Growing Hurts

Pre-K at Carroll Catholic for Makayla (2014)

From the first day of school....

to the last day of school! 

My, has this child grown this year!

She's lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, and learned.
She's lost her first tooth, made her first boyfriend(s), and read her first books.

She has spent the year blossoming into a beautiful and smart young lady!

And who knew that watching Makayla's  Pre-K graduation last night would make me so weepy?

Our experience at Carroll Catholic School this year was better than I could ever hope for.
It's a family that I'm so thankful to have been a part of.  

We will be forever grateful for the way the teachers and staff have touched Makayla's life.

The teachers, the parents, the routine, the love, the education...
I wish it could go on indefinitely.

As sad as it makes me to leave all that we've come to know over this past year, I get very excited when I think about Makayla and her future.

It's crazy the strength of my yearning for our days to stay just as they are -

my five year old going to Pre-K with Mrs. Sharp and Miss Martin...

with her same friends...

in the same classroom...

Yet, at the same time, my desire for her to grow bigger and better is bursting at the seams.

*sigh*
growing hurts

Thank you Carroll Catholic Pre-K Class of 2014!
Thank you for an exciting year of fun, learning, and making memories!

 

Congratulations!! 

P.S.
Starting with Makayla and following through with Mason and Mia,
each of my kids will be given this book -

At the end of each school year, from Pre-K to 12th, I plan to have their teachers sign their book and to leave a little note if they so wish.
What a special gift that will be at their high school graduation!

Oh, the places you'll go, baby girl!!

A Kid Question

Here's a conversation that took place the other morning while Makayla and I were getting ready in bathroom.

Makayla: (leaning up against the wall with a little bit of fear and shock in her eyes)

 Did you used to be black when you were a little girl?!

Mommy:  No!  Why?!

Makayla:  (pointing...still with the fear and shock in her eyes) 

You have dark skin around your nipples!

***********************************

My kids...there is never a dull moment with them!

20 Questions, Makayla

An interview with Makayla -

my five year old baby girl.

My daughter who marches to the beat of her own drum...

My daughter who blows me away with her intelligence...

My daughter who loves everyone and everything.
My daughter who has.my.heart....

What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Go to Florida.

What is your favorite color? Skin color.

What is your favorite toy? My baby dolls.

What is your favorite fruit? Bananas and oranges and grapes.

What is your favorite t.v. show? Sponge Bob.

What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Pancakes.

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheeseburgers and popcorn.

What are you afraid of? Bears and lions and monsters and ghosts.

What is your favorite game? Guess Who is Who

What is your favorite snack? Graham crackers. 

What is your favorite animal? Zebras and giraffes.

What is your favorite song? This Little Light of Mine.

What is your favorite book? The potty book.

Who is your best friend? Izzak. Mason. Mia.  Mrs. Sharp and Miss Martin.

What's one thing you're really good at doing? Swinging.  Anything.

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play on the swing set.

What is your favorite drink? Orange soda.

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas. Valentine's Day.  Easter.

What makes you happy? Mommy.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A Veterinarian. 

The Letter Q

A Little Tid Bit About Our First President

As we were driving in the car today, we were taking turns shouting out words that started with the letter "Q"(that was the letter Mason worked on at daycare today). 

Mommy: Quiet

Makayla: Cube ("Cu"be)

Mason: My little Q Book.

Makayla: Cutie ("Cu"tie)

Mommy: Quilt

Makayla:  That's what our first president wore when he was a baby.  A quilt! They didn't have clothes and onesies like we do today.  And then, when he was 5, he wore britches.

Mommy:  Who was our first president?

Makayla:  George Washington, George Washington - We honor you today.  George Washington, George Washington - Father of the USA.

A Glimpse

Last night, I had a little glimpse of the future with my girls.  

Of course, it was on a much more scaled down version of what the future will hold for them, but none the less, it was a little glimpse...a little taste.

During bath time tonight, Makayla and Mia had a tub full of toys floating in purple water.

Mia threw a toy out.

She smirked at me.

I looked at her straight in the eyes and with a stern voice, told her "no".  Then, I explained why we cannot throw toys out of the tub.  

She just stared at me.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  Her mouth was left hanging open, in shock that she was just scolded.

THEN...

Then Makayla whispered to Mia, handed her a toy, and looked at her with an evil little grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.  

