{she SLAYS me}

This morning, the little Miss busied herself with paper and scissors. She made quite the mess on the carpet of the family room. When I asked her to clean it up, she said, "Mooooommm. I can't. I am an artist and I am making art."

I swear.

On the way home from school, she starts talking about a 4 and a 5 and how she is four and she will be five on her next birthday. I had no idea what she was talking about, or what spurred this particular train of thought. "So that sign is just for me Mom", she says.

What?

And then we passed a speed limit sign - 45mph. I asked her if that's the sign she saw. Yes. She thinks it's just for HER. And well, all the other kids in her class at school.

"Mom. I want to be Smurfette for Halloween this year. You know what she looks like - she has a white dress and white high heel shoes. Oh and BLONDE hair. Not curly like mine. More like Emily's hair. But blonde."

She notices every detail.

She slays me. She makes me smile all day long. She gives me hugs and kisses whenever I want. I truly don't know what I would do without her. Truly.

Of course she's a total pain sometimes too...aren't we all?

{two ponies and a headband}

I was going through my memory card looking for some pictures to post here - when I found these. Pictures that were taken weeks and weeks ago. Pictures of Paige that I love. We had just received a package from my sister. She sent both girls new shirts for Valentine's day, AND headbands. Paige was so excited about her new headband, she had to wear it right then. Even though she had two ponytails that day. And, I can't believe how grown up she looks.



That's all. Just a few cutie pie pictures.

{Ms. Gottlieb}

Today is Career Day at Emily's school. Of course, she wanted to go as a teacher. Specifically, an Ojibwa Elementary School teacher. Her Dad made her an ID tag complete with a pocket for her "hoot tickets".

Hoot Ticket - a redeemable ticket that students at Emily's school receive for doing good deeds.



And I know - because I used to teach - that most teachers don't wear their hair in buns...but really, I could not help myself. Especially when I had a matching pencil....And the pearls are the ones I actually wore when I was teaching.







Miss Paige had to get in the act too. She'll be able to really participate next year when she's in Kindergarten. But this morning, she also wanted to sport the same "do" as Emily. Except...she called it a BURGER. "Mom, I want my hair in a burger like Emily." She slays me, that kid. She also still calls her forehead a headfore.

And, of course, Paige HAD to be the very first person to receive a HOOT ticket.


The burger:


Here's to the first of many future mornings getting all dressed up in your teacher gear sweetie!

{All-Day bound...}

A couple weeks ago it was declared that All Day Kindergarten would replace the traditional Half Day Kindergarten in our school district. Much applause and cries were heard all around. I was one of those that was applauding. My background in education, elementary education to be more precise, tells me that an all day curriculum would be the best for my girl. She will not have to rush through her Kindergarten year. She will have plenty of time to prepare for first grade and beyond. She will have plenty of time to develop social relationships with her classmates that will hopefully carry her all throughout her scholastic career. I know all these things to be true. And if Kindergarten were to start tomorrow, she would be ready. She is BEYOND excited. This girl has been watching Emily get on that school bus since she was seeing from the seat of her stroller. She has been wanting to get on that bus since she could walk. And the thoughts that SHE will get to ride that bus next year...well the anticipation of that - it's almost too much for this four and a half year old to bear.



A couple of days ago, I realized that she is really growing up. I know, kids, they tend to do that. But this past week, she is dropping so many of her babyish habits, and replacing them with those of a much more mature kid. And all that confidence I felt about her going to Kindergarten began to fade a bit.



She has been by my side for four and a half years. Up until this year, all day, everyday. And of course, there were many times I wished she would just leave me in peace for a moment - a lot of that came while I was in the bathroom...but, it's kind of sad to think that I won't have her little face around all day.



Being a parent is a crazy thing. Every moment of your child's life you have this push/pull thing going on. Of course I want my girls to grow up and be independent little beings. But, can't they just sit on my lap and watch Micky Mouse Clubhouse with me a bit longer?



Can't they say dis or dat instead of this or that, just a while longer?



I know. They can't. It's so strange to think about my kids being teenagers, or adults. But it is the goal right?



So, I get it, you Moms who had those sad faces in the hallway of pre-school last week. I get it. It's hard to watch them pull away. It's hard to let them grow up. I guess we almost have no choice in the matter. And if you know my Paige - I lost that battle four and a half years ago.

