Firsts

Today was Mr. A's first day of first grade at a new school.  His first time spending ALL day at school.  First time waiting at the bus stop with other kids.  First time eating lunch at school and having recess 3 times!  First time to try catching the right bus at the end of school.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it for him.  But, you know what?  He bounded down off that bus at 3:58 with a big grin on his little face and a huge hug for his mama.  He handled it all JUST FINE!  Why was I such a wreck?  I thought about him all. day. long.  Couldn't stop.  Would someone sit by him on the bus?  Who would he sit next to at lunch?  Would he remember where his classroom was?  Would he remember where the bathroom was?  Would he make it there in time?  Would he eat enough of his lunch to sustain him for the WHOLE day?  I forgot to remind him what "color" code his bus was.  How would he find the right one to ride home?  Would he have anyone to play with at recess?  Would he sit next to someone nice in class (and not too chatty)?  Would he be punished for not having all of his school supplies the first day (come on...I forgot the 2 red pencils!!!)?  Would his teacher remember his name?

I was a wreck.  He was just fine.  I fed him 4 chocolate chip cookies when he got home and made him tell me all about his day.  Did he have to write about his summer?  Did he have to read for his teacher?  Did he make any new friends?  Did he remember where the classroom was?  Did anyone yell at him for not having his school supplies?  Did he like his lunch?  Did he find the note his mom left him (yes, and he brought it home with him and didn't want me to throw it away.  How cute is that?)?  Did he eat all of his lunch?  Did he have enough time to eat lunch?  Who did he play with at recess?  Did he find the bathroom?  ETC, ETC, ETC.  I'd be annoyed if I were him too.  But, seriously, the chocolate chip cookies did the trick.  He just kept talking and talking and talking.  AND, he was STARVING! :)

So, here's my not so little 1st grader.  All grown up.  Missing some teeth and looking so stinking handsome.  Bring on 1st grade, I say.  But, don't let my little boy grow up anymore.  He's done for now and so am I.

#1!

I've got no teeth!  :)

Happiest guy around

Best buddies

The bus stop walking posse

It's Only Hair, Right?

At least that's what I'm trying to tell myself anyway.  After bawling my eyes out for the better part of an hour, I've decided that Miss M was merely trying to stick it to her baby sister for truly having better hair than her.  Here's a shot taken literally the DAY before the Massacre occurred...

Big shoes to fill, girls. :)

The next afternoon after they'd both woken up from their naps, Miss M asked if she could cut paper and eat popsicles outside.  So, Fely kindly granted her wishes and took all of her things outside.  We've had the conversation numerous times about what to cut, etc.  But, when in the moment, you know?  You just have to be like Aunt Megan, I guess.  Here's what happened in mere minutes...

Seriously.  Doesn't that make you want to cry??

And the next day, we marched everyone down to the hair dresser and ordered transformations for all.  Some much more drastic than others.

The "stylist" - She chopped the front of her own hair, so she needed a big cut too

Somebody got some sass with her new 'do

Cheeese

Trying to get all 3 smiling and looking...next to impossible

Just a Run in the Park

I've had a great 4 days in NYC with some of my dear friends from Philadelphia.  We engaged in all sorts of must-do activities as well as spent tons of time eating, laughing, and catching up.  I miss them already.  I was able to swing a few meetings on the end of my trip, so had a little bit of time after my meetings this evening to go for what I thought would be a quick jog in Central Park. 

Something about seeing the forest through the trees?

I got a little carried away, however, and found myself starting to get tired before I'd even turned around to run back!  I realized I was at 97th St. and needed to find the path back across the park to run back on the West Side.  Fortunately I had my phone with me so I stopped to see where my turn was.  I also stopped to take in the view.  I love running through Central Park - even when it's stiflingly humid, overcast, and sprinkling ever so slightly. 

Wish I knew someone standing on the bridge - would have been a great shot!

Spellcheck

Mr. A had a great year in Kindergarten.  He flourished in reading, excelled in Math, and rocked it out at writing.  All of the words he learned to write were done the "non-dictionary" way.  Since school ended, though, he has become so concerned with the "dictionary spelling" of every word.

