Back in the Swing

We are back in the swing of things.   Back to school, back to schedules, back to homework and packing lunches, and all that goes along with now having a THIRD GRADER.  Wow, do I feel old!    The beginning of school this year was rather benign. It just sort of came and went with little fanfare or anxiety.    McKenna was more than ready to start back to school and get rolling in third grade.  She had no questions, no concerns, no nothing.

 

 Cooper headed back to Crossroads preschool three days a week.   He will have the same teacher and be in the same room and he's just fine with that.   His friends were SO excited to have him back after his summer off.

 He wasn't much for pictures but I managed to talk him into standing by the door to take this one.  I'm glad I did because you can really see just how tall he got over the past year.  He looks so long to me!

 McKenna and I took our obligatory first day picture.  Looking back on this one you can see just how grown up she looks and just how old I look!

 With McKenna back in school all week I have had a little more one on one time with Cooper and Kinley.   It's bittersweet in that I wish I had more one on one time with McKenna too.  But, I guess I had a considerable amount of time with her while she was an only child.  

 Kinley is still not walking but she is very close.  She can stand up from a sitting position without holding on to anything.  She practices regularly and gets into EVERYTHING.   She has basically given up her morning nap which is okay because she is sleeping a good 2-3 hours in the afternoon.  I am making a concentrated effort since school started to be home in the afternoons to attempt to make this a solid routine.

 And while Kinley sleeps I try to spend lots and lots of time playing with Cooper.  Our new favorite thing to do together is build Legos.   Seriously, I had no idea how much I loved Legos!   It's so relaxing and yet you get the satisfaction of having built something in the end.  Cooper says we are a "really good team" as one of us picks out the pieces and the other one builds.   He is surprisingly good at following the directions and building complicated structures.

 And when we are all together we can usually be found running some errands, cleaning up or just plain goofing around and having fun.   

 

You would think that having 1-2 less kids around during the day would leave more time for blogging or napping or something but as you can see I still have my hands full! 

Kinley, You're 1 Year Old!

 I tried as long as I could to deny that this day was coming.   But, inevitably it is here, it is a fact, you are now one whole entire year old.   You have been with us for 365 sweet, wonderful days.   You are weighing in these days at just about 19 pounds.  I'm still stuffing you into your 6-12 month summer clothes and hoping the weather soon cools down a little bit so we can move on to bigger things!   You are not walking on your own yet but you are into absolutely everything.   The cabinets are your latest fascination and you love to empty all of the pudding cups and fruit packs onto the floor.   You love to play with your baby dolls or McKenna'a baby dolls or pretty much anything that resembles a person that you can hold.  You like to snuggle and I almost always still rock you to sleep.   You are adding lots of new words to your vocabulary including : pretty, doll, eyes, Mimi and Kenna.  Oh, and the hair - I must mention your hair.   It's down well past your shoulder blades in the back and still continues to be the source of conversation wherever we go.

 It is somewhat easy to think back to this time last year.  A time where we knew at any moment you would be joining our family.  We had no idea what to expect.  No clue how our family would mold and change and what being a gang of  "5" would be like.    It is almost impossible to remember what our lives were like before you but, it is very easy for my heart to remember how for so many years I longed for you.   

You and I spent your birthday together.  Just me and you for most of the day.  Kind of like the first day you were born.   We snuggled together and I held you and spoiled you and told you a million times how much I love you.   You smiled back at me, laughed at me, beeped my nose a million times and made my heart melt a trillion more.   And then we got down to serious business. 

 First, we painted your toes!   We are still so grateful that after one year all issues with your left foot seem to have resolved. 

 And then we got to the good stuff - playing.

 I think that makes a bold fashion statement but probably works best as a shape sorter and not a bracelet.

 You practiced your walking skills.  They seem to be coming a long nicely but you're just not quite ready to go it on your own yet.

 Once McKenna, Cooper and Daddy got home we headed out to dinner to celebrate your special day. 

And then had ice cream treats with the neighborhood kids because everyone should have ice cream on their birthday!

 

It is hard for me to face the fact that your "babyness" is slipping away.  It's hard for me to think that I will never again have a newborn baby of my own fill my arms.    With every stage you pass through I grow a little misty eyed thinking about how all of you have grown so quickly.  But at the same time I marvel at the little people you are.   I snicker at your stubborn personality and delight in you when you hug your big brother tightly around the neck or blow kisses to McKenna when I tuck her in at night.  I hope you know how blessed (and spoiled) you are as even in the midst of our busy schedule we almost always end up spending our free time doting on you.  And we wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy 1st birthday sweet girl.   You've given us quite a year and we are so blessed to have you.

