Life Delicious

Old Phone Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:23:00 +0000

So getting photos off of my old phone was such a difficult task, I rarely did it. I took them from time to time, but they just sat on my phone, providing a slide show of entertainment for the kids when they needed something to pass the time. Upon finally upgrading to a smart phone, it became necessary to get these babies off the old phone and on the computer for good. Thanks to Andrew's unrelenting patience, I am able to share a few of my favorites here. These are not in order, but here they are... a few of the sweet moments caught on a less-than-perfect phone camera.

Rhyme time bubbles with a very little Keeksie.
Donuts for Dads day at preschool for Hailey meant a trip to the donut shop for the two of us as well.
Sweet sisters on a beautiful afternoon. This one is my favorite.
Silly moment at the playground in our old neighborhood. They are "making ice cream."
Sitting by the fountain.
A lunch visit with Great Grandma while Hailey was at camp.

Oh the cute! She loved her babies.
Pullen boat ride. Looks like they were the only ones.
Maybe her first carousel ride?
Our usual afternoon nap spot. I super-really-totally miss this.
Play-doh!
A birthday visit to Krispy Kreme. Maybe when she turned four?
First day of preschool. Three years old.
A favorite preschool craft, and a request for a picture.
Arrival at Disney World, waiting for our room to be ready.
New boots. Keelyn is wearing these today in fact, so it must have been about two years ago.
A moment on our normal walk home from Kindergarten. It's almost two miles each way, so Keelyn usually rides in a stroller, and Hailey dances and sings the entire way home. Precious.
Story time with the other Great Grandma. Whoa this is an old picture. I know from her expression and pointing, Keelyn is saying "Dis?"
Hailey on the fake ice at a nearby mall.
After taking Uncle Cooper to the airport for China. She wore her Bolivia shirt just for him.
And that's it for now. I have a whole bunch of pictures from Andrew's old phone as well to share at some point. For now, Happy Thursday!

In Ohio at Grandma's for New Years

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +0000

We had such a great visit. It was the first time in a while that we could get this big group together, and so much fun.

Can't you just tell by the look on her face? Good morning!
What were we thinking going to the playground in late December in Ohio? Grandma and Keeks cuddled up instead of playing.
Keelyn and Caddis, the closest little bit they have to a cousin, enjoying some floor time. I believe they are both sitting in "W's"...or as Keelyn once told me, "I call this my double." Must be genetic.
Hailey taking care of the little ones.
Cheese.
More Christmas presents!

Grandma and her three girls, plus an extra generation thrown in for good measure.
Our entire family, wearing our Emergency Clown Noses, and also decorated in many small stickers provided by the many small kiddos. We got so caught up in getting this picture, it never occurred to us to take a photo of the whole clan without the joke.

By New Year's Eve, everyone had left except for us. We enjoyed our traditional fondue dinner with Grandma and Nana.
The girls thought it would be fun to get a photo with everyone wearing head bands. So, officially, the best two group shots of the week include tacky accessories.
Except this one...taken at about 11pm. The kids managed to stay awake until 11:45, but didn't quite catch the ball drop. Maybe next year.
Still, it was an awesome, quiet, family time and I just love them.

Loving our Home

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:51:00 +0000

In an interest of sticking to my guns on making 2012 the Year of Organization, I decided to get a little more formal about all the things we each do around the house. The kids are very helpful, and usually good about tidying up when we ask, or helping with laundry and such if they are around as it happens. They know to make their beds each morning and bring their dishes to the counter after meals. But they are old enough (especially Hailey) where it has become obvious that it would be beneficial to have these things be their own responsibility...to take them on without having to be nagged about it, and to see the benefits of doing so regularly.

Now I know it's just semantics, but I have always had an issue with the word "chore." It sounds like something no one wants to do. Like it's a difficult task and a pain in the you-know-what. So when we decided it was finally time to get about organizing the jobs we take on in our home, it was really important to me to come up with a fun way to keep track of things, and a loving way to talk about what's to be done. I know it's a grown-up concept and the girls don't fully grasp it now, but I want them to understand they are making contributions to our family not for allowance, or because I said so, but because it is a way to show love for one another, and to give thanks for all the blessings we have.

I realize that might sound too pretty and unrealistic. Obviously we can't do this every day. Most of the time, the laundry keeps coming, and I keep wondering if it will ever stop. And most of the time, I am so rushed to clean a bathroom smeared with sparkly blue toothpaste in between carpool lines that I barely take a breath. But some days, I am able to focus on how much I am blessed with this place to clean, a family to clean it for, and a body to do it with, and that is what I want to emphasize for them. Or try anyway.