Makayla laughed and told Mia that this was fun.

Makayla then whispered to Mia again, handed her a toy (and when I say a toy, I mean legos.  big legos.  legos that are filled with water), and looked at her with an evil grin on her face.

Mia threw the toy out the tub.  Makayla laughed, Mia giggled, I glared and shook my head, and Mia stared.  Stared at me with her big beautiful eyes.

Makayla laughed, rubbed Mia's back, and told her how fun this was.  Makayla told Mia that she was a good girl.  

This happened a couple more times before I put a stop to it.  I had Mia crying (broke my heart) when I emptied the toys out of the tub, held her hands, told her "no", and wouldn't crack from my "mean" face.  She turned her back on me and sobbed.  Makayla immediately started patting her back and telling her that she was a good girl and that it was okay.  Suddenly, I had Makayla crying.  I told her that she wasn't being a very good big sister because she KNEW she was making Mia do something that was against the rules.  Through her tears, she kept telling me that she was just trying to have fun.  

That's all, mom.

Trying to have fun...

*sigh*

As parents, we work very hard to set a good example for our kids....

but...

I'm pretty sure that my children are going to learn just as much from each other as they are from Kevin and I.

I think siblings are very influential in each others' lives.  

Right now, Mia watches every.single.move that her big brother and big sister make.  She's listening, watching, and mimicking.   She's paying attention to everything - the good and the bad.  And this "paying attention to big sister" thing is going to follow her throughout the years.

Last night, Mia (knowing it was wrong) threw water filled legos out of the tub because Makayla told her to. Then Makayla would praise her - laughing, rubbing her back, and telling her she was a good girl.  

I know it's only bath toys now, but if we don't work hard to raise our kids with having morals, showing respect,  and all the other characteristics I find to be extremely important, life will be a little bit more challenging...when I'm living in a house with THREE teenagers!

Health Tips

5 Health Tips From a 5 Year Old

1.  Feed your babies so they don't pass away.

2.  Clean your peepee every morning and every night so you don't get an infection.

3.  Eat bananas every day.

4.  You have to eat lots of protein to help you not pass away.

5.  Eat fish.

*it makes makayla sad to say "die", so she has to say "pass away"*

Pee, Poop, and Pipe

Makayla:  My bladder is FULL of poop.

Mommy:  No, it's not.  Your bladder is full of PEE.

Makayla:  Then where's my poop?

Mommy:  Your poop is in your colon - a tube in your belly.

Makayla:  Well, I've seen grandpa's pipe.

**Being on the topic of pee, bladders, and poop, I kinda got a lump in my throat and my heart started racing with the thought of what she might be referring to when she says "pipe"...**

Mommy:  What's grandpa's pipe??

Makayla:  His skinny, not fat, pipe from his heart surgery!

Remember when his heart hurt?

Whew!
I was nervous where we headed with that one!

While Makayla definitely keeps us on our toes, she never ceases to amaze me. 

 

From our short conversation this evening, I was reminded of Grandpa Curry's heart surgery 18 months ago - a moment in life that I think about often, and obviously so does my 5 year old daughter. 

 I know visiting grandpa in the days following his surgery, Makayla was in her element. 

 She loved the hospital, she loved the machines, and she loved seeing grandpa's incisions.  

She loved asking questions, she loved to touch what she could, and she loved learning about the surgery and grandpa's post-op care.  

She wasn't scared and she was very inquisitive.

And that makes me smile.

...and then I start to laugh out loud when I think about what I thought she might have been talking about when she was talking about seeing grandpa's pipe!

A Piece For Each

Makayla - 

Her newest accomplishments are learning to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (starting at Middle C, of course) and discovering the love for spelling.  She loves to spell and is always asking me to teach her new words to spell.  I find papers all around the house with words written everywhere - makayla,curry, mason, mia, mom, dad, papa, police, emma, adalyn, cat, dog, love... 

Buuuuuut...a little frustration for mommy has come along with this new found love of spelling. 

Daily, we have conversations that go like this:

Makayla:  Mommy, do you want to go to V-V-A-L-M?

Me:  Where?

Makayla: V-V-A-L-M.

or

Makayla:  I really want a E-B-A.

Me:  A what??

Makayla:  An E-B-A.

