Happy 7th D-man!

Once upon a time I had this adorable toddler.

Then he had a few birthdays and turned into a pretty amazing SEVEN year old.

A rather amazing, rather energetic seven year old.

One who has learned that a little drama is necessary in order to keep up with his big sisters...

Seriously though, it seems like just yesterday that this guy was celebrating the day he turned three, which was his first birthday home with us.

But when I ask him if he's three, four or even five he just keeps flashing seven fingers at me.  I suppose that he does look older.  Thank goodness his eyes still disappear when his face breaks into a full grin!

Daniel, at seven you are totally into Pokemon.  You were just a little excited to receive your mega pack of new cards from us.

You also adore Chinese food.  Especially noodles.  And you get a bit glazy-eyed when you talk about "that sauce with the chicken" from Pei Wei.  (Honey seared chicken).  I think you also are a sucker for the free-style Coca-cola machine, but whatever.  You chose Pei Wei as your birthday dinner spot several weeks in advance and smiled as you slurped your noodles and enjoyed the rare treat of a soft drink with refills.

Another love of yours right now is baseball.  Actually any sport makes you happy, but you love...and I do mean LOVE...to play baseball in the front yard with your daddy.  I was so happy to find a set of bases for you to use at the Dollar Tree when I went to pick up wrapping paper.  Seriously, I think this $1 gift made you just as excited as your Pokemon cards.

And then there was your cake.  Buddy, it's a good thing you don't play cards for a living.

Because "You have a great poker face" is not something anyone will ever be able to say about you.
Ever.

You asked for a Pokeball cake, so I did the best this "Pinterest-fail mom" could do.

And you loved it.

Thanks buddy.

D, You are a blast of energy in our family.  If you aren't snuggling or sleeping, you are in motion.  While you can pitch a fit with the best of 'em, you can also be one of the most loving kids I know.  And I love how you are in tune with your heavenly Father.  It's not uncommon to hear you comment how nice it was for God to paint us a beautiful sunset or give us nice flowers to smell.
I'm blessed to be on the receiving end of those million dollar smiles of yours and sometimes can't believe I get the honor of calling you my son.

I love you and I like you.

Always.

the littles {a monumental day}

Today was a big day for the two littlest folks in our house.

He turned seven.

SEVEN!  Why oh why does that sound so much older than six?

And if that wasn't enough to nearly cause a break down...she waltzed out of the house for her first real day of kindergarten.

For the love!

More on both of their exciting days to come.  But before my head hits the pillow tonight I have to forever record one of the moments I'll treasure forever that these two shared this morning.

As we walked into the school building she asked him to show her where her room was.  Taking his role of big brother ever so seriously, he guided her to turn down the kindergarten hall.  Then he grabbed her hand, and said, "Don't worry Nata-wee, I'll show you where your classroom is.  Remember you are right beside me!"

And away they walked.

In a perfect world this would have been taken on my "big girl camera" from a stationary spot instead of on my phone while walking.  But I just couldn't miss the moment...

letterland parade {my Fix it Max}

Kindergarten.

Such a magical time.  I have loved reliving the beginning of school experience with my children.  Perhaps my love for that first year traces back to my own kindergarten experience.  I can still picture Ms. Ratchford's kind face and hear Ms. Burgess's reassuring voice.  They were instrumental in my positive school experience.

The only thing I recall not loving about that year was how we learned about letters.  Back when I was in kindergarten the phonics program "du jour" was The Letter People.  I don't remember much about them beyond that only the vowels were female and I didn't think that was cool because "my letter" was a boy.

Fast forward a few decades and my kids are beginning their school careers.  It has been so fun to watch their little minds soak up information like sponges.  They have increased their way of thinking with numbers, changed their huge, shaky penmanship to something more legible, and started to learn to read.  Considering my disappointment with the Letter People, I guess you could say I wasn't crushed to learn that current phonics programs have changed.

Our school uses Letterland.  While K is still a boy character, at least now they are about 50/50, so I guess that's okay.  Besides, they love going on secret adventures to Letterland to visit Annie Apple, Clever Cat, Kicking King, and one of our favorites, FiX it MaX.

Once the kindergarten students begin to slow down their visits to Letterland, (you know, because they get it already) they have a parade around the school.  Each child comes up with a way to represent their character and the five classes proudly make two laps around the building, often with the other grades sitting in the hallway cheering them on.

