Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful pen washes off easier from chubby little legs than it does from shirts.

I'm thankful for the paper mistletoe Kylee made to hang downstairs. I have always wanted mistletoe in the house! I love how she stands under it saying, "Hey Mom can you come here for just a second?" I totally play along and walk over to see what she needs. "Ha!" She exclaims as she points up then plants a big smooch on my cheek.

I'm thankful that I remembered the cup of coffee I put in the microwave.  Reheated coffee isn't the best thing in the world but my throat was so sore and I reached into the microwave to heat up something else when I discovered the coffee I had put in there this morning! Tasted so good.

I'm thankful that Kent found humor in my unusual early morning grumpiness.

I'm thankful for my helper putting up the Christmas tree.

I'm thankful for the season's first snowman in our yard.

I am thankful I have my voice back. 

I'm thankful that now when I ask Kase his name he responds, "Cake!" So close. :)

I'm thankful for the days Kent has off.  He has been a huge help getting things ready for the holidays.

I'm thankful that Kylee was as excited as I was to fill our cookie jars with holiday cookies.  We made red and green thumbprint cookies this morning.  So festive!

I'm thankful the kids enjoy decorating the tree.  I love seeing their faces as they unwrap each ornament, remembering what year they got it and how old they were.  My grandma gives all of us ornaments each year and my mom gives ornaments to the kids each year so our tree is certainly getting full! 

I'm thankful for the happy beep our laundry makes when it's done.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you are finding lots to be thankful for today.

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a week (and weekend), guys.  You too? 

Friday  night we all went to my parents to play in the snow.  By "we all" I mean my sisters and their husbands and kids too.  You would think that we all see each other all the time since we all live in the area now, but sadly this is not true.  We rarely all get together besides family events like baptism, or holidays.  I'm pretty sure it took us longer to get the kids all bundled up than we actually got to play outside, but it was a blast.  

I suppose I misspoke (mistyped?) above when I said all of us were together.  Technically Kael wasn't there because Kael was at his...wait for it....first friend sleepover. We had been hearing about one of his friend's plans for a birthday party/sleepover since July but Kael never got an invitation so I assumed he just wasn't going to be included.  Imagine my surprise when Kael came home from school Friday afternoon saying that he was invited to a sleepover.  There was no invitation in his backpack so I tried to figure out how I was going to explain (read: break his heart) that he wasn't invited when lo and behold I got a text from his friend's mom.  "There's no party, but we told our son we would let him pick one friend to stay over tonight and he picked Kael.  Are you guys ok with him sleeping over here tonight?" I died.  You guys, not only was he not excluded, he was the only one included! I was so excited for Kael but also a fair amount of nervous.  We know the family well, but it's not like they live next door.  I called Kent who gave the green light and before I knew it, Kael had his bag packed and gave me the world's most casual good-bye as if he stays over at friends' houses every night of the week.  This is a HUGE deal.  I was a moderate amount of anxious all night but when Kael returned home the next morning with a smile on his face and an even bigger smile on his friend's face, I knew that we had survived a major milestone.  His buddy even said, "My mom said Kael was so good he can come back anytime!!!"  I was so happy for him.

Those of you who have sent your children away for sleepovers before know that they often arrive home overly tired.  Kael was no different (for the rest of the weekend) and I will admit his attitude was a bit trying for us, but I know this is completely normal so I tried to take it easy on him while maintaining some degree of discipline and structure.  

Saturday Kylee had friend over and then also had a birthday party.  Raise your hand if you're surprised with Kylee's double-booked social Saturday.  No hands? That's what I thought.  :) She's always on the go and always up for fun and adventure.  

Saturday evening, when we were all about to collapse, I decided instead of being over-tired, over-stimulated and grumpy at home, we might as well go to Family Fun Night at church.  Kent gave me his best, "Are you kidding? We're seriously squeezing one more thing into this day?" look as we loaded the troops in his truck. And guess what? It was AWESOME.  There was a basketball knock-out contest (that Kael got second place in), pizza, pop, cookies, a craft room with do-it-yourself face painting (how happy was Kylee?!) and a movie in the sanctuary with popcorn and candy.  Then they had extra pizzas and they raffled them off and Kael won one! How happy was he?! Great end to the evening. 

