3 year old preschool

Best teachers ever!

Yesterday was the last day of preschool. I have to admit, I was pretty emotional. I hope that I always remember Ms. Lisa and Ms. Elizabeth. I know that they are doing exactly what God put them on Earth to do- teach young children. I couldn't have asked for better, more loving, more encouraging, more nurturing teachers. They were so good with Kaitlyn and I really think they helped her start to come out of her shell. She will still play by herself a good bit but I also see her really participating in activities that I wouldn't have expected her to. She sings songs, she is beginning to talk to strangers, and she is building some confidence in herself. Honestly, what I really wanted was for her to be more confident- not more outgoing. Her teacher's have also nurtured her artistic ability. She is a pretty good at drawing and really likes to paint. She can write her name very well. I guess all of those cheesy art projects are paying off! She had lots of friends this year- boys and girls- and lots of things she liked to do in school. She came home every day and told me that she played Fire Dogs with Brady and Brady wouldn't let her be the fireman. Thats okay, she really likes acting like a dog. Not amused.

I forgot that she also had her dance recital. She did great!!! She was a little confused on where to stand and she was in the wrong place but for this dance she starts out on the back right and then ends up in back second from the left. You can watch it here.

Hair

Here are some pictures of Kylie's crazy hair. The only reason I posted these was to show you her hair!!!

Ode to Kylie

Kylie turned two! Her birthday came and went and I didn't get around to really giving her a proper birthday post. I think I've said before, she is the child that I never knew I would want. If I was to describe her personality in one word, I would say, her hair. It's wild and unruly, I can never get it to cooperate. If I need it to look good it's a total mess but when it doesn't matter it's perfect. Many people would love to have those perfect highlights and ringlets.
Here are some things that Kylie loves: saying bye, riding in Kaitlyn's carseat, messing with Kaitlyn's stuff, monkeys, funny expressions with her eyes, calling animals by the sound they make, sparkly shoes and flip flops, nigh-nigh, singing, Belle, her family.
It's funny because people always say, "she's going to be your tom-boy." But that really couldn't be further from the truth. She is very spirited and much more outgoing than Kaitlyn but she doesn't like to be dirty or wet. She is afraid of bugs, animals, and mud. She does have an arm on her but I think that is a self-defense mechanism- like she needs to throw K's toy as far as possible. My step-dad always says he can't wait to take her fishing but if he's going to take someone fishing, it ought to be the kid that's over digging up the worms.
I find it amazing that I have two equally incredible children but they are both so different. Kaitlyn is just like me. She talks, walks, and dresses like me. She has lots of friends, a couple close ones but not really a best friend. She wants to like many different things but she isn't totally focused on anything. She has John's laser focus (when she wants too - like John), and his artistic ability. Kylie, on the other hand is the mailman's kid, she is spirited and outgoing where John and I are pretty chill and reserved. She is short, where we are above average/tall. And girlfriend has a TEMPER!
So all this begs the question, what about number 3? Honestly, I can't imagine never being pregnant again, never nursing another baby, never holding a sleeping angel in my arms but I also don't know where this baby would fit in. Would it be a boy? That would be odd. Would it be a girl? Oh geez. Would Ky try to throw it like she does with her dolls? It's pretty hard to go away on vacation and expect our parents to watch THREE kids. All I can say is that, there were two fleeting moments in time where I thought I may want a baby and I had both of those babies approximately 40 weeks later. Since then there may have been a passing thought to having number 3 but so far (so good) it's not happening. I guess we'll just put it in His hands.

Easter

We had a beautiful Easter this year. It was also our 7 year anniversary but it was mostly Easter. The girls woke up and were so excited to see that the Easter bunny ate her carrots. They got a little bit of goodies in their baskets and had an Easter egg hunt. We then went to church and spent the afternoon with my mom, grandma, and the rest of the family. It was a very fun and relaxing day. While we were at church, I had to, of course, leave with Kylie, and I heard some of the church ladies gossiping. Among their gossip I found out that overnight, someone had vandalized, our new statue of Jesus! They put this statue in in March. I remember because the preschoolers, including Kaitlyn got to watch the installation. It was a pretty cool event for the kids to watch and even Kylie will wave to the statue every day getting into carpool. I wasn't quite sure what to expect so I told John that I wanted to walk around and see what happened. It really couldn't have been much worse. The seven foot marble statue was covered in hot pink spray paint. They painted a pentagram on his heard and testicles. They also painted his eyes and hands. I have no idea what these people were trying to prove my desecrating a statue of Jesus on Christmas morning but our church was truly blessed that they failed. It rained shortly after they painted it which kept the paint from sinking in the marble so a local company volunteered their time to fix it. We had nine masses filled to the rim, celebrating the resurrection of our savior. The church has had an out pouring of support of those Catholic and not. When I dropped Kaitlyn off this morning, I noticed that the statue was glimmering, ready to welcome all those who come to worship in his name. I don't know how anyone could see that statue and not cry at the hatefulness. I know that I couldn't. Even a four year old couldn't understand what had happened!
Here is a segment from our local news that shows the statue but they had to white out most of the graffiti because it was too graphic for tv.

Pictures

Four!!

Four years and a few weeks ago, my little girl was born. She came into the world curious and full of life, and as sweet anyone you'll ever meet. She is still that way today. She loves EVERYTHING, but especially girly things, playdates, the icing from a cupcake, bugs, frogs, movies, collecting and gathering, and art projects. She is a good problem solver, artist, and friend. If you touch her heart, she'll never forget.

She had a huge birthday party at our neighborhood playground. Lots of friends from the neighborhood and school came and the family came over after for pizza. I made 50 unnaturally hot pink and purple cupcakes. I did a decent job, and saved lots of $$$ so that was good. It was a Rapunzel theme and she got lots of fun presents, Tangled the movie, a Rapunzel dress, Rapunzel hair, Rapunzel doll, Rapunzel vanity, and lots of other fun things. And she is already talking about her 5th birthday. Nnnnoooooooooooo!!!!

Sleepy-song

Even as a tiny baby, Kylie would sing herself to sleep. In the car, your arms, her bed, you could always tell when she was about to fall asleep. Its always the same song, I couldn't hum it but I know it immedietly. But as she's gotten older the sleepy songs are fewer and fewer. Yesterday I took her up for her nap and she started singing to me so I sat in the chair and just rocked her for a few minutes. I think she knew she was singing to me. I wish I could take that moment in time and capture it forever. I hope that isn't the last sleepy song I'll ever here.

She has always been such a sweet sleeper. Since she was so tiny when she was born (6 lbs, full term) she was swaddled in a bassinet next to our bed. When she was old enough, we have a blue knit blanket that a friend of my grandma's made for her (Kaitlyn has one too) that she calls "nigh-nigh" If anything ever happened to nigh-nigh I'm sure it would be the end of the world as we know it. Partly because its irreplaceable and also because so many of the sweet things she does involve nigh-nigh.