Kyah's 5th Birthday

I can't believe my baby is 5 years old.

We had a combined birthday party and family dinner with her and Uncle Andrew who's birthday is the 4th.  We had a great time eating and spending time together.

Kyah wanted a Littlest Pet Shop Birthday - in fact she wanted it so much she wanted to do it two years in a row.  She wanted the butterfly this year and next year she wanted a cake with figures on it.

So, we decided just to combine in one big bang.

Uncle Andrew is much easier, he just likes rice krispie treats. :)

Such an easy request can't be denied.

Happy Birthday Kyah Banana and Uncle Andrew!

First Day of Kindergarten

My baby girl started Kindergarten - can you believe it?

Since she misses the deadline at the public school by 2 whole days we've enrolled her in a local private school.  I really hope that she will love it and I really think she will.  Not only do they offer a full curriculum but, she has a music class, chinese class and a yoga/karate class.  With the baby coming we really wanted her to have something of her own to be a part of and to be proud of and I really think this will be it.  She is so so excited.

1st Tooth

Today say that today was a big and busy day appears in pictures to be a mild understatement.

Birthday party, Father's Day and a First Lost Tooth.

My baby - yes, she is still a baby she is only 4, lost her 1st tooth.

I only found out a week ago it was loose, she was so excited to be big like her brother she let Harley pull it out this morning.  She is so tough.  No tears.

To make matters worse the one next to it is loose too.

Bring on the Tooth Fairy.

Lazy Sunday

These are my cute kids as of today. They grow up so quick I can hardly believe it. Enjoying a lazy Sunday at home is a very a rare treat in these parts, so when I had one today I snapped a quick picture of my wee ones.

The Dress Up Queen

I'm not exactly sure what to do with this girl, she seriously cracks me up.  She wanted to try on everyone of her princess dress up combinations and have pictures taken of her.  Not shy - not a shy bone in her body.

And finally introducing Super Hero Kyah!

I don't know about you, but if I were a bad guy I'd definately be shaking in my boots.

Valentine's Day Loot

The amazing room mother for Jaxon's class made each one of the kids a Valentine's Monster.

Jaxon thought it was super cool.

Here is all of his Valentine's Loot.  Can you see that picture of the girl near the heart?

Well this is what was written on the back of that picture...

Yup, a little love note.

When I asked Jax about it, he said - "Yeah, she likes me."

What???  So I inquired further as to what that meant and if she was his girlfriend...

"Nope, girls still have cooties and stuff Mom."

That's my boy.

Kyah even did Valentines at daycare.

She was so excited - it's rough to be the little sister not in school, but daycare is really good about doing "school" type things and she loves it.

I just happened to get a treat for Valentines too, my most favorite flowers.

Thanks babe!

RLMM

Today while driving over to my parent's house for dinner, Kyah said to Jaxon:

K:  Do you know how much I love you?
J:   10,000,550 never ending?
K:  Yup!
J:   Me too.

Wanting to cry because of their sweetness I glanced back and they were holding hands.

I told them how much I love those moments and how sweet I thought they were and then they proceeded to play the stack and slap game with their hands.... Yup, moment gone.

Kyah the Brave

While taking pictures, Uncle T found this little lizard running around.

And who do you think was the first one to want to run and hold it?

None other than my princess loving daughter.

She seriously thought it was the coolest thing.

Please don't stone me for admitting this - but I'm not a huge animal person.

I like most of them from a distance, truthfully I'm mostly just scared - there I said, but regardless, we just don't really do animals - and more than any kind we don't do any kind of reptile/amphibian. Period.

Snakes?  No way!  Salamanders?  Newts? Lizards?

Nope. Nope and Nope.

SO, when Kyah runs to hold one, there is a part of me that wonders where she comes from, but I love that she doesn't have my fears and reservations and that this is proof that we come with our own personalities - at least on some level.

Then if the lizard wasn't enough... she found a stick bug and wanted to keep it as a pet.

It's a good thing I've become immune to looks like this.

The Faces of my Family

One of the things I am the most thankful for today and everyday is my family.

All of them!

It seems such a general statement that it lacks the emphasis that I feel for it.

I simply can't think about how much I love these people and how blessed I feel without tearing up and being compelled to thank my Heavenly Father for them.

I love this boy!  He made me a Mother, he is quiet and thoughtful and to the core diplomatic.

He's a boy, but he has a heart of gold.  His sincere love makes me happy everyday.

These pictures show exactly why I love this girl.  She is definitely the bright spot of our home.  She is wildly emotional - good and bad.  She wears her heart on her sleeve and it doesn't take longer than 2 seconds to know just how she's feeling.  She is so passionate.  I love my Banana girl.

I'm sorry, but I just think he's so handsome!

He truly is a blessing to me and to our kids.  We are so happy to have him as a Dad and a husband.

He brings a solidness and consistency that our family has lacked.

I am one Lucky Lady!

Kids Pics

I'm not sure that words can adequately express how much I love these children or how much I truly appreciate Kami for capturing good pictures of my monkeys.

I just can't believe how big they are!

I am constantly in awe of the wonder that is motherhood.  Most of the time I'm decently positive I'll screw them up beyond recognition, but there are moments when I have hope that things will be okay.

I am grateful that these two are mine forever!

Kyah's First Pony Ride

My Kyah loves Horses, everytime we pass a field with a few horses in it she yells "Look Horsies!"

On Saturday driving home from family pictures we passed Saltaire Farms, a local stable for riding lessons, they were having a Fall event - they had old cars a bake sale, various riding contests and pony rides.

As soon as we passed it we did a quick once around the block and headed in. 

For a small fee your child could ride a pony - Yes please!

Kyah was SO EXCITIED!!

Isn't she cute with her riding helmet?

Her she is ready for her ride on Pepper.

She was all grins the entire ride.  She instantly charmed the girls helping her,

she chatted with them the whole time.

She did great!  We're now discussing what she'd like to do more - riding lessons or dance classes.

Final Product

Leave it to me to post about our pumpkin carving night and not show you the finished product! 

It's not like I have anything else to do though - I'm a busy girl and occasionally details get missed.

Kyah picked out a ghost and Colby helped her carve it.

Jaxon picked dracula and I helped him.  Notice the fingers and face of dracula?  I totally got the short stick in ease of pumpkin carving, but the happy smiles make it all worth it.

Here is Rach and Andrew's masterpiece.

Lights, camera, action!

While prepping the others Colby had time to get his scary faced pumpkin in on the action.

Kyha and Jax as proud as can be of their scary pumpkins.

And last but not least here is my five minute pumpkin, nothing new or creative, but it really took less than five minutes, so for me - that's a Win!