Sunday I was hosting a baby shower here that was super fun.  It also meant I had to kick everyone else out of the house so I could furiously clean/pick up flowers/decorate/host/clean up again.  Kent was so helpful and took the kids to Collins to hang with his family and was even more help putting stuff away when he got home.  The party was so fun.  Loved having some girl time with neighbors!

Another great weekend in the books.  Kent only has to work today and tomorrow this week and the kids are off school after tomorrow too.  I'm looking forward to some serious family time including decorating the tree and doing a little shopping but hopefully tons of down time.  

Here are a few (out of order, unedited) pictures because Kase is waking up and I've gotta go get him.  I cannot handle it when he sleepily calls "mama" over the monitor.  I might die from the innocence and cuteness.

Kase loved playing in the snow with me!

Kylee had fun stacking buckets at church.  Please notice the self-painted green mustache on her face. 

My adorable neighbor! I failed to get any pictures from the day.  Glad my friend got at least one!


Kael won the first round of knock-out but ended up second over all.  A great night.

Today

Today I seriously stocked up on groceries.  Having a pantry and fridge full of food makes me so happy.

Today is the first day this week I haven't gotten a call from the school nurse.

Today I played with the Kinetic Sand the kids are getting for Christmas.  This stuff is COOL!

Today I made scotcharoos and don't regret for a second that I accidentally melted too much chocolate and had to eat the rest.

Today I am having the best time watching the kindergartners at recess. They are all bundled up to play in a half inch of snow.  Too cute.

Today I actually shrieked when I found N*Sync's first Christmas CD hidden behind another Christmas CD.  I have been listening to it all morning on repeat.

Today I took Kase outside to play in the snow.  He was too small to walk last year so technically this is the first snow he's ever played in.  This is why I stay home, folks.

Today I took Kase with me to buy plates for the baby shower.  He grabbed some, sat in the aisle, put the pack of plates nicely on his lap and asked, "Snack?"

Today I started on the kids 2013 photo books making it the earliest I have ever started on this time consuming, "get lost in the memories" project.

What's going on with you today?

Thankful Thursday, an addendum

I am so thankful Kael is ok after a fall at recess yesterday. He almost always plays football at recess but it was too wet in the field so he was on the playground instead.

The school nurse called me and in an incredibly in alarming voice, explained that Kael had fallen at recess. Like a fool I asked, "Do you think I should come get him?" She responded with, "Yes. And you will probably need to head straight to Urgent Care for stitches and then see your dentist about his chipped teeth." So in a mad rush, I call Kent to see if he can help because Kase had just fallen asleep. No answer. I called again and again. Nothing. I really didn't want to wake Kase and have to take one bloodied up boy and his sleep-deprived toddler brother to the emergency room. 

So, Mom to the rescue! She came over to help and I picked up Kael. (I was in such a hurry I didn't even bring him a fresh shirt- poor guy had to wear his blood soaked shirt to the doc and dentist and I didn't even have a coat for him to wear since his other one had blood all over it too...) I practiced my non-reaction the whole way there because I know my tendency is to overreact.  I walked in and saw Kael holding an ice pack to his mouth and I could tell his eyes were red and his nose was kind of scratched up. He slowly moved the ice pack away from his mouth and said, "Hey, Mom" and I could see he was worried. 

I gave a calm smile and said, "Hey, Buddy" and hugged him tightly. But on the inside my mind was racing. "Yikes! His mouth is totally cut up and swollen! His teeth are way more chipped than I was prepared for. Do we really need stitches? Urgent Care or our regular pediatrician? Doctor first or dentist? Will I be home in time to pick up Kylee?"

His teacher joked that Kael really must have wanted to get out of his math test. :) I made the decision to see our pediatrician and Kent was able to meet us there. No broken nose, no concussion, no stitches. Win, win, win. In the waiting room though, I noticed Kael's eyes welling up a bit and I told him that I had chipped my tooth when I was little too. I told him it was ok to be scared but I promised to take care of him. He leaned his head on my shoulder for the first time in a long time.

Off to the dentist who quickly gave him some "new teeth" and seemed very optimistic about it all. Apparently there is no nerve damage, so long as he wears a mouth guard during sports and doesn't eat apples unless I cut them up first, he will be just fine. 

