Friday, September 28, 2012

Weekly Bliss

So what if I'm a few weeks behind? I've been busy :)

Dressing baby Sophie and Lovey puppy up as fairies. Gotta love the hippie headband with the flower clip (she even did that herself bahah! BOHO!)
Seriously, this kid cracks me up. I love those fake fangs and the light was hitting her eyes perfectly, plus she had covered her face in green and blue makeup so she was definitely scary looking!
A little DIY banner - with many more decor items to add tonight!
Playing at the park at dusk...can you see them at the top? Playing pirates or something.
Costume shopping
YES! My two little monkeys! E hung on so well I was so proud of her!
New reclining couches!
Me and pee-wee
Oh, so her first trip to the library with her Kindergarten class and girl friend comes home with an Aaron Rodgers book. Makes for a proud Mama and Daddy!!! GO PACK, GO! (And no, I do not want to talk about that asinine call last week, thank you.)
Balla balla! She was really good and got a lot of tickets from this game without my help!
Just cruising.
Wee!
My favorite girls in the whole world.
Bahaha told them to be silly!
She crossed the monkey bars on the side closest to where I'm standing then turned herself around and went down the other side! Way to go!
B, "Come on down, I'll catch you!" E, "Nope."
Sleepy girl - why is it I love taking pics of my kids sleeping? Oh yeah. Because they're so darn cute 24/7.
LOVE this picture.
I even joined in on the fun!
Had a sleepover with a BFF and went to a baby shower (hence the nametags...Hannah couldn't be left out either haha!)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Weekly Bliss (a few...)

Ballons around her doorway to surprise her - "Mommy & Breanna's Day of Fun!"
AAAAND she's awake!
"What's going on? I thought you got me a puppy..."
Sleepy Princess.
Arctic Blasts
First treat from an ice cream truck - childhood staple.
Making pierogis - which turned out fantastic :)
Oh yeah, and ice cream.
Oh look, another sleepy Princess!
Modeling her new school clothes.
No longer a "Monica Closet"!
(that's a cold lunch station for Breanna - snacks, juice, napkins, spoons, fruit cups, and a place for her lunchbox.)
Princess Day at daycare.

Playing LIFE with Mama.
Motivation.
Snuggles.
Cupcakes and Fudge Brownies.
Pictures of Auntie Lulu.
Oh, a close up with her rings...she insisted.
My GIANT mug I scored for $1.09 at Michaels to serve as a pencil cup - only it's more like a bucket...but I love it.
B tried to freak out passing cars.
E tried to spot passing airplanes.
DQ - her current favorite.
Me and J <3
Glowsticks in the bathtub.
Fashionista.
Cutie-patootie!

Tuesday's Tid Bits

  1. Betcha been wondering where I've been...I can tell you it hasn't been on the couch, moping like I did all summer. I've found peace with what happened and actually got off my butt to get stuff done around the house. I've been busy school shopping, scrapbooking, seeing family and going on dates with my husband. Life has been good.
  2. Still on the freezer meal kick...once my girlfriends and I get together for our "Let's Dish - Housewives Edition" I will fill you in on all the details.
  3. By the way, this is the first month I am attempting a 30 day meal plan - two grocery trips (one for perishables, especially since Breanna started school today and needed lunches) and one for freezer meals specifically. So far the cost is pretty good! Fingers crossed Sunday doesn't add too much to that.
  4. I have just a few pages left for our wedding scrapbook, with plenty of time to spare before Cattails! I better get on it though so I can prepare page kits for the weekend getaway instead of dragging everything with.
  5. Work has been going pretty good; I'm starting to transition fully into my new role as I train my replacement this week. My new boss (and current in the meantime) have been extremely supportive in allowing me to work 7am-3pm so I can be at Breanna's school at 3:30pm to pick her up. God is good...
  6. Speaking of God, I went to church the other week and it felt so great to start out my week like that. This past Sunday I didn't make it, but am determined to prioritize that Sunday tradition.
  7. Sunday J and I went on a date to the Minnesota State Fair. If you haven't been, it's kind of a big deal. Especially the deep fried pickles, my favorite! I tried a deep fried candy bar too which surprisingly wasn't that bad! But, I still prefer the pickles. I'm tempted to purchase the batter and fry some up at home myself. It was awesome to get away for a few hours with just my hubby and I, check out some stuff at the fair, eat some grub, people watch, talk...and it's days like those that make us feel closer.
  8. Big Brother and Bachelor Pad are my current TV addictions. I am sad that they are both ending soon...
  9. I will post more. Getting home by 3:45/4pm is going to allow more time for projects, pictures, and posting...3 important Ps in blogging :)
  10. I'm going to throw together a post of pictures showcasing what we've been up to the past few weeks...stay tuned!

