I’m just putting this out there under the category of “Things that make me go hmmmmm…” about my daughter Kelly. I bought this Inch Worm riding toy for my youngest, Ella, last spring. Ever since this little Inch Worm has came into our house, Kelly has decided that it is her baby, Alyssa. She holds it, carries it around, feeds it pretend bottles, etc. Everything a mother would do to their baby, Kelly does with her inch worm baby. Mind you, this is a riding toy, so it is big and bulky. On another note, Kelly has tons of baby dolls, so it isn’t like she is filling a baby doll void.  Hmmmmmmm…

I’m participating for the first time in Wordless Wednesday. If I understand this right, this post should have no words… but all of the other Wordless Wednesday posts I have seen have words.

So, I’ll have it be a kind of Wordless Wednesday.

Jacob and Collin - two boys who instantly meshed and became best friends. Collin moved over the summer and we miss him terribly!

Kelly has become very attached to a little frog sticker and a ring. Over the past week she has been taking these two items with her everywhere. Anytime someone notices (which it is hard not to because she shoves them under their nose) she proudly exclaims, “This is my special ring and special sticker. They are special because they are from my mom.” Sweet preciousness, isn’t it? The only thing is… I am her mom (at least the only one I’m aware of) and I did not give her that ring and sticker. I honestly have no idea who gave these two things to her and why on earth she thinks it was me, but she does. Even today, she came home from school and told me that her friend wanted to try on her ring, and she let her but told her “not to lose it because it is special and is from my mom.”

I guess I will take the credit for now, but if Kelly’s real treasure giving mom could please stand up, I have some college tuition funds set up that I would be more than happy to let you contribute to! In the meantime, thanks for the ring and sticker. She loves them.

The Olympics have made a big impact in our household over the past two weeks. Today it was with great sadness that we bid farewell to the most memorable (to me anyway) Olympic games of my history. I am not sure if having kids made me more interested, but this was the first Olympic games, as an adult, that I really cared about what was going on. It was so nice to turn on the TV and have a show to watch that we could all enjoy as a family… sitting down each night and cheering on the USA brought a lot of teaching moments for us as well. The kids learned about other countries, about the power of practicing hard to achieve your goals and about sportsmanship. One thing I didn’t realize they had learned was a lesson in patriotism.

This morning I walked into the living room to find all three of them standing completely still, with their hands over their hearts staring at the TV as the USA basketball team accepted their gold medals. They may not know what this gesture means, but I was so proud of them to recognize the moment of reverance and to give the flag the respect it deserves. God bless the USA!

Ella loves to dance. An even stronger love she has is taking off her clothes. Ella can’t stand to have clothes on. I know… quite the future she has, isn’t it? Dancing and stripping.

If we are at home, Ella immediately takes off her clothes and either puts on a swimsuit or her PJ’s. In fact, even when we are in public, Ella tries to take off her clothes. Just ask Shalee. We met for coffee yesterday morning and while we were there… smack in the middle of a public place, Ella proceeded to take off her clothes. Nice first impression, wasn’t it Shalee?

The other day we were all at Splash Cove, an outdoor aquatic center in Shawnee. Rock music was playing and Ella was sitting at the picnic bench bopping her head to the music. She stood up and I said “Are you going to dance?” She nodded and then proceeded to find the nearest pole and began a lovely pole dancing routine.

So, dear readers, now my youngest is an accomplished pole dancing stripper. Let’s just hope she is getting it out of her system now!

Jacob’s teacher decided to torture the parents the first day of school today. As we were dropping the kids off, she said “Make sure you pick up the blue note on their desk.” Oh, I know this trick. It is the trick where the teachers leave some kind of note, poem… something to ensure that if you aren’t crying already, you will be before you leave the room. Luckily, I knew better than to read it at school, and saved the tears to flow in the comfort of my own home.

The First Day

I gave you a little wink and smile

As you entered my room today.

For I know how hard it is to leave

And I know your child must stay.

You’ve been with him for six years now

And have been a loving guide.

But now the time has come

To leave him at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I’ll love him as I do my own

And help him learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know

How quickly the years do pass.

Not too long ago it was my turn

To take my child to class.

So please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love him and take him in

When you leave him at my door.

It was Wednesday morning. We were all sitting around, finishing up breakfast and the kids were anxiously awaiting their playdates scheduled for the day. Around 9am, the phone rang. It was my good friend Jennifer.

Her: “Hey there… is Kelly going to school today?”

Me: “Ha - very funny.” (Assuming she is just trying to fool me as I knew Friday was the start date.

Her: “Kristen, I’m serious… school started this morning!”

Me: “No way - it starts on Friday!”

Her: “Kristen - I just dropped Ethan off. I’m not kidding… school started today!”

Me: Words came out of my mouth that I can’t write down, I hung up with Jennifer and burst into tears because I feel like I am LOSING MY MIND!

So, Kelly missed her first day of school. I had on the calendar that it was Friday, but apparently it was Wednesday. Kelly’s response to my crying was so sweet. “Mommy, if you keep crying about it it will just make you more sad. Stop crying… its no big deal!”

A friend of mine put it all in perspective. “Look at it this way, Kristen. You get one more day of summer and you will miss all the first day kids crying drama!” True, and we did have a wonderful summer day.

Kelly did start pre-Kindergarten today. She is such a strong girl. She was way excited about going and when she got there she gave me a big hug and kiss and sat right down where she was supposed to. She is so easy going and just does what she needs to.

I’m going to miss her while she is gone, but I think little sister is going to be completely lost. She’s walking around the house this morning like she doesn’t even know what to do with herself!

Why does parenting often result in that crushing, insides crumbling kind of feeling? Jacob starts 1st grade on Monday. Since they have half day Kindergarten, he will soon be heading to school from 9am-4pm… seems like an eternity to me! Conversation today as we were heading to the mall:

Jacob: “Mom, is today a special day?”

Me: “Of course it is a special day today. We all get to hang out together and be together all day long. That always makes for a special day.”

Jacob, in a sassy 1st grade ready voice: “Moooommmmm… that is just like every day of my whole life. What’s so special about that?”

Me, hit by a freight train of emotions and suddenly bursting into tears: “Because, Jacob, when you start school, we won’t get to have every, single day to hang out like this. You’ll be in school.”

Him: “Cool. I guess it is a special day then.”

Oh… little does he know how special of a day it really is to me.

Jacob lost his first tooth on Saturday. We had gone bowling Friday morning and when he got into the car he said "Hey Mom… my tooth is loose!" When I went to look at it, it was very loose. For the rest of that day, Jacob had his tongue on his tooth and his finger on his tooth wiggling away at it. I’m surprised it took until Saturday for it to come out!

My family Christmas celebration was on Saturday. Within a few minutes of sitting down to eat our Christmas meal, Jacob hollered that his tooth had fallen out. The entire room full of my family errupted in cheers. It was a very exciting moment and Jacob was thrilled!

The tooth right next to it is wiggly now. I bet he has a couple teeth gone by the month is over. 

Feliz Navidad, as sung by Kelly:

"At least not a dot…At least not a dot…At least not a dot la la la la la la la laaaaa…" "I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas in the bottom of the stars."