That, and I want it to be fun. So the kids helped think of some jobs they enjoy doing. For instance, Keelyn loves to swiffer the floors. Hailey loves to dust (and is oh-so precise about it). And they both love to just be helpful with projects around the house as Mommy's helper or Daddy's helper. Then, I got to work, starting with some ideas from Pinterest and a trip to the craft store. I didn't follow any one concept to a tee, but I took a few ideas that worked for our needs, and combined and tweaked them a bit. This was a low-cost project, using a lot of supplies from our own stash, plus a few magnetic dry-erase boards.
I made door hangers for their morning routines. Keelyn can't read most of this yet, but she's beginning to recognize what each step says, and of course she has Hailey to help her. As they complete a step, they can move the clothes pin down to the next. These items seem obvious, but my girls get so easily distracted in the mornings. What should take 15 minutes, stretches easily into an hour, and this just helps keep them focused. They think it's really fun, though we may still need to take it a step further and make it a timed game. I'm thinking of selecting a few good morning songs and playing them with the idea that all items have to be completed before the music ends.
Then, the family contributions. Though I love that term so much more than chores, it still seemed too sterile to me, so I came up with the words Love our Family Home. I feel like that captures the act for me the way I want to portray it...and we've talked about how that is what we are doing when we help out around the house. The kids can make that connection...we take care of our things, because we love our family and our home. So I added a family calendar to the wall here as well. I am already guilty of forgetting to send in Guess and Tell items with Hailey on Fridays, and we needed a central place to mark things going on with the kids. This way they can see what's going on too.
This is in our mud room, by the way. Not sure I ever posted this project. When we bought our house, there was this odd room that had been added into the garage space. If I were going to the trouble to add a room, I'd have made it slightly larger, and run electricity to it, but we found some furniture that works, and rigged up a lamp, and it's the perfect place for the kids to dump their things and take off their shoes. And now, to track what's going on in their days.
I made each girl her own board with daily to-do's, and created a magnet for each job item...two magnets for jobs they would share on a given day, like clean the play room. I also made a few magnets with items like Game Night, and Movie Day, just to give them a surprise once in a while. As they complete a job, they move the magnet across to the "done" column. I can assign as needed to compliment my own cleaning schedule (which is posted at the bottom of the family calendar by day) and to reflect what else they may have going on in a particular week.
And while I'm sharing projects, why not the fireplace? This was the "one remaining item" that had to be completed once we moved in. As Andrew says, our house is still being built, and the "remaining items" are endless. The fireplace was a mess, and so was the adventure we had finding someone to repair it properly for less than a small fortune. But it all worked out, and we managed to find the perfect screen to compliment it. So we now enjoy a safe, warm fireplace, any time we want. I guess we can't take any real credit for the work in this project, except for the hours upon hours of time we spent researching and talking on the phone about this before getting it taken care of. I know way more than any person ever needs to know about fireplaces!
And, my favorite recent project, family pictures. Some of these were displayed in some fashion at some point in our old house, although not all. And I just hadn't figured out where to put anything or how to get it together since we moved. There are still tons of pictures that need walls to call home. It's a slow process for me...one thing at a time. Seriously, I left the linen closets a mess all the way until one day last week, when I finally decided to devote the better part of a day to organizing them. I just can't seem to get this moving in thing together any faster. Anyway, I finally did this, including even some shots from our most recent family portraits. The family room finally feels like it should. And a tip. They kept shifting and it was driving me crazy to not have them perfectly plum and lined up. I found a new product made by Scotch that is double-stick and removable. Cut a little square for the bottom corners of each frame, and voila! Nothing moves.
Oh, and across from that picture wall, curtains! I can't believe it, but I actually found curtains in a store and bought them already made and hung them on the window all in one day. I had all kinds of fabric swatches sitting on the counter for a good month before, and when I saw these, I realized how much I'd been hoping to find something I didn't have to add to my project list for once. Up and done, no sewing required.
We also finally got the kitchen walls painted. Remember all the drywall and peeling wallpaper? This project required a nice heavy steamer in the end, but we got it all down, sanded the walls, primed them, spackled the entire surface, re-caulked, sanded again, and painted. It was a huge ordeal, and quite messy, but we love it. Some day I might notice how badly the shoe moulding needs to be painted, but for now, my eyes go up.
And across the room from that lovely finished wall? A call for the sewing machine, after all. Tell me, what do you think of this fabric remnant I found? I'm still undecided. Also, stripes better vertical or horizontal? I dunno. Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse for another trip to the fabric store.
And we'll end here. I have no idea what they are talking about, but it must be very surprising. Or gossipy. Or frightful. Love them.

Catching up to 2012 in a hodge podge kind of way.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:08:00 +0000

First, some pictures I want to share:

I found this while we were visiting my grandma in Ohio for New Year's. Even if you know Keelyn well, or perhaps moreso if you do, you might have to look twice at this photo of ME from childhood. Everywhere we go, ever since she was about a year old, people tell me how much she looks like me. It's like people are so shocked by the likeness, that they will mention it just in passing at the grocery store. Her personality and mannerisms are completely mine too, which means I have a small version of me at my side at all times. Sometimes it's weird. Anyway, some photos of her to compare just for fun. She makes this expression all the time, but I can't find a photo of it exactly.

And big news in Hailey's world. I told her last week she really needed a trim. Her hair was getting so tangled and the ends were tattered...it had been a year, after all. So, she didn't want a trim, she wanted a cut. A drastic one, especially for a kiddo who's always had long hair, ever since it grew that way. I was surprised, because she's complimented on it all the time, and she loves having it braided and such. So she went with me to my girl at the real salon, and we both got a cut. In the past, I've always cut her hair, so this was her first "real" hair cut. It's just gotten too thick for me to cut it nicely, especially if we're going to keep it short. Anyway, I guess she actually got her first, and second hair cut simultaneously. Stephanie and I were convinced she wasn't realizing how dramatic "above the shoulders" would be, so we talked her into keeping it past them by a couple inches. The whole mop was cut, it looked great, and Hailey said that no, this was not short enough. So, round two left her with much shorter hair. I have no idea how much was cut in the end, but it was a lot, and she looks absolutely precious. Andrew thinks she looks two years older. I think she looks like her baby self, like she was meant to look, because I see all those cute little expressions she's had since she first became animated as a tiny tot. I love it. So does she.

So, after that, a few words. First, Happy New Year!

Today's kind of the first day we've had a chance to breathe in about a month, and it's cold and rainy and just about as perfect a day for breathing as I could have asked for. I am washing clothes, cleaning closets, loading wonderful holiday photos, and spending time on the floor in a tent with Keelyn, imagining what Hailey might be doing right at this moment in school. And then in this moment. And then, what about this moment? What do you think she could be doing right now, Mommy?

So, while pictures are loading and life is carrying on, I thought I'd take a moment to recognize that yet another whole entire year full of life has passed by. It was a great year, in which we sold our house, moved to a new one, started new school journeys for both of the little bits, and found many new ways to take on responsibilities and keep ourselves busy beyond the obvious running a home and a business. It's been great, and if we have another year just like it (all in one house this time of course), I will be thrilled. There were so many moments of joy, and I just adore my family of four.

Thoughts for 2012 include a whole huge totally unrealistic list of things we need to get done (or do ourselves) to the house. Organizing closets that have been all caddywhompus since we moved in (whoo-hoo, already on it), organizing life...as in new household contributions among all...as in cubbies in places where they are needed...as in keeping better calendars and not losing track of the to-do's. Andrew and I both got iphone's which is already helping with this immensely. I have completely forgotten in a matter of a few weeks, how I lived my life before this gadget was in my pocket.