Daily, we have conversations where Makayla spells "words" and I have nooooo idea what she's wanting to communicate with me.  She gets upset that I can't decipher her words and refuses to speak the word, but continues to spell it.  I'm hoping that she'll quickly improve with her letter/sound/spelling skills because, oh my gosh, it's hard...for me and for her!

Mason -

Mason and I were alone having one on one time, all cuddled up, watching Caillou, and eating popcorn.  I topped off the perfect moment by handing him a fruit snack.  THEN (i don't like asking questions like this, but sometimes i get curious to see where their mind is at), I asked him who he loved more - mommy or daddy.  Thinking he would definitely say "mommy" (i mean, after all, i was rubbing his legs, letting him watch his favorite show, snuggling with him, AND i snuck him a fruit snack), I was blown away when he said "Mia".

So...then I asked him who he loved more - Mia or Makayla.

And, he answered "Grandpa".  

He's a smart, smart boy and his heart is oh, so good!

He knew just exactly how to answer those questions...

Mia  -

She's amazing and I think has a sixth sense.  Almost every.single.night no matter what time we turn our lights out to go to bed, she wakes up.  It truly is amazing.  I don't know how she does it or how she knows, but the second the lights go out, little miss wakes up.  She fusses around and fusses around until one of us go up there to tell her goodnight.  All we have to do is give her a kiss, lay her back down in bed, whisper goodnight, and she falls back asleep immediately...before we can turn around to walk out the door.  It's pretty cool and to be honest, I kind of look forward to it every night.  It's not something I'm tired with, yet...

Cream & Underwear

Why do I have this tub of cream?
Because I think it reminds me of my childhood.

The smell reminds me of my mom, which makes me think that she used something like this back in the day... (i'm sure she'll deny it and tell me i'm dreaming again)

I hardly ever open this tub up, but when I do, it's just to get a whiff of the past.

But, anyway...

The other night, Makayla walked into the living room with her hair caked in greasy, greasy cream.

I asked her what she put in her hair.
She disappeared for a minute and came back proudly holding this tub of face cream in the air.
I asked her why she put this all over her hair...

and she looked at me like I was dumb, looked at the tub, and then looked back at me and said
"it says curls on it and she has curly hair (pointing to the girls on the tub)".

Nodding, because to Makayla, it made perfect sense.  The girls on the tub did have curls in their hair and I give her kudos for seeing the relationship between "C"ream and "C"urls.

It took 2 days for that grease to come out of her hair and if we weren't walking out the door 2 minutes after she presented with the grease-filled hair (she was getting "ready" and doing her hair to go out), I would have taken a picture.

...and the next day, following the cream incident, we had another incident.

A shocker.

One that left me speechless.

As Makayla was getting undressed to get in the bath at the end of the day, this is what she pulls off -

Seriously?

I don't know where she comes up with things like this.
These have been put up in the cabinet since before I was pregnant with Mia.  It's not like she's recently observed me putting these to use.

I finally muttered out the words to ask her why she had that in her underwear.
She grinned and shrugged her shoulders.
I just crinkled my nose, shook my head, and told her that I think she's too little to be playing with those right now.

A few years ago, it was cute - 

You can read that blog HERE.

But now...

(shaking my head and smiling)

I tell ya, there's never a dull moment in this house!

She's Five

To my Makayla -

From ONE...

To TWO...

To THREE... 

To FOUR... 

and now FIVE!! 

Five years old!!

It all kind of felt like a dream to me...is my baby girl really turning 5 already?!

but after celebrating for a week, it's now become a reality.

A reality that makes me smile...that makes my heart content.

To celebrate your 5th birthday, 
we started off by getting your ears pierced!
(and you didn't even cry!)

You look beautiful and so grown up with your earrings...

 but I'm definitely going to miss your clip-ons!!

You got to have a girl's day/night with Grandma Allen!

You took a river boat ride on The Spirit of Peoria (where you ate a milky way and drank a pepsi), went shopping for a birthday present (where you picked out a baby doll), and then you went back to grandma's house for a slumber party (where you whooped her butt in the game of Memory).  

You were spoiled.

We had a birthday dinner at your favorite mexican restaurant where they threw a sombrero on your head, sang Happy Birthday to you, and served you us fried ice cream.  They love you and have loved you since day 1, where they (the mexican restaurant) sent me a dinner in the hospital the night I gave birth to you.

