I'm not sure I really know what to say about this one...

College Day

This weekend is the beginning of the college football season. The local schools took advantage of that and declared Friday college day. All the kids were to wear their favorite college team's colors. It took three attempts, but I finally did manage to get a 'normal' picture out of the kids. But I guess if you think about it...the first two are normal for my kids.

Our Family

Kinsey's homework tonight was to tally up the males and females in our house. I should point out a few highlights.

• After her name is a 5. When she was 4 she started writing her age after her name. It really helps me out when I look back at artwork that I never dated.
• You'll notice the girls look like they've had an overdose of collagen. That would be lipstick. Of course Kinsey's stick figures are wearing lipstick. It's a wonder they're not outfitted with matching purses and shoes.
• The first smiley face with long hair is Kins...her ode to Miley Cyrus.
• And the two female opossum-like stick figures are not in fact babies hanging upside down by their tails. They're Macy and Katie.

  I'm not really sure what the inspiration was behind Chad and Trace's hair. But thankfully it only looks like this on paper. Well, and first thing in the morning...

Chalk Drawings

After supper, we went out for some much needed backyard soccer practice this evening. Neither of us are big soccer fans, but the kids wanted to play so I signed them up. After soccer, we migrated back to the driveway to ride scooters, play catch, and draw. I asked Kinsey if she wanted to make a chalk outline of me, so we all had to take our turns. I love kid drawings. They give a unique perspective into what they think we look like.

Kinsey is laying across the bottom, Trace is on the left, me in the middle, and Chad on the right with the really bumpy leg.

We all had to have faces. Kinsey drew mine. I said, "Wow, I only have 2 teeth and they stick out really far." She corrected me, "No. You have more, they're in your mouth. Only 2 of them stick out." I really hope that's not how I look to her!

After School

Kinsey got in the car and immediately started spewing all of the days activities. Drawing, coloring, making a gingerbread man, music, lunch...and on and on and on. It was so nice to have my little chatterbox back. Since we have been home she has "made some math problems for her teacher" and even put them in an envelope. She is playing with her school bag, so I have a feeling she will either sleep with it or we will be running around frantic trying to find it in the morning.

When we picked Trace up, I asked how his day went and he enthusiastically replied, "AWESOME!" I asked him to tell me all about it and he said, "There really isn't that much to tell." I guess I'll take awesome and be happy to get that. Instead of making math problems for his teacher, he is so very pleased to be reunited with the television he hasn't been able to watch since yesterday. After all, 20 hours is like eternity when you're eight.

First Day of School

Well, it happened. Despite my best efforts, they're growing up. They started school today and both were excited about it. Chad took Trace and I took Kins. He didn't want to be walked in. Chad asked if he knew where he was going and he said, "No, but I'll find it." I think in 3rd grade it is no longer ok to be walked into school by your parents.

I didn't cry this morning. I was not worried about her in the least, I knew she would be fine. Better than fine. It will surprise none of you that she has been ready for kindergarten for a few years. It really didn't hit me until I was driving home and could actually hear the radio and there were no arguments coming from the backseat. Then I walked into the house and I was alone. It was a strange feeling. Unsettling. But inevitable.

Check out my backpack...

Obligatory bunny ears on the little sister.

And how about this smile? That will get me through the day!

Last Day of Summer

Tomorrow is the first day of school this year. I have such mixed feelings about it. On one hand, this is the day I've been waiting for since July, but on the other, I'm really not ready. I love the summer schedule. Staying up late and sleeping late, going to the movies in the middle of the day, playing outside until dark. I am not ready for the ratrace that is getting up early, fixing lunches, homework, and a real bedtime.

Trace will be in 3rd grade this year. It seems unbelievable to me that he is that old. Or that I'm that old. And Kinsey will start Kindergarten. I'm not even sure I have the words to describe my feelings about that. Because she is my last one, I have wanted to keep her little forever. But she was born grown and independent. I joke that I haven't been in charge at my house in about 4 years...since she could talk.

I remember the day I took Trace to daycare the very first time. I took him the week before I started back to work. To give me time to adjust and to get a few things done without toting a baby around. I thought it would be awful, but I did ok. Didn't even cry. Even when he started Kindergarten, it wasn't so bad. I was teaching at the school he attended, so it was nice knowing he was in the same building. But 3rd grade...this is tough for me. He's not at the primary school anymore. He's just growing up way too fast.

