Happy (early) birthday!

Had the Brown/Weeks family birthday party for Kate and Dad Saturday. What a gift to be able to celebrate birthdays with family again, not just Christmas or some major holiday. This is how I remember birthdays growing up-- my family, eating dinner, blowing out candles. It's special to have family gather for any reason, and it makes a birthday feel even more special. Kate enjoyed the haul of gifts too, of course. Happy nearly 7!

It's a headband. And a birthday girl.

Make a wish!

Nanny protecting her 10-year-old great grandson (her ONLY great grandson for about 4 more months!)

Funny girl

I know it's been a while since I posted, but I'll catch up. Kate said a couple of funny things in the last day or so I thought were worth documenting.

Last night, I was sitting by Kate before bed, and my feet were bare. I do not have pretty toes right now-- unpainted and I even have a cut. She was not impressed, and said, "mom, you need a pedicure. I think you have corns."

Corns! I barely even know what a corn is, and I have no idea where she came up with that. She tried to show me her "corns", and needless to say we don't have any between us. Hilarious.

Then this morning, I came back from a run and she followed me into the bedroom. "Mom," she said, "you are super sweaty. You're as sweaty as a camel in the desert."

"Do camels sweat?" I asked.

"Yeah, and you're the sweatiest camel I've ever seen."

Toothless wonder to the extreme

Another night, another tooth. That makes 3 in less than a week, if you are keeping track. She has another that's a little loose, but we should be a few weeks off. How she'll eat, I don't know.

Unfortunately, she pulled this one over the sink. Not such a bad idea for messiness, but the tooth went down the drain. Dad is working on it now.

I added a picture to the blog. This is the book we are reading now. Look similar?

Another one down

"My teacher needs to have her tooth chart done, 'cause this girl just lost a tooth!"

First day of Kindergarten! (oh yeah, 3rd grade too)

It's finally here, the long-awaited day when both of my kids would be in school at the same time, same place even! Wow! I've been waiting for this day for so long, I expected to throw a parade or leave the school skipping and singing while the wind swept through my hair and the diet coke fairy bestowed a fresh, bubbly beverage in my hand and throngs of mothers everywhere would line up on the side of the street and say "Well done! You made it! Free at last!!!"

So I know you're as surprised as I am that I was a little emotional about the whole thing. It didn't help that our morning was a little, well, off-plan. But, when we got out there, and headed on our way, the kids looked good, Stu joined us for his first 1st-day experience, and all was sunny and warm. I felt bad when we dropped Sam, which became sort of an afterthought to the big FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN thing for Kate. He was fine, though, and told his new teacher he was ready to go.

For Kate, I have wanted her to be a kindergartener for so long, and she's been so ready for so long, that over the last week or so it occurred to me that I wasn't giving her first day the same weight that I did Sam's way back when. But once we were there, on the kindergarten play ground, in line to go into class, it hit me that this is a big deal. My big girl is finally where she belongs, where she wants to be.

I am so happy with her teacher, Ms. Consalo. When the bell rang and the kids lined up, she stood on the chair at the front of the line and yelled, "Good morning Ms. Consalo's pirate class. Are you ready for a pirate adventure? If you are, say "Aye aye mate!"" and then all the kids yelled back. It was so fun! She marched them off to the class room, telling them that the big people who were there (Parents) were all soft and weepy about the big day, so she needed the kids to be super strong ("Show me your muscles!" she told them). She read a weepy story (The Kissing Hand), and told the kids to run and give their parents a kiss and say good bye quickly. Kate looked up from her spot on the rug like, "I'm not getting up. You people can go now." She did finally get guilted into coming back and saying good bye, but she was NOT doing the kissing hand thing. See ya mom and dad. Ugh. My heart. Breaking.

I know, I'm proud she's a tough girl, and I taught her to be that way, but geesh. Just a little kissing hand? Please?

Silly faces.

Happy faces.

First day of school faces!