Throughout the whole thing I saw a deeper side of Kael than I usually see. Raw. Tough but worried. In pain but not reacting to it. And I saw a totally neurotypical boy anxious to show off his wounds and new teeth to his class the next day. 

I told him I would remember this day forever. I think he will too. 

A friend brought him orange pop, candy and balloons and I was once again reminded of what a great place we live in.





Kael is as good as new! His teeth look great, and even this morning the swelling has gone down considerably and the cuts on his lip are much better.  I'm so thankful.

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that at least Kase liked the chicken and noodles I made last week.  Every time his bowl was empty he held it up to me and said, "More yummy?"

I'm thankful that Kent had a few days off last week and helped me with some Christmas shopping.

I'm thankful I finally cleaned our oven.  For the very first time, I might add.  I am not, however, thankful for the smell it left in our house for days.

I'm thankful that the kids have adjusted to Daylight Savings Time.  I haven't. I can't stop waking up at 4:30 but I am loving being awake early.  A quiet house and a cup of coffee are good for the soul.

I'm thankful (every.single.day) that I stay at home.  On Monday, the school nurse called me about at "distracting cough" that Kael had.  He didn't have a fever or runny nose or anything, but she suggested that I come get him if I could.  While I'm not entirely sure he needed to be sent home from school, I seized the opportunity to make some hot chocolate and turn on a favorite movie with my usually independent 8 year old.

I'm thankful that I haven't yet had to have "The Talk"  (about being autistic) with Kael but I like how this mom approached it- she didn't schedule a time to talk with her son, she just sort of let it happen and waited until he asked about it.  Also love the idea of calling it "a little autism".  Keeping this one in my back pocket until I need it.

I'm thankful I caved and took the kids to Wendy's Night (who are we kidding, they wouldn't have eaten Tortellini Soup anyways, right?).  Kent ended up having to work late so we dropped soup off to him then made our way to Wendy's.  There were so many friends and neighbors there and even a guy making balloon animals.

I'm thankful Kent was working late when we decided to go to Wendy's Night.  Although the kids and I enjoyed seeing friends and eating fast food (a fairly rare occasion) - a hot, crowded place where you had to wait for mediocre food and a bunch of 8 year old boys with balloon swords would have been enough to skyrocket Kent's blood pressure.  I didn't even want to tell Kent that I let Kase dip his fingers in a thing of ketchup and lick it off and then feed himself a Frosty. Kent doesn't love that kind of a mess.

I'm thankful that Kael found a group of friends to sit with at Wendy's.  (I promise this is the last "thankful" comment about Wendy's.) Kylee was sitting in the booth next to me calling out friends' names and waving at them all celebrity-style and I could hear a million kids squealing, "Kylee! Mom, there's Ky-leeeee!!!"  I was so happy for Kael that he took his Bacon Cheeseburger Without Cheese (he gets so mad when I tell him if the cheeseburger has no cheese, it's just a hamburger) and joined a group of boys from his class who were all sitting at a table without their parents.  His cool confidence always impresses me.

I'm thankful Kylee is fast.  The other day I didn't see her out at recess (I don't always look for her every single recess, but when I am home and glance out, she's almost always on the swings.) and I asked her where she had been.  "Oh, sorry, I didn't really want to tell you this because I'm embarrassed, but Caden has been chasing me and trying to kiss me.  He can't catch me though." Oh brother.  I am completely unprepared to be dealing with kindergarten kisses. On another note, I am very thankful that we have an open line of communication and she feels comfortable telling me stuff like this.

What are you thankful for this week?

This week

Kase wasn't feeling the best last night so we had a pretty chill morning around here.  I'm  hosting a baby shower here later this week so I saw no reason to spend any time cleaning because I'll do a mad-scramble cleaning before everyone comes on Sunday.

Since we had no place to go (I didn't feel like taking him out since he had been sick) and essentially nothing that had to be done, I did some of my favorite things.  First, I cooked. Then, I read.

