Counting Down to Kindergarten

One week from today, the beautiful-eyed baby girl who first made me a momma will head down the big hallway of learning for the first time.

 

I've read the articles. I've boohooed at other blog posts, choked up during conversations. I get it. We all do it at some point, in one aspect or another. We all realize that life is achingly and beautifully moving forward, and that our children are no longer looking up at us to carry them, but looking over their shoulder at us as they walk away to nod to them that they can do it themselves.

 

You will have the best time, my love.

You are so eager and ready to learn. You have a thirst for creativity, and a heart for others.

 

We have prayed for you. I have prayed over your school, your teacher and your friends. I have prayed so hard.

 

We have talked about how you are a little nervous to eat lunch, because you "like to take your time." And it tickles me that you view eating as such an important social aspect, because there's nothing I love more than a good meal with good company.

 

We went shopping for your first outfit, we picked out your back pack and loaded it up with the school supplies. Yesterday on the way home you told me that you didn't take a nap "because we don't nap in kindergarten, and I need to test it out." Valid argument. You have suddenly decided to start getting dressed, making your bed and brushing your teeth before I even see you in the mornings, and I'm not quite sure what lucky charm I tripped over but WOW and THANK YOU.

 

You have started counting down the days until you find out who your teacher is, and your first day of school, and I stand back soaking in your sweet excitement laced with nervousness, trying to hide the fact that I don't remember when you mastered complex conversations or your days of the week, because babies just don't do that, and aren't you still that chunky little baby?

 

 

I could never thank our sweet Jesus enough that He has given us the opportunity for you to start not only at such a wonderful school, but to also have your Daddy there with you. I have no doubt that He knew my innermost heart, and He knew before it was even a thought in my mind that my nerves would need it. The stories that are weaved in the heavens are just too good sometimes.

 

Here's to you, beautiful girl.

You are going to rock it out in Kindergarten!!

 

Love,

Momma

 

 

 

The Start of Summer

* I started this post a month ago. But in keeping things relative, it's still much more timely than my previous posts this year. My Mama says it's all about perspectives and a positive outlook!


 My theory is that Pre-K graduation is mostly so that the parents can begin to brace themselves for high school.
Because this. So excited, so proud, and so glad they could finally go inside and eat cake.

Through mosquitos, sweat and now tears, we relocated the garden. And added two. The good is that our yard has lots of shade - the bad is that our yard has lots of shade - the ugly is that many of my plants are now remaining miniature because they need much less shade.

BUT, my basil is an overachiever this year. And pesto makes everything better!

 

 

The girls have been very excited this year to go over to Ms. Amber's pool whenever possible this summer. 

 

As a pre-Father's Day gift to himself, Ben won a few golf tournaments. Hottie.

 

And a caricature artist perfectly captioned one of my sweetest friends, Emily, and I, better than anyone can even imagine. Priceless.

 

 

Will Run For Food!!

xo dae

Tell us how you really feel.

You know, I always wondered before I had my second about how her personality would start showing. I remembered with the first that it was so fun to see her bloom into a person with opinions, likes and dislikes, and firm stances on whether or not she would touch grass with her feet or scoop out the inside of a pumpkin.
Her personality was one of many words. Quotes in a journal for that one.

We are figuring out that the second has a personality that sometimes uses less words, but lots of faces to get the point across.

Example.
Last night at bedtime, we were trying to be very stern with the 'stay in your bed' speech (and all God's parents said, AMEN). 
I can assure you, we were not being taken very seriously.

We get faces like this.

"No happy picture. You made me stop eating the bucket full of strawberries. And this is how I feel about it."

"Better yet, I'll just undress my happy little self while you go pick those strawberries."

 

 

"And no, I will not pose. This is my pose."

 

 

 

There are some nights we have to leave the room in tears, because we are trying to stifle the laughs so hard that it's painful.

 

Those two bring more laughter, more learning and more richness to life.

 

And much less sleep.

 

xo dae

October and then April

And it goes by about this fast.
But it's time to document a little bit more, so here we go.


First there was Halloween. Sweet little pumpkins.

 

 

 

 

Then there was Thanksgiving. So much fun, and so blessed.

And, so much macaroni and cheese. We do it up right.

 

 

And then Christmas. And we managed to pick a tree that actually fit in our living room this year!

 

 

 

 

There has been feasting and celebrating. And I am rich in love because of friends like these.

 

 

 

And these. Two of the sweetest friends that show what pure friendship is really like.

And we were able to go see The Nutcracker. Precious.

 

 

 

There was Christmas time, and visits with cousins. And naked babies, naturally.

There were just every day moments like these.

 

 

 

 

A visit to Gatlinburg, and Cades Cove, where we learned that Kaelyn would very much like a pet deer. Or to shoot it with a pink gun. Whichever we say yes to.

 

A visit from our littlest brother, and lots of eating good American food.

 

 

 

 

 

A first horse ride. And a natural.

 

 

 

 

Lots of time with these faces. Again, blessed.

 

 

 

A rare sunny day on the tail end of the longest WINTER EVER. (Way to go, South. Not cool.)

For the record, it's May as I am writing this. And I woke up to 45 degrees.

This is not what I am particularly fond of or use to, but I will remind myself of that when I wake up to one degree before boiling in a few months and cannot even muster up the will to blowdry my hair because sweating after my shower just makes me angry.

 

 

 

 

 

Hey! Look! It's them again!

 

 

 

 

And then this one.

Eight whole years.

 

 

 

 

 

The end.

(For now!)