Preschool graduation

It is finally here! Kate's preschool graduation was Friday morning at a local church near Merryhill. Kate had been talking about the graduation for weeks. We picked out our dress and painted our nails (sparkly!) the night before. Dad took off to be home for the big day. Unfortunately, Sam had school. :(

On the way to the ceremony, Kate tells me: "Soon, I'll be graduating from high school!" Maybe not too soon. Just another 13 years.

The ceremony was quite an event. All the kids were dressed up and fitted in graduation hat (with tassel). The parents staked out prime seats and had cameras ready. They processed in to Pomp and Circumstance and sat on the stage in a line. Could a real graduation be any more exciting, I ask?

It really was a nice program. Each class has their own ceremony, donut was just room 2 and our teachers. They sang their favorite songs and one about being ready for kindergarten. Then her name was announced and we cheered and took pictures for our girl.

We really have had such a great experience at Merryhill, which is a particular blessing considering our rough start elsewhere in Henderson. Her teachers were great, and she learned a lot. (when I asked her what she learned she said "math, social studies, Spanish and phonics too!")

It was sad to be celebrating without the family we know would have been there if they could have, but we cheered as loud as we could anyway and recorded the whole thing to show everyone when we get home. I do mean everyone, so get ready for a home movie bonanza.

Congratulations, Kate!

Soccer star?

Kate had her first soccer game today i think she inherited all of the competitive genes in the family. She did a great job and played all game. She was goalie for a bit. She also scored a goal!

A couple of my favorite funny moments:

When looking at the other team waiting for them to start after half time. "You're supposed to kick it!!" she yelled.

Passing it in from the sidelines to her teammate: "Ryan!" meaning, 'it was the perfect pass, why aren't you looking?'

Spiritual wisdom

Tonight, Kate said the prayer before dinner. We all have our pretty standard way of doing this, but tonight Kate branched out a bit on her own.

"Dear God," she started, " thank you for our food. And pray for Daddy, wherever he is, that he have a good dinner too." Now it gets really interesting: "and take the stuff that I do wrong, well, I bring it to you and take it and put it with Jesus so he can die on the cross for our sins."

She has been memorizing John 3:16 as part of her speaking lines for the Easter music at church, so I guess she's been thinking about all this a lot. She doesn't understand it all yet, most people don't, but she's certainly considering it.

I thought that was such an interesting picture of repentance. Just take it to the cross so Jesus can die with it.

Christmas Morning

We had a terrific Christmas this year, even though it certainly marked a first for us. This was the first time we didn't have the kids in our own home for Christmas morning. Fortunately, Jack did a great job and let Santa know just where to find us, so we awoke to a living room full of surprises on Christmas morning. The kids were great about coming to wake us up first, and then patiently (or not so, in Kate's case) waiting for us to get up and around for the festivities. Grandma and Grandpa were prepared with all of the things we needed to open boxes and power up new toys. Grandma Mary made the breakfast casserole we always have, and Janet supplied us with enough cinnamon rolls for all 6 of us. We are so blessed!


We're just so excited! (Isn't that a beautiful Christmas tree??!)



Tangled Sing and Glow doll for Kate

Unwrapping mania!

Whoever came up with the boxing strategies for Barbies should be shot.

Wearing our new jacket (for me) while playing wiht the Beyblade we are really interested in

Ice Cream Dancing

All it takes is an ice cream (or frozen yogurt) store and some tunes, and my kids are up dancing. Sam always used to dance at Custard's Last Stand in Lee's Summit when he was but a wee child. Last night, Kate was dancing to Christmas music instead of eating her yogurt. I guess exercise is better than calories, right?

Thanksgiving

Kate and I have had some intense discussion this week about Thanksgiving. Here are my favorites:

First, we were talking about how we aren't going home this year for Thanksgiving. "But MOM!", she said, "Grandma makes that special kind of chicken that I like!" I assured her that I too could make turkey, but she wasn't buying it.

Second, I was driving Kate to school when she started talking to me about God:

"Mom, you know when God used to be alive?" she asked. I didn't, but it was early and I thought it best just to play along with a undecided "uh huh."

