Dear Sydney,

This year, you turned 4 years old. Little girl, you are so much fun!  You have personality in spades, and you are not afraid to shine.

This year, you started gymnastics class.  You were so excited on your first class, and you lined up with the other little girls, eager to get started.  You love the balance beam and insist on practicing on every curb in every parking lot.

You love princesses, dressing up, make-up, high heels, jewelry, and all things girlie.  You're starting to like to color and paint.  You take it so seriously, scrunching up your eyebrows and frowning in concentration.  And you get quite upset if it doesn't turn out the way you'd hoped.

This year, we visited Disney World.  You rode on an airplane for the first time; you did a great job!  You walked through security very calmly, and you sat very still on the airplane.  We played games and ate snacks, and before either of us knew it, it was time to land.  When we actually got to Disney World, you were SO not into the characters.  While Sam wanted to meet all of them, you wanted absolutely nothing to do with them.  But you loved the princesses and the parades and the fireworks and the Under the Sea ride.  You've asked me at least once a week since we got back when we are going again.  I can't wait, either.

This year, we got a couple of really big snows.  You were so excited to play in it!  We bundled up and got ready to go out and have some fun.  Exactly 5 minutes later, you were ready to come back inside.  It seems you like the snow as long as there's only a couple of inches.  But when it gets thick enough that you have trouble walking in it, you just get annoyed.  So while Sam and I ran and threw snowballs at each other, you would just sit and make snow angles.

You and I also got our first pedicures together this year.  It was so fun! When we walked into the nail salon, the technician pointed to the wall of bottles and told us choose a color.  Your eyes grew wide.  So many colors!!!  You were very proud and sat very still while the lady painted your nails.  I have a feeling that was the first of many pedicures you and I will get together.

You love to play outside.  I love that you love to play outside.  You have been a great garden partner this year.  You favorite jobs are watering the garden and picking cherry tomatoes.  (Although, not many of the tomatoes you pick actually make it into the house.  They're pretty tasty eaten right off the vine.)  But the thing you love most is to swing.  I think you would swing for hours as long as someone stands and pushes you. But not too high!  Nice and easy is your favorite.

Sydney, I love how silly you are.  I love that you wear your thoughts on your face.  I swear, your expressions absolutely slay me sometimes.  I love that you are always trying to convince your brother to play "get married."  I love how you sing and dance and make up words to songs.  And I love how you snug me...you climb in  my lap and settle against my chest and weave your fingers in my hair as you heave a big sigh of relief.  I love being your safe place to land at the end of the day.

Love you big,
Mommy

Dear Sam,



It's official...you are 6 years old.  You were so excited about your birthday this year.  You planned your party months in advance, you were very specific about the gifts you wanted, and you invited everybody this side of the Mississippi to your party.  Like...seriously...everybody.  But in all seriousness, it was fun.



This has been a big year for you!  You started kindergarten this year.  You lost three (yes THREE) teeth this year.  (Although to be fair, to date you have actually lost four....Momma's a little late with the letter.)  The tooth fairy has been one busy lady.  And you played soccer for the first time this year.  Lots of firsts.


This year we introduced you to Star Wars.  Strong with you, the Force is, my son.  You know all of the characters.  You can act out every light saber scene in the movie with precise detail.  I'm pretty sure you'd trade your sister for a pet Wookiee.  You are still very into super heroes, too.  Right now, you really like Batman.  You love to say, "Where does he get those MAGNIFICENT toys?!"


You have loved kindergarten this year.  Your favorite subjects are science, reading, and playing on the playground.  You are quick to point out that you do not like math.  You are reading really, really well, but you still prefer to be read to.  We started reading chapter books at bedtime recently, and you amaze me how well you can remember details of the story night after night.  So far we have only read a few LEGO books and a couple of Magic Tree House books, but I'm excited to open this next phase of reading with you.  So many stories I can't wait to share with you...