But the biggest, most realistic, and most important goal for me in 2012 is to read with my kids more. I know it sounds simple, but it's slipped away some as we ventured into new territory with busy school schedules and running around, and I'm just gonna have to set it straight. It's one of our favorite things to do together. In fact, Hailey can sit right down and read to us these days, which means there's no excuse for skipping a book, even if Mama is exhausted. Anyway, it's important, and it's been pushed aside even at bed time lately...so we're fixing that. I mean, it's not like we go days without reading, but I have high expectations for how much time gets put into the words on a page in our house, and we have fallen short. Of course, things like more snuggles and quiet time with family come with it, and those are great things to add more of to a new year as well.

And now, just for fun, a few little tidbits from the tidbits. It's quite possible no one else will appreciate these stories, but they were adorable, and I don't want to forget.

First of all, let me explain that Keelyn has absolutely no control over the volume of her voice whatsoever. She is always excited, and she is always loud. So we went to see a live nativity a few weeks before Christmas at a nearby church. We stood there, both of the kids kind of in awe. It was peaceful and sweet and they loved it. And as we were walking away from the crowd, Keelyn shouted at the top of her lungs to me, "Mommy, so is that really Jesus, or what?" We were laughing so hard, I'm not sure she ever got an answer.

And in Hailey's case, the kid never does anything wrong. Well, not at school anyway. She follows every rule like her life depends on it. So apparently the first day after break, a lot of the kids were saying "mean words and bad things" and her teacher decided they should all sit in a circle, say one bad thing and get it out of their systems so they could go on with the day. So we asked Hailey, as she's telling the story, what friends were saying. It was things like "potty words" and the "Batman smells" version of Jingle Bells. And I asked, "So, what was your bad thing on your turn?" To which she gave me a funny look, paused for a moment, and said, "Well I didn't have any bad words. I just couldn't think of one when I tried. So Ms. Ellis helped me think of one, but I didn't say it. My other friends just did theirs."

I love both of those stories because they completely illustrate the girls' personalities right now. Can't wait to see how they grow this year!

Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:37:00 +0000

So I left off a few days ago with sleeping babes on Christmas Eve, and then we back tracked a bit through the month. Now, here we are, Christmas morning! Believe it or not, the kids made it until 8:00am. Kind of. Technically Keelyn woke up at 6ish, but when told she could not wake Hailey up yet, she fell back asleep for a while. What a treat for the rest of us. The night before, Keelyn had been awake, staring at Andrew and me, and asking us to play from 12:30am until 4:30am, not sleeping a wink. She just couldn't handle all the excitement. She was bursting. Anyway, 8:00am, heading down to see if Santa found our new house.
Just as they'd asked, a ballerina doll and a basket of books from the Big Man.
Hailey's basket even included a hand-written note from Santa, which she is treasuring, but I like how not only did she ask for a basket of books, but when making a selection for this photo, she chose the one entitled, I Love School. The kid just can't get enough of the learning stuff.
Santa brought the animals gifts this year as well. See the proud puppy after two-minute destruction.
Once we opened stockings and marveled at Santa's gifts, we ate breakfast, cleaned up, and headed to a great church service. The kids were even invited to each bring one toy for a blessing. It was a quiet service, so they each got a turn to share their toy and tell why they liked it. The kids loved this.
Then we ate some lunch, and sat down to open family presents.
The girls first opened their gifts to each other. It is so heart-warming to see them jumping up and down to give a gift. Hailey picked out a robe for Keelyn just like hers, which Keeks has asked to borrow on a number of occasions. A few days before Christmas, Keelyn asked to borrow it, and Hailey responded, "Well Keelyn, I can't really talk to you about this because it's a surprise, but why don't you just wait and see what I got you for Christmas, and then you might not need to borrow it any more." You know, she was being sneaky. Of course, this went right over Keelyn's head, and she squealed with delighted surprise when she opened her gift. I love how they don't presume anything, so each new thing that comes along brings with it truly innocent glee. Keelyn got Hailey a ceramic painting kit, and a book she knew Hailey had admired in her classroom at school. Hailey thought it was so cool that Keelyn had noticed...as did I.
Then other gifting ensued. Keelyn's reaction to the Clifford book was priceless. You'd have thought she'd won the lottery as she literally jumped up and down screaming at the top of her lungs.
And Hailey swears that every gift she got is her favorite, as she smiled on through the whole thing.

You can see who was getting in on the action though. Keelyn helped open nearly every gift.

Then the girls enjoyed some time to play, first up, with Legos from Grammi.
Before long, they were snuggled in their matching robes.
And after dinner and a bath, a bit more gaming before bed.
The next morning, my dad and crew came over for breakfast, snuggle time, and our Christmas celebration.

Lots more fun to be had, and ropes to destroy.
What a wonderful Christmas, as it seems every year. It really does come and go faster each year, and I'm just trying to enjoy these few more days of having all of us together at a slow pace before real life kicks in again next week. The girls are spending most hours of the day in their pajamas, and all things normal are on hold for a bit.

I hope you had a fabulous holiday as well, and that 2012 holds bright times ahead for us all. Thanks for reading, and see you next year!

Dance Observations

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:10:00 +0000

Both girls had observation time for their dance classes in the final week before break. They still just adore their teacher, and have a blast each week. For Keelyn, this fell in the afternoon of the same day as her Christmas Pageant, and once again, she just enjoyed being the star of the show.

Big school stuff.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:25:00 +0000

The last full week of school, Hailey got the most exciting backpack she'd ever opened. Inside, she found the contents needed to prepare to be Student of the Week! You can tell she was excited.
She wasted no time filling out, coloring, answering, gluing, and practicing what she wanted to say.

On the following Monday, she got to take in her masterpiece and share it with her class, and be the Special Helper all week long (which, according to her teacher, she is anyway because she's so eager to help all the time, but the title is what counts). Because the next week was short, her poster stayed up an extra few days. Icing on the cake folks, these things are not to be taken lightly.

She also thoroughly enjoyed the final week of school because during centers time, they had "Holiday Workshop" during which, her fearless teacher helped each child create gifts for their family for Christmas morning, and even to wrap them. Hailey passed them out to us as soon as she saw her gifts from Santa...she couldn't wait.

Obviously Keelyn liked this one.

And believe it or not, this is not all of them. One crafty kid who just adores that crafty teacher. And for me, who misses her immensely still when she's gone, it's so sweet to have a part of what she does and to see how much she enjoys it.

Where are the shepherds?

