New school and new shoes

Well, what happened to summer? I know at our house, we blinked and it was over. The big news over here is that Molly started Kindergarten a couple of weeks ago! The transition has been very smooth, and the days have been full of new routines and excitement. Molly is riding the bus and loving it, and the teacher has already praised her on what a wonderful helper she is. Molly comes home every day with fun things to tell me, and she seems very comfortable and happy. What more could we ask for?


Grey's big news is that he's walking everywhere! He decided around the beginning of August that crawling was no longer sufficient, and now that he's a toddler, he's a happy camper! He is very cute...with the combined stumbling and hobobabble, we often feel like we're on Bourbon Street. He enjoys walking around in circles and trying to jump like his big sister. He's very proud of himself -- especially when he has shoes on. He loves shoes!
Here are a few fun pics of the kids -- there is NOTHING like the love between siblings...the fun shared between them can match no other!






I am going to work on a summer vacation pictures post soon, so check back for more pics! I hope you have all had a wonderful summer and are all doing well. We love you!

The little ballerina

Molly had her ballet recital on May 10, and she was the most beautiful ballerina! I even had permission to put her hair up in a bun (I had to beg the teacher to talk to her about putting her hair up...but whatever works, right?) She had a lot of fun, but when asked what her favorite part was, she'll tell you it was receiving flowers! (As VERY amateur ballet parents, we didn't realize that every family had brought flowers to give to their ballerinas after the show...SuperAaron darted to the store and made it back only a couple of minutes after the start of the show!)

I apologize for the lack of quality in both the pictures and video...we were in the very back, standing on a chair, holding up the camera (not camcorder, as it's broken,) and dodging the very bald head of the man sitting in the second row. At least it's captured, right? (Both the recital AND the bald head!) Molly is front row, second from right.

Happy Mothers' Days

I just got home from a very weepy morning at Molly's school. How I was lucky enough to find such a gem of a school, I'll never know, but I am so grateful for St. David's.
This morning was Muffins for Moms (in honor of Mothers' Day). The kids work hard for weeks preparing projects and songs (the muffins are store-bought -- whew!) to present to us on this day. Molly's teachers peppered the event with lovey little quotes and thoughts -- and were smart enough to hand out tissues to everyone.
There is absolutely nothing like watching my child wiggle excitedly through a song that she's singing to ME. There's nothing like that squeezy hug after I open the custom-painted, ladybugged candle pot she couldn't tell me about for two weeks. There's nothing like hugging back that nothing-short-of-amazing little girl. I am truly stumped at how I was lucky enough I was to have been given that miracle girl. I don't know why God picked me, and I try every day to prove that I am worthy enough to have her.
So to all the mothers I know:

-- the ones who are preparing by painting nurseries, running to doctor's appointments, feeling the kicks (and heartburn), wondering the sex, tasting baby food at showers, crying at commercials, and waiting for the big day --

-- the ones who are currently chasing monkeys, wiping bottoms, unclogging (or replacing) toy-clogged toilets, Orajeling teeth, teaching manners, juggling jobs and homes, cheering at sports games and piano lessons, rushing to the ER, shushing the whining, explaining Jesus billboards, embroidering outfits, making homemade ornaments, head-butting attitudes, encouraging healthy food, and draining wine bottles at the end of the day --

-- the ones who have already changed sheets in the middle of the night, clapped for first steps, cried over handprinted art, packed lunches, kissed bo-bos, doctored the chickenpox, waved to school buses both for the first and last time, picked up failed sleepover attempts, created homemade Care Bears and dresses, encouraged better grades, praised the blue ribbons (and the white ones), driven mini-vans (and big red ones,) handed over the keys, covered ears over slamming doors and too-loud music, unloaded at college dorms, picked out mother-of-the-bride dresses and are now fortunate enough to be able to (patiently) do it all over again from a different perspective --

I am so honored to be a part of this motherworld we are all a part of, in some way, shape or form. Every one of you inspire me, strengthen me, teach me, support me, and I am so grateful for each friendship. I am constantly learning from all angles you provide me, and I appreciate all your stories, motivations, struggles and triumphs. I hope each one of you have a very blessed Mothers' Day. You are ALL doing, or HAVE done, an amazing job so far.

pictures

Grey's ONE!

I still don't quite know how it happened, but the baby is a year old. It was bittersweet, as Molly's was, because while every little new thing he does is exciting, every baby stage he leaves behind makes me sad...especially since my brain is horrible at retaining information.
But his birthday was perfect. We had a little party at the local park, and I was very pleased at how the weather turned out. It was a beautiful day to celebrate a beautiful boy!
Grey LOVED his day. He didn't waste time getting into his cake, and while his hand was slow to get to the cake, no doubt waiting for mine to correct his, he was like lightning getting that handful of frosting back to his mouth. He sucked his fingers, his palm, the back of his hand...I do not think that boy could have been any happier. He was so happy all day, even down to the ten o'clock hour, when he was opening presents and wandering from new toy to new toy. I think he finally crashed around midnight, no doubt dreaming of frosting-covered trains. :)

wedding bells

So last night Molly said, "I still haven't decided yet who I'm going to marry." I asked her who the choices were, figuring the difficult choice was between Daddy and Aladdin, and she named three boys from her class! I guess it begins...

March!

Well, although the year is moving right along, our household doesn't have too much going on right now. February was a blur and now March is threatening double digit dates already. We are ready for CONSISTENT warm weather, and Easter! Molly demanded the Easter bunny bring her a Webkinz toy, but I quickly pointed out that the bunny probably did not like being TOLD what to bring, and she eagerly changed the demand to a sweet-as-pie request. Humpf.

Last week, the elementary school where Molly will attend in the fall had orientation, and Aaron and I were blown away. It is an incredible school -- there's a Kindergarten wing! -- and Molly seemed very excited about what all is in store. Her favorite part of the tour was the music class, although the tour included the science lab, computer rooms, cafeteria and Kindergarten classes. I think Aaron and I both were ready to attend the school ourselves.
Grey is moving right along...literally. He has all confidence in his crawling and is eager to figure out a way to get beyond any gate or block we set up. His favorite annoying habit is to crawl up to a couch, desk or table and feel his way around until he finds something with his fingers. He also likes to yell at you if you tell him something he doesn't like, like "No!" He has yet to find a food he doesn't like, including lemons. He doesn't even grimace!

And Molly is famous! The latest book from author Jill Conner Browne, "The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Raising Children for Fun and Profit," features a cute Molly story, thanks to my mom! I'm going to be evil and make you hunt for the story if you want to know what it is. (It's really just too long to post and I'm not going to bother.) But it's funny and it's Molly and I think you should buy the book and find the last paragraph on page 72. (And then find the story about Jill on the bottom of page 187!)

So the rest of March holds friends coming in for a weekend, Easter, and a garage sale. Then we move into April with Spring Break and a birthday. Feel free to drop by...I'll clear off a little spot on the couch and make a cuppajoe. I'll even let you change a diaper!