Happy 6th Birthday to My Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

You're six today & wow, what a milestone. You've officially-officially left toddlerhood, preschoolhood, & are well on your way to being a "big kid". This leaves your Momma with mixed feelings.

Six. It's so far away from being a baby. You need me less... let go of my hand sooner... call my name less...

And I know that now you're closer to 13...and 16...

that you're closer to being a graduate, or a wife, or a momma yourself.

But before I make it seem like I'm sad, here are the things that have happened this year that put a smile on all of our faces:

You mastered skipping. It started in dance class & was conquered in every parking lot we crossed.

You saw Disney World for the first time, met the princesses, & joined the many others who call it 'The Happiest Place on Earth'.

You started Kindergarten. It's your new favorite place & your 2nd home has introduced you to many new friends & new ways to learn.

You learned to whistle. And what a whistler you are. You seranade us on every car journey.

And...

you turned SIX. And like every birthday before, this special day makes me remember this special day years ago. The year you taught Daddy & I how to love a different kind of love.

And for that Baby Girl, we are forever grateful.

With a love that you won't understand for lots of years,

Your Momma

Fall Handsomeness

I can't get enough of my cuties. And going back full time to work has made me appreciate them that much more. Altho I certainly do miss those moments together, like the thousands of them we used to spend together, however we wanted.

But new chapters make our books complete. They make our books interesting & unique & a variety.

Look at my boy, he won't look at the camera. He'll smile, he'll lift up his head, but he will not look at the camera. Sweet, but silly.

He's on a roll right now. "I Yuv you Momma", "I Yuv you Daddy", "I yuv You Finn". And hugs follow.

And Flynn, she uses words like RECOGNIZE, & ACTUALLY. On the way to church, she piped up from the back seat, "What's ANTI-FUNGAL mean?" And she can read with best of them.

I'll never stop saying how lucky I am. We are so blessed.

Trunk or Treat

Another fun event of our Halloween season, was a TRICK or TRUNK at BFF Madelyn's school.

Madelyn, Matthew, Flynn & Gabe along with a few Bartosch school pals.

Gabe couldn't keep up again this year... maybe next year he'll be leading the pack!
Our own little after party at Burger King. Love that place, there's never a soul in sight!
Bubby & Daddy with Daddy's matching shirt!

School Party #1

Not only survived.... success!

Flynn & her good pal Carter
Mummy game, Flynn wrapped up by Carter

Now doing the wrapping

Casting a spell, the cute way, no pixie dust necessary

Daddy got to enjoy this party with Flynn...and make sure she stayed safe.

She's one lucky girl.

Church Fall Fun

This year, like every other, we enjoyed our church's FALL FRENZY.
Windy & warm, nothing a good hayride can't fix.

Weeeeeeeeee....

A spider web on Spidey's face, only makes sense.

...and some pixie dust for Tink.

Some tossing games

and posing with friends...

really good friends....
Shootin' 'em up!

Check out this Lion - you should've seen the rest of the Oz group!

Finger-lickin' fun!

safe goodies!

What more could a fairy & super hero want?!!

Hauntingly Good Night

Our Halloween night of trick-or-treating included a trip around Grammy's subdivision after enjoying White Castles (a treat of PePaw's).

We got more candy than we needed, way more than we should have, & just enough according to the kids.

My Tinkerbell was magical & Spidey, although tired at the end of our 'route', was still energetic enough to climb walls.

Holidays through a kid's eyes, priceless.

Fall, Y'all

Flynn & Gabe at EP's Fall Frenzy, 2009

Spidey & Tink want to wish you the funnest, chilliest, most colorful fall...

Daisies

Hopefully many many pictures will follow...

Because I have something wrong with me, where I feel the need to be IN CHARGE OF every single thing we do, I volunteered to start another Daisy troop at Flynn's school. I wasn't thrilled with the troop (& leader) she was assigned to, so I (w/ another Daisy mom I teach with) decided to start a new one.

So, the thrill began. FLYNN COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED. Actually, I have never seen her more excited about anything she's been involved with. And really... what could be more up her alley?: CRAFTS and SINGING.
Last night, I told her that I already signed us up for the Mother-Daughter camping trip for March.
I THOUGHT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FALL ASLEEP ON ACCOUNT OF HER EXCITED STATE.