Speaking of LEGOs, can I just say that they have taken over our house?  You got a couple of LEGO sets for Christmas...the really serious ones with hundreds of pieces in them.  And you will sit for hours and work on them with laser focus.  We got a pretty heavy snow this winter, and you sat in the floor of the living room for about 7 hours straight working on your Scooby Doo haunted mansion while the snow piled up outside.  There were a few parts that you needed help with, but for the most part, you did it by yourself.  All 800+ pieces of it.  Shortly after you put the last piece in place and we had snapped a few pictures, I caught you rapidly disassembling the house.  Appalled, I asked you what you were doing.  You calmly told me that it was so much fun putting it together the first time, you wanted to take it apart and do it again. 


I never cease to be amazed at you big, big heart.  You really have such compassion and empathy for others.  One day at the library, there was a little boy with Down Syndrome playing near us.  The two of you bonded over his Star Wars shirt and struck up a conversation.  A few minutes later, I noticed that the two of you had disappeared off into a corner together, and you were reading to him.  Another day, Sydney lost a balloon that she had only received a few minutes earlier.  She was heartbroken and was sobbing about her lost balloon.  I noticed that you were crying too.  When I asked you about it, you said you were sad because she was sad and you didn't know how to make her feel better.  Nana had surgery several months ago, and you will still randomly, out-of-the-blue ask to call her and "check on her belly."  Sometimes I worry about how much you see and hear and how it may affect you.  Your ever-watching eyes miss nothing.


Sam, I love watching you run in the backyard with Molly.  I love how you love to go to the movies....it really doesn't even matter what's playing.  I love that your love language is quality time and it just fills your little heart up to play a board game.  I love that sometimes when you ask questions...hard questions...I can tell you've been mulling it over in your mind for a while.  I love that I can see a protector emerging in  you...the way you help your sister and watch out for me.  It makes me sad that you're growing up, but you're doing it so well that I just can't ask you to stop. 


I love you big much,
Mom

What I'm Learning...

The service was almost over.  The song of invitation had been sung, decisions had been made, and the pastor had asked us to have a seat so he could introduce a couple of new church members.  Sydney had been pretty good during the entire service, but she was getting restless.  As I began to quietly gather the toys and coloring books she had amused herself with for the previous hour, I heard her start to softly sing:

And I...stor-endure...all to You...all to You.

I smiled to myself.  She loves to sing.

She got a little louder.  I...stor-endure...all to You...all to You.  The lady in front of us turned around and smiled at her.

I didn't worry about the noise.  After all, the pastor was just making a couple of announcements and then we would be dismissed.  But as it turned out, he had several announcements that day.

Her singing grew louder still.

I...stor-ENDURE...all to YOU...all to YOOOUUUUUUUU!!!  And now she was twirling too.

I began to feel them....the stares.  The gentleman at the end of the pew glanced our direction.  He didn't smile.  The pastor didn't show any signs of wrapping it up, and I tried to catch her eye to motion that she was being too loud.  But before I could, I felt something.  A hesitation.  I wouldn't really say I heard a voice, more like I felt it.

She's singing to Me.  Don't you dare silence her.

So I sat there for a minute.  Had I totally missed the point?  The irony is that I had sat through an entire sermon that was about being bold and not being afraid to live out my faith, and I was shooshing my daughter for being too loud in her praise.

Has the Church missed the entire point?  I'm all for teaching our children to be reverent and holy, but are we expecting too much?  By having these great children's ministries with children's church and preschool programs where the kids have their own service, are we missing the boat?  I'm not knocking children's ministry...our church has a fantastic one...but lately we've been asking ourselves if that's what's best for our kids.  I want our kids to enjoy church and sing sweet little songs and make friends and do cute crafts.  But I also want them to see Shawn and me working through our own spiritual struggles, giving financially, singing praises, and, yes, sitting quietly and listening to a sermon.

And I'd like to think that if Jesus were the one standing in the front teaching, He wouldn't mind if the kids got a little restless.   That it wouldn't bother Him if instead of sitting perfectly still in their primped and pressed church attire, they acted a little silly and maybe got a little loud.  I'd like to think that He'd smile at them and pat their parents on the back as they walked out.  "Thanks for bringing them today.  I enjoyed having them here."

