Kinley, you're 2!

Two years ago today, the earth shook with the first earthquake in central Pennsylvania since the late 1800's.  We didn't feel the earth shake that day because we were falling in love with a little girl who would rock our world from that very day forward.

Kinley, today you are two years old.   My brain knew that my time with you as a "baby" would go by quickly.   My heart knew it too but it has a more difficult time adapting to the idea of you being a toddler.   You continue to be a spirited and strong willed little girl.  That's my way of politely telling you that though you are sweet you still give me a hard time!   You continue to have absolutely no idea that you are only 2 years old and not 6 or 9 like McKenna and Cooper.   You fully expect and believe that you can do anything they can do.    It's both adorable and completely frustrating for both of us.

You're petite in your frame but not in your imagination or your spirit.   You're weighing in these days at just over 24 pounds.   You've grown this summer enough to earn yourself some size two clothes for the fall. 

You still love to sing and dance and your VBS songs are your absolute favorite.   Every time we get in the car you ask for "my songs" and then sing each one with all your little heart.   I love it when we get to certain songs and you say, "Mom, this my favorite."   You love Mickey Mouse and Minnie, Sophia the First and Doc McStuffins, too.   Our whole family is just dying to take you to Disney this fall!

This summer you started sleeping for up to 12 hours over night and napping for 2-3 hours during the day.  Your eating has slacked off a bit but not more than expected for someone who is two.   You're counting to 14 these days and for the most part can say the alphabet with some assistance.   Drawing funny faces with Daddy is another one of your most favorite things to do. 

Kinley, I love you so much.   I love our good time and our bad times, our quiet times and the maddening ones too!.  You've been my challenge since you were a twinkle in my eye.   You make me laugh and shake my head on a daily basis.  I'm so lucky to have you in my life.  Happy birthday, sweet girl. 

Love, Mommy

Settling In

Day number 2 of school is in the books and though it is early, things are still looking good.  Cooper loves riding the bus, much to McKenna's disappointment, but she is being a good sport and a good sister and not complaining much.  I'm sure that once it gets cold and the newness wears off I will once again be driving them in the mornings.  
Today after the kids got on the bus, Kinley and I headed to Bloomsburg to pick up my faculty parking pass.   I absolutely hate making that drive solely for the purpose of spending 5 minutes getting a pass but it had to be done.  Kinley settled in with a movie and barely made a peep the whole time.  She probably figured that after all the time spent in the car this summer an hour and a half this morning was small potatoes.
We were back in Lewisburg by 9:45 and we had the whole rest of the morning stretched before us.  The weather was still pretty mild so I decided that we would make a stop at the playground.    I don't think that I've ever been at the playground with just Kinley so this was a nice treat.   And after a summer spent keeping tabs on three kids at once, it was nice to just focus on one for a little while.  Kinley had a blast playing and running and sliding and running some more.   I had a great time watching her.   I think that sometimes I get so focused on making sure I spend time with the older kids that I take for granted spending one on one time with Kinley.   I have that false sense that I have all the time in the world with her.   My experience tells me not to fall in that trap again because before I know it she will be boarding the school bus too!



 

The Big Day - First Day of School 2013

 

 

Well, today was the BIG day.   This morning we woke up early, dressed in our carefully chosen outfits and went to school!

Cooper was eager to get to the bus.  He practically ran all the way there. 

 This girl was like an old pro.  She wasn't nervous or overly excited.  She was just ready.

How could we pass up the chance to get a picture of this cutie.  God bless her, she walked right over to the tree and did her best "cheese" just like the big kids.

 

We took our obligatory pictures together just like every year on the front step and then it was off to the bus stop.

I was proud of myself for not crying as the bus drove away.   I think I saved it for later!  Seeing how excited the kids were made a huge difference.   I'm excited to hear about their day and experience this school year along with them.

Last Day of Summer 2013

I sit here tonight with very mixed feelings about today and what tomorrow brings.   On one hand I am SO glad that tomorrow is the first day of school.  This mama is ONE.TIRED.LADY!   The kids have officially worn me out.  I'm done.  Toast. 

On the other hand I can't believe it's over.  This summer that I so carefully planned and so desperately wanted to share with my children.   The sentimental side of me reminds me that this is nearly my last summer with small children.   They have already grown so much just in the last few months.   I can't begin to imagine what next summer will look like.   If it's anything like this one, it will for sure be a blast.