This is already more than I bargained for. Consumes even more of the small amount of free time I have.
But my girl is happy... and that's all that counts.

Things I Love about Fall

• Leaves...the color
• the smell... like if "crispness" had an odor
• not hot, not cold (unless you live in MO)
• orange
• pumpkins
• hay
• fires
• camping
• Peanut's Great Pumpkin
• getting out the big yard blow up thing
• the kids' excitment when we pull out the "Fall Tub"
• orange & brown
• orange & black
• the house being cold when you wake up
• long sleeves
• memories of when Jeff & I were falling in love

(we started "officially" dating in Aug., so in those fall months, he was courting me, big time)

• apples & candied apples
• scarves

Who Knew She'd be the Particular One...

Our easy-going girl, has become quite set in her ways.

Like how she told me (on about the 4th day of school), that she didn't want me meeting her at the bus anymore. "Wait in your classroom, and I'll walk there."

"Kiss me, then I'll kiss you, then kiss my hand, & I'll kiss yours."

"Let ME carry the umbrella."

"Don't go in the bathroom with me."

She even acted ugly Friday when Daddy surprised her (w/ G in tow). She whispered to me (because everything is in a whisper), "I don't like that. I don't want you to be there when I get off the bus."

This may have bothered me before...but now I'm too busy for things to bother me. And I just chalk it up to my "baby girl" mastering her independence.

Hysterest-o-scopy (or something like that)

That's what I'm having done tomorrow. It's a pre-req to "ablasion" (sp?). At least for my dr. Who wants to rule out cancer, before the chance of "masking" it.
Eesh.

If I'm cleared, I will be going back for ablasion. Last year, I may have balked at this, as it pretty much permanently assures no more babies (as if the vesectomy didn't?!!). But now, I say, let other people have those babies. I'll just hold them, ooh & ahh over them, then go home & have an uninterrupted night of sleep.

Sickety Sick Sick

After 8 days with a fever, Gabe's parents FINALLY took him to the dr. How ridiculous, right? (don't ever let it be said that we 'run' our kids into the dr for every little thing).

Turns out, he has an ear infection. The drainage started on Wed. & by Sat. it was infection. Ear Infections: Flynn, 0; Gabe, 5. Sheesh.

Now he's just plain old crabby. And who could blame the boy. He went from fevers to nasty tasting medicine.

Sick Ward

Stock in Tylenol & Motrin.......................................................................$50
Using a sick day........................................................................................$55
Loss of sleep..........................................................................................sanity
Flynn & Gabe letting me snuggle & hold them all day?.......PRICELESS

The Sick Ward

So we've gotten hit. Started with Flynn. I noticed her feeling feverish & acting particularly crabby on our way to school. I had our school nurse check her temp & she said it was normal; yet, 10 minutes later, HER school called that she had 101-something.
Papa promptly picked her up. And so the challenging process began ("Will you pick her up?" "Can you get a sub for tomorrow?" "I'll go today if you can keep her tomorrow.") Which made me thankful, again, that this wasn't something we were challenged with during their baby years.

So, Flynn tested negative for the rapid flu test. This would include SWINE flu which her buddy, Carter, is currently plagued with. I'm not sure I believe the diagnosis. She continues to feel bad, sleep lots, & run an occasional fever.

This meant our weekend plans being canceled. Can I say that I'm not sure I minded? I managed to get to go to zumba & switch over both kids' closets.
Now that's progress.

Meanwhile, we're supporting the families of the creators of Motrin & Tylenol.

Soccer Kids

My soccer kids are tearing up the field (sometimes literally, but "Gabe quit picking up mud"-Coach Ken, is a whole other blog post ;)

Last Saturday, Flynn scored 4 goals. And yesterday, Gabe was a fraction away (let's just say he assisted a goal to Austin who is good at tapping it in at the last second).

One of their favorite movies, ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS, has an old-school cartoon (one I probably enjoyed back in the 80's) that features a soccer game season, where the 'munks cheer, "Beat 'em, Beat'em, BEAT'EM!!".