And I certainly don't want to teach my daughter that when she's doing something for God in a few years and maybe getting a few uncomfortable glances or maybe even getting questioned a bit that the correct course of action is to be quiet.  So I'm learning...I'm trying to relax a little...every now and then I get it right.

Punkin' Pickin'

Sam's class took a field trip to the pumpkin patch, so Sydney and I tagged along.  We had never been to this pumpkin patch before, and I was excited to see how it compared to the one we usually visit.  It did not disappoint.  On the way there, we passed the castle in Versailles.  The kids know it is there and they always comment on it.  This time, as we were passing by, Sam exclaimed, "Hey!  Look!  A big castle!"

Sydney promptly followed up with, "Oh no!!!!  We didn't bring my princess dress!"  I don't think princess dresses are standard attire for pumpkin patches.

On another note, look how tall my boy is getting.

Since we were part of a large group (and there were at least 5 other school groups there that day) we kept to a pretty tight schedule.  I was pretty impressed with how they managed the crowd.  First we picked a few apples to take home, then everybody headed out to the pumpkin patch to choose a pumpkin.  When I was looking back over my pictures I realized that I didn't get very many pictures of Sam.  Probably because it's nearly impossible to catch him being still enough for a picture.  There are 11 students in his class, 9 of which are boys.  (God bless his teacher...)  You put 9 little boys in an open field on a gorgeous fall day....you're not going to get very many still-life photos.

But Sydney was excited for her chance to choose a pumpkin.  She, of course, had to look at every single one in the patch before she selected one.

Next we visited the petting zoo.  They had sheep, goats, ducks, a donkey....and a white pony.  There was a sign asking that the children not feed or pet the white pony because he apparently bites.  Three guesses which animal was Sydney's favorite.

Sam got a kick out of feeding the animals.  I couldn't get him to get up the nerve to let them eat out of his hands, but he agreed to hold the little cup of food and let him eat out of it.  Until the sheep got a little over-eager and yanked the entire cup out of his hand...

Next they ushered us into a little classroom where the kids learned about how bees make honey.

And finally we got to go on the hayride.  The kids had been talking about this all day.  To be completely honest, I wasn't sure if Sydney would be scared or not because you just never really know.  Everybody got a little cup of apple cider before we got on.  I'm not sure if it was the apple cider or what, but I'm pretty sure the hayride was her favorite part of the day.

Funny story about the hayride.  Immediately after this picture was taken, the little boy beside her jostled into her and spilled her apple cider all down the front of her shirt.  Honestly, I was afraid she was going to deck him.  She clenched her fists, narrowed her eyes, set her jaw a stared him down.  I grabbed a napkin and cleaned her up and the crisis was averted.  That night I was putting the kids to bed and we were going through our nightly routine.  I always ask them, "What was the best part of our day?  What's something that made you sad?"  I asked Sydney what her favorite part of the day was and she told me she loved the hayride.  When I asked her if anything made her sad that day, she immediately got that indignant look back on her face and said, "Well...dat boy spilled my juice on me!"

They also had a really cool play area with a huge slide, a hay bale tower to climb and all sorts of other fun things that the little boys were all drooling over.  Sam will climb anything.  I swear, sometimes I think he's part monkey.  Pretty sure Mt. Everest is in his future.

He scrambled up to the top of the hay bale tower like he'd been doing that all his life.

Meanwhile, I just set Sydney on one of the lower bales.  She was not amused...

...and chose to spend the rest of her afternoon in the safety of the sandbox.

Eventually Sam decided to join her because he couldn't miss a chance to get dirty.

I always love our trips to the pumpkin patch.  I might even enjoy them more than the kids.  What was my favorite part of the day, you ask?  Both kids took a big ol' nap that afternoon.

All I Want For Christmas...