Of course Nat and I had to attend to smile for our FiX it MaX.

Clever Cat, FiX it MaX and Firefighter Fred

MaX was a little upset that what he felt was a critical piece of his costume, a carriage bolt,  came off moments before the parade.  Thankfully he managed to hold it together and march on.

It's the simple joys.

even now, barely six months later i can hardly believe how much he's grown...

Can't kindergarten last forever?

March 10, 2015

Wordless Wednesday {studious?}

kindergarten is here!

Some kids cry on their first day of kindergarten.
We had one that cried.

Some kids are okay that first day of kindergarten, but express apprehension in the weeks leading up. 

We had one who expressed such apprehension.

Some kids don't cry, but cling to your hand as if you are their lifeline as you enter the school on the first day of kindergarten and ask for ten hugs before you go.

We had one clinging hugger.

Some kids are excited about their first day of kindergarten, but retain decorum as they prepare.

We had one with calm excitement.

And then there are the ones who simply couldn't wait and meet the day head on...

The only thing that could deflate her was being told it was still 10 minutes before we'd be heading to school.

Our Natalie.

I asked her to show me how she felt about starting to school today.  This is what I got.

peace signs proof that you can take the girl out of china, but you can't take china out of the girl...

Anyone that knows her understands.  This is Nat in a nutshell.

Our little one who models that big things (like personalities) come in small packages.

A little update on HoHo (her beloved stuffed monkey)...
Yesterday she told me I could take HoHo back home with me to keep me company when she went to school.  At the last minute it was decided she would take a stow away in her "back-cack."  You know, just in case...

Finally it was time for us to go.

And she was all business.  No "dazzletating" pace of the grown ups for Natalie.

She was not about to slow her steps to walk with Ian and I.

No sir, she was ready to get there and was paces ahead with her siblings and friends.

We had to step up our strides to keep up with her once inside the building.

She found a cubby,

and then a desk,

 and got down to business.

One last smile and wave...which actually felt somewhat like a dismissal...and it was clear she was ready for us to move on.  

Could it really only have been two years ago that she walked into our lives with not a word of English under her belt?  Yet there I was this morning, leaving my baby behind in our sweet little neighborhood school.  It was hard to walk away ~ I'm thankful Ian decided to work from home this morning and grateful that he insisted on taking me out to brunch ~ yet I know without a doubt that she's ready.  

Watch out kindergarten, the spicy one has arrived!

so long summer

Say what?

Summer is over?  It just can't be so...

And yet my "experienced crew" was all smiles this morning.

After all, they did get great assignments regarding their teachers this year.  Each one seems to have gotten a teacher that matches at least one of their personality traits.  And it doesn't hurt that each kid has a number of friends in class.

So after expressing their true inner selves, we packed up and headed to school...with friends of course.

Today started the fifth year of our families walking to school together in the mornings.

It's nothing short of entertaining for sure.

And this year the crowd staying at school will be getting one larger.  Itty Bit goes for her kindergarten evaluation day tomorrow.

Thankfully she told me the monkey can come home with me to keep me company.  

Nat's adventure to follow...

five dragons

It's really happening...five D dragons this year! Looks like each kid has a great fit teacher. 

Now, what's Mama gonna do with her time?

laundry drama

A short while back my mom suggested a brilliant time saver...leaving clothes turned inside out if the kids threw them into the laundry basket that way (admittedly a struggle for my OCD tendencies) to cut a few minutes when folding laundry.
Apparently one of my loves thought it was a fluke for a while, but finally started to realize that they were having to flip t-shirts and pajama pants around and exclaimed,"Mommy! Why are you turning my clothes inside out when you wash them?"
I replied that I was simply leaving clothing the way it entered the washer and said child came back with, "Well...why would you do that? Are you trying to ruin my life?"

Drama much my love? (As soon as you are tall enough to reach the washing machine buttons...)

not so much country kids...

I may have grown up a country girl, but my kids...apparently notsomuch.
Evidence?
On our two mile hike around a nearby lake today, one sweet love loudly proclaimed, "Hey, look at the flock of chickens!"

Umm...at least they have wings?  
Time to visit a farm.

junior engineers

Squeezing in a little engineering time before school starts.

Who said summer break is "just play?"

We <3 our children's museum!