Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Sister Pictures.
The girls had fun getting their pictures taken. Their photographer was really upbeat and kept things rolling.
Happy 4th Birthday Sidney!
Little Sidney is growing up. She celebrated her birthday earlier this month at my mom and dad's house with a big neighborhood party. Of course, she just had to have a pinata. Since I have not received the pictures from my mom yet, those ones will have to wait. We celebrated on her actual birth date with a bash at home.
Grandma Terrell and Kendall made her an awesome Mickey Mouse cake. Grandma Terrell makes some pretty amazing cakes. She let Kendall handle most of this one with a little instruction. They did a great job! Sidney kept waffling between cupcakes, barney, mickey mouse, Dora (you name it, she wanted it). She finally settled on Mickey.
One of the things that I love about both girls is that they relish the moment. Here is Sidney enjoying every moment of her Happy Birthday song.
She insisted that she get to pass out the plates of cake. We had cheese pizza with olives for dinner (her request) and she insisted on passing out those plates too. Grandma Karen and Papa Mark had spoiled her rotten at her first party, but insisted on balloons and popcorn for this party. Sidney was so excited for the popcorn. Apparently they had it every night while they were up there this summer.
Kevin picked out a very awesome gift. I wish I could take credit for this one, but it was all him. Hopefully now that she has a doll chair for doing hair, she will keep the scissors from her own hair. I took the girls to get haircuts on Monday and the entire salon was laughing hysterically at their haircut stories.
In true Grandma Terrell style, she spoiled Sidney rotten. Here Sidney is checking out her new doll tree house. She was so happy and enjoyed every moment of her party. Her and Kendall spent the evening running back and forth from one toy to the next.
The next morning she said, "Mom now that I am four years old, I do not want to take naps anymore." We worked out a deal. Grandma will set the timer for one hour each afternoon. Sidney has to spend the time in her room reading, coloring, playing (sleeping) whatever! At the end of the hour, if she did not fall asleep she can come on out. Quiet time - good for everyone! She seemed pretty good with that.
Grandma Terrell and Kendall made her an awesome Mickey Mouse cake. Grandma Terrell makes some pretty amazing cakes. She let Kendall handle most of this one with a little instruction. They did a great job! Sidney kept waffling between cupcakes, barney, mickey mouse, Dora (you name it, she wanted it). She finally settled on Mickey.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The First Day of Kindergarten.
The day has finally come, Kendall started Kindergarten. She is such a social girl that I thought Kindergarten would be no big deal. She was anticipating it and looking forward to it all summer long. However, last Thursday things started to be different. I thought she was acting a bit "off". Then Kevin confirmed my observations with a few of his own. Then came Friday night, the big night to go by the school and see which class she was in. As I walked her to the window to look for her name, she stopped and grabbed my hand. "I am really nervous mom." I was a bit surprised by this declaration, but it did explain her odd behavior. I told her, "You should be nervous. This is a really big deal. The beauty of it is, all of your classmates will be just as nervous as you. All of you are starting school for the very first time."
The next few days, she would gradually revert to the emotional toddler that we had on our hands a few years ago. At one point on Monday (the day before her first day), Kevin asked her, "Why are you crying?" Her response, "I don't know...." Then she started both laughing and crying interchangeably. Yes, she is such a girl! We went to the meet and greet that afternoon and she met her teacher.
The morning of her first day, she woke up excited. She put on the new outfit that Grandma Karen had made. She also got to put in her new earrings. She had been waiting for this day.
After a picture with her Dad (and the customary front door picture), it was off to school we went.
As she waited in her class line, I leaned over and asked, "Is it alright if I kiss you?" She grabbed me by the neck with both of her arms, gave me a big kiss and off she went. I must say I was fighting waves of emotion. I think I had to count to 10 several times, look at the sun and think about many other distracting things to keep the waterworks at bay. I really did not think I would be emotional, but I was.
When she got home that day she proclaimed, "I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!" Our little girl is back to normal, all of her anxiety is gone. She has already made two new friends and complained her second day that the big kids got to go in the playground and the Kindergartners did not. Let the fun begin!
The next few days, she would gradually revert to the emotional toddler that we had on our hands a few years ago. At one point on Monday (the day before her first day), Kevin asked her, "Why are you crying?" Her response, "I don't know...." Then she started both laughing and crying interchangeably. Yes, she is such a girl! We went to the meet and greet that afternoon and she met her teacher.
The morning of her first day, she woke up excited. She put on the new outfit that Grandma Karen had made. She also got to put in her new earrings. She had been waiting for this day.
