Kynlee's Growing

Kynlee recently turned six, aahhhh my little one. She also recently lost four teeth. Seems crazy she has lost 7 teeth- OK one was knocked out, but still I didn't expect it until after Kindergarten. She is the type to really work a tooth once it is loose. I jokingly mentioned tying a string to the tooth and to the door knob to pull it out- not even an hour later I saw her stringing it up. Those little teeth my not have come out exactly naturally, but I do see some new sprouts. AND the tooth fairy has been very faithful- she even had to step it up and leave a fancy tiny fairy quality note along with the prize. That started a correspondence. Kynlee left gifts in return and invited her to her birthday party, among other things, she asked her what her first name was and if she went to church. Love that girl.

(Notice the hat. She loves it. Not normally something I would buy, but I couldn't resist her face when she put it on and remarked how beautiful it looked.)

Happy Friday

Had some good food, saw some family, and now it's Friday. Am I headed out to shop? Nah, Michael's working, and shopping in the madness holding on to three little ones sounds so very appealing. A few years ago we went to a family reunion on Thanksgiving in a small Kentucky city. The Friday after we were lazying about and I said,

"Maybe I'll go do a little Christmas shopping."
Michael said, "Mmm, the day after Thanksgiving...
yeah, should be a good day to shop,
most people probably just stay at home."
!!!!!

Oh right, my blog

(I thought the photo might get your attention, I'll explain later)

It has been a little while since I posted. I had to get serious about getting some things done. I'll play a little catch up though.

Several weeks ago a mischievous plan of mine came about, well in part anyway. I thought this was a new idea, but looking back at an old journal entry shows that I had thought of this not long after my first baby was born. The idea? A week at home alone. I didn't want to take a trip without my family, just wanted to be at home where all my projects were. Nearly six years without a 24 hour stretch to yourself takes a toll. Think of all the things I could get done! I pictured it like an Extreme Home Makeover episode. All my cleaning, and organizing, decorating, odd projects, all things getting taken care of.

How was this to come about? Could I convince my husband? I wouldn't want him to go on a fun trip without me and take the kids. Would he survive out there alone with all three little ones? It would never happen. Forget about it.

Then, hubby started talking about a trip back to his homeland and the wheels in my head started turning. Safe environment, he would have help...I didn't want to miss out on the trip though. To wrap this story up, I convinced him to make the 8 hour car trip after work on a Friday- hoping the kids would mainly sleep- and I would fly in Tuesday morning. Not quite a week, but still some time.

So, what would you do with the freedom of three full days to yourself? It might only happen once every 6 years, so think about it carefully. I love my family, but I admit it was kind of fun. However, I worked so hard. I didn't let myself turn the TV on, or pick up a book, no internet surfing, no leaving home to shop, I wanted only progress. I barely stopped to eat- and they were quick meager meals. By the end of the time, I was exhausted. I decided I needed to get back to my family before I made myself sick. I was able to crawl out of the project hole a little though, so that was good. Basically I learned what I kept telling myself before. The success to seeing progress and having an organized life comes with the daily habits, not in crazy hard three day stretches.


While on our trip we rode The Incline Railway. A touristy thing to do that Michael had never done because he was from there. Built in 1895 with an incline of 72% at one point, to take people up to the peak to view old Civil War battlegrounds. My dislike of major heights, and Michael's care for his life may may make this our first and only ride. The photo's not great, but you can see how far below the city looks at the top of the picture.



I threw these in for kicks. Everyone's always playing with my laptop's picture taking effects. A little distortion goes a long way.






and just so you remember how we normally look:

Pre K Olympics

Last year my sister got me thinking about doing an Olympics for our church pre k playgroup. It was fitting with Beijing. No real reason to do it this year, other than I thought it was fun and wanted to try it again. Prepare for a lot of pictures, but they are cute.


As the kids rolled in, we had them make torches.


Next, we had our march and lighting of the Olympic flame (with inspiring music).




Notice the baby on the hip -the whole time!


You may have a use for that old bent hula hoop and crib sheet after all.


The flame is burning, let the games begin!


The athletes gather for the 20 meter dash


False start or superstar?

After the race, we awarded the kids with crepe paper bands. After each event, they received a star on the band. At the end, we added their medals to them.


Preparation for the stoic in the field events.


A day for the young, and younger...


with the youngest cheering them on.


Shot Put


Javelin (straws)


Discus (paper plates)


Long Jump








High Jump (jump up and mark the spot)


(notice baby still on the hip)


Relay


Medal ceremony. At the beginning, I had a friend -whom I call awesome Anna- take the kids' pictures with her Instax camera (today's Polaroid) by the flag. We then cut those to fit can lids. Whalla, a gold medal.
One thing solidified that day with my son, he is not a crowd/event person. He only started opening up after most of the kids had left. He's much better with just a few- as he stated to me afterwards when I asked if he had fun, "I had fun after all the people left."



His sister is very much the opposite. She couldn't wait to jump off the bus after morning kindergarten to see who was left and march around with a torch.