I made Tomato Basil Soup with Cheese Tortellini soup for tonight (even though the kids are DYING to go to their school's fundraiser at Wendy's) and Chicken Tortilla soup for Thursday night.  I also browned a few pounds of hamburger and divided it up in some containers to put in the freezer so I can quickly make spaghetti, tacos or beefburgers in the coming sure-to-be-busy weeks before Christmas.  I made Popcorn Chicken (a family favorite) for the freezer and gathered ingredients to make Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken tomorrow night (Tuesdays are a notoriously busy night for us no matter which sports season we're in).

Later, Kase napped and I did a few things for the baby shower but then convinced myself I'd done enough for one morning and made a cup of coffee and read.  It was heavenly.  Here are a few of the books I'm reading and a few of my thoughts.

Earn it, Learn it: We don't do allowance in our house, but the older the kids get, the more I'm seeing a need for teaching them the value of money and hard work.

Happier At Home: This is, of course, not to suggest that I'm unhappy at home but a couple years ago I read The Happiness Project, by the same author, and loved it.  I'm only a couple of chapters in, but several of her ideas are so inspiring.

The Price of Privilege: The rest of the title of the book is "How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids".  Both Kent and I agree with the old saying "money can't buy happiness" but we live in a pretty affluent community where it's easy to see how kids feel entitled.  I can't say that our kids are disconnected or unhappy but I don't even want to think about going down that road...

So how about you? What are you eating and reading this week?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the moments that remind me that Kylee is still little. For example, she has spent all week making "ottomans" (ornaments) for the little tree in her room.

I'm thankful the kids trees are up in their rooms. Things are starting to feel festive!

I'm thankful that conferences went well for the kids last night. The fact that they like going to school and get good report cards is something I take for granted.

I'm thankful Keith and Cindy were available to come help with the kids during conferences.

I'm thankful for the snow flurries! When Kase saw them his eyes got so big.  Love the awe of it all.

I'm thankful for the remote start on our coffee maker. Just kidding. It doesn't have one. But it should. I know it has a timer I can set for it to automatically start, but many mornings I am not sure how early Kase will be calling me out of bed. Really I just need a remote start so I can sleepily start it from my bed, then drag myself out of the bed, get my Kaser and make my way downstairs where a fresh pot of coffee waits for me. This is not too much to ask, right?

I'm thankful for all the new words Kase says.  He will repeat, or at least attempt to repeat, everything I say.  I canNOT get enough and often find myself saying things just so I can hear him say them too.

I'm thankful when Kylee says to me, "Mom, can we bake a pie sometime soon?"  She's happiest when she's in the kitchen, just like her mom. 

I'm thankful my dad took Kase and me to the State Volleyball Tournament on Tuesday.  Such great memories at that place and SO FUN watching the Jags win!!!

I'm thankful for a family that makes a task like putting up Christmas lights pretty enjoyable. 

I'm thankful Kent is such a good guy. Kylee and her neighbor friend had him walking them around our house like this!

I'm thankful Kase liked the volleyball game!

Also thankful he fell asleep for the second and third games.

I'm thankful for Kylee as my dinner date. So fun to have the kids one-on-one sometimes.  Also thankful she shared that giant sundae with me!

Happy Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I am equal parts thankful and surprised that Kent volunteered to coach Kael's basketball team this year.

I'm thankful the Jaguar volleyball team made it to state!!! Wishing I could go cheer them on!

I'm thankful for a free weekend ahead.  By free, I mean Kent will be putting up the Christmas lights. He can't wait.  #kidding

I'm thankful we've stayed, for the most part, healthy.  Neighbors/friends/family have all had runny noses, some have had ear infections, sinus infections, croup...I feel lucky that we've only had coughs so far.

I'm thankful my Christmas cards are ordered.  Every year "getting them done" trumps "making them perfect".

I'm thankful it's soup season.

I'm thankful for each holiday catalog and magazine that I get in the mail.

I'm thankful Kase doesn't fall off the table when he chooses to play tractors up there.

I'm thankful for homemade hot chocolate and mountains of marshmallows with the kids on late start days.

I'm thankful that Kent seems ambivalent about whether I put the tree up before Thanksgiving or not. Usually he much prefers that we wait, but I think he's beginning to see the light .  Really, there's not as much time between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year so it only makes sense to put it up early so we can enjoy it for longer.  