{the most long awaited snow day EVER}

It FINALLY came! Snow! Some of you who live in warmer climates may think we're nuts, and that's fine. We northerners like a variety of weather. Well, at least this northerner does. I like my winter a bit on the snowy side. Now come March 22nd, I would rather not see any more of the fluffy white stuff. But, having to wait until January 19th for snow....well, that's too much. And, truth be told, I actually enjoyed getting up at 7am  - ON A SATURDAY - and shoveling the driveway this morning. It was so peaceful. No one was out with their snow removal machines. Just me, Eric, our shovels, and a gorgeous sunrise. Nothing better than that to start the day.

A bit later, the girlies wanted to get outside and enjoy Mother Natures present for them. And enjoy they did.

Did I mention that this girl got straight A's on her progress report? Did I mention that she has a 99% in math? She just LOVES school. She LOVES learning new stuff. We are so proud!

She did eat quite a bit of snow while she was outside - hopefully all those smarts come with some common sense.......we do have yellow snow around our house.



Building snow forts, and making cherry ice pie. Sand toys do double duty.









Happy snow day to ALL!

{41 and mothballs....}

Eric turned 41 today. We celebrated last night because he works late tonight - I KNOW, on HIS BIRTHDAY - and because my Mom couldn't be here today. Not that my Mom HAS to be here for Eric's birthday, but she did get him a gift, and that entitles you to a piece of cake. Right? Well, maybe that's just my rule.

Anyway, at 41 Eric is still the same as he was when he was just 40 - except now he wears a tie. Apparently, over 40 means FANCY. Guess I had better get my cocktail dresses out of storage. I still have a couple years, but I think I may need some time to get that mothball smell out.

And, now, this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Eric, or turning 41, but I thought I would share a story, that probably only I think is funny...it has to do with mothballs.

My friends Tracy and Ian bought a house years ago from a an older woman. The house was in it's original condition when they bought it - I believe it had been built in the 60's. It had PINK carpeting, although some may have called it rose, and PINK walls. It also had the traditional pink bathroom, and baby blue bathroom. It was all kinds of awesome. If you saw the house the day they moved in and then saw the house today, you would swear it was a different house.

Anyway, the mothballs. So, of course, the night they moved in, we had a painting party, and painted all the walls white. PINK BE GONE! Tracy's Mom was kind enough to cater dinner - KFC. We ate quite a bit, and put the leftovers in the fridge, along with our cans of soda, and some delicious brownies that another friend had brought over. This is FLORIDA people. You can't leave food out. EVER. Unless you like ants.

The next day, they renovations continued. And we got hungry. So, we opened the fridge and prepared to eat the delicious chicken leftover from the night before.

Are you wondering what all of this has to do with mothballs? Are you hungry for KFC?

We all took out first bite of chicken, and then we all promptly spit it out. It tasted like MOTHBALLS!! WTF? How. In. The. Heck?

Okay fine. We'll get something else to eat. Let me just get a drink of my Coke.

HOLY CRAP! MOTHBALLS!! REALLY WTF? It's a SEALED can!!!!

And then we looked over at the tray of brownies. And then we cried, for these brownies are the BEST. BROWNIES. EVER. And now they also tasted like MOTHBALLS.

I don't know why they didn't kick the fridge to the curb at that point, but they didn't. I recall Tracy froze some meat in the freezer soon after they moved in. She defrosted it, and made dinner with it - and guess what? MOTHBALLS. Then they kicked the fridge to the curb.

I guess the original owner was so OBSESSED with not having moths, she put mothball EVERYWHERE. Including behind the refrigerator. After years of it being in the vents for the fridge, it became the mothball refrigerator.

Thus endeth the mothball story. Don't you feel better now?

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC! We're having mothballs for dinner tonight!

{aware}

I was reading this blog post today, don't carpe diem, and oh boy, did that resonate with me. To give you the cliff notes, it's about those people who tell you that you should appreciate and enjoy every moment of your child's young life because it's fleeting.

I know it's fleeting. I know that tomorrow my kids will be one day closer to teenager-hood and adult-hood. But, when I hear stuff like that, I can't help but feel a little guilty about my days with my girls. Did I appreciate them enough? Did I stop and really LOOK at them?

Maybe. I am not sure. I might have been too busy caught up in the mess that was left in the kitchen/bathroom/bedroom/basement. I might have been too busy yelling at them to get along. I might have been too busy cleaning up yet ANOTHER spilled cup of juice. Or working. Or doing laundry. Or cooking.......

Do you know when I will have a moment to stop and remember all the cuteness, the things they said, their teeny fingers, their jokes that make no sense....do you know when?

When they are all grown and out of my hair.

If that's not an advertisement for scrapbooking, I don't know what is.





And YES, I am truly aware that Emily is not in even ONE of these photos. She's not home during the day - she's in school. And when she is home, she is NOT into having her photo taken. She's too busy with her friends.