On about the 3rd morning of kindergarten, Sam complained on the way to school that his teeth were hurting.  I made a mental note to check his mouth when we got to school...then promptly forgot about it.  (As I do with most mental notes...)  That night while eating corn on the cob, he again commented that his teeth were hurting, so Shawn took a look.  Sure enough, he had not one, but TWO loose teeth!  He was so very excited.  And I...well...let's just say I did a lot of blinking over the next 30 seconds or so.  His first day of kindergarten didn't bother me too much, but loose teeth in the same week?  Too much for this momma's heart.

The next day, because I am weird about such things, I decided an impromptu photo shoot was in order to get a few last pictures of his baby teeth.  Sam asked me why I was taking his picture, and I told him I wanted to get some nice pictures of his teeth.  So of course, I got lots of dinosaur growls.

And a few silly faces... 

Somewhere along the way, we have figured out that if we can find a way to chase Sam, we can pretty well trick him convince him to do about anything we want.  So he and I started playing a little game of catch around a tree in our yard. 

 Then he decided that he needed some pictures with his dog.  This boy and that dog...they sure do like each other.  We're pretty sure Molly thinks Sam is her puppy. 

A couple of weeks later, we were in the car for a little road trip, and Sam announced that "something had happened."  That "something" was his tooth coming out.  He was, of course, worried that the tooth fairy wouldn't be able to find him since we wouldn't be sleeping at our house that night.  But luckily, the tooth fairy knew just where he would be.

You know, I am a little sad that my kids are growing out of the baby stage.  I suppose it's a bit natural to longingly remember all of the little things they won't do anymore.  And every time I clean out a dresser drawer or place an outfit in the "too little" box, I choke back a wave of emotion.  But I have to admit...watching them grow up is pretty fun too.

School Days

We're about 6 weeks in, and I'm just now posting first-day-of-school pictures.  Sam started kindergarten this year.  He was super excited...he told me on the way to school that day that he couldn't wait to learn to read all by himself.  As for me, I was surprisingly okay.  I really thought I would be sad, but I guess his excitement helped alleviate my sadness.  

He did get a little embarrassed about the pictures, though..

But I finally managed to coax a smile out of him.

We had been to an open house a few nights earlier where his teacher went through his morning routine with him.  In typical Sam-fashion, he remembered every single thing and carried out the routine in the exact order she had described.

As we were walking out of the school building, Sydney was chattering along about her plans for the day.  First we went to the library.  We had gotten in the habit of going a couple of times a month last year, and that was one of the first things Sydney asked to do when we started talking about Sam going back to school.  This girl...she walks in everywhere like she owns the place.  She immediately wanted to know where "that girl I always play with" was (Ms. Bethany, the children's librarian).  But Ms. Bethany wasn't there that day, so we had to amuse ourselves.



Next, we went to the park.  We threw rocks in the creek, cooked some imaginary pancakes, slid on the slide a few times, and basically had the run of the place all to ourselves.

And what girl day is complete without lunch at Panera?

So far, as he predicted, Sam is loving all things reading-related.  But he hates any kind of work that involves writing or coloring.  It's just not his thing.  And music!  He is crazy about music class.  He comes home nearly every day singing some new little song that I've never heard.  His memory amazes me.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

I'm trying to catch up a little here...

This summer we took the kids to their first baseball game.  Shawn loves baseball.  In one of our first real conversations about us...our future...I remember Shawn sharing that he wanted to coach our kids' little league team.

We're so lucky to live close to a minor league team city.  We loaded the kids up for a late afternoon game.  And dude...it was HOT.  We actually ended up changing seats so we could sit in the shade, and we ended up with a pretty great view.

It turned out to be a REALLY good decision because Sam ended up with a foul ball!  Initially he wanted to throw it back.  I don't think he understood.

I wasn't sure if we would last the entire game, but you'd be surprised what a well-placed concession stand run will get you.  Did you know the proper way to eat an ice cream cone is from the bottom?

We had a great time!

Happy Birthday Shawn!

Today is Shawn's birthday.  I thought it would be fun to post a list of reasons that we love him.  I refuse to comment on if the number has anything to do with his age.