So that's Gabe's war cry.

Flynn has really turned on her enthusiasm, but even more surprising is her aggressiveness. She's even pulled on a jersey or two. I'm sure that BFF Madelyn (also a go-getter on the soccer team) is a great contribution to Flynn's assertiveness.

It takes up every Saturday morning.

And there's no way I'd rather spend it.

See You Later, Flynneeeee

Flynn has a boyfriend. His name is Carter. Carter is the son of my neighboring teacher. She's awesome. I am just surprised to find myself imagining her as my daughter's mother in law.

So, they were sweet to each other from the word go kindergarten. They held hands as they waited in line to board the bus. And now, weeks into their school career & they're buddies... Flynn encourages Carter to get a 'green card' (indicating a day full of following rules); and Carter encourages Flynn to not be so shy & quiet.

Today, Carter reported to me that Flynn had been "kissing on" him. His eyes twinkled at my misbelief. And apparently my laugh of shock was a green light for their smooching, as I had to give a stern rule of "no kissing on the lips".

And right after I broke up the lip lock, I shook my head.

And then started thinking of if my grandbabies will be towheads with blue eyes... or brown eyes beauties.

And Carter yelled out to Flynn, right before he & his momma walked out of the door, "See you laaater Flynneeeeee."

Soccer Mom

Now I am an official soccer mom. BOTH my kiddos are playing this fall. The beauty is that they're both on the same team. An advantage to having your babies dangerously close.

Here are some shots to give you a sampling of the cuteness.

Whistlin' Dixie

Guess what the girl learned in Kindergarten?
To whistle!
And whistling she has been... and whistling.... and whistling...
She hasn't stopped. She whistles morning...and night... in the store, and in the bath.

She's darn good too.

I'd Be Lying

If I said that I don't miss those days... of laying in bed with my babies... of watching videos from my bed w/ them by my side. Lazy trips to the grocery store, when everyone else is at work.

Man... do I ever miss them.

Most of all, I miss being here all day with my boy. And he misses it too. So much so, that one of his all-time favorite activities, being w/ his Papa, isn't even appreciated anymore.

You see, my boy... he's a DAYCARE DROP OUT. He straight quit the joint.
We let him of course, because we weren't sure it was the best place for him. And for now, while he spends his days at Papa's, hanging w/ Pa & Uncle Loreny (while we wait to surface to the top of the waiting list of a certain daycare), I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that he's being cared for by 2 of his favorite men.

But Bubs?, He tells it best in his own words:

"Momma?, Me just wanna be at home with you."

Me too Bubby. Me too.

Happy 4th Birthday, Gabe

My Baby Boy, the morning after you joined our family, 2009

Dear Gabriel,

Where do I begin? Except to tell you that if nothing else, you've taught me the lesson that time goes by far too quickly.


There hasn't been a milestone of yours that stayed long enough... there hasn't been a stage that you went through that lasted as long as I wanted it to.


You've proven that your Momma is mushy & that I'm actually a real softy.


And there are lots of reasons you've stolen all our hearts....





You still love Spiderman & have already claimed it as your Halloween costume.


You love cars & all things with wheels.


You have a penchant for tools.


You love your Momma.





You hate day care. You actually already "dropped out."


You don't like being away from your Momma.


You dislike being petted on uninvited.


And don't ever want to get your hair cut.


You just finished with speech therapy & went from 2 word sentences to us not getting a word in edgewise.


You love your sissy & hit her in the same breath.





You absolutely love church. If you think we're headed there, but aren't, it brings tears to your eyes.





And boy, are you handsome. Everyone who sees you & your Daddy, know exactly where you get your good looks. You tower over the others your age but can't keep your pants up with that skinny waist.





You have your Momma's sweet tooth & are the recipient of everyone's sneaky chocolate-giving.





You have my heart. You always will. And you make me proud every morning when you stumble out of bed & my heart bursts.





And if my love keeps growing with every year, I better have an ocean-full.





Happy 4th Birthday, to my Baby Boy,


Love,


Your Momma

Gabe, July '09, Not too sure about this posing-with-princesses thing