In addition, he has started spelling out everything he says.  I'll give a few examples:

• To end his prayers, "In the name of Jesus Christ, A-M-E-N"
• "Hey, M-O-M, can I have..."
• "D-A-D, I'm trying to talk to you"
• In reply to my question of did he brush his teeth, "Y-E-S"
• "Are we going to C-O-S-T-C-O?"
• "Do I need to wear my C-L-O-T-H-E-S?"

It cracks us up.  I admit to being a pretty particular speller in my own right, so maybe I'm wearing off on him at an early age?  Poor guy!

B-E-A-C-H

P-E-A-C-E O-U-T

Somehow...

So big! 

Lovin' on her momma

...this little lady turned the ripe, old age of 2.  The baby of our family yet she makes herself known in every circle she enters.  We seriously cannot resist, though, her succulent cheeks and her perfectly formed lips.  We just want to eat her up!  She has awesome blonde hair with all sorts of body and gentle curls at the bottom.  She jumps and hops and pops her way through our lives.  She is spunky and sassy and saucy and so stinking cute!  She narrates for all of us all day long.  If I am brushing my hair, "Mommy brush hair?!"  If Tyler is walking out the door, "Daddy fy airpanes?!" Or, if she wanders in on an unsuspecting toilet-goer, "Andrew go poopy?!" 

She loves to play "So Much" - you know the game, "How much does Mommy love you?"  But she only does one "this much" with her hands close together and then the next step is "Sooooooo Much!" and a big snuggle. 

My favorite are some of her cute sayings - when I put powder on her after her bath, it's always a big breath in followed by, "Mell good!"  She forgets the s, of course.  She always asks for "milkies" and she has to have a binky in her hand and her 2 blankies by her side before we read stories.  Her favorites right now: "Goodnight, Moon" (because mousie, mousie, mousie is super important) and "Mommy Hugs."  She loves to have "Twinkle Star" as she calls it and "Sunbeam" sung to her before bed.

She only gets her binky in her bed so in the morning she'll usually go back in her bed for a 1/2 hour or so and read books in her bed just to have her binkies. 

Big thumbs up for the 4th

Accessorizing is important when you're at the beach - matching floaties and bows

See the curls?

Loves to play with her sissy - whom she has finally stopped calling "Sissy" all the time and calls her "Mow-gan" more often than not

Her fishy face - see what I mean about the lips??!

She wears Miss M's dress up heels around the house (with Miss M) and loves to be just like her sister.  Mr. A makes her laugh uncontrollably and if T goes in the shower, she is there. 

She is so busy and she moves so fast.  The minute one mess is made she is on to the next without any of us realizing that the first one has been made. 

She's trying to become so independent.  She's even started taking her plate to the sink after a meal (just like her siblings do).

Sure love this little fireball.  Happy Birthday, Sadie-boo, Lou, Sadie Boo-Loo, Lady Sadie, Sadie Lady, Sadie Kate Cakes, Sadie Kate, Crazy Lady! 

Birthday - Shmirthday

DH, or T as I'd like to now refer to him, thinks that birthdays are for the birds.  He doesn't like them, so why should anyone like his?  Unfortunately he married the wrong woman then!  I just can't let them slip right on by without anyone noticing.

This year he just wanted his family around him and to eat his favorite foods.  I wish I had taken more pictures, but I was a little busy. :)

WT Cake take 13 (I make them every year - this year, though, he changed up his ice cream preference and went for Tillamook Wild Mountain Blackberry!  Always keeps me on my toes, that guy!

Baby S loves to help "bow cannles"

2 cakes and I went easy on the candles

 Happy Birthday, TWS!  Always glad you were born!

1.2.3.4. - I Declare a Time War

"I'm 4 Now!"

Cupcakes to school in her new outfit - pink cake with a layer of purple sprinkles and then chocolate frosting and then another layer of purple sprinkles

Breakfast request - Dad's Coffee Cake - done to perfection

Everyone got to ride in her new Jeep - It even has a radio that she and her sister promptly fought over.  Fast forward 12 years.

