the sprinkler with the kids in our yard during a neighborhood block party -- loving every moment. You've become quite social -- Miss Natalie says you love to "mother hen" the kids at school -- especially Miss Natalie's grandson Rory and your twin best friends Isabelle and Sophi. You're beyond excited for your birthday party, which we're planning to have at the park down the street. You can't decide if you want the boys to be princes or pirates. The girls, of course, will be invited to be princesses. You've been calling it your "Princess Birthday Surprise Tea Party." Last night Izabella and Isaiah Morris came over to play and as you all ran to the park, i watched you trying to keep up with the older kids. Your little legs were going so fast. You'd stop and pant for a few moments and keep going. I knew you'd get there eventually, but my heart just ached as I watched you try so hard to catch up and feel like you were as fast as the others. I wanted so much to pick you up and run with you and save you from feeling "less than" anyone. I know this isn't for me to do. There are things you'll have to figure out for yourself in your life (and as your daddy reminds me, you'll be all the stronger for it!) There will be things you're great at -- and other things you'll have to let go of. It is pure joy watching you grow and discover the gifts God has given you. Hopefully, Daddy and I are like gardeners. We'll help give you plenty of sunlight and water, but you'll do the growing. Even now, we're learning to stand back and marvel at the beauty as your life unfolds.

Growing, Wondering, Learning, Loving

It's so much fun watching you grow and change, Josephine -- you're always discovering something new, asking questions, wanting to talk about feelings, wondering about people. Often you'll be off playing and I don't realize how deep in thought you are. Suddenly you'll stop and ask me a deep question I can tell you've been pondering for a long time. You're quite sensitive (Grammi says you get that from me!) The other night you were crying big crocodile tears in your bed and when I asked why, you said, "Because I'm afraid of bedbugs and because Lamby (your favorite stuffed animal) lost his smile." We rescued Lamby and Grammi thankfully sewed back on. (You still tear up when you think about it though!) You also came up with the idea to hang a "No Bedbugs Allowed" sign on our door. You love to dance to Johnny Cash music - especially "Get a Rhythm" and "Boy Named Sue." Your favorite radio station is KLOVE and you love the songs "Light Up the Sky" and "You Never Let Go." Whenever you hear one of them, you get so excited and often we jump on the bed while listening to them on youtube. They're both about God's never-ending love for us, which I'm so happy you're absorbing at such a young age. You like to sing us songs-- making them up as you go--and hearing your little singing voice is the sweetest thing. (Almost as wonderful as hearing your laughter!) Your daddy can make you laugh like no one else, by the way. You're feeling very "grown-up" these days in your own way and sometimes you use a really "mature," low voice to let us know that. (However, we're doing everything we can to help you savor every moment of childhood and not grow up too fast!) One expression I'll always remember from you is, "What in the WORLD are you talkin' about?"You continue to love helping with Jalen -- you two have such a strong bond. You've begun making your bed every morning and folding clothes (two things you're very proud of). You love going to Sunday school in the "Blue Room" at church and you continue to learn so much at your school, Little Sprouts. Your best friends there are Rory and the twins Isabel and Sophie. You really enjoy handwriting (you're getting very good at writing your alphabet -- especially your name. In fact, as I was writing this, Miss Natalie called to tell me you'd written your full name along with "Paige" and "Jalen" all by yourself. I'm guessing Daddy's will be next...) You're starting to read a little, sounding words out, always wanting to point out certain ones in your books. You grind coffee for me at school every day and never tire of "surprising" us at the end of the day with your creations. I think one of your strong love languages is gift giving. You always want to buy flowers or a treat for someone you love. Spring is on the way and it will be wonderful to get to play outside with you again. We've decided to have a party to celebrate the beginning of each season. Last weekend in Marysville we visited Orscheln to see the baby chicks and pretend to ride the lawn mowers (this is becoming an annual early spring event and you were extra proud to share it with your brother this year.) You picked out seeds to grow in a little indoor flower garden. You help us to appreciate the little wonders in every season -- snow, sunsets, stars, rainbows, rivers, animals, growing things -- so many questions and observations that remind us how incredible God's world is. What a precious gift you are!

