Field Day 2010

I found out quickly that there are a few big days at Kelly Elementary, the biggest one being the annual Field Day. Imagine a day where parents take off work to serve as volunteers, hire babysitters for the younger kids, sport color coded shirts and play outside with their kids all day. Yes, folks, this is a big production and I wasn't about to miss it. So, I took a day off, got my grandparents to come from Lewistown to watch Cooper, bought a special red shirt and played outside all day with my daughter.

There was running and jumping, obstacle courses and dog shows, sand pits and beach balls, art projects, nature trails, zumba, basketball, and so much more.

I had the opportunity to have these three great kids in my group. They are special because these are two of McKenna's oldest friends. As babies they were in the same playgroup. So, they have been hanging out since they were too small to even sit up on their own.

It was an exhausting day but a fun one. One I'll definitely make sure to put on my calendar for next year. Heck, even Daddy is planning a vacation day for Field Day 2011!

Happy Anniversary

This past weekend Earl and I dropped the kids off with my mom and headed off for a little mini vacation to celebrate our anniversary. We didn't go far. In fact, we only ventured to Lancaster to do a little shopping. It's something that we did last year and we had a great time. This time was even better.

We had the chance to shop for ourselves, without kids and strollers and snacks and crying. We went out to a restaurant that served more than pizza or mac and cheese. And I don't think chicken fingers was even on the menu! It was our first time out alone with our friends Tait and Amy in over 4 years. Needless to say we were sad to see the evening end. We got to sleep in and we didn't worry about schedules or naps - unless of course you count the nap that we took! And yes, we even missed the kids. We dined at Sonic for the first time (now that's an experience) and ever since I've been thanking my lucky stars that I have to drive an hour to get a cherry limeade. The definitely live up to their reputation.

It was a wonderful 36 hours where we had enough time to clear our minds, remember why we fell in love and really remember how blessed we have been over the last 8+ years. It's so hard to remember what it was like before "us". It's even harder to remember what life was like before it was "all of us". I am so blessed to have a wonderful husband and an amazing family.

The newest song playing on the blog is a song that we danced to at our wedding. Thinking back now I realize that I had no idea what marriage really meant. How much work it could be and at the same time how wonderful it could be. I pulled the song out this weekend and we agreed that it means much more eight years later.

I remember well the day we wed

I can see that picture in my head

Istill believe the words we said

Forever will ring true

Love is certain, love is kind

Love is yours and love is mine

But it isn't something that we find

It's something that we do

It's holding tight, lettin' go

It's flying high and laying low

Let your strongest feelings show

And your weakness, too

It's a little and a lot to ask

An endless and a welcome task

Love isn't something that we have

It's something that we do

We help to make each other all that we can be

Though we can find our strength and inspiration independently

The way we work together is what sets our love apart

So closely that you can't tell where I end and where you start

It gives me heart remembering how

We started with a simple vow

There's so much to look back on now

Still it feels brand-new

We're on a road that has no end

And each day we begin again

Love's not just something that we're in

It's something that we do

We help to make each other all that we can be

Though we can find our strength and inspiration independently

The way we work together is what sets our love apart

So closely that you can't tell where I end and where you start

Love is wide, love is long

Love is deep and love is strong

Love is why I love this song

And I hope you love it too

I remember well the day we wed

I can see that picture in my head

Love isn't just those words we said

It's something that we do

There's no request too big or small

We give ourselves, we give our all

Love isn't someplace that we fall

It's something that we do.

Happy Anniversary Earl

You're Such A Character

Friday was "Character Day" at Kelly Elementary. The kids were asked to dress as a character from a book. McKenna was Fern from Charlotte's Web. She insisted that Fern wore a plaid shirt and luckily Target had this cute pink one on the clearance rack this past week. I think the little piglet once belonged to Mimi but I can't be sure. I can be sure that Mimi made the awesome letters, though. The outfit would not have been complete without Charlotte (notice she is perched on McKenna's right hand) and a fancy web.

