Our Skipping Soccer Star

OK, can this kid get any cuter?  After many reservations (mostly due to weather) about signing K-Man up for soccer again this spring, he came bounding in my room with his soccer ball and told me all about his ambitions to be a soccer star.  Of course, this was perfect timing to tip off the "Mommy Guilt Complex," and we took the plunge! As the season began, we were thrilled to see that he had abandoned his grass picking ways of last year, and loved watching him chase after the ball.  Nearing the end of the season, his hussle had slowed itself down a bit made it's way into a sauntering skip.  Kade just loved being out on that field, and as much as he loved the "goal" at the end of the rush, he most often just put that cute face into the sun and skipped down the field in all his "soccer star" bliss.  Until next Spring!  May the weather be just as beautiful...and may our Skipping Soccer Star stay just as sweet. :)

Last Day of School!

This week has been filled with the joy, anticipation and tearful goodbyes of the last day of school. Both Sydnie and Kade finished up this week and left me whirling, thinking, 'where did the time go?' Kade graduated from his preschool and we said goodbye to his angel teacher, Mrs. Dove. He had an amazing year, and learned so much about reading and writing. I can't believe how much he has grown! They ended the year all smiles and celebrated with a Circus Party (thus Mrs. Dove and her cute clown costume). Once Kade comes to the four year old realization that pre-school is really over, I think he is going to miss it a lot. He loved being silly, but he also loved learning. I spent Thursday in tears throughout the process of his little "rite of passage" simply because I can't believe he is on his way to Kindergarten...and oh, so ready! ;)Sydnie also finished up her year in First Grade in an amazing whirlwind of activity...much like our Sydnie! Her class had their much anticipated Zoo field trip, we celebrated her "summer birthday" with a root beer float party, there were reading contest celebrations (as part of which her awesome principal ate WORMS!), she read and studied every night to pass off her final list of sight words....the sixth grade list, we made fun 'thank you' gifts for her teacher and school staff and she had her dance festival on the last day where the whole First Grade danced the "Funky Slide"--so cute. She worked so hard! She made goals with Don and I about what she wanted to accomplish before the end of the year, and she accomplished each one of them. Add that to more teary good byes with friends and her amazing teacher, Ms. Pothier, and it was definitely quite the end to an incredible year.After all was said and done, we all took a breath and smiled a big smile. As parents, we couldn't be more proud of our kiddos. They are becoming the greatest little..."people." They excelled, progressed and grew. They made new friends, conquered fears and did hard things. They are both excited for summer, but it only took us driving about 2 minutes away from the school on Friday for Sydnie to sigh that deep sigh of hers and say, "I miss school already." I'm afraid Fall will come a little too soon for this Mom. In the meantime we are going to play and swim and sleep in (and we also headed straight out to enjoy a well-deserved celebration lunch at one of the kids' favorite Mexican restaurants). They are the absolute greatest, and we are looking forward to "family day" every day...for the next two months or so!

Way to go Syd and Kade! We love you!...bring on the Summer!

Um, I'd like the BIG fork, please?

Kade is quite the character. As with the other kids, he is intensely independent, and wants to do things "all by himself." After all, he is a "very big boy, now" right? Today, I walked into the kitchen where I was planning to pull out the container of homemade Mac-N-Cheese for lunch (Kade's favorite), only to find that he had climbed into the fridge, grabbed the bowl full of goodness, and chosen the BIGGEST fork he could find to eat that pasta. After all, a big boy deserves a big fork :) And he ate the whole bowl.....

Finally, Kade's turn for soccer!

We had awaited this day for a whole year....it was finally Kade's turn to play on a city soccer team! He had watched Sydnie play, and was so anxious for the day when he would be big enough to be able to play, as well. This year he was finally four, and old enough to play on a team with other pre-schoolers in our area.

He went to his first practice and ran...a lot. ;) He talked all week about his "big game," and tried on the cleats and shin guards a few times to make sure they weren't too big. It may not be a big deal to some...but to this guy, it was huge! He literally was jumping for joy at that first game. However, once he realized that the other team could score goals, too, he gave up defending or trying to steal the ball back and just positioned himself as the goalie--full time (even though they aren't allowed in pre-school soccer). The second game brought snow, and lots of breaks. The third and fourth games were full of lots of running--mostly in circles. This last game, most of the team members became really good--at picking the grass and throwing it in each other's faces. On Saturday, we woke up to three inches of snow and the games were all cancelled. Don went to break the bad news to Kade and he threw his arms up in the air with delight shouting, "yeah! I'm free!"

Needless to say, I don't know that soccer has turned into the dream come true for my little dreamer. However, he has made some great little friends, learned some great lessons in sportsmanship and grass picking, and has decided that "basketball is going to be my new sport." Love that little boy...even when he is running in circles :)

T-Day!

T-Day ("Tonsil Day")....a little history....

It was a day long awaited for (by me) and long-dreaded (by the kiddos). We had been pursuing the opportunity to remove Kade's tonsils for years. The poor little man has suffered from countless tonsilitis infections--leaving him so, so sick and miserable. So, as we were doing our final exams and getting the official 'thumbs up' for Kade's surgery, a few things popped up in the medical evaluation questions that applied so well to Sydnie and her sleeping habits. I thought a quick, "hmmmm" and had the doctor do a quick look into her unsuspecting mouth. "Wow!" he exclaims...."those tonsils are huge! How is she sleeping at all?" Within minutes, my calculating Mom-Mind had figured a way to have both sets of tonsils removed...on the same day. Thus, we find ourselves at T-Day....with our brave, yet nervous Sydnie and Kaden.

They woke up and packed their backpacks with their favorite comfort items....blankies, Wilbur, the pig, and of course, the Angry Birds app on Don's cell phone for emergency measures. We arrived at the surgical center and they took them both back and got them changed into their gowns, cute surgical hats and the favorite item..."hospital socks." It was actually incredible how brave they both were. Even though everyone thought that my Mom-Mind had some serious glitches in the plan to have both surgeries together...I was saying silent prayers of gratitude as I watched those two amazing kids find strength and lots of courage in the fact that they were standing there experiencing it as "best friends."

Sydnie was the brave older sister and went first...then they came for Kade. Both surgeries were a great success, and we got to sit with both of them in a big recovery suite made for two. After Sydnie woke up, she popped right up and had her popsicles, juice and was ready to leave! The nurses couldn't believe how alert she was and how great she did coming out of the anesthetic. Even when she was still groggy, and I was rudely taking pictures of her, she would muster a smile and even stopped to rub her sweet Daddy's face. Everyone wanted to take her home with them, and one nurse asked if she could come back and teach the other kids the best way to act after getting their tonsils out.

Kade resisted a little more and just wanted to stay asleep a little longer. After some encouraging and the emergency call out to the Angry Birds Game on the cell phone....he decided to come home with us, too. They loaded them both into a big wheelchair, and gave them a ride out to the car. As you can see, not even that was enough to amuse Kade :)

Overall, this Mom walked out with my two brave babies and an extremely grateful heart. Not only did they fly through the procedure with grace and courage...but I also made it through my first experience with my children in surgery without them having to medicate me, as well :) (I think I was more nervous than they were!) Whew! On to the recovery! Here's to some great pain meds (for them) snoreless nights and happy throats going forward!

Thanks to everyone for their sweet calls, visits, cold treats and unconditional concern! We love you!