This morning we set out on our yearly "last day of summer" outing.  Usually we pick a park or swim.  This year we chose to spend the time shopping and hanging out at Hooplas.  On the way the kids and I were recounting all the fun things we did this summer.  The list is enormous.   I personally will forever remember this as the summer of sleep.   The time when Kinley finally embraced the idea of sleep and did so with gusto.  I hate that I will have to wake her so early now but relish the idea of the weekends!   I also will remember this as a time when I really, really felt like I was present.   The distractions were minimal most of the time and I honestly spent nearly all of my time with the kids.   I will remember it as both rewarding and draining.   It is work to be so present all of the time.   But I wouldn't trade it for the world.   Even the bad days.   Okay, some of the bad days I could do without, but there is a lot to learn from those days too.

So tomorrow we embark on a new journey with lots of changes for our family routine.    Two kids to do homework with, three sets of lunches to pack, only one kiddo left at home during the day.   I have absolutely no idea what this will look like and the planner in me is a bit crazy over that.  But I have to trust that it will be positive and that we will thrive. 

 

 

McKenna, Cooper and Kinley,
I love you guys to the moon and back.  I couldn't imagine spending my summer with anyone but you.  I know that I will always look back on this time and smile, knowing it was one of the sweetest seasons of my life.   You challenge me, teach me, make me laugh, make me crazy, make me love and care and want to be an awesome person.     I hope you will always remember our movie days in the basement, our camping trips and afternoons at Mimi and Pappy's pool; playing Legos on the front porch with Jimmy and Ben, making jelly with Mimi, visiting Grammy Musial,  the Winfield Carnival, Ocean City, catching lightning bugs,  making dream catchers,  watching fireworks from McKenna's window,  trips to the Freeze, sleepovers with Siena and Kara,  shopping,  baking....I could go on forever.    You mean the world to me.   I love you guys!

Love, Mommy

Some ME Time

This past weekend I finally did something big for myself.   I finally got away for a couple of days and traveled to Washington DC for Women of Faith.   I've been looking forward to attending this conference for a few years yet the timing was never right.  This year I made it a priority and many other people sacrificed to help me make it happen. 

I was very excited to learn that Angie Smith would be speaking at the conference.   I've been reading her blog for many years and think she's awesome.  She is the kind of person you would

Love to have over for dinner.   And she would probably even come!  I was so struck by the fact that even on stage she seemed so down to earth.  

Megan and I stood in line to meet her and get out picture taken with her.  Unfortunately they stopped allowing pictures as we were about 5 people away!   Apparently she had to get back for the close of the show.  Good reason I guess!

The weekend would not have been nearly as wonderful if I hadn't spent it with one of my best friends.  She is so special to me and understands me and all my little quirks and for some reason still puts up with me.  I was so blessed to spend this time with Megan and so many other wonderful people from our church. 

 I'll admit that it was a long weekend in terms of traveling and learning.   I was physically and mentally exhausted by late Saturday evening.   I'm still catching up on sleep and processing some of what I learned.  But! I'm excited to go back next year.  It was a powerful weekend that I wish everyone could experience.  

Not Much To Say

I've been bad about blogging lately.  It's not that I don't have the time or the pictures or the stories to tell.  I just haven't felt like putting words to my thoughts lately.  Keeping the kids busy and keeping up with other tasks having taken priority.   And honestly,  at the end (and the beginning) of the day, I'm tired and ready to relax.

I can't help but look at this picture of the kids and realize how much they have grown this summer.  They are maturing so fast.   Kinley will be two in another week and a half and McKenna, well, she just looks so grown up to me lately.   Cooper had his first flag football practice last evening and loved it.  I have a feeling this boy will be playing a sport every single season for a long time to come. 

We have been rounding out our summer with a few days spent at home, enjoying our Legos, our church friends, getting ready for carnival and for school. Tomorrow starts classroom orientations and after that I suppose the reality of our 2013 summer being over will hit. We have a fun day planned for our "very last day of summer" which has become somewhat of a tradition. Honestly, I'm looking forward to that day.  Until then, I think we will continue to lay low, play, and just enjoy being together.

Sticky Situation

This past spring I started a Pinterest board of things I wanted to do this summer.   I called it "Summer Must Do's".   There ended up being a handful of activities on it and I'll admit to being somewhat obsessed with trying some of them.   After all, I called them "Must Do's".     So here we are, with only a week before school starts and there are a couple of things left on the list including making fluff.  

The directions said to mix two boxes of cornstarch with a can of shaving cream.    It wasn't quite a Pinterest Fail, but it wasn't quite what the picture online looked like either.  Still, we had fun playing in the goo we created.

 

This was a definite outside activity.   The stuff is like glue mixed with taffy after awhile.  Suffice to say I stripped this kids down in the garage and sent them straight to the shower all the while thanking my lucky stars that we did not attempt this activity indoors. 

Our OC Vacation in Pictures

Sometimes I'm not sure what I did to deserve these blessings.