Sunday, May 30, 2010

lasts

Every Friday was a day that Kaiya looked forward to each week this past school year. It was her "school" day where she got to play with her friends and most importantly pack her lunch. It was a day I looked forward to as well. Luca and I would run errands on those days.
Here she is in her little program on the last day of school.Kaiya with her teachers...Mrs. Mooreheadand Mrs. Skinner. As I thought about Caedmon's school coming to an end this year, I also thought about the days with Kaiya at home all day with me coming to an end as well. She will start Pre-K in the fall....everyday for half the day. I will miss her terribly, but am excited for her as much as she is. She is ready. Here she is on our last full day at home together while big brother is in school.
What a big helper she is to me. She helps me so much with Luca...getting bottles, diapers and entertaining her. She helps me with laundry folding, dishes, sweeping, feeding pets and is always so eager and happy to do something if I ask. I appreciate her so much and will miss her cheerful and helpful little self during the mornings next year!
We had school together at home each day. She learned her letters and sounds this year and is beginning the early stages of reading. She is writing her name well.

Quote of the day:

While sitting at a stoplight on our way to a Dr. appnt...

Kaiya: Mom, are you texting and driving?

pause....

Kaiya: Are you a Christian?

Light turns green.

Me: Kaiya, I was texting while I was waiting for the light to turn green...I was not texting while I was driving.

....and yes, I'm a Christian. Why do you ask?

Kaiya: Only Christians are allowed to text and drive.

Me: Who told you that?

Kaiya: Daddy.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

a letter to my kindergarten graduate

Dear Caedmon, You've just completed your kindergarten year. Your last day was Friday, May 28th 2010. I remember your first day of school like it was yesterday. {first day of kindergarten - August 19th 2009}



It was a very BIG day for our family because your new baby sister was born on that day. I was pulled in two directions. My son's first day of kindergarten...first day of being at school the whole entire day...first day to eat lunch in the cafeteria...first day of what the next thirteen years will be like.

It was also the birth-day of your second sister. Luca Bella arrived early that morning, before we even sent you off to school. We didn't find out until that afternoon. You were so grown up that day...seemed to grow up overnight. It seemed fitting to watch you become a big brother again on your first day of kindergarten. You were so proud and excited when we picked you up and told you the news.
{holding your new baby sister for the first time}

I talked with the mom of a first-grader early in your kindergarten year. She reminded me what a sweet year this year of kindergarten is and how quickly it goes by. She encouraged me to soak it all in...go on every field trip...to take lots of pictures.
{zoo field trip - May 2010}

It was a challenge with a new baby sometimes, but I did go on every single field trip with you. I took lots of pictures and tried soaking it all in. It still flew by.
{up close and personal - zoo field trip May 2010}


I'll never forget the trip to the pumpkin patch...your first kindergarten field trip. I hesitated to hover too closely...wanting to give you your space and letting you enjoy your friends. When you took my hand on your own, I knew you were glad I was there. It was a special day just for you and me. Then in December we got all dressed up and went to Warsaw to see a play...The Sound of Music. I loved our little date.

{more zoo trip photos}
When you started school, honestly I was a little scared of what kindergarten would be like for you. Would you be able to stay focused and pay attention to your teacher? Would you struggle with continuing to learn to read as you did in Pre-K? And most of all...Would your teacher be able to see just how amazing you are? ;)

You listened to my prayers each morning in the van before we drove off to school. "Lord, give Caedmon a desire to learn. Help everything to work properly in his brain so that learning comes easily for him." "Be with his teacher...give her wisdom to know the best way to teach Caedmon...give her patience and love for her students." "Give Caedmon joy in learning." "Help him to be a loving and kind friend to others and a good example...not easily influenced to make bad choices." "Surround him with your angels of protection."

{tincaps game - May 2010}You worked hard at reading. It wasn't always easy for you. We met with your teacher and she gave us ideas of areas where we could help you. We were so proud of you when you earned free tickets to a Tincaps game for participating in a special reading program. We watched you develop more confidence by the end of the year and it was a joy to watch you pick up books on your own and read them to your sister.
{well deserved ice cream treat at the game} {fireworks after the game}
I really would have never had to worry. You've had an amazing year...and an amazing teacher. You have flourished in so many areas. You received several special notes sent home and written by your teacher of how proud she was of the good choices you had made that day. You earned the Beary Good Behavior Award many weeks for not having any warnings or discipline issues for that particular week.
Your reading, writing, adding, and subtracting have improved tremendously.
And here you are...your graduation night and we couldn't be more proud. Two days later, we watched my oldest nephew graduate from high school. I remember his kindergarten graduation. He stood on the very same stage as you...I know just how very quickly those years have gone. Your next graduation will be your high school graduation and I will look back at these pictures and wonder just where the time went. I’m so excited at how you’ve grown over this past year (in more ways than one). This year of firsts. This year of Kindergarten. I’ve grown too. God has helped us both to grow in many ways. Congratulations graduate.
Love you always and no matter what,
~your Mommy

{with grandpa & grandma B}{with grandpa & grandma S.}
We made a DQ stop afterwards for more celebrating. {Graduation gifts from grandparents}
{last day of kindergarten - May 28th 2010}

Saturday, May 15, 2010

mother's day


I feel so TOTALLY and AMAZINGLY BLESSED to be called mama by these three little sweeties. Mother's Day is one of my favorite holidays for sure...another reminder of the best job in the world that I get to live out each day. There are certainly those days that are not the easiest in the world...days where I am humbled as a parent, days that I wish I could just have a moment to myself, days where it seems I haven't accomplished anything, days where I feel defeated and guilty because I yelled at the kids undeservedly. I'm not the perfect parent, but thankfully I have a heavenly Father that is perfect and helps me through each day of this mothering journey...gives me strength, patience, and forgiveness so freely. I certainly couldn't do it without Him! I wouldn't trade the bedtime kisses and hugs I get from my six-year old. I wouldn't trade my four-year old saying "I love you mommy" out of the blue almost daily. I wouldn't trade the big cheeked smiles and full open-mouthed kisses I get from my 9-month old....wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

This is my first Mother's Day with sweet little Luca Bella. What joy! And this woman has taught and modeled to me everything I know about what it means to be a mother. She is the reason why I wanted to be nothing more than a mother since I was a little girl. She continues to mother us all including my children. I feel so blessed to have her in my life. It's not an uncommon thing for her to stop by on a weekly basis with a meal, to take one of the kids or to mop my floor. She's such a breath of fresh air...so encouraging, so giving. I love you, mom!We had a great time and some fabulous food at a Mother's Day brunch at Pokagon on Mother's Day. When I got home I took a walk, got a massage and took a nap. It just couldn't have been a more perfect day!New Babies
We recently made a couple of home visits to meet new babies. Here is our newest little cousin, Michael FuWei, adopted from China and oh so cute. These two were so cute to watch interact together. They kept grabbing each other's face. This little guy was so so tiny and sweet. Baby Tyler was adopted by a friend recently that has been waiting a very long time for him. So good to see him in her arms. Kaiya was loving every minute.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

eight months

Eight months old with three new teeth coming in on top.
Baby can go from laying on belly to sitting up.Baby has become mobile...crawling everywhere.Stands up in her crib and pulls herself up on furniture to a standing position.

Says da-da-da-da-da-da-da.