 

I got the candle, put it in my cupcake, and asked my dad to light it for me - I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T.

So loved being the center of attention

The last hat of the day

I've made a new rule in our house.  Nobody is allowed to be older than 7 unless you have well surpassed it already.  There are days I seriously feel like I went to sleep yesterday when Miss M was 2 and I woke up this morning and she was 4.  Stop the presses.  However, there are days I am happy that she climbs into bed and is still alive.  She is that kinda gal.  Sassy and naughty.  Kind and generous.  "I don't like you, Mom."  "I love you, Mom."  All in the same 30 second window. 

She changes clothes at least 7 times a day.  Pajamas are to be slept in, played in, eaten in, crafted in.  Didn't you know?  The outfits have to be just right.  If pants are on the docket they have to touch the floor.  Every skirt will find a pair of tights that must live on her body.  If headbands could stay on morning, noon, and night, they would finalize the outfit.  There are days I fight it.  But, there are more days where I choose not to.  It's not like Valley Forge is at stake.  It's just my sanity.

I call her my sister's daughter.  For those who know Alexis or, even better, knew her growing up, you know that everything had to be JUST RIGHT.  No sock could have the slightest wrinkle inside the shoe.  No shoe could have too much space.  And the mirror.  Everything was a mirror.  She would sit on the side of the table that allowed her to check herself out in the opposite large bay window.  Meet Miss M.  Today while she skipped from lunch at Panera (with just me & DH) right on down to Yogurtland (free on your birthday!), she sang a tune, "It's my birthday!  I'm 4!  It's my birthday!  I'm 4!" and she checked out her reflection in the Lane Bryant display windows.  I believe Alexis will be starting a cousins camp at her house shortly.  She can take my Miss M and straighten her socks and adjust her outfits and fix her shoes and I will take her Nate and make everything completely fair.  I get that. :)

Miss M planned out every minute of her day.  I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  She's a gal who knows what she wants.  I like that.  "Mom, does Panera have soup?  Ok.  We can go."  She has a birthday party on Saturday with some friends.  A Princess Dance Party.  It's gonna be rockin'. 

Miss M, I am thrilled to be your mother.  You entered this world 4 short years ago so calmly, serenely, and peacefully.  You hardly cried.  You just wanted to look around and take it all in.  You are a protector of your little sister, a confidant of your big brother, and a hard worker.  I asked you today what you were going to do now that you are 4.  "More jobs, Mom.  I can do more jobs now."  Stand down, Mr. Clean!

And, you LOVE to eat.  Soup is your big thing.  Chicken Noodle, Cream of Mushroom, even Louisiana Rice & Bean.  And, spicy.  You'll choose to eat Fiesta Chicken over Chicken Nuggets any day of the week.  I did eat a lot of Mexican food while you were in my belly.  I love that we share that great love of yummy food.  Your favorite treat is Otter Pops and ice cream.  You don't like to eat bread (a texture thing, maybe?), you would drink apple juice all day if I let you, you get your own sippy cups of water now, and you have animation in your voice that would make Hannah Montana move over (you have no idea who she is, by the way, and I'm thrilled about that). 

You are learning your letters (ABCDEFGHIJKRQMNP) :)  and numbers and to write your name. You would draw for hours and make pictures for all of your friends.  You got to go to a bday party with Mr. A a few weeks ago and you were very last person still decorating a picture frame of Wonder Woman.  All of the other 6 year olds were done and on to the next thing. 

And, one more thing.  Your preschool teacher asked us the other day where you get your stubborn streak from.  I told her it must be your father.  :)  Love you THIIIISSS MUCH, Miss M.  Thanks for spicing things up around here.  Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom

Going to Bed Mad

My Mr. A was sent to bed at 6:45 tonight. He pushed his kind, never annoying, always polite little sister off the top of his bunk bed because she wouldn't get out of his room even though he has posted a sign stating that she is his "enumee" and is not "ullawed" in his room. He holds his room very sacred apparently and was willing to go to great lengths to get her out. While I'm sure she was not completely innocent, we are not in the business of having our children purposefully send one another to the ER. Thus, he went to bed - mad. and, fortunately, she did not go to the ER.