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Keelyn's turn to be a shepherd! This is the same roll Hailey had a couple years ago...same program, same songs, same costumes. Keelyn was SO excited for that morning, and couldn't wait for everyone to come hear her sing. She'd talked about it constantly for the week prior. But when I asked her how it was going to be, she said, "Mommy, I do not want to talk about this today." So I wasn't sure what to expect. Lucky for us, she brought her smile, and despite telling me afterwards that she felt a little nervous, she belted those songs out and danced like it was a paying gig. I'll get to posting video at some point soon, but for now, here are a few photos.

Here she is as she walks in and spots lots of moms and dads she knows in the audience.
And singing proudly.
Words to her favorite of all the songs...There's something deep inside me. (Shhh.) Can't keep quiet. (Shhh.) God wants me to tell it. (Shhh.) Jesus Christ is born, Jesus Christ is born!

Hailey got to miss school that morning to come watch her little sister. It was such a treat for both of them, and we really loved being able to have a family morning. Hailey got to get in some snuggles with her teacher from when she was three, who is Keelyn's teacher now.

And, my very favorite. Keelyn raises the roof. Not sure if she's ahead or behind, but this photo makes me chuckle. Pretty sure everyone else is looking for the shepherds.
She was such a ham, smiling and winking at the video camera and all. We laughed for the full half hour, and I was so proud of her. What a difference from a few months ago when she could hardly walk through those doors.

All that was before Christmas, mostly, the entire month of December, with more to come.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:30:00 +0000

In pictures of course, because that's all that can happen when there's a whole month of back log. With more to come. Every day through the end of the month.

So let's get started. We saw Santa again. Keelyn didn't look again. Hailey sat on his lap!
Then we went for a sleigh ride.
And sang goofy songs on Nana's porch.
And made lots and lots of cookies.

I think Keelyn's expression in this one is hilarious.

I love these two photos. So sweet and happy.

We had a birthday party for Jesus at church, and made crafts to take to local nursing homes where we delivered them to residents and sang Christmas carols through the halls. My heart was leaping out of my chest with happiness for Hailey, as she bravely visited each resident and gave them our gifts with a smile and a "Merry Christmas." She was leading the way for all the kids, and was really moved by this experience. It was awesome, and I know she made a few people's day. It was like all of her reserved tendencies went away in the face of doing something great...which was great.
We went to Disney on Ice again this year...year four. The princess year. Hailey loved it, but Keelyn was on a whole different planet of happiness. She was floating.

There she is waving to Belle, who apparently waved right back to her.
And I love this of her holding her gown, concentration tongue out, as she walks up the stairs after such a special night.

Hailey and I went with our friends Megan and Cheryl to the Nutcracker Ballet. Hailey had learned all about it at school, and it was so fun for her to see the real thing and follow the story. She loved every bit of it.
Elfie wrecked some cars.
Keelyn had her end of year class party.
And then she thoroughly enjoyed an extended break and some much needed down time with Mommy and all of her toys...pictured here teaching "Doggy School."
Hailey had her end of year class party, and Keelyn got to participate. It's hysterical to see Keelyn interact with Hailey's friends at school. They all shower her with attention, and she really comes out of her shell. She participates in centers, talks to all of them, tells them stories, and enjoys being a part of it. Hailey thinks it's so cool to show her around, and they both have a blast.
Elfie rode a reindeer.
We went to my cousin's house to start off family Christmas celebrations. There were more people, but I took far too few photos. Regardless, it was a fun night with lots of catching up and laughter.
We had our annual Christmas gathering at my friend Tara's house, with her four kids, our friend Jaclyn and her two kids, and this year, Tara's sister Leah and her daughter were able to join us. Good times for all...wouldn't be Christmas without some sweet time together.
We managed a few crafts, despite my frustration with Hailey's limited time off from school for such things she enjoys so much. This is a Pinterest idea. Daddy's hands start at the bottom, and we go biggest to smallest to the top. I think it's cute. The kids loved making it.
Lemajoon at my Dad and Wendy's house on the 24th to celebrate what would have been my Grandma's 94th birthday. Hailey always wants to help with this. I'm still missing her.
Then church for the Christmas Eve family service.
And to Jaclyn's for dinner after. Yet again, there were many more people there, and I took far too few photos. But the girls had a ball making the crafts that were there for them, and we ate some delicious food and enjoyed good company.
Then it was home for pictures in our pretty dresses.

And into this year's Christmas jammies, which just so happened to include extras for Emma and Katie.
And the "sleepover," which has so far extended each night since. Sometimes I think they'd just rather have one bedroom, or at least a big enough bed for both of them in Hailey's room so they could sleep together. Visions of sugarplums, and singing Silent Night. They were so excited, especially Keelyn, who really just could not wait for Santa one more day if she'd had to.
And, of course...to be continued. I'm working on a few more detailed posts of some of our other events over the month, and I'll get to the pictures from Christmas soon. We had lots of parties to go to and fun stuff each day really, but alas, you might stop reading if I included it all (assuming you haven't already). Anyway, check back every day until 2012!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:01:00 +0000

Long Awaited Arrival

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:54:00 +0000

And just in time for Christmas.

The cross stands where there was once a tree, the new reception area to the right, adjoining hallways that once could not be reached without a walk outside. The steps that used to be out are in, and there is now an elevator to allow those who need it a way up. New bathrooms and offices have been added as well, making life a lot more comfortable for our congregation, and much easier to navigate for visitors.
The ceiling and floors were completely redone, as well as the pulpit and choir loft. Old pews were recovered, new, more efficient glass installed in the windows, new heating and air, new lights, new drop-down screens, and on and on. It's fabulous. The center of the cross at the altar was made from the wood in the tree cut down at our old front steps. Really no detail was overlooked.
The kids lead a processional with ribbons and the bells played with the choir for their grand entrance into this new space...which will once be theirs to care for.

I think I began crying upon walking in with the little ones, and carried right on through the two hour service.
Keelyn could not wait for the food after. So exciting. New windows are great and all, but really, food at church...that's where it's at.