So much happens in a few months when you're little...i suppose it happens when you're big too, but having little ones like you helps me stop and savor the details! November brought our annual family Christmas/reunion with the Kopetzkys in Lincoln at Aunt Julie's. Each time we visit Nebraska, you become more and more fond of Grandma Jeanne's brothers and sisters. You still freak out about the Yardleys' little dogs, but I think it's more for dramatic effect than anything at this point! Grandma Jeanne had surgery last month and you had your first real visit to someone in the hospital at KU Med Center. Thankfully, she's fully on the mend now! However, we stayed around for Thanksgiving this year instead of traveling like we usually do. Gpa Carl joined us for dinner and we put up Christmas decorations... You continue to love sharing "firsts" with your brother and his face lights up when you come around. We left him with Daddy, though, for your first visit to the symphony. Grammi, Papa, Kristin Morris and I took you and Izabella to the KC Symphony's Christmas show. You girls looked so cute all dressed up. It was a nice way to welcome the holiday season. We spent a good old-fashioned Christmas at Grandma Seal's in Columbus, making cookies sharing memories and playing games. Santa delivered a Disney Cinderella castle for you -- it was on your list (Daddy thought it was so sweet that your Santa list included "A floaty for Jalen" before you asked for anything for yourself.) We spent a few days with your great grandparents in Des Moines, too. The biggest thing that's happened to you in the last few months was our long-awaited Disneyworld vacation. On December 6th, Daddy, you and I flew to Orlando to meet Grammi and Papa for 2 days at Disneyworld and 3 days on a Disney cruise. For some reason, Florida had a cold spell while we were there and we dressed just like we did back home - sweaters and winter coats! But it didn't bother you one bit. From the moment you saw the real Cinderella castle, your little face lit up like never before. Fortunately, your dad is a video guru and captured many precious moments on film. Each day we woke up and prayed together as a family -- asking God to lead us and help us to enjoy every moment. We were blessed in so many ways -- showing up in just the right place at just the right time. We seemed to wander into parades and shows and character appearances when we didn't have a clue what was going on, as if led by a loving Hand. My favorite was the night of the Christmas parade when we ducked into an eating place to warm up and suddenly a dance party started (you LOVE dance parties) and Chip and Dale showed up. We've never seen you dance so much! The Christmas parade was a special event that Grammi got us passes to and it was spectacular. You were enthralled by all the floats with so many characters. Around the park each day you saw many of the characters from your favorite movies (princesses, Toy Story and good ol' Mickey and friends.) In fact, when we'd see Mickey and Minnie you'd say, "There's Ol' Mick and Ol' Min!" (Undoubtedly, you heard Papa say this at some point...) You loved the rides -- "It's a Small World" was your first ride in the Magic Kingdom. Your Dad, grandparents and I just loved watching you take it all in. We were all in tears (or close!) at various points. The highlight of our time at the park was surely lunch with Cinderella at her castle. We heard a knock on the door of our hotel room one night and there was an invitation (carefully crafted by Grammi) inviting you to a royal lunch at with your favorite princess. You wore your little Cinderella dress and met Cinderella for photos before lunch. She was so sweet and even took extra time with you. Then, you joined many other mini-princesses in the castle for an incredibly delicious lunch topped off by a dessert with all your favorite elements - ice cream, chocolate, sprinkles and marshmallows! We made so many wonderful memories. I'll never forget pushing you around in that almost-too-small-for-you stroller or how you'd put your arms up to beg someone to carry you. None of us minded - we were just delighted to share the experience! Your daddy and I had an acronym that we lived by during our vacation (and we hope to continue at home!) B.H.N. (Be Here Now) It helped us to savor even the ordinary moments - standing in lines, bus rides, etc. The cruise was a whole new world for you - a boat bigger than anything you'd ever seen, our room with a big round window looking out at the ocean and your own little bed to snuggle into(that you absolutely loved), Mickey, Minnie and their friends showing up everywhere, broadway-style shows every night (including Toy Story, the musical!), the kids club where you could go and hang out with other princesses and pirates, all kinds of your favorite foods all day long. You still talk about swimming in Mickey's ear (the boat had a pool shaped like Mickey's head). We sailed to Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, for one day and Papa and Daddy persuaded you to go out into the ocean water a little. You just don't like the feel of sand on your feet, but maybe that will change one day! You did love watching everyone - you did a lot of observing on this trip -- just soaking it all in. I pray some of your favorite moments will stay in your heart for always! A couple of fun things about 3 1/2-year-old you: You love putting things to bed - princesses, stuffed animals -- i even walked in one night and found your nativity characters lying on their backs. Guess they have to sleep too! :0) You've heard the phrase "no flash photography" a lot lately, and you like to say it when you are making various announcements. You love to tell stories (which are peppered with the word "like" -- we're wondering where you picked this up!) and you like to sing made-up songs in a very high voice. Prayer has become a part of your young life and it is a delight to year you talk to God in your own way. Just today you could tell I was having a rough time and I heard you quietly asking that He help Mommy to be not so grouchy -- not surprisingly, my day turned around and you were delighted. Tomorrow we'll celebrate the first day of 2011 - I'm sure it will be a year of so much learning and loving for you!

Lovely autumn, delightful You...