Once again, with the holidays nearing, I am trying to be extra thankful for things I take for granted.  I'm thankful that Kent has a great job that allows me to stay home with the kids. These diaper-changing, runny-nose-wiping, library storytime-going days can seem long, but the years are short and I am lucky to have a husband who sees the value in me staying home.  

What are you thankful for?

Chief

My Kylee is SUCH a chief.  While I embrace her independence and her confidence, she can come across as a teensy bit bossy.

For example, the other day we ran into some friends who I used to babysit.  The son's given name is Kaden, but he much prefers to be called Kade.  The mom was talking about basketball and said, "Kade's season just started, actually-" when Kylee interrupted saying, "His name is Kad-en.  Kaden.  Not Kade". She was essentially correcting the mother about the name of her own child.

Kylee often corrects me around here and evidently I let it slide way too often.  We had to have a quick conversation about how it's not always appropriate to correct adults.  Kylee had some valid points and questions but in the end she just likes to be right.  Then I heard these words come out of my mouth, "Kylee, you're a chief.  There's just no getting around it.  You like to be right and you like to be in charge, and you're good at it.  But you have to learn to be the kind of chief that people want to follow."

And that really got me thinking.  I, too, have been guilty of always having to be right and liking to be in charge.  But am I the kind of chief that people want to follow or more importantly am I the kind of mom that the kids want to listen to? Or do I just walk around waving my, "I'm the mom and I'm right and I'm in charge" wand expecting them to listen without having a voice of their own?

I'm not a big believer in horoscopes and Zodiac signs and all that but for some reason we got to talking about it yesterday and Kent and I were dying at how spot-on Kylee's was.  So evidently it's written in the stars that Kylee is the way she is.  Here's what I found:

(http://zodiac-signs-astrology.com/zodiac-signs/leo.htm)

Leo Strength Keywords:

- Confident
- Ambitious
- Generous
- Loyal
- Encouraging

Leo Weakness Keywords:

- Pretentious
- Domineering
- Melodramatic
- Stubborn
- Vain

"Leo is very independent but they need something to control..."

"Their enthusiasm attracts people, Leos are social butterflies, not because they want to be but because people always naturally gravitate and surround the Leo."

Most likely Kylee will keep on being a chief, which I happen to love about her.  I think we could both use a lesson on how to be the kind of chief that people want to follow.  How about you? What's your zodiac say about you?

Weekend Wrap-Up

As expected, Daylight Savings Time had us all up early. Kase graced us with his presence at 3:30, while the other two sleepy heads managed to stay in bed until nearly 5:00. We had a lovely, l-o-n-g day. Kylee even asked me, "How many days have I been off of school?" Regular weekends that feel like long weekends? I'll take 'em. No complaining from this girl, but I'm not the one who got up with Kaser at 3:30 either.

Here are a few weekend highlights:

Attempted some quick photos of the kids in matchy black leather jackets. I think all of us with kids keep fairly modest expectations when taking pictures if our own kids, so I was thrilled to capture a few good shots.

Kael decided he wanted to learn to play Fur Elise on the my keyboard. I remembered a fair amount of it on my own but my mom had saved all my old piano books so I got them from her and taught Kael the beginning of it. It shouldn't have surprised me but he picked it up very quickly! That whole amazing memory thing he has going for him serves him well! Does your 8 year old also like to watch Sunday Night Football while playing Fur Elise? 

Kylee is reading. Like, legitimately reading real books. I am so happy for her. She read me an entire Dora book tonight and I praised her for sounding out the tough words. She even sailed through the Spanish words with ease. 

I found a few Christmas lists online that helped me come up with a few more ideas for the kids. This year, more than ever, I just want give them not only gifts they will actually play with for more than a week, but gifts that are meaningful. 

Kent helped his dad install a new bathroom floor. Kent was so happy to help and I know his dad appreciated it. 

I filled out our family color-coded fridge calendar for November and I was so excited at how little was on there.  We have several completely free weekends which almost never happens, let alone several times in one month.

Kase can do the splits.  It is so hilarious.  Want proof? Find Kent on Vine- he put up some good ones this weekend.

That's all folks.  Have a great week! 

The many faces of Kylee

We all had a great time over at my parents' house this afternoon jumping in the leaves.  This one, in particular, had a lot of fun hamming it up for the camera. 

I'm so glad this fun-loving girl is mine.