"Well, when God used to be alive, these people wanted to kill him and so they put him in a room with a big circle thing on it and they crushed him with it and he died. But then, someone moved the circle and he lived again! So, Thanksgiving is when we celebrate that God died, but on Easter, it's for when he was alive again."

To translate for you kid-speak novices, Kate was thinking of that picture in most Bible storybooks with the stone that was rolled in front of the grave and then rolled away by the angel. Somehow, she's turned that into some sort of crushing.

"That's pretty close Kate. Actually, at Easter is when we remember Jesus dying and rising again, so you definitely got that right. But Thanksgiving, it really doesn't have anything to do with God exactly. It's a celebration of when America was founded and being thankful, to God, for the things He provided."

"Oh."

Indeed.

Halloween

What a day! I remember when I was a good parent, maybe a new parent, and I documented each holiday with fervor. Today, I didn't even take my good camera out trick or treating. Yikes.

Kate had a party at her new school and wore a cheerleader costume. She looked supercute. Mom and Dad were here still, so they got to see some of her classmates and her new school.

I didn't make either Halloween party today, but we sent homemade cookies for Kate's, so I should get some points for that.

We went out trick or treating with some friends, and the kids got tons of candy. I thought about weighing it for posterity, but really, why document such a waste! More than half will be thrown away anyhow.

They came home and were almost more enthusiastic about giving out candy than getting it, if that's possible. Sam even saw a few kids he knew from school, so that was good too.

I'll attach a couple of the pictures I do have. Bad mom.

Skyping with Grandma

Look at our haul!

Kate's birthday

What? Kate had a birthday?

She did!

First she had a Chuck E. Cheese party with her new Las Vegas friends. We invited 9 kids, plus mine, and ALL of them showed up! I don't think I've ever had that happen before. Now, some of those were siblings, but clearly Kate is much loved by our new friends. Sam had a couple of buddies there too, so everyone had a great time. She chose a Barbie theme.

Then, Mamaw and Papaw showed up for their first visit, just in time for Kate's birthday. We picked them up LATE Thursday night, and honestly Kate was grouchy for the next 2 days (including her birthday). Oh well. Lesson learned. We got a cookie cake for home celebration and singing on the night of her birthday, but her real wish was to go to Margaritaville, which we affectionately refer to either as the Pirate Restaurant or the Volcano Restaurant. We just knew Papaw would LOVE the pirate restaurant! (Actually, the best thing about this visit to Margaritaville was finding out about the locals discount card for future visits! Go locals!) She loves the restaurant

Thank you to all who remembered Kate's birthday from afar. We had so many gifts sent from friends and family back home, and it was a great treat for Kate to see what came through the mail.

Who cares about the writing??? Here are the pics!

The Birthday Girl with Leilani

Dancing with Chuck E Cheese was a big source of excitement.
This is Bailey (from new preschool), Kate, and Jaeden (old preschool)

Montana and her mom Anna take games seriously!

Kate and Jaeden. I'm not sure what they're doing.

Opening presents!

Barbie birthday cake! (The boys especially loved the Barbie theme!)

Present opening could not wait for clothes, or for Dad to get home. (We held back a few gifts for him to witness, but it was hard to wait!)

A lamp from Uncle Lysle and Aunt Carolyn (no, they didn't ship it from Independence!) It's for her new room!

Grandma and Granddad sent the Barbie hair salon, complete with a working (questionable term) sink and markers for hair coloring. It took some real work, but we managed to get it up and running. It was a big favorite of Kate's. FYI, Moms love this type of gift. Really. Fun.

This is the October 28 birthday cake.  