Josephine, you are a delight at 3 years old. Constant energy, always wanting to play pretend (where you're the mommy and i'm the daughter, or Daddy's the prince and Jalen is your baby), never wanting to miss a party (you LOVE people - i can just see your little extroverted lightbulb come on when you find out we're having company). You had a blast at our first garage sale and made $2.50 there at your first lemonade stand with your buddy Sarah. People would come to the sale and you'd ask if they were thirsty. You also tried to sell them stuff they didn't need (like a giant box of plastic Easter eggs..) One of my favorite memories of you at 3 will be when I'd drop you off at preschool and you'd wave at me at the window (you do this with Daddy too). There's this window at Little Sprouts that looks out onto the path leading out of the school. Whenever we drop you off, we can see you through the window jumping up and down, waving, flashing "i love you" in sign language with your little fingers. You've become very independent -- insisting on helping to pick out baby brother's clothes and fresh diapers. You always point to my clothes and say, "Mommy, did you wear that to bed?" If I answer, "yes," you rush to my closet to pick out my outfit for the day too...You will often see something during the day that makes you curious and then much later you will bring it up and want to talk about it. It's usually about peoples' feelings. "Why was that lady crying?" or "Why was Nemo's daddy mad at him?" You're still a great eater. I make this new breakfast called "5 M&M oatmeal" -- oatmeal, milk, peanut butter with 5 M&M's hidden in it. You always ask for blue ones. You love it that you and daddy both like the color blue and you and he always play the "blue" game in the car -- pointing out every blue thing you can spot. We got rid of the little potty a few weeks ago and now you're all about the adult toilet and feeling very grown-up. You say when you're an adult you will be able to enjoy coffee, gum and wine (in moderation, as we've discussed several times...) Just this week, you've really picked up on writing your own name -- something we're very proud of. I can't bring myself to throw away ANYTHING that has your precious handwriting on it! There's a keepsake box filling up fast. One day you'll go through it and perhaps some fond memories will return. This weekend is Halloween and you've decided to be a nurse. You became fascinated by nurses during Jalen's baby check-ups. The nurse would leave the room and you'd pick up her clipboard, cross your legs and start asking questions about the baby's diet and sleeping habits. You enjoyed 2 pancake breakfasts in 2 weeks recently -- one at Leavenworth's First City Festival (which Gma and Gpa D help organize each year.) The other was a local festival in Mission where I took you and Jalen early one morning. You were in heaven 'cause you'd eat pancakes and sausage every day if you could! Last week we went to the Husker game in Lincoln and you and Jalen (J-Boy, as you call him) stayed with Aunt Julie and Great Grandma Seal. You had a blast and scored all sorts of fun treats and gifts -- even a cheerleading outfit and your first set of Husker pom-pons! (The Bradfords gave you some KU ones, which are at Grammi and Papa's, so you have your mom's alma mater covered too!) You still love your "sleep-overs" at Grandma Jeanne's and your visits to Marysville, where you spend lots of time outside with Papa. Our long walks with the stroller have ended, so we'll be snuggling in together during these chilly fall evenings. (You still ask almost daily to go to the park though. You just love to swing!) You continue to remind me to savor little everyday things like leaves falling, raindrops, kisses, playing Ariel and Ursula in the bathtub, finding unusual treasures outdoors, and cheering with all your might for football games even when you have no idea what's going on. You're thrilled to have your dad back home more since baseball season ended. You helped Grammi make and decorate a cake celebrating the last game of the season. We're still learning as we go with you. We've never done this parenting thing before, but your Daddy and I continue to ask our loving God for wisdom as we help to guide you through these early years of your life. Your mommy has been a perfectionist for far too long and you and Jalen are sure helping me get over that! We will never be perfect parents, but we will always love and support you as best we know how and we will point you toward your Creator who will be your constant companion throughout your life. We love you, Josephine Francis-Jean! Here's to a fun fall season with our precious 3-year-old girl.

3 Years Young...

Dear Girl,

I don't even know where to start. The last few months you have grown by leaps and bounds in so many ways. Suddenly, you sound so "grown-up" when we have conversations. I catch myself wondering, "Now when did this child grow from a baby into a little girl (who loves to think of herself as a BIG girl!) ?