The Last Day of Summer

Dear McKenna, Cooper and Kinley:

Well, here it is, the last night of the summer.  Tomorrow I will be mom to a 3rd grader, pre-kindergartner and an almost one year old.   I can't believe how quickly our summer together has flown by.   I was, admittedly, a little nervous about how things would turn out having all four of us together all summer.  And while the last three months have probably been some of the most strenuous days ever, they have also been some of THE best days ever.    I couldn't have asked anything better.  We spent time swimming, vacationing, playing with our friends and family, building Legos, watching movies and so, so many other things.   There were so many days where we had nothing planned and just lounged around together, enjoying card games or cartoons or walking out to the garden together.   I was continually amazed with the amount of help that you gave me with Kinley and how you (McKenna and Cooper) played so nicely together.   I love the sweet things you've taught Kinley and how you both delight in every little thing that she does.   I hope that you will always, love, appreciate and help each other the way you did this summer.   Tonight I think I realized that while I've been planning and focusing on Kinley's upcoming birthday, I seemed to have missed the fact that all of you have grown so much this summer.    Looking at this picture I can't believe how grown up you look.    I know that it's likely that next summer and all the ones to follow will be filled with more play dates and time with friends and so I will always cherish this summer.   You know that if I could freeze you as you are I would do it in a second. 
Today we attempted our second annual "Family Fun Day".   Last year of course,  our last day before school was the last one before Kinley arrived.   It was such a completely wonderful day.   Our idea to try to recreate it today didn't go so well.  It was fraught with numerous delays and problems and didn't turn out the way we had intended.  But it was a good reminder that we didn't need a specific day to celebrate and be together.  Each day that we had together as a family this summer was special in its very own way and holds its own memory.  
I love all of you so much and I am so excited for the three of you as we all embark on a new school year.   You make me so proud to be your Mama.  Thank you for your part in making so many wonderful memories this summer.   I will forever be grateful for our time together.

I love you to the moon and back!
Mommy

Sneaking Up

The pages of the calendar seem to be turning at record speed lately, leaving me feeling like there a lots of things sneaking up on me.   The first day of school is coming fast and furious.   The kids are starting to show signs that they are ready.   There has been a bit more fighting than we are used to which surely must mean our time together should be coming to a close.   I have mixed feelings about the new school year starting.    I welcome the chance at a "fresh start".   We've cleared out drawers and closets and replaced them with new clothes, backed the new backpacks with fresh school supplies and printed out the school calendar.  McKenna and Cooper are excited but I can't help but feeling a bit sad.   We have had SO MUCH FUN this summer.    I have loved having all my babies here with me each day.   It has been wonderful to watch them play together and love on one another and I'm going to miss our laid back days. 
The start of school also signals another event that I've been mentally and emotionally avoiding.  Kinley's first birthday.    I shouldn't say I've been "avoiding it".   The party invitations have been sent, the birthday outfit ordered and many of the small party details in the works.   But really, I've been avoiding it.   Sometimes I see Kinley as she learns to stand on her own or listen as she says yet another new word and I think about the fact that her "infant days" are dwindling.  And I am sad.  So I quickly push those thoughts from my mind and move on to something else which is easy to do when surrounded with three kids.    I know eventually I will have to face it.    I probably should do it sooner rather than later because I really want to enjoy her party and her special day.  But I just don't think I'm ready yet.   A few days ago, as I cleaned out clothes in her closet I thought about the fact that I won't ever have a baby in the house again.  That makes me super sad.   I know it shouldn't.  But it does.   As much as I love to watch my kids grow and as hard as some days can be I would honestly keep them little forever if I could. 
My prayer for this school year is that it does not fly by the way that this last year did.   I'm not optimistic about that but I'm going to hang on every second that I can, squeezing every ounce of life out of it. 

On the Road Again

Pack, unpack, laundry.  Pack, unpack, laundry.  Pack, unpack, laundry.   Sometimes I feel like that's all I've done since we went on our Disney trip in May.    Someone asked McKenna today if she had gone anywhere this summer.  Her reply..."Where should I start."    Please don't get me wrong, we are having a BLAST but some days I don't know if we are coming or going!

This past weekend we were going again.  To Grammy Musials for the weekend, in fact.

Grammy had a fun weekend planned for us that included a special trip for all the cousins to Chuckee Cheese in part to celebrate a couple of special birthday's.

 Grammy and all her grandkids.

 This was McKenna and Cooper's first trip to Chuckee Cheese and they were more than excited!

 McKenna really enjoyed spending time with her cousin, Rachel.

And Cooper was completely over the moon with all the attention he received from James and Jason.

And Kinley, well she mostly enjoyed the chocolate cake!

 We finished our Saturday with a trip to Hobby Lobby and while I don't have any pictures of it, let's just say it was everything I have ever heard!    Lord help me if we ever get one of those stores close by.     And, after a yummy birthday dinner for Grammy Musial at the Olive Garden we spent some time playing soccer in Grammy's yard with our cousins.
Sunday morning we were up with the roosters and back on the road.   Thankfully the kids were absolutely amazing and barely made a peep all the way home.  We were able to make the 220 mile trip in just under 3 hours and didn't even stop one time.    Before we knew it we were unpacking and doing laundry again.  Good thing, because later that afternoon I packed the suitcases again - this time for McKenna and Cooper's camping trip with Mimi and Pappy!  And as we speak, they are back on the road again!