After a picture with her Dad (and the customary front door picture), it was off to school we went.
As she waited in her class line, I leaned over and asked, "Is it alright if I kiss you?" She grabbed me by the neck with both of her arms, gave me a big kiss and off she went. I must say I was fighting waves of emotion. I think I had to count to 10 several times, look at the sun and think about many other distracting things to keep the waterworks at bay. I really did not think I would be emotional, but I was.
When she got home that day she proclaimed, "I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!" Our little girl is back to normal, all of her anxiety is gone. She has already made two new friends and complained her second day that the big kids got to go in the playground and the Kindergartners did not. Let the fun begin!
Saturday, August 18, 2012
A New Chapter!
It has been a whirlwind the last few weeks. For my mother-in-law, it has been a whirlwind for the past 6 months. As I mentioned in earlier posts, she took us up on our offer to move to Boise and be a "Granny" for the girls. This has been a huge undertaking. For starters, she has never lived outside of Montana in her life. She retired from her bank job that she has had since I have known her, and she put her home up for sale. Everything has started to fall into place the last couple of weeks .
The girls spent a week with my parents while Kevin flew up to Montana to help Terrell pack up her house. He went up last April and brought a small load down to our garage. This time they would leave nothing behind. It has been bittersweet as Terrell begins this next chapter in her life. Leaving family, friends and a secure job behind to tackle a new city, a new job and a new home. My parents drove the girls to Missoula so that they could ride back with Kevin in the "big truck". Terrell drove her car behind the Uhaul on the way to Boise with one of the girls riding with her. The girls switched places every couple of hours. They both enjoyed sitting in the front seat of the Uhaul. It was sensory overload as they have never been in the front seat before. Kendall kept remarking at how steep the hills were. Things look pretty different from the front seat! They arrived in Boise safely. We got the Uhaul unpacked and Terrell settled in.
It did take a couple of days for everyone to recoup. Kevin and Terrell from all of the going away parties, late nights and packing. The girls recovering from a week with Grandma Karen and Papa Mark (party they did)! Terrell is staying with us for a couple of months until her house is completed. We have been monitoring the progress almost daily. I am getting VERY spoiled as dinner is cooked when I get home, the house is picked up and I can come straight home without stopping at the preschool on the way. I told Terrell that I could get used to this!
Kevin went back to work a week ago, so Terrell has officially begun! This morning Sidney and I were on a walk and I asked her what her favorite part of being with Grandma Terrell was. She said, "Eating lunch, because Grandma lets me make my own sandwich." Then I asked her if there was a low part or a part that she did not like too much. She thought for a few minutes and said, "There are no low parts. It is all my favorite!" I really think this is going to be great for all. Yes, I am certain it will not be without a few bumps - but great nonetheless!
The girls spent a week with my parents while Kevin flew up to Montana to help Terrell pack up her house. He went up last April and brought a small load down to our garage. This time they would leave nothing behind. It has been bittersweet as Terrell begins this next chapter in her life. Leaving family, friends and a secure job behind to tackle a new city, a new job and a new home. My parents drove the girls to Missoula so that they could ride back with Kevin in the "big truck". Terrell drove her car behind the Uhaul on the way to Boise with one of the girls riding with her. The girls switched places every couple of hours. They both enjoyed sitting in the front seat of the Uhaul. It was sensory overload as they have never been in the front seat before. Kendall kept remarking at how steep the hills were. Things look pretty different from the front seat! They arrived in Boise safely. We got the Uhaul unpacked and Terrell settled in.
It did take a couple of days for everyone to recoup. Kevin and Terrell from all of the going away parties, late nights and packing. The girls recovering from a week with Grandma Karen and Papa Mark (party they did)! Terrell is staying with us for a couple of months until her house is completed. We have been monitoring the progress almost daily. I am getting VERY spoiled as dinner is cooked when I get home, the house is picked up and I can come straight home without stopping at the preschool on the way. I told Terrell that I could get used to this!
Kevin went back to work a week ago, so Terrell has officially begun! This morning Sidney and I were on a walk and I asked her what her favorite part of being with Grandma Terrell was. She said, "Eating lunch, because Grandma lets me make my own sandwich." Then I asked her if there was a low part or a part that she did not like too much. She thought for a few minutes and said, "There are no low parts. It is all my favorite!" I really think this is going to be great for all. Yes, I am certain it will not be without a few bumps - but great nonetheless!
Breaking Ground
The Foundation
Floor Joists (do not look at the brand too closely)
Putting Up the Walls
Up Go the Trusses and Sheathing
Starting to Look Like a House...
Framing in the Walls
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