"Andrew enumee is Morgan and Morgan is not ulawd in Andrew room"  So let it be written.  So let it be said.

Marriage

Miss M is very worried about whom she will marry. Her dad is taken, she can't marry her cousins, and no other boys will do at this time. So, tonight she was asking me about it again. "Mom, WHO am I going to mawwy?" Me: "Some handsome boy you will meet when you are 24." "But, Moooooom, WHOOOO?!" "I don't know, sweetie!" "Well, fine. I will mawwy Andrew because he is a boy and he is HAND-SOME!" Andrew decided it was time to pipe in: "Ewwww! No, Morgan!! You can't marry your brother! But, I am handsome." Time will certainly tell, but they are pretty funny for now.

Lost Time

I've got lots to make up for.  Not going to do it all in one sitting, but while I'm about to "lose" an hour of sleep with Daylight Savings, I figure one more hour to blog won't hurt either! **photos courtesy of the talented Cheryl Bennett!

On my mind:

• My super delightful 6 yr old - he washes his baby sister's hair in the shower and her body too, then yells out, "Mom!  Sadie's all clean!"
• My super particular 6 yr old - he requested "spikies" as his style for church a few weeks ago.  I lathered my hands up with gel and proceeded to "mess" up his hair to get it all in.  Then I tried to spike it all up top, but before I could get too far, he says, "Mom!  You don't have to go all crazy and stuff."  Apparently he's 25.  But, a sweet, sensitive, yet great tease of an older brother.
• My super excited 6 year old - his Kindergarten teacher mentioned to me the other day that he should be a sports broadcaster when he grows up.  His enthusiasm for the small and simple things can often be compared to Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles?!!" excitement.  "Today we are having a 100 days party" to which Mr. A replies, "Ahhh, YES!"

•  This little 3 yr old firecracker.  She's all sorts of busy right now.  Her imagination is at a peak.  She spent a good 2 hours today putting stickers on envelopes to create invitations to her birthday party that is the end of May.  
• She is super particular about what she wears.  She even told me she couldn't wear a certain outfit to preschool the other day because all of the kids would laugh at her.  Really?  She's 3.  So, tonight, I decided to stop shopping for clothes that she wouldn't wear and bring her with me to pick out things she WOULD wear.  She was super cute.  "Mom, what ELSE can we buy me?!"  "Mom, I'm going to try something on.  Just for pretend."  
• Pretending is her world.  She brings her sister and her brother and her friends and anyone who will hop on along for the ride. 

•  Did I mention, however, that she's a bit accident-prone?  We joke that she trips over her own pinky toe, but it's the truth.  She is constantly kissing the tile (note the forehead shiner below).  Poor thing.  

•  My spunky Sadie.  This girl leaves all of us looking out the window for the sweet, calm, content, mellow, practically silent baby that lived in our house the first 12 months of her life.  She is completely gonzo and has been replaced by a larger than life toddler.  With opinions, screams, moves, and all sorts of words.  She puts my other 2 kids to shame in the "vocabulary at 19 months" department.  Some of my favorites as of late: "hea-by" for a garbage bag she was trying to haul around the house, "loves" - her hugs she gives to those who are sad or otherwise afflicted, and "coook" for Cookie Monster.   

•  Those eyes just make you want to drink a chocolate milkshake the minute you see them.  Boy, are they yummy.  And her mischievous grin?  Well, at least it's telling.  Sure do love her.  
• Speaking of yummy, just like her brother and sister before her, food is a highlight.  In order to get these pictures, we had to do a little bribing.  Do you think she enjoyed it?

 

Just about 3 weeks ago we finally moved into the place that we hope to call home for a very very long time! We are still getting rid of boxes and finding places for extra rubber bands, but it is certainly nice to be in a place of our own again.  We managed to live without so much of our stuff for 7 months that it almost makes it simple to throw many things into a "donate" pile within minutes of being unpacked from a box.  I'm sure we could do more, but it's a start. 

We are feeling fortunate for our blessings and look forward to all of the visitors who come to pay us a visit!