Well, that's a pre k event for you. Some will break down in tears, some will march to their own beat in the opposite direction, some will be digging in the corner of the sandbox, and some will love it all.

Go Girl and Go Hubby

I did my triathlon last week. No after pictures on the arm muscles yet, I know you've all been excited to see the speed bump growth. Now that I've finished the endurance test, I'll try to bulk up with a little P90X (yeah baby!). Michael wasn't able to do a tri this summer- that ol' double back up thing for work got him. No pictures of the race, I was flying solo there. About the time I was running the last turnaround on the course, Michael was getting off a grueling 14 hour night shift (he's back on nights for the month!). So my thought for the day, if you want something, then you REALLY have to work for it, whatever it is, work, health, family...tidy house, most things come with sweat.

To Fictionize or Not

You come from a family, and your husband comes from a family, and then you have a family together and you try to figure out what to do with it. We keep it an open discussion. When the holidays started rolling around after the kids came, I found myself asking “Who's the guy in the fluffy red suit?” and “What’s the point of the Easter bunny again?” I haven’t quite figured out their reason, so I decided to leave them out of our traditions.

Kynlee knocks out a tooth at the playground and asks about the tooth fairy. She’s picked up on this somewhere and catches me off guard- because she didn’t loose the tooth naturally and I wasn’t prepared to think about this tradition. Sure I’m for it. I love the idea of the tooth fairy. Added bonus, no conflicts with religion. Kynlee gets a little prize under her pillow. She naturally loses a tooth not long later- no problem, another prize.

Then Kynlee starts pounding me with questions about the tooth fairy. Who is she? How does she know me? How does she get in the house? So-in-so said the tooth fairy is really the parents, is that true? Is it you? You have the same wrapping paper. Just tell me, is it you?!


Now I realize my problem with fictional characters, I’m a terrible liar! I get flustered and shaky. I can’t take the pressure! Kynlee has three teeth loose right now and I’m about to buckle, “It’s ME all right! I love you and I want to give you a prize! No more questions! PLEASE!”

“and don’t tell your friends the truth.”

Bless Your Soles

The season of flip flops has past, and the search for closed toe shoes has begun. Kynlee’s not so lean foot, high instep, and tall top add up to one beautiful shoe description, wide. Not just wide, but extra wide, and if we can find extra extra wide, even better. Reality hit a few years ago on Easter Sunday as I got Kynlee ready in her new outfit. I felt like I was cramming Drizella’s foot into Cinderella’s glass slipper. After her grandma found out she was running around barefoot at church due to pain, she told me, “Go buy that poor child some shoes that fit, whatever the cost!” With those words ringing in my ears, I have broken down, moved beyond my ten dollar limit, searched for clearance, couponed, you name it. This year, I found Stride Rite having a buy one get the second pair half off. Only $75 for two pair…whimper. Couldn’t do it Mom! Kynlee’s adorable feet are squeezing into Payless.


Kynlee's first trip on the bus, she has a neighborhood friend at least.


Looking a little nervous, so was I!

Tree House

You wouldn’t think a small ornamental pear tree could be turned into a tree house, but I guess when you are four feet tall it can. It started becoming an idea the day before our community garage sell. Kynlee spent three dollars in change from her purse on a dozen knick knacks she thought fitting for her new hangout. Walla, a tree house in the making.






Please keep an eye on the infant while you take pictures of the older kids, and stop him from eating dirt.


While I was trying to set up a swing for the tree, I heard Kynlee call out “wahoo!” as she sped down the driveway. Seriously, she said wahoo. I looked over to see her riding my old mountain bike! I went from being scared, to laughing, to pushing the button on the camera I was holding. She was losing speed by the time she circled around, but I thought it was cute. Funny, dangerous 5-year-old.

Cap of the Moment

I’ve been in a busy spell. At times throughout the day, I add to my head a design cap. I think we can all say we have some caps piled up on our heads, playing the roles that come our way. For four years now I’ve been working for my brother-in-law’s successful business, The Boston Shade Company. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? The project has been like another little baby of mine, I’ve been working on its image since the beginning moments. Strange to think it’s been ten years since I got my first design job. While we lived in Memphis for medical school, I was a graphic designer for a small design firm. I had a brief retirement, after our first was born, before I was brought back to the professional world (from home though, part-part-time). So here I am now, with my art director’s cap on while the kids roam free, trying to conduct work business on the phone while mischief happens. I am working on a new website, still like the current one, but time for an image update. So if you happen to drop by the house unexpectedly in the near future, don’t be alarmed at the small tornadoes that have hit inside. I’ll understand yours if you understand mine. I think they will all be cleaned up in a few weeks, and you can check out the updated Boston Shade look!

(A designer? What’s up with the look of your blog then? Maybe this has crossed your mind. Right now, it’s one thing I don’t want to worry about designing, you hear what I’m saying? Maybe in the future it will have a little more pizzazz, for now, it is doing just fine.)