What a glorious, happy, tearful day. For nine long months our congregation met in our gym, leaving the sanctuary for a much needed renovation and small (but huge for us) addition. This church, once close to closing it's doors a mere 6 years ago, has grown by leaps and bounds, doing more work for the community during the time we were meeting in that old gym in equal need of a face lift, than in the previous year of normalcy. It's been awesome. And now, knowing the strength of our growing congregation no matter our location, we can finally enjoy this new space thanks to lots of hard work and extra giving, and know we can truly welcome all who come. What a blessing to be a part of it, and to be able to serve in such a place, with such a people.

Family Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:18:00 +0000

A while ago, my friend Sara did some family photos for us. I was waiting to post them until our Christmas cards went out, and lo and behold, I mailed them! So the three here are the ones we chose to include...our very favorites of the girls. To see a few more of the whole family, visit Sara's photography blog here. Thanks again Sara!

Halls decked. Check.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:04:00 +0000

Santa Train

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:36:00 +0000

Lights, a train ride, crafts, and Santa. Doesn't get much more fun.
Keelyn could not pull me along fast enough as we walked through the lights, pointing out each one as if she'd never seen anything like it before.

Keelyn was a bit shy when The Big Man actually reached our car for a visit, but it was very important to her that he learned what it is she wants this year. She saw him coming, and at the top of her lungs in a panic, she looked at Andrew and said, "Wait, what do I want for Christmas, Daddy?" So cute. She'd only spent the entire day rehearsing and reminding me. In the end, Daddy had to relay the message...she wants a ballerina music box doll "just like Hailey's."
Hailey talked to him without any trouble. It was tough to get a good picture because she was on my lap, but she was really excited to see him, and she is 100% sure that was the real Santa. That logic is new to her this year...the thought that he can't be everywhere at once, and there must be some helpers sitting in at the malls from time to time. The important thing is, the real one knows she wants a basket of books this year, and she's assuming he'll know her reading level, because, well, he's Santa.
Then, they got their faces painted, and insisted we call them Big and Little Rudolph.
They also made ornaments for the tree and reindeer treats to leave outside on Christmas Eve.
They topped the night off with a warm hot chocolate and a candy cane, which, to my knowledge, was also passed out by one of Santa's real elves.
Such fun for the four of us to do something magical and all about kids. The next morning they woke up to a candy cane trail leading to Elfie, and the Christmas season has pretty much been in full swing since.

P. S. - Does it not occur to anyone that there is a significant difference in size between Elfie (our Elf on a Shelf) and the Real Elf passing out candy canes?

P. P. S. - Also, Elfie is more real this year than ever. Keelyn won't even go in the room with him without someone tagging along. She draws him pictures, and checks on him to make sure he's having a good day. He's totally not a stuffed toy y'all.

P. S. S. S. - Hailey is slightly concerned that his eyes always look in one direction.

Psst...Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Weekend Festivities

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:23:00 +0000

Running Deer.
Riding Dog.
Early Christmas.

Pretty Smile.
Flying Wii.
Happy Girls.
Messy Crafts.
Wolfie Game.
Decking Halls.
Tuckered Out.
Proud Elf.
Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had a nice trip, and a nice weekend at home. Pepper got into some wild mushrooms on Wednesday, making for a long night and Thanksgiving morning. She was extremely sick, and we added thankfulness for her continued life to our list of thanks. Despite that hiccup, we all had a great time visiting with Andrew's family, and then lots of fun at home with football and decorations. Our Christmas celebrations have already begun...here's to lots to blog about!

Daughters, who have a sister.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:01:00 +0000

That is what I'm thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!

And, she is fine!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:46:00 +0000

It would be more fitting for me to have a picture of her on her way to school, but this one is just so darn cute. The day has finally come y'all. Keelyn's hair can all go up in one teensy pony tail, just like the rest of her ballet friends. Monumental occasion. She could hardly contain herself.

Also monumental, the progress we've had at preschool since I last wrote about our worries. Keelyn could not be doing more fabulously than she is. She looks forward to going, never goes to bed with negative anticipation, and always has fun. Her tone has changed at pick-up each day, as she can't wait to share the best moments of her day with me, and her separation anxiety that had spiked even with routine things like Andrew leaving for work, has dissipated. It's been a complete change, and we are so, so grateful.

Sure, there are still days when she checks to see if maybe she should just stay home and be with Mommy, and there are days when she suggests maybe I should walk her in for an extra hug. But most days, she approaches with cautious enthusiasm, and it's smooth sailing.

So what did we do to accomplish this, you might ask? First of all, after consulting with her teacher, I decided to let her take whatever in the world she possibly could want to take to school with her. This means every single morning she carefully packs her backpack, to the point of it sometimes being too heavy for her to actually wear on her back. She packs lovies, books, toys, jewelry, you name it. Emmit has his very own tiny front pocket, and each morning when she gets into her classroom, she jams him in there and zips him up so he can chill in the cubbie.

Second of all, we carpool, no questions asked. There are occasional mornings when a teacher slightly less familiar than the handful of favorites happens upon our car, and those are still a little tough for her, but she does it, and usually her teacher is just around the corner and scoops her up if she needs reassurance in that case. Ultimately though, it is much less stressful for her heart to hop out of the car in the arms of a teacher and wave goodbye to me, than it was for her to watch me walk away and "leave her" at school when I was walking her in.

Third, we are focusing on the things she loves. Music, chapel, and Spanish are her very favorites. She keeps up with her schedule and her teacher is great about telling her what fun craft she can look forward to the next day. She has learned which days she has preschool and which days she does not, and on the days she goes, she knows what to expect. Simple, but huge.

And last, but possibly most important, Keelyn made a very special friend at school a few weeks ago, and I'm not kidding you, she goes happily some days simply because she knows she'll get to see Chloe. Chloe is in a different class, and they only see one another on the playground. Instantly, the playground went from the most dreaded 20 minutes of the day...reason enough to cry at night and not want to go at all, forsaking all other fun had in the remaining 3 hours because that 20 minutes was so intimidating...to the highlight of her day, every day. Chloe has no idea, but she saved my little girl.

And of course none of this would ever work without the unending support of her teachers. I'm talking about tons of back and forth emails and quick hall chats, on top of some very helpful phone calls with me. And also the complete dedication to Keelyn's happiness and individuality when she's in their care. Including, but not limited to, introducing her to Chloe.