Dance lessons, aka my deal with the devil

I had signed Kate up for a little dance class through parks and rec. I'd heard great things about their programs, and they do offer a lot for kids. Unfortunately, a half hour before we were to leave for the class, they called and cancelled! She was the only one in the class. Kate was upset, and I decided to just march on down to the dance studio down the street and see what I could find out. Long story short, we're signed up for a combo ballet/tap class. On Tuesdays. So we ran to walmart, bought a leotard, bought shoes at the studio, and made the 4:15 lesson. She loved it. Of course she did. She said it was "the best dance class she'd ever been to!" I asked if even better than gymnastics? Yep, even better. She has decided that she needs a dance bag for her shoes. I mentioned that she could use one of her old backpacks. Incredulous, she looked at me and said: "MOM! Those are BABY bags. And they don't even have dancers on them! It needs to have dancers."

Party girl

Kate had yet another birthday invite this week. When I told her about it, she was bragging to her brother about all of her parties. "I'm the QUEEN of Vegas parties!"

Yep, that pretty much sums up my concerns about Vegas parenting...

Birthday girl (not yet)

We had people over for the first time last night. Just a friend from football and 2 of her kids. Stu said it was more of a glorified play date, but it was fun to show off the house and really made it feel ours for some reason.

Anyway, around dinner time, Kate's new friend from up the street, Leilani, brought over an invitation for her birthday party and we passed off Kate's at the same time. I didn't open it until our friends left, which was when I discovered that the party was today at 11 am. Before you panic, the mom made a note that said "sorry for the late notice." Yeah, you're not kidding.

So, being the prepared and eager mom I am, we wrapped the one girl gift in the closet, went to early church, and made to the party with time to spare. I didn't feel great about the gift, but Stu said it would be fine and it was. Best yet, Kate had a great time with her new friend and several other kindergartners from Sam's school. See my crazy woman hanging out with her friend!

Bingo!

We went all the way home to Independence for Labor Day. To see friends and family, of course, but also to help out at JSL's first participation in Santa-Cali-Gon in more than a decade: bingo. Seeing as I was to be blamed for this if it were a complete flop, and one of my good friends Jolie Austin was the de facto bingo chair, I decided to head back.

(We also went to Kate's first "big girl" concert: Selena Gomez at Starlight Theater. Wow, the parents, the kids, the lateness of the night, the price of the t-shirt. She loved it. It was well worth it!)

Working bingo was SO much fun! I worked two shifts on Sunday afternoon and really enjoyed the time with my friends. The good news is that I think they cleared around $5000 from that event, and many of the costs were first-time expenses that they wouldn't have moving forward. The girls did a great job, and I hope I get to help again. I really miss my JSL friends!

Someone caught a picture of Kate in the bingo tent, see below. Eileen labeled it: "Future JSL member learns bingo operations."

Training Camp

I helped out again with this year's Chiefs Charity Game, which benefits the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired. There are several perks. One is working with my friend Eileen. One is getting a chance annually to chat with my favorite Sports Radio 810 host, Soren Petro and crew. This year, we also went up to St. Joe for training camp. Sam and Kate get along terrifically with Eileen's twins John and Nora. The Wilkerson clan came up that day also!

Here are my pictures from the big day:


Chiefs QB Matt Cassel signing an autograph for Kate



Chiefs QB Matt Cassel signing Sam's ball cap



Here's our crew. Note the influence from Kate's meeting the cheerleaders. Pose much?

Friends

I had this cute picture of Kate and Chloe from a trip to WOF with the Sims. We didn't make it to WOF/OOF nearly as much as in past years, but we tried. The Sims were our regular playmates.

Cute, IF

Amy and I took our kids to Fazoli's one night over the summer. Sam wasn't there-- I'm not sure where he was at-- so it was just Evan and Kate. When we sat down, Evan says to me, "You know, she [looking at Kate] would be pretty cute IF she wore some makeup." He seemed to warm to her as the night went on and they ended up chasing each other up and down the sidewalk in front of Marshalls (anything for a few minutes of adult conversation, right?)

As you can see, they hit it off marvelously, and we had to break up a little proclaimed kissing threat by Evan later in the evening. Hilarious. (Oh, this picture was taken shortly after Evan broke his arm at school-- pushed off a swingset of some kind by a "Friend")