You were completely embarrassed and tried to hide behind the table while they sang to you so the only picture we could capture was one with only the tip of your sombrero!

And, finally, we had a pizza party with friends from your preschool class.  

It was so fun to meet and watch you play with some of your new friends that you've made over the past couple of weeks!

Oooh, Makayla! - I've had an amazing five years with you!!...and I could get all mushy and gushy right now, but I won't.  Especially when I ask you questions like what your favorite thing was about being 4 was and you answer me with "loving you"...you saying things like THAT can really make me all kinds of emotional, 

but...

You're too happy.
You're too excited.

You keep asking me how big you look.

You feel like a "grown up".

You keep taking Mia's hands and saying "Look, Mia.  I'm five, now!".

You have a skip in your walk.

You can't take the smile off of your face.

It's been too much fun watching you turn five!

...and I don't want to take away from the excitement and joy by wading in tears of sadness that

my.baby.girl.is.growing.up.

...

So, all I am going to say tonight is -

You, Makayla Ann, are my heart and soul.

...and I'm so thankful that I get to spend my life with you.

here's to everything you are and all that you have yet to be

I Love You

xoxo

Mommy

Again

Makayla:  Mommy, I'm pregnant again.

Me:  You are?!

Makayla:  Yep!!

Me:  Wow...!  Why do you keep getting pregnant?

Makayla:  I don't know!  God just keeps putting the babies in my belly!

Me:  Ooooh.

Makayla:  Are you sad that he keeps putting the babies in my belly and not yours?

Me:  Kinda.  But why does God keep putting babies in your belly?!

Makayla:  (shrugs her shoulders with a grin).  I'm a good mommy.

...and for the past 15 minutes, she has been walking around the house with her back arched and her hand over her lower abdomen.  Every time she bends down to pick something up, she won't bend at her knees.  She'll bend at her back...in slow motion...and moan.

Will this ever end...?  

Doctor

Last night, Makayla was playing doctor.  She said that there was a "Wet Floor" sign and the old lady didn't see it...so of course, she fell.  She fell and hit her head, now she has a brain bleed. 

Seriously?  

(how does she come up these things?)

Well, this morning, playing Doctor got a tiny bit more exciting...

As I was in the bathroom getting ready, Makayla came running in - freaking out - saying that Rascal's (one of our cats) brains and guts were coming out!!!!!

Hmmmm...

I asked her what happened and she said "Rascal was giving his friend a bath when his friend bited him!!!"

Hmmmm....

So I could finish getting ready, I told her to go comfort him.

She ran off and in a few seconds, I heard her yell from her bedroom "I'm rubbing him.  I'm rubbing his back to make him feel better.  Don't worry!  I won't touch the blood".  

Then I heard her say to him "It's okay Bubbers".  

Hmmmm...

A couple of minutes later, when I emerged from the bathroom, I went to check on Rascal.  

His brains and guts were coming out...

Did David Die?

Just when I think all the kids are asleep in bed, I jump into the bath tub for 'me time'.  5 minutes into the soak, the door cracks open.  It's Makayla.  I invite her in.

She sits down next to the tub, asks me if my water is hot and if it feels good, and begins lotioning her arms and legs.

She talks for a little bit and I listen. 

She tells me that she thinks she got bit by a fly today on her leg but isn't sure how that would have happened since she was wearing tights.

(yes, only my daughter would wear tights on a 90 degree day and fit into a 12 month size bumble bee costume)

After several minutes of her talking about her fly bite, she decides to go deep.

Real deep.

Out of the blue, she asks me if David died.

She is referring to my Uncle Dave who died two years ago around Christmas.  To read more about that, you can read these two blog entries.

Ecclesiastes 3

The Next Place

This is how our conversation went:

Makayla - Did David die?

(i love how she calls him david)

Me - My Uncle Dave?

Makayla - Ya, the one who gave me that squirrel.
(he gave Mason and Makayla Rocky and Bullwinkle stuffed animals and how she remembers that, i have no idea!)

Me - Yes, he did die.

Makayla - Why?

Me - I don't know, honey.  God has a plan for everybody.

Makayla - Did he have a big belly?

Me - Yes, he did.

Makayla - Is that why he died?

Me - No, I don't think so.