So that's a lot of detail, but I'm just so proud of Keelyn and the progress she's made, and I'm so thankful that she is finally able to enjoy this wonderful independent experience so that she may grow on her own a little. I can already see the new buds of confidence and creativity that were just waiting to bloom and overcome. She's awesome.

A Long Awaited Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:40:00 +0000

It has literally been years since we've been able to work out a longer-than-couple-hours visit with our friends Jen, Fred, and Ellie (and baby on the way!). We were so excited when they were able to spend an entire 24 hours with us last weekend. We mostly just stuck around home the whole time, and it was fabulous. (Meanwhile, I cannot believe that I just used the words "last weekend" in a blog post, implying that I might actually be pulling this together in a timely fashion!)

It was a beautiful weekend. The girls had a blast from the second Ellie walked in the door. I feel like we barely saw them, as they were too busy pulling out every toy and craft in the house. It was awesome.

We love you guys. Thank you so much for sharing such a great time with us. Sending lots of prayers your way for a healthy new baby soon!

Operation Christmas Child 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:41:00 +0000

It's National Collection Week right now for Operation Christmas Child! (It runs from November 14th to November 21st.) This is such a fun and beautiful way to illustrate a giving heart to our children in a tangible way, allowing them to give to someone just like them. It's a way to teach that even children who live differently from us deserve the same love...and a way to teach that we have been given so much, and it's our privilege to pass it along when we can.

If you are interested in packing a shoebox for a child this year, there is still time... or if you are unable to get a box put together in the next few days but would like to support this organization, go to the Samaritan's Purse website and donate online. If you look to the bottom of the page, they have a really cool Christmas catalog where you can make purchases such as "Feed a hungry baby for a week," or "Teach a child to read and write." Though it saddens me to see such things written out so plainly, I love how it simplifies the thought of giving. How easy it is to give what is a small amount to us, that can go so far for someone else. Instructions and forms for shoe boxes are also on the site.

Anyway, for now, here are a few pictures of my girls packing this year...a project they could not wait to do, have been looking forward to, and feel so happy about. It's awesome to see them so excited to give and to understand this is about other people. Hearts overflowing all around.

Please pray with me that the little girls who receive these gifts will feel the love coming from my own. Happy packing!

Our other home.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 18:58:00 +0000

So it seems that between selling and buying a new house, starting kindergarten and preschool, and other important family and life happenings, the blog thing has slipped between the cracks. There is literally about six months worth of life that the old me might have blogged about in an entertaining, comical way, taking time to find a way to articulate the nuances that make life full around here. But apparently a new me has snuck in, putting the blog in the balance only about once a week, and finding pockets of time for other things...and it's been good for me to allow myself to read instead of write a bit, and to pull back a little in the interest of privacy.

However, the neurotic side of me sees a whole slew of pictures I've not posted and updates on my lovely children I've not written, and so there is a bit of catching up to do. Blog-nesting if you will...before the holidays creep in and the year is over. Expect a busy little blog for the next couple of weeks.

So I figure I'll share a few of the reasons I've been too busy to pay any particular attention to this little piece of Internet real-estate. In the interest of combining what could have been multiple posts, I'm covering a few church items all in one...items that began last January, as in eleven months ago.

I may have mentioned our church is in the midst of a huge renovation project. In fact, we'll be moved back in by Christmas, so I guess we're almost done with it all. One tiny little sliver of the project, or more like a little tag that got added on somewhere through, was to renovate the playground used by both preschool and church kids daily. It needed a face-lift in the fencing department, new structures to cover new transformers for the church reno, major drainage fixes, and of course new structures for play. This has been a long-awaited project, and we've finally tackled it. Our family was in with both feet from the word go. Andrew was a part of an awesome team coined the "Playground Committee," who came up with all of the plans for the playground, as well as ways to implement them. I teamed up with two wonderful women, Jill and Anna, and the preschool director, to facilitate some fund-raising. We started a change drive in January as a competition between the preschool classes. Hailey literally dumped all of her piggy banks out for this project with a huge smile on her face, and knows her contributions are there. Awesome. We hosted an Applebee's Flapjack Fundraiser in the spring. If you are ever in need of fundraising ideas, I recommend it. It was so fun...we, along with preschool and church staff, were servers and greeters, and anyone could come have pancakes in the morning to support the cause. It was a lot of fun, and Applebee's has it down like clockwork. At the end of the preschool year, we sold bricks to be placed on a patio in the entrance to our new playground, and many people purchased personalized bricks. And then the culmination of the fundraising project was an event called the "Race to the Park," for which kids got friends and family to sponsor them through our obstacle course, and enjoy a nice spring day running and playing with friends. It was a really fun event, and such a joy to work on all of it with a team of great friends. As a chair of the event, I have no pictures whatsoever. There were balloons, face painting, tons of obstacle booths, lots of cute little kids, bounce houses, etc. Oh - and each preschool class performed some songs. The event was the weekend before we moved, and it was equally fun and exhausting. Here's what we have to show for it:

Then, perhaps by way of the lull after, Anna, one of the organizers of that event needed a co-chair for the church's annual Fall Festival, and lured me in. I went in thinking it would be work, but not as much as it actually is. Thank goodness I had the omniscient co-chair who'd done it last year, or I'd have been totally lost. This was right around the time my grandma first became sick, and Anna was an amazing support to me during that time. In fact, I think she, and the required energy for the event, pulled me through a lot of the very difficult time. Again, very few pictures. There were 15 game booths, serious bounce houses, a variety of food, face painting, a mini dance class, a silent auction with over 100 items, a raffle, and my kids' favorite, ponies. Very few minutes to sit down or find a camera. Many, many, many hours of work for the weeks before and during. I'm pretty sure the weekend of the event I spent more hours at church than I did at home. But it was so fun, and it was a very successful event, raising money to support United Methodist missions including hunger, health care, and the education and care of children worldwide. It was a wonderful experience and I feel so blessed to be able to give that time, and also to have the support of such a great community and church. Next year, I will have a new co-chair, and I will be the one who's supposed to know what's going on. Stay tuned. I'll try to keep a camera with me.