Later that afternoon the parents were treated to a parade of characters at the school. It was quite an event. Let's just say that Cooper and I had to park so far away that we really should have just walked from our house. It was certainly worth the hike though.

It was also worth the trip to the book store yesterday to purchase a new copy of Charlotte's Web. We had previously owned the movie version but are now proud owners of the "chapter book". I have to admit that I was so excited when I picked up a fresh new copy for McKenna. I hate the thought of her growing up but it's things like sharing a favorite book with her that I absolutely love. And even though I've always been a person who hates when people read thing out loud (ie the newspaper), I can't get enough of listening to McKenna read to me. I guess that's not surprising.

Squirt Gun Fun

"Watch out, Mom! I'm gonna get you."

"Hey...that's cold!"

But it's still pretty fun...

Even Daddy wants to play.

And incase we didn't get wet enough with squirt guns...

There's always the sprinkler.

Just Chillin'

I have sat down at this spot and opened up a new post more than a dozen times in the past week and a half. There's so much to report and so much to share. But, for some reason I haven't found the words lately. We've been busy in some respects and quiet in others. We've attended McKenna's first music program, planned summer and fall vacations, played on our new swing set, hosted sleepovers, celebrated Mother's Day, taken much needed naps, caught up on several movies and books and mostly just spent time chillin' out. There are pictures of most all of it but they are still on the camera, patiently waiting for their chance to appear on the blog. So, I would invite you to check back later this week. Perhaps I'll have the time and the words for a more creative post. But I'll definitely have pictures. That you can count on!

Take Your Child To Work Day

There are lots of schools who still have a day when kids go to school with their parents. Unfortunately, when your parents work in a hospital that doesn't really work. Especially when your father works in a sterile operating room.

So, last year when Cooper had to have his tubes put in his ears I thought I better capture it on camera. It's probably the closest he'll ever come to going to work with Daddy.

These pictures are almost a year old now but I still love to look at them. Don't get me wrong, I didn't like the fact that my kid was in the hospital but it's kind of different when you work there and you can personally carry your kid to the operating room, hand pick the people who take care of him and know exactly what is about to take place. I guess it's one of the perks for being stuck working there so much.

I've already posted here about what a trooper our little guy was on the day of his procedure. You can tell that he wasn't the slightest bit worried about his anesthesia. How could you be nervous while playing peek-a-boo with your Daddy?

So Cooper, while I love these pictures (and you sure do look handsome in blue scrubs) I hope you don't ever have to spend any more time at work with Daddy. And I think he would agree!

Ta-Dah...I'm Toothless

This past week McKenna lost her first tooth. A teeny, tiny little bottom tooth. One of the ones I waited so patiently to appear for 8 entire months. The tooth that I felt for countless times as I swept my fingers across her pink, slippery gums. I remember being so proud when her first teeth finally popped through. And now, one of them is gone.

I would like to say that the tooth coming out was just a ceremonious as when it came in. It wasn't, although there were many parallels that could be drawn. While she did not drool incessantly for months before her first tooth came out, there was crying when that baby tooth came in and much, much louder crying when it finally came out. Luckily it did not last as long. I would like to say that I was the first to notice that tooth came in...but I can't remember back that far. And I would like to say that I was there watching when the tooth came out. But I wasn't, because let's be real...you all know how I feel about teeth. And if you don't, well, let's just say that when I tried to video tape Earl pulling the tooth I almost passed out. So sorry, McKenna, for the fact that there is no video of this precious event.

Later in the evening McKenna finally got to make use out of the tooth fairy pillow that we brought home from Disney World a few years ago. She carefully placed the tooth in the little pouch, posed for a picture and then promptly took the tooth out of pouch and placed it under her pillow. Apparently a tooth fairy pillow is not a necessity. Wish I would have known that a few years ago.

The next morning the tooth was gone and $3.00 was there in it's place. Wow, what this economy has done to the price of a tooth!

And so we begin another chapter in life. A life that seems to be fly by faster than the tooth fairy.