38.  His big brown eyes.  It's one of the first things I noticed about him.
37.  He smells good.
36.  He cleans up all of the disgusting gifts our cat leaves on the back porch for us that include, but are not limited to: entrails, organs, blood, decapitated rodent bodies, and amputated bird feet.
35.  He gives a great neck rub.
34.  Around this time of year when football season starts and trees start to turn, he always makes me gumbo.
33.  He makes a mean chicken chili too.
32.  He never complains when I stick my cold feet on him.
31.  When I'm at my wits end with the kids, he can usually get them to comply.  Sometimes it's by using the "Daddy" voice.  Other times he cracks a joke about burps or farts and lightens the mood.
30.  He kills spiders for me.
29.  He reaches things on the top shelf for me.
28.  He sends me random texts during the day to check on me.
27.  He always listens to Sam's minute-by-minute play-by-play of his day at school.
26.  He can tell you the stat history of every UK player and recruit, past or present.
25.  He can make me laugh when I'm so mad I can't see straight.
24.  He takes me to football games.  (Sam)
23.  He takes us to the movies. (Sydney)
22.  He gives me the olives and croutons from his salads.
21.  He has a weirdly eclectic taste in music.
20.  He snugs in bed with me at night and we listen to music.  (Sam)
19.  He doesn't mind if I nap while he drives on long trips.
18.  He takes care of us.  (Sydney)
17.  He always tells me my hair looks great after a haircut.
16.  He lets me fold clothes with him.  (Sam)
15.  He does things for me that I know he hates doing (like spreading mulch and hanging pictures.)
14.  He takes Molly out when it's cold outside.
13.  He rubs my hair until I fall asleep.
12.  He gives me some of his birthday cake.  (Sydney...yes she really said that.)
11.  He patiently waits for me to research, analyze, obsess over, and read every review ever written when we're making a big purchase.
10.  I know he'll do everything humanly possible to be at every game, recital, match, meet, or other activity that the kids are in.
9.   If I spill something he cleans it up and doesn't get mad.  (Sam)
8.   Even when we disagree, I can always count on him to consider my point of view.
7.   He usually has supper waiting when I get home from work.
6.   He always makes sure my phone is up to date.  If not for him, I have no idea what IOS version I would still be using.
5.   He sits on the back porch swing with me.
4.   It's fun to dream about the future with him.
3.   He is equally as good at playing dolls as he is at playing super heroes.
2.   He is really great at recognizing and responding to those situations that God sometimes puts us in to make a difference in others' lives.
1.  And as always...he puts up with my crazy...and even finds a way to love me in spite of it.

Dear Sydney,

Last month, you turned 3 years old.  I'm finding that I don't get a lot of computer time lately.  I steal it here and there when I can to pay a bill or to balance the checkbook, but I get a little too much help when I'm on the computer.  Often, if you catch me sitting down to type, you'll sneak up beside me, and I'll see a tiny, pudgy finger eeeeeeasing up to press just one key on the keyboard.  You can't stand it.

This year has been an explosive vocabulary year for you.  You know ALL of the words now.  And you say them.  All.  Of.  Them.  You almost constantly keep up a running monologue during the day.  It's like when you wake up in the morning you have a 10,000 word quota to meet.  If you don't meet that quota during daylight hours you'll lie in bed and night and just give an endless speech, sometimes hardly taking a breath in between, mixing in little snippets of songs just for fun.  You often talk in your sleep at night.  One night not long ago, you were lying in bed having a hard time sleeping.  I was sitting in the rocker in your room until you dozed off.  Your constant stream of words sounded something like this:

"Mommy.  Look at my face.  Ugh.  You're killing me.  What's wrong with you?  Mommy can I have some water?  Mommy?  Please?  Pleaseplease?  Can I have some orange juice?  Can I have a big girl cup?  Mommy look at me.  Watch this.  Look at this.  I'm stuck.  See Mommy?  Like this.  See?  Ow! I hurt my eye.  See?  Watch this.  Mommy?  Mommy?  Mom?  *now singing* IIIIIIII'lllll driiiiiiiiiive.  In Daddy's caaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr.....not Mommy's caaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr....  I'm the BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!"