And finally, as soon as the Fall Festival was over, Andrew swung into playground mode, and dedicated every weekend for about six weeks to actually doing the work to build the playground. He and a fellow church member organized and labored over each little detail of this playground, from sewage to slides to sod, until it was complete. They were so blessed to have the help of other members' time throughout the project as well, completing all of the work in time for our ribbon cutting event a couple weeks ago. They are still in the process of rebuilding "Toddler Town" but the big kids stuff is done, and the kids are loving it. Keelyn was so proud on the first day back to preschool once it was done, and her teachers took her class outside right away, so they could be the first to play on "the playground her daddy built." Pretty sweet.

And so, here we are. Those projects are complete, with new ones ahead, no doubt. It's hard to believe it's been almost a year, but so amazing to think of the transformations. Life has been richer because of it. And now you know where we've been hiding, and why I've been too tired / busy to blog some days / weeks / months. Consider yourself (partially) caught up.

Bonus Blessings

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:49:00 +0000

It was over a month ago when my Grandma Sally became ill with pneumonia, and moved from the hospital to hospice care. Unresponsive to antibiotics, her sudden onset of pneumonia seemed to just take over. Only weeks before, she was enjoying her daily routine of early rise for water aerobics, followed by a day of socializing and helping out in her retirement home.

Family rushed in once she was admitted to hospice, and we took the kids for an afternoon of last visiting. I spent hours with her each time I was kid-free, crying and sharing a laugh once in a while. One particular morning I spent a good three-hour chunk of time, and left feeling I was so lucky to have had that specific time, with those specific moments, shared with this specific person. We talked some about dying, some about living; she made me laugh and we both just held each other. She was ready to "go be with God," as she put it, and so happy to have everyone gathered around. There were amazingly poignant moments when we caught glimpses of her true smile, or felt the squeeze of her hand, knowing it took every bit of her energy. She would lay asleep for an entire visit, and upon leaving and saying goodbye, she'd open her eyes and offer a kiss, or pull us close, as if she'd been waiting for the chance to show her love. One morning, the act of telling me she loved me brought her to tears, and my whole body just felt as if it couldn't hold any more. Still, day by day we watched her fall more and more asleep.

Until one day, I was there with Wendy when she just kind of woke back up. In a matter of a couple of hours, she'd gone from fast asleep to wide awake, cracking jokes, moving around, and drinking Ginger Ale. It was incredible. To our surprise, this went on for weeks, even to the point of getting her out of bed a bit to see the changes of fall. She was eating and drinking enough to have some energy each day, and her friends were visiting when family could not, keeping her lively and happy.

Last week, all things changed. The rally was over and pain began. On Tuesday, November 1st, I spent the morning with her, feeling certain it would be my last, and that evening, she finally let go. Beautifully, it was my late grandfather's birthday, and I believe she went to celebrate with him. To finally have that peace again.

I've had weeks to think about this. To prepare for her death and to reflect on her life. These weeks were like little bonus blessings each and every day. Each day I got to give her one more kiss, or to see her look at me one more time was a bonus. Each day I got to take my kids in after thinking they'd never see her again was a bonus. Like a few extra moments at the end of the day when the sun clings onto the pink sky longer than you expect. When you know you're witnessing something spectacular, something you are not worthy of. Each of her final days was like a beautiful, lingering sunset. And then, just as the sun finally creeps away, her life became just too difficult to hold onto. The extra time she'd bought with years on the treadmill melted away, and it was clear that she needed to fall away and be comfortable. I'm grateful for her peace now, and for the peace I have in knowing she was ready, and all was said.

But goodness she was an amazing woman. She arrived in America on Ellis Island as a small girl fleeing from Armenia with nothing but her family and a few items to their name. She never stood much past five feet tall, 100 lbs., but she was so strong, so full of energy. She spent countless hours throughout her life volunteering in hospitals. And when she wasn't doing that, she was busy loving her husband and her two sons and their children.

I have such clear memories of her scratching my back for hours snuggled on the couch in the house I grew up in. The bird bath in the backyard of their house in New York and the way she loved being outside. The way she would hug me with all of her strength, kiss me always on the lips, and somehow, in that gesture, truly show that no person could love me more than her. No one hugs like she did. My eyes tearing from the onions she cut making lemajoon with her on a stool at the kitchen counter when I was little. The joy in her voice when I told her she was going to be a great-grandmother. The joy she took in raking the beach behind their house at Lake Gaston so it would be perfect and neat for us to play. The real chocolate milk she kept in her fridge for us. Yogurt covered raisins. The little trinkets she always had set aside for us as kids, and more recently, for my own kids. The comfort she had in knowing I have this hard-working husband to share in raising our family. Her extreme unending generosity, of all she had both tangible and otherwise.

And let me tell you, she was a social butterfly. She knew everyone there was to know, and by all accounts, everyone loved her. She cared about everyone, included everyone, and participated in everything. And around her friends, as I got to see a lot of during our bonus time with her last month, she was actually quite funny. Full of whit and the center of the party. Just simply full of life. Ninety-three, and still religiously attending exercise classes daily. Insistent on the healthy eating habits and exercise of her family. Excited to be alive. Proud to see her life carrying on through her sons, their children, and even her very own great-grandchildren.

Right down to her very last minutes, she was aware of and happy with who was around her. That last morning, as I gathered myself to leave, pulling my body out of the chair, forcing my feet to pick me up and carry me down the hall, I gave her one last kiss. This, following a visit in which she showed no signs at all of seeing or hearing me. A visit I spent mostly watching her breaths, and trying not to focus on the empty seconds between them. I leaned down to kiss her cheek and hold her still body, and felt an energy back from her I can't really describe. Somehow, without the energy to open her eyes, without moving at all, I felt her cheek respond to that kiss, and I know with full heart that she knew I was there, and that she was trading the energy needed for a breath in that moment, just to say she loved me.

What bigger blessing could anyone ever hope for? For that matter, this was beyond my hopes or prayers. Ninety-three years alone is beyond. Still it's a shock. After all the time in hospice, and 93 years of life (31 of which I knew well), it's a shock. She was going to live to be 100. She was stubborn and strong and raised a fighter. It still just doesn't make sense. The thought of Christmas this year, or what would have been her 94th birthday. The thought of having her in our home for dinner. The thought of taking the kids for a lunch visit on a day off. Or the hug I might just need some day that only she can give. The thought of letting go is still a bit much to process.

So I'll leave you with a few pieces of advice she shared with me throughout my life, and lived by herself in full example.