Dear Breanna

I think as parents there are times we over- or underestimate our kids. We overestimate your ability to stay focused in church for an hour, the chores you can successfully do without us reminding you 103 times; we overestimate your ability to pour milk sometimes without spilling. We underestimate your kindness towards others, the ideas and concepts that you soak up like a sponge...and today, my precious girl...we underestimated your bravery.

Last night you were excited, but told me that you were going to be shy. This is something we have talked about over the last few weeks in preparation for the big day. I reassured you that you would make new friends in no time and school was going to be so much fun! Surprisingly, you slept. Mama didn't, and I also didn't get into a fight with my alarm clock in the morning as I typically do. I was wide awake at 5am, writing your name on all your belongings and making sure all the papers were signed and ready to go. I needed that mental preparation.

At 7am you were up on your own, ready for the day. The allure of new friends, new toys, and a new teacher were fresh on your mind. The intimidation of a new school and not knowing anybody didn't faze you one bit. You were on a mission.

You picked out your outfit, ate breakfast, brushed your teeth and combed your hair. You were very selective about which necklace and headband to wear that would match your brand new, pink ruffled dress. You folded the bottom of your polka dot leggings over carefully and meticulously.

You made sure (twice) that your morning snack was in your backpack. When Mama was making your lunch you made healthy decisions all on your own: carrots, mixed fruit, and string cheese to go along with the PB&J (your favorite). You put on your sparkling white shoes (not for long, I'm sure) grabbed your backpack and lunchbox and stood by the door trying to convince us it was time to leave.

That's when Mama turned into paparazzi. I snapped photos of you on the front step, and you decided you were "ready to rock" and posed appropriately. We hugged and kissed you and told you how excited we were for you. Then, with time to kill, we tossed a ball around the front yard.

It was in those moments that I started to really see how you've grown. I noticed how perfect you had made yourself look today without any help. You were dribbling the ball like a pro (balla balla!) and the smile on your face never disappeared. It hit me that you had matured overnight...we had underestimated how excited you were going to be.

It was hard to keep up with you through the parking lot and the hallways. We were early. Really early, and upon your insistence. You marched through the halls (first kid in the school, NOT kidding...) and surprised both your Daddy and I when you went straight to your classroom from memory. You didn't look back at us once and we were practically running to keep up with you.

After you hung your backpack and lunchbox in your cubby along with your denim jacket, I was sure this was it. I was waiting for the moment of horror to cross your face and the inevitable clinging, crying, and peeling (I even wore a second shirt in case you tried ripping it off). I wore pants assuming you would hide behind me when the teacher said hello and had the camera slung around my neck so my hands would be free to guide and help you.

Instead, you skipped over to your table, checked out your name tag and went through your pencil box. You then started looking through the shelves with toys, scoping everything out.

I'm pretty sure my jaw had hit the floor.

There you were, 5 going on 17, ready to take on the world. Daddy and I had to ask for goodbye hugs and kisses, and I reminded you that I would be there at 3:30pm to pick you up and to have a wonderful First Day of School.

It was all I could do to hold the tears back when I got to the car once I looked through my phone at all the pictures from the morning. I cried because I'm selfish and my baby girl is now in school. There's a part of me that feels like you won't need me, but you will. I remind myself that I need to be there every day after school to hear how your day went and help you remember the things you learned. I will need to listen to the songs that teach you about letter sounds, I will need to help you count out math problems using M&Ms (if we don't eat them all first...) and to read you books and help you spell. You will still need me, and that's comforting. But, most importantly, I realized how much I need you. I need you to remind me that time is precious and pretty soon these moments will be only distant memories and photographs. I need days like these to let it sink in that there will come a time when I won't hold your hand through everything, and I will have to sit back and let you spread your wings...ready to be there for your if you need me. That's what today was: practice.

Breanna, today you certainly surprised both your Daddy and I, and we are so very proud of you. You can do anything you put your mind to, and with one as bright as yours, you are bound to make the world a better place.

Love you, stinker.

~Mommy