Most of the time I don't know if I should kiss your face or spank your bottom.  Your antics absolutely crack me up.  A good friend of mine said you would keep me on my toes and on my knees.  She's absolutely right.  As you and your brother grow, I find myself praying more than I ever have before.

You love music.  You and I started taking a little music class once a week at our church last year, and something just clicked with you.  They took a break over the summer, and you cannot wait for it to start back up.  The first few times we went, you just sat in my lap and wouldn't really participate much.  I was even thinking that maybe it just wasn't your thing, but one day while you were playing by yourself, I heard you singing some of the songs from class to your toys.  Then we had to miss a couple of weeks for this and that, and you couldn't understand why we didn't go to your "Wachel cwass" that Thursday.

You're all about princesses right now.  Your favorites seem to be "'Punzel" (Rapunzel) and Ariel.  In fact, you went through a spell this year where you didn't want to brush your teeth, and Daddy started telling you he thought he saw Rapunzel sneak in your mouth.  You'd open your mouth wide so he could find her and it would give us just enough time to swipe over your teeth with the toothbrush.

You got glasses this year.  I must admit, you look pretty stinking cute in them.  The first few days you had them, we stressed that if you needed a break from them, that was fine but you had to give them to Mommy or Daddy...not just lay them down in the floor.  You've actually done a pretty good job following those directions.  And now you leave them on pretty much all the time, although we still have good days and bad days.

You're becoming so independent.  You want to dress yourself, put your shoes on by yourself, walk instead of ride in the shopping cart, brush your own hair...  And you love helping with chores for the most part--feeding the dog, folding towels, putting groceries away--although I must admit your attention span for those things is pretty short.  But you have a spirit that others can sense in the first 5 minutes they're around you.  People seem to know that you are your own person and you won't be pushed around.  I like that about you.

My Sydney-bug, I love your big personality and how you walk into a room like you own the place.  I love how when you're tired in the afternoon, you ask me to "wock" with you and how you snuggle down so your head is right on my shoulder and your arm is looped around my neck.  I love how you wake up like you're ready to conquer the world.  I love how you ask me to twirl "wike a pwincess" with you.  I love how your gorgeous red hair has golden highlights woven into it by the summer's sun.  And I love watching you become who you are.

Mommy

A Weekend With The Girls

A few weekends ago we got to have a sleepover with 3 of our cousins.  I remember staying at my aunt & uncle's house A LOT when I was a kid.  And I don't think I ever wanted to go home.  It's such a source of happy memories for me, it has been bothering me a bit that my kids aren't experiencing that.  It was time to do something about it.  So one Friday afternoon I picked up 3 of my nieces and 

we made the trip back to Casa de King.

 

 

 

 

 

The weather was AWESOME that weekend.  We spent the majority of the day Saturday playing outside.  I love watching these girls together.  Their birthdays are just two days apart.  That being said, I kinda felt like I was taking care of twin 2 year-olds that weekend.  While I've always had a deep respect for moms of multiples, it grew even more over those couple of days.

 

 

Even though Sam was outnumbered by the girls, he had a great time.  In the days leading up to their visit, I was able to say, "We need to do fill in the blank so the girls can come over."  Instant obedience.  And I can't count the number of times since then that he and Sydney have asked when we are going to have another cousin sleep-over.

 

 

 

Popsicles and lemonade in big people cups.  (Outside....of course.  I'm a cool aunt, but I'm not crazy.)

 

 

 

I asked the girls to pick one fun thing each to do that weekend.  Izzy immediately said she wanted to paint fingernails and toenails.  Hers are the blue ones on the left.  I'm not sure if you can tell by the picture, but she wasn't happy with just uniformly colored toes.  She needed polka dots on hers.

All. Her. Idea.

Also, I love that you can see Sydney and Abby are holding hands on the right.

 

 

 

And what sleepover is complete without a little dress up?  Someday it will be heels, pearls and make-up, but for now I like that it's super hero capes.