Preschool!

Two days ago we took this brown eyed beauty to her preschool tour and I've been feeling all the feelings ever since.  She'll be starting next Fall, and watching her wander the halls, cautiously introducing herself to teachers (pretty sure it's the first thing she's ever done cautiously) and taking in all the sights with big round eyes was completely surreal.  My heart was bursting because I knew she is so ready for this and how much she'll thrive.  But it's funny how heart bursts can also feel a little like heart breaks.  She's only four and this is the last completely carefree year of her little life.  After this summer flies by we'll be packing her up and dropping her off at her very first classroom, and for every year after that in the short little while we get to have her under our roof we'll only have summers and holidays to just be together.  Every day of the last four years has just been us, doing our thing.  Playing.  And I haven't done the exact math, but I'm pretty sure those four years are about as many carefree holiday days as we have left until she goes to college.  It just makes me want to grab her and hold on tight and never let go.

You should be proud of me though, I held it together through the tour and only had to catch my breath and hold back tears once as the Director explained the three programs the kids put on through the year and how much of a difference you'll see from the first to the last performance.  Suddenly I was picturing all the "first day of school" and "last day of school" pictures, and how awed I am each year by everyone else's kids growing up so fast...and now it's me.  It's my kid. 

It's silly, as usual, because it's only 2 1/2 hours, 3 days a week.  I know, it's just 7 1/2 hours a week of her being gone, but it's still a little bit excruciating, and it's not just the time.  It's the idea that this is the beginning of a new family era.  The beginning of so many highs and lows.  School is tough, and peers are tough.  And for the first time we won't be basically the only influence on her and her behavior.  And I won't be there to protect her when kids are mean, which we all know they will be.  And of course everyone goes through all of this, and we survive, and the trials and struggles make us better and stronger.  I know that I can't and shouldn't and don't really even want to protect her from 4 year old struggles because then she won't be able to handle 15 year old struggles or 30 year old struggles, and let's not even get into the whole millennial issue...  But it's new territory, and new is always just a bit scary, no matter how exciting.  Even (maybe especially?) when you're the mom. 

Even with all the bittersweets, I'm so so SO excited for her.  The school is so cute and I know she's going to excel in every imaginable way.  She's going to absolutely love it.  So I guess I better figure out a way to loosen my grip in the next 5 months, because if there's any certainty in anything it's that I have exactly 0% chance of success in homeschooling.  :)

- K

Easter Sunday

When you move far away from family and you find friends that are as good as family, you're pretty lucky.  When they happen to live right next door - watch out because my 2 year old might sneak into your house while you're showering.  Seriously.  :)

The only bad thing about moving into our new house was leaving two of our favorite people, but luckily we're not far and we even got to spend Easter Sunday with them!  Scott and Julie joined us for church, at which point we were dead to our kids.  I think they even kissed them goodbye when they went to their classes.  I'm not sure I even got eye contact.  You know you're in good company when your kids love them even more than you.  :)

We had a great Easter, and even made it to church early!  (Miracle!)  I got approximately zero good pictures, but rest assured it was a completely relaxed, non fancy kind of holiday.  Like, a t shirt and sweats kind of holiday.  And you just have to love friends you can eat Easter brunch with in your sweats. 

- K

Easter Bunnies and Easter Eggs and Monday Things

Today was what I like to call a "loud noises" day, where I feel like Brick in that Anchorman scene where everyone is yelling and all he can say is "Loud noises!"  Some days are just all yelling and crying and all around high maintenancing.  But the good news is it's only Monday, so it's just the beginning.  :)

Speaking of Mondays, if you're looking for the perfect way to drain all patience reservoirs before the sun even rises on a Monday morning, look no further.  The perfect answer is dyeing Easter eggs with a 4 year old and 2 year old before your coffee has even had a chance to sink in.  All things considered, it went pretty darn well.  But if you're one of those that likes to warm up slowly to your week, and not crash right into it - I'd go ahead and skip it.

We finished our Easter eggs tonight, and by that I mean Lyla plans to continue the decorating until the cows come home.  Some of them already have 3 layers of decorating - and let me tell you, they are lovely.  It's the first time we've actually dyed eggs with the girls and it's cute how much they love it.  :)

Here are some photos of our morning egg sesh and seeing the Easter egg bunny yesterday.  Getting excited for Easter over here!  And also that Monday is almost over.  ;)

- K

Everly's Birthday Party!

I think if I could add a sixth love language it would have to be throwing birthday parties.  I told myself going into this year that I wouldn't do the whole big birthday party thing for the girls this year.  But then their birthdays approached and I just couldn't help myself.  And it doesn't stop with the party, it's the actual birthday too.  I can't resist the balloons and the banners and the sparkle in their eyes when they see it all.  On the one hand I tell myself that it doesn't matter, they won't remember, it's unnecessary.  But on the other hand their birthdays are kind of the biggest deal in my world and I can't stop expressing my excitement in these silly little parties.

Everly spends about half her time crawling on the ground, meowing and demanding belly rubs.  The other half is spent chasing her kitty or giving him treats.  She loves all things kitty so much I decided on a kitty theme for her birthday.  She threw in a little wrench when the night before her birthday I was talking excitedly about her turning two and out of nowhere she says "Go cake?  On cake?"  Go is what she calls Elsa since she sings Let It Go, and On is obviously Anna.  :)  Which meant she was asking for a Frozen cake, which was not on my radar at all.  I think she was just remembering Lyla's Elsa cake I had made, and relating that to birthdays but over here on their birthday it's kind of like what baby wants, baby gets.  ;)  I made sure we had a Go cake, On cake for her party and it paid off.  When she woke up from her nap right before the party she asked about it again and was so excited when I showed it to her.  She's still talking about the party, randomly listing everyone that was there then the kitty pops then the Go cake, On cake.  It's pretty darn cute.  :)

I did a little kitty dress up station for the girls and settled on swords and fart themed prizes for the boys.  Because all boys like swords and farts, right?  I really have no clue.  ;)  Amazingly it was a beautiful high 60's kind of day, so we were able to bust out the jump house too.  It was a fun day, and one Evie is not bound to forget for a long time.  Thanks to our friends that came to celebrate our little miss!

- K

Disclaimer: I didn't make a SINGLE thing myself, and it was glorious.

All I wanted was a picture with the birthday girl.  All she wanted was Goan Goan.  :)

The girls with Joan and Dave - their forever guests of honor.

This sweet hug inspired me to try for more "posed" pictures...

...it didn't work out.

They love me so much.

Ryan drew this cute "pin the tail on the kitty" game!

It took a whoopee cushion to get this smiling pic.  :)

This is the exact baby that Sis found at Target and wanted SO BAD.  I had already gotten her presents so did not get it for her.  A friend happened to pick out the absolute perfect thing.  She was beyond thrilled!

All she really cares about is the frosting.  :)