Makayla - Daddy has a big belly (nodding). When is daddy going to die? 

Me - Oooh, not for a long time.  Daddy will probably be a grandpa to your babies before he dies. 

But, honey, people don't die because they have a big belly.  

(not wanting her to think that every person she sees with a bigger belly is going to die)

 Wouldn't you miss daddy if he died?

Makayla - Would you?

Me - Yes, I would miss him very much.

Makayla - When will you die?

Me - I don't know.  Would you miss me?

Makayla - Yes!  (wide eyed) But I would have to be the boss and daddy wouldn't listen to me ever!  I can't wait to be the boss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank goodness she changed the subject after that last sentence....asking me if it hurts when I shave my legs.

Out of that whole conversation, two things amaze me -

1.  That she remembers my Uncle Dave the way she does.

2.  That she somehow associates big bellies with being a cause of death.

It's conversations like this that I try oh so carefully to choose my words correctly and appropriately.

Small Treats

HIGHLIGHTS of the past few days

Makayla's end of the year program for preschool - Graduation & Promotion.

Makayla finished her second year of preschool and still has one more year to go before she gets to go to kindergarten.  She's already looking so forward to kindergarten and is constantly asking questions about kindergarten.  One of her most repetitive questions she asks is "Will people hold me in kindergarten?".

Makayla is a smart girl who loves to learn and loves to go to school!  

 It's been exciting to watch her grow and learn over this past year and she is constantly amazing us with all of the knowledge she carries with her!

We are so proud of her!

Makayla's program was very sentimental.   I cried and Kevin cried got teary-eyed...

and it wasn't because Makayla was being promoted from preschool class to the next, but it was because we had to say good-bye to Mrs. Wright - 

Her preschool teacher of the last two years has retired and this program was her last 'hurrah' as a teacher.  

I love Mrs. Wright and I love her assistant for this past school year - Miss Kaiser - and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Miss Kaiser will be staying for next year.  If not, I just may cry again...!

It was very emotional to say good-bye to Mrs. Wright and although it makes me sad to see her go, I'm very happy for her that she is able to retire in happiness and good health.

Every single one of the preschoolers got to go up the microphone and say
"When I grow up, I want to be..."

It was the cutest thing!!
There were future

teachers,

dinosaurs,

police officers,

soldiers,

volley ball players,

pop stars,

scientists...

and of course, baby doctors!!

Kari and Corey's Wedding

(warning: lots of pictures)

My cousin Kari married Corey in an outdoor ceremony at a winery.
It was beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful!

...and Makayla made another debut as a flower girl!

It was a picture perfect evening - 

 

Me and my girls! 

Where I come from -

Me with my mom, dad, and sister! 

Great Grandma Allen with Mia! 

Daddy and his little girl! 

Makayla and Mason - with the way they were dressing up, you would have thought that they sneaked a glass or two of wine!

I've never been to a more beautiful wedding ceremony and reception!
the vineyard,

the storm clouds in the distance with the sun shining over us,

the pond,

...and a gorgeous bride and handsome groom.

I'm so happy to have been a part of Kari and Corey's Happily Ever After and I'm thankful that Makayla was a small part of their day.  It filled my heart with joy to see by beautiful baby girl walk down their aisle in her pretty dress tossing her flower petals.
Thank you for the memories!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 ...and besides Makayla's program and Kari's wedding,  the last few days were also filled with -

*buying suntan lotion!!
*having 'girl time' with Aunt Nina - Makayla, Mia, Nina, and I went dress shopping and out to lunch...

just us girls!

*we got to dine outdoors at a couple of restaurants...one of my favorite things to do in the warm weather.
*attend a couple of graduation parties - one for a friend who graduated high school and one for a cousin who graduated college.

*i got to spend one-on-one time with one of my kids...rocking in a rocking chair...outside...in the peace and quiet...all alone...just us two... - that may not sound like a big deal, but it's a huge deal!

*relaxing & visiting with good friends on a patio.

*playing in in the sprinkler!
*setting up a tadpole habitat for the kiddos.

*planting flowers.

...just living life - being happy and having fun!

One of the secrets to a happy life is continuous small treats.

-Iris Murdoc

the rocking chair, makayla in her flower girl dress, celebrating graduations, a preschool diploma...these are my small treats.