You love to "chit-chat" (as you call it) and we often do that while riding along in the car. You are SO curious about how things work, about relationships and why people do what they do, how they are feeling, what they need, etc. You still love giving gifts to people and you always have something in your folder at school for Daddy or myself. (Most often a little baggie of freshly ground coffee from Miss Natalie's old fashioned coffee grinder at school - you know what your Mom likes!) Our hearts melt when we find something on the rug by the front door or on our night stands - some little token of love you've likely picked up outside somewhere. You've enjoyed spending nights with both sets of grandparents this summer and we've gone on quite a few excursions. A few weeks ago at Great Grandma Seal's in Columbus, we visited old cemeteries where some of your ancestors were buried. You decided to give tours stopping at various head stones and telling how each person died. It wasn't gruesome at all (usually you said they were shot like the guy in one of your favorite books - Pocohontas) and each story ended happily with the person going to Heaven. The thing that makes everyone laugh is how matter-of-factly you tell your stories. You love to "read" cards from the mail, often launching into an extensive speech about what each one says. We just returned from Colorado where you got to spend time with your Papa's brother, Dick, and his family. You've been enthralled since the day you met Dick's daughter Tami the kindergarten teacher. She painted your finger and toenails for the first time (I couldn't believe you sat still!) You chose the color blue cause that's you and your daddy's favorite. She also taught you songs that you want to sing all the time now. You're definitely testing your boundaries these days -- learning how much you can get away with and finding out that while your mom and dad love you, we are determined not to spoil you. You've also been into debating various topics. It amuses us, but after awhile we have to ignore you. We don't want to raise a "negative nelly"! I still think you could live on pancakes and m&m's, but you're very good about eating the variety of food we offer you (after which, of course, you're promised a "treat" :0) You've become very good at drawing and have done some portraits on your magna-doodle that have made us chuckle. You really love to run, and that makes your Papa smile, of course. Last night I took you and Jalen on a looooong walk to get TCBY and you ran almost the whole way! Today you are hanging out with Grandma Jeanne - having one of your "slumber parties," which involves movies, treats, books and lots of loving attention. When Daddy and I hear your voice on the phone we agree it's the sweetest ever. You're a handful, little one, but in a good way. Surely God has brought you to us to help us grow in so many ways -- patience, purity, letting go, rediscovering the world around us, sharing unconditional love...to name a few.

You're almost 3!

Here's what I'll remember most about when you were almost three: Your little voice saying, "You be Drizella and I'll be Anastasia" (Cinderella's stepsisters). OR, "You be Ariel and I'll be Ursula" (of The Little Mermaid) or some form of prince/princess/fairytale makebelieve. The way you are full of energy from the moment you open your eyes in the morning! How much you're beginning to love school at Little Sprouts (I have a hunch it has to do with socializing.) You've made some good friends there and you all love playing princess and mommy/daughter together. Every day you come home reporting that you picked and ate fresh tomatoes or strawberries and when we pick you up you're so excited to show us what's in your work folder (usually the "letter of the day" with your bright scribbles all over it.) You like to use Miss Natalie's old fashioned coffee grinder to grind coffee for mommy and you proudly bring home baggies of it for me to brew. I think one of your love languages is gift giving as you're always leaving little treats for people. For instance, I came home the other day and found 2 M&M's placed strategically on the door mat and I knew you'd left them there for your dad and I. Mine was green because you know that's my favorite color. You also love to leave special rocks, sticks and leaves for us. You continue to adjust to having baby brother around, always wanting to see him first thing in the morning and share a toy with him. Lately, in our pretend play you've designated him either "Aurora" (Sleeping Beauty) or "Ogre Baby" (Shrek-style). He just smiles and seems to play along. You seem to be really interested in humor lately, often saying silly things and laughing hysterically. Also, you've been using attaching the word "poop" to as many words as you can. You love pretending to have birthday parties and plan surprises. The other day, you told me to come into the bathroom and close my eyes. Then, you lifted the lid of your potty seat and proudly yelled, "SURPRISE!" I'll spare you the details of what I saw. Needless to say, you can get excited about pretty much anything. We've been going to lots of birthday parties lately. I try to plan outings for us on my days off work -- The zoo (a goose bit you during our picnic lunch - you were very brave and we giggled about it later), Deanna Rose Farmstead, Old Shawnee Days parade, park visits, etc. You love going for 'round-the-block walks with Daddy and I in the evenings (you and jalen ride in the double stroller.) In fact, anything you get to do with your Dad is special. He savors his time with you, especially during baseball season. Perhaps your favorite thing lately is to sit in the driver's seat of the car and pretend to be the mommy while i sit in the passenger seat and feed your brother. (I usually play the part of "big sister" but the roles change constantly.) My favorite thing is still dancing with you to Neil Diamond, "Forever in Blue Jeans" in our "twirly dresses." One very special memory was taking you to Marysville for Memorial Day. That's always been a tradition in my family, and I'm so grateful to be able to pass it on to you and baby brother. You're definitely just learning about life - how much to test the boundaries, how to socialize, how much you want to fit in and how much you want to be your own unique self, etc. We savor our moments with you and I pray that you'll take your own sweet time growing up. Each day I have to lay down my desire to "control" what happens in your life and put it all in the hands of our loving God. There are no better hands to be in! We love you, precious girl.