1. "Take care of yourself," she would say, nearly every time we talked. And she meant it. She expected you to respect the body God gave you, and that was that.

2. Keep your family close. In the end, that's who matters.

3. Don't bother with mean people, and ALWAYS be nice to EVERYONE.

4. Work hard no matter what you do.

5. And finally, if you've got it, you might as well wear it. She would dress to the nines for morning coffee on the terrace with the same friends every day. "Why not?" she'd say. "It's no good hanging in the closet."

She appreciated her things. She appreciated her life. She appreciated her family. And I use the word "appreciate" with the fullest of meaning. Her thankfulness and appreciation for life...her awe for what she surrounded herself with, was palpable. She took nothing for granted, and she always said, "I love you."

Halloween or bust.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:14:00 +0000

A few days ago, Hailey asked me what a "tricker" is. As in tricker-treat. I wonder how many kids get that wrong. After setting her straight, I realized Keelyn took this to heart. At each door, she said emphatically, "Trick (pause) OR (pause) Treat." Can't get that one wrong.

The little one wanted to be a butterfly. Mostly, this was because she saw this dress hanging as we shopped a few weeks ago, and needed it immediately. Told me she didn't want to be Minnie or a pumpkin (her previous thoughts), but that she wanted to be that. When I asked what that was, she explained it was clearly a butterfly dress, we just needed to buy some wings! So that's what we did. A green pair and a blue pair, in fact, because they were equally necessary. Also, the dress spins out perfectly, which she rehearsed repeatedly with blissful giggles upon first trying it on, and as I write this, I realize that we forgot to take a picture of such perfection due to rain and lack of lawn for spinning. Might have to have a do over on that one. Nonetheless, she was such the butterfly, my sweetie.
If you read my blog at all, Hailey's costume needs no explanation. This is her in full expression. Zebra-fied. (and. AND. Doesn't she look like a teenager in this picture? What is going on?)

When I painted Keelyn's face, she kept looking in the mirror and saying, "Mommy, I am the most beautiful butterfly there is." What a treat.
It was cold. Also, it was raining very hard. Hailey didn't mind a bit though. She hooded up and headed out.
No staying home for us.

Technically, Keelyn only made it to about five homes before calling it quits, but in her defense, that was after some serious hill-climbing. She was soaked. And when we met up with a huge group of Hailey's school friends, Keelyn said to me, "Oh good Mommy, there are Hailey's friends. Now I can go home and watch a movie with you." Apparently she was relieved to hand Sissy off to others more willing to brave the storm.

Initially I felt bad for her because she woke up this morning asking when it was time to go trick-or-treating, and I'm sure a cold rainy night was not what she had in mind. Three is kind of the perfect age for understanding just enough to be excited. But it didn't matter to her, she was so happy to have her one hour out as a butterfly, and then she was done. Keelyn and I watched the same princess Olivia episode twice in a row, and she bopped to the music beside me on the couch, periodically correcting my hip-shaking to keep in sync with her. We had a lot of fun, the two of us, warm inside, handing out candy and snuggling on the sofa.

Hailey made out fairly well in the candy collection, considering. She came home dripping wet, but had so much fun with her friends and the dads. It's so cool to live down the street in every direction from other kids she goes to school with, and tonight was a great night for learning where a few friends live we hadn't figured out yet. She stuck like glue to a little girl in the class that adjoins hers at school, and now we know that little girl lives only up the hill from us. I'd say the first trick-or-treat in the new neighborhood was a success!

Rain or shine, this night never disappoints.

Pumpkin Farm Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Keelyn's in the 3's class this year, which meant it was her turn to take the same trip we took with Hailey two years ago! (And WOW did I have a lot more to say in that post than I do in this one! Lawd this has turned into a Mommy Blog!) She was extra-super-uber-careful as she high-stepped through the pumpkin patch.And decided on a gourd with stripes! Because it has stripes! AND it's green! She loved that thing. Carried it all around the pumpkin patch.And then the kids had a little party in the barn...Sadie and Cami are Keelyn's favorite friends. They're so cute!

Pumpkin Party!

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 19:11:00 +0000

This year, Hailey asked for a small party at home, and that's what she got! It was important to her that, A)there were few enough friends that they could just play after the party was over, and B)that all people fit at our dining room table, which seats six. We did it a week after her birthday because her birthday weekend was packed anyway, and that allowed the pumpkin theme a little further into fall.
Decorations were fun...I didn't go crazy, but they can all stay up through Halloween, so our house looks like a little pumpkin party still!
Apple Gobblins:
Pumpkin Cake:
We had plenty of activities, starting with painting pumpkins.
While they were drying, we had a pumpkin hunt (the kids had to find pumpkins with letters on them to spell Halloween, and then put them in the right order on the patio).
Toss the beanbag into the pumpkin tin.

Pumpkin bowling. (Please ignore the enormous pile of stone.)
Pin the nose on the pumpkin. (Please ignore the drywall.)
And beautiful painted pumpkins!
Then, cake and food.

Presents.
And plenty of time for playing afterwards. (Barbies, puzzles, and the train set all made an appearance.)
The kids even went outside and re-hid the pumpkins over and over, taking turns on the hunt.
Best of all, Uncle Cooper was able to come to Raleigh for a visit, and spend the afternoon with us, even after the party friends had to leave.
It was a wonderful day!

The year of the zebra.

noreply@blogger.com (Mama Cass) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:13:00 +0000

The day she turned six. Shorthand.

Pancakes.
Presents.
Sisters.
Completing crafty presents ASAP.
Lemonade in zebra motif.
At a pink football game.
Brickyard zebras.
Goofy zebras.
More presents for big zebra.
Sleeping little zebra.
Try #14 out of 8,000 at blowing out candles from crazy distance because it was fire safety week, and those things are dangerous, y'all!
Zebra with Grandpa.
More birthday time the next day.
Books with Nana.
Snuggles before a very busy birthday weekend came to an end.

1 - Pictures from the birthday party with kids to come very soon.

2 - I bet you can't guess what she wants to be for Halloween.

3 - She also got a zebra dance bag to match her zebra backpack and lunch bag. And she got a zebra turtle neck to wear on the days when her new favorite dress might need washing. We're all covered over here. Call the zoo.