Katie's first day of Kindergarten

The anticipation was killing me...notice, I said me. Katie is my oldest, but she is a mini-version of me. She looks like me, acts like me, and frequently I'm startled by things she says to me because it's as if it came out of my mouth (except I'm 31 and she's 5.)

Every time I thought about my baby walking down the hall away from my 4th grade classroom with her hands clasped in her daddy's I cried. I don't know why, but it's like she's growing up, and I can't stop it. I know that sounds silly, but when those big blue eyes look at me and she smiles, I melt. In those small moments, I want everything for her.

I read this mom's blog about letting go of her youngest, and I empathized with her. She explained how her baby girl took off on her first day of Kindergarten totally surprising her. She jumped out of the car, walked down the hall by herself, hung up her backpack and started her day...without her mom. In that instant, I realized that Katie has been ready for Kindergarten the entire time. It was me who wasn't ready. Don't get me wrong. I am so looking forward to the day she brings home a book and reads it cover to cover. The day she runs home to tell me she lost her first tooth at school. The day she tells me a boy was mean and he shoved her (because secretly he thinks she is adorable.)

So, I steeled myself for the worst today. I made Katie her favorite, homemade buttermilk pancakes for breakfast in shapes: heart, flower, and butterfly. She wanted to wear a denim dress and pink flower in her hair (all of this decided last night.) She and I set off at 6:45 AM since I had to be on duty at 7:30. We had an uneventful ride to school, but Katie always keeps me entertained. We drove with the sun rising straight ahead. Katie said, "OH, what a beautiful sight!" We got there, and she was just itching to go to her class, and she couldn't wait for Dave to get there. He finally did. We waited for the principal to make an announcement that they were sending students down to class. Dave took a picture of Katie and I, and off the hall they went. I didn't shed a single tear even though there was a giant lump in my throat. I guess it was 8:20 when Dave came down to let me see the pictures and said she was clingy at first, but as soon as her friend, Julie with the Rapunzel backpack, showed up, she was good to go. :)

I am truly blessed that I work where Katie goes to school. I may not have walked her down to her classroom, but who else gets to see their kid 2-3 times during the day at work. I also get to hear how her day went on the way home before anyone else does. Plus, she practically tackles me when I show up to pick her up from the YMCA. Now, I am thankful for those little things. :)

Snow Day, Yes Please

We lost 4 days of school one week and 1 day the following week due to snow (and ice.) This was Katie's dream come true.

Kenzie didn't really know what to think about all of the snow.

Still Wild at 80

Happy 80th Birthday, Grandpa! He celebrated the big day by having fajitas at his house. Katie, of course, had to help him blow out his candles and help him open his gifts. She is such a good helper. I hope that I'm as spry and lively when I am 80.

Easiest baby ever...

Mackenzie is four months old, and I'm convinced that she may be the easiest baby ever. She has no stranger danger. She hasn't been sick (by now we already had a nebulizer for Katie's asthma.) She smiles at EVERYONE...and very little makes her unhappy. She rarely cries. Dave thinks she is more difficult because she didn't sleep through the night as quick as Katie, and she still has rough nights. If that's our biggest problem, I'll take it. I personally think that if I had Kenzie first, I might have wanted a litter. OH well, two girls it is. Financially, I don't think we can afford more than 2.

Little comedienne

Katie always says the funniest things. No lie, sometimes the things she says border on inappropriate, but I love that she is hilarious. (She probably gets that from me.) The other night we were eating Tyson's Tequila and Lime chicken wings, Katie's favorite. She calls them "chicken and bones." It's pretty quiet at the table. Kenzie is sitting in her bumbo on the table as the centerpiece. All of a sudden, Katie looks at Dave with a dead serious look and says, "You're just like your mother." He says, "How so?" She replies with, "You always lick your fingers when you eat." I almost lost it.

Chrismas Day

Christmas Day is pretty hectic for us. We start the day at our house opening the gifts under the tree. After everything settles down, I make a light breakfast. Then, we get ready to go to Dave's Grandparent's house. We usually get there between 12 and 1. We eat there around 1:30 or 2. Then, we open gifts there. After that, we head to my parent's house around 4:30 or 5 and open gifts there. Then we eat dinner at my parent's around 7....I know it's crazy. But, it's a time with family. Plus, I always have plenty of time to recover (like a week), Dave isn't always so lucky. As the girls get older, it will get easier. It's always difficult with a baby.

Kenzie and her great-grandpa

This picture baffles me. Grandpa Bob didn't used to be a baby hog. He was almost afraid to hold Katie, but he won't let anyone touch Kenzie if has anything to say about it. Check out her hair. :)

Once again, the sis pic

annual family pic

Kenzie spends most of her time at my parent's house in the swing. Katie used to stockpile Cheerios in that little toucan's head.

"Are there any Cheerios in there?"
The annual family photo

Twas the Night Before

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

All the presents were wrapped under the tree.

Santa's cookies and chocolate milk were ready...I mean gone.