What I want my four daughters to know...

"Yes, I have F O U R girls." An almost unanimous response, "good luck and have fun with those teenagers!"  I was a less than desirable tween/teenager to be around, so I know what those people are referencing... but with my four girls, things, for now, seem to be different.

My four girls have an uncanny ability to get along.
Chris and I have always received compliments on how how well they get along, and been told countless times, "you know that is NOT normal."
They love each other, think of each others feelings and for the most part, do not fight.
So the thought of hitting the 'teenage years' and our harmonious family life hitting a brick wall, has kind of caught me off guard. ;)
And if I'm being completely honest, 1/4 way through Lauren's freshman year, I have just started to witness and feel the beginning of changing tides.

Listening, observing, trying to make myself be curious and ask more questions, I am of course not surprised that this growth is happening. In 3-1/2 years, she's to be adult-like enough to leave our nest, and fly on her own... she's spreading her wings and I am trying to embrace it, and love her for it.

I just need help along they way.
I have been listening to Parenting Teens with Love & Logic (and need a work book for all the notes I take ;) and just stumbled across this blog and website, Her View From Home.
Breath taking.
They gifted me a free e-book, Do More than just survive your Tween/Teen Daughter and I bawled.

So I'm putting it here for safe keeping... for reference for myself, and for them... and for any other girl mom out there who needs a bit of inspiration. 

Halloween 2019

Made me want to go back in time... when Halloween was one of the most hectic holidays EVER!! And how much I love comparison pictures... and they increasingly become more and more difficult to find - so here's a few PLUS 2019 pictures - you are welcome Lydia & LeaAnn ;) 

5-years ago, 2014 - Lauren (9) in 4th, Lindsay (8) in 2nd, Lydia (4 - almost 5) in 4-yr-old PreK and LeaAnn (3) at Barb's :)

4-years ago - 2015 - Lauren in 5th on crutches, Lindsay 3rd (the same age as LeaAnn right now?!?), Lydia Kindergarten and LeaAnn 4-yr-old PreK

2019 - HOW are LeaAnn and Lindsay both in 3rd grade in these pictures....

3 years ago - 2016 in the rental house - Harry putting a spell on Alice ;) - Lauren in 6th & Lindsay in 4th

Lydia 1st and LeaAnn in Kindergarten

Lola was in Australia this year!

2017 - all my pictures from this year are on a different hard drive - b/c I had not edited them yet! ahaha!! I need to get them off of there and onto here - I will do that! :D
We were days away from moving out of the rental and into our home and I was turning 40... and the only reason I have any Halloween pictures is b/c Mimi drove out to rescue me and she was here to take these pictures!!

Lindsay 5th, Lydia 2nd and LeaAnn 1st

LAST YEAR, 2018 - in our home - Lindsay 6th, Lydia 3rd and LeaAnn in 2nd

And then 2019 - Lauren left for Indianapolis for National FFA Convention as a freshman in high school...

Not many pictures of Red Ribbon week for this 3rd and 4th graders.. but here was Wacky Wednesday :)

And a picture from Career Day b/c I was subbing for Mrs. Beatty! An artist and a referee :)

A few group pictures from Lauren at National Convention

And Halloween day at school - I was fortunate enough to help with Lydia's 4th grade class!

with Whitney

and Kyle

the Middle School student council members putting on the dance :)

It was cold... but they still had a great time :)