And how in the world is Kinsey already 5?! I have had the best time staying home with her the last two years. I am going to miss staying home from preschool just because it's cold and rainy, or skipping school because we want to have a pajama day. A friend of mine told me that I could still have pajama day, and it's surprisingly enjoyable to do it when all your kids are at school. I'm sure I will agree with that someday. Just not yet.

I have a feeling this will be just one of many milestones for which I will not be ready. But I am so very grateful for every single one. I'm sure I'll cry tomorrow. And I am ok with that.

Trace's first day of 1st grade 2008

Kinsey's first day of 4K 2009

Trace's first day of 2nd grade 2009

The Next Mia Hamm???

When we went to Academy to get her soccer cleats, she was adamant that they should be pink. That will come as no surprise to anyone who knows her. Then after she put them on and ran up and down an aisle, she needed clarification..."But I can still wear a dress with my soccer shoes, right?" That's my girl. I'm pretty sure the only reason she's playing soccer is because she got to get a new pair of shoes and she gets an outfit.

Chad took her to practice and said that she spent a lot of time standing by the goal because she was hot. I believe his words were, "Little prima donna".

Girls Night Out

The guys have gone to the camphouse for a few days. Kinsey mandated last year sometime that when this happens, we have Girls Night Out. What this means is that she and I go to Red Lobster. She always gets popcorn shrimp. Nothing else, just a plate of popcorn shrimp. So here we are!

I have no idea...

Sometime over the summer she decided she was definitely not going to kindergarten this year. She would just stay home with me. End of discussion. Well, Hunee bought the kids some back to school clothes and thank goodness for the precious black, red, and white outfit. Because she has decided that she will, after all, go to kindergarten this year. And she'll be wearing that outfit when she does. But she will have to skip school one day so we can have a girls night out.

Sleeping Arrangements

For the last week or two, the kids have been sleeping in one bed. They bounce back and forth between their rooms, but they like being in the same bed. Well, I guess the same room.
Every now and then Trace will get up and come to complain about Kinsey bugging him or flopping around in her sleep or being on his side of the bed. I went to check on them before I went to bed the other night and this is what I found. You can't tell, but Trace is in his bed. That's Kins on the floor. Guess she was bugging him again...

Tin Can Stilts & A Little Rain

Trace has been asking for tin can stilts. I'm not sure where he got the idea, but i emptied two big cans of peaches, Chad worked his magic, and voila...tin can stilts! Check out Kins peeking out from behind him.

It rained for all of five minutes this afternoon. One of those summer rains where the sky gets a little dark in places, the wind starts to blow, just a little, gets your hopes up, then it rains just enough to tease you. We ran outside to play in it, but by the time Kinsey put on the required swimsuit, it had all but stopped. And it was hotter than before the rain. So our water playtime was short-lived.

We weren't the only ones excited to have some puddles on the driveway. These little guys fought and fought over the coveted puddles. Before I moved up to the front door and scared them away, I counted 20 little birds jockeying for position.

Besties

Here they are...two peas in a pod...Kins and Ella. They get along like sisters. One day they can play for 8 hours without a single cross word, then the next playtime it's nothing but arguing and we have to call it quits early. These shots were taken after gymnastics today.

Here they are looking at how pretty they are. Kinsey's words. They were so funny today. There was a man changing light bulbs in the room we were in and he asked them what they were up to today. Kinsey responded, "We just finished gymnastics and my brother's in there now." Then Ella says, "My mom keeps kids, so Ms. Sunny take me everywhere." I laughed out loud. Precious.

Ice Cream Tuesdays

I think Tuesdays are the kids' favorite day of the week. At Big Mama's retirement community, they serve Blue Bell every Tuesday. I think Big Mama looks forward to it as much as the kids!

Killin' Time

Here's what Trace does to keep himself busy when we are out running boring errands. Plays his PSP. Photo courtesy of Kinsey.
Here's what Kinsey does to keep herself busy during those same errands:

I cannot tell you how many pictures I have of her like this. I have a ridiculously tiny camera that stays in my purse all the time. So when we are somewhere and she gets bored, she takes pictures. Lots, and I mean LOTS of them are of her face. Very close-up.

This will be fun!

I should clarify...that is not laughter you see on her face. I don't know he talked her into it, but she was NOT enjoying being on his shoulders. And yes, this did end badly. She did a semi-face plant on the kitchen floor. She got her arm down before her face hit, but she sure did milk it. She finally did admit that she was more scared than hurt.

And the Oscar goes to.......