Kate's Last Day

Kate's last day of pre-school at St.Mark's was last Wednesday.  

Words can't begin to describe all my emotions watching her sing.  

There's No Place Like Home

Today we had the pleasure of meeting the newest members of our "extended" pet family.  The Gregg's brought home two new additions over the weekend.  After a long drive, which was very much an adventure to say the least, everyone is safely at home.  

Boston Terriers, Momma Zoe and Bubba, her big baby boy are finally home after a long journey.  From what I know, they were rescued from a kill shelter in Arkansas and thankfully they made their way to New Hampshire through a Boston Terrier rescue group.  (If you are interested in adopting a rescued animal, PetFinder.com is a wonderful animal adoption site.) It is truly amazing and yet wonderful that Zoe and Bubba ended their journey for a new home together.  

Momma Zoe's expression says it all.  Like any mother, she is tired and weary... But she knows she can finally rest because she and her baby boy are now home.  She knows that from now on she will always be safe and loved.  Both Zoe and Bubba are home, but I know Claudia, Bill, and Kim feel more at home too.  

Happy Birthday Uncle Bop!

Happy Birthday to you.  

Can we eat all the cake for you? 

It is ice cream, chocolate, and peanut butter. 

Happy Birthday 30 year old Uncle Kirk.  

By the way, look at Claire's little hand in the last photo. She was trying to get a peanut butter cup off the cake. She was the only one digitally captured, they were all trying to do it.  Who would blame them?  By the way, the cake was delicious. 

This is how I found him

Fast asleep on my bedroom floor.  I was in the bathroom getting ready, they were watching TV.  I looked out to check on them, and there he was fast asleep.  And he stayed like this for over an hour. 

Sweet Sweet Little Ones

Today Stephen had such a sweet moment and before I forget .... 

"Stephen, please go get your shoes and socks so Mommy can help you put them on."  

He comes to me with both shoes and both socks in hand!

We sit down together.  

"Mommy, I help" he says.   

In the middle of putting on his shoes he raises his little hand and says,  "Hi-fi Mommy, hi-fi." 

I give him a high-five and he says, "Thank you Mommy."  

Such a sweet sweet little boy... never change.

Then not to long after I give Kate two pieces of chocolate.

"Stephen, I have a piece of chocolate for you."

"Tank yoou Sissy."

"Your welcome, Stephen."

It was beautiful music to my ears.  And yes, I did tell them just just how wonderful they truly are.0

The Duck Days of Summer

"Do princesses eat the crusts of their bed?  No, they save them for the ducks instead."  

This offered a good question, what do ducks eat?  I asked our vet, Dr. Jack this question and not only did she give me an answer, she gave me some duck food.  (For those of you who would like to know, it is 2 Grain Scratch and you can purchase a huge bag of it at Southern States for $10.) When I went back to work, David would take the kids to feed the ducks. After the first time feeding them with the appropriate food, it was a BIG hit. Stephen has no fear of the ducks or the geese, he grabs handfuls of food, throws it all around him and yells, "DUCK, DUCK, DUCK!" Just like you would call the dogs in for dinner.  Believe it or not, they come.....  He tries to pet them and interact with them like he does with our dogs and cats.  Kate on the other hand, is more like her mother at that age, a little intimidated by the aggressive geese.  You have to remember, she is not that much bigger than them.  She prefers to keep her distance from a higher perch until she settles in.    

A long time ago, I nick named the duck with the bouffant hair-do the "Grandma Ruby" duck and this has stuck with Kate.  So when our friend the Grandma Ruby duck swam by Kate said, "There is the Grandma Ruby duck." Then Madeline replied, "Oh look, there is the Grandma Bev duck."  (She was pointing to the other white duck, minus the white hair-do.)  Priceless.... and tugged at my heart. 

After we fed quite a few duck friends, we made our way to the sandy beach area.  There were more ducks to feed, but the closer we got to the water the more we got in the water.  The shoes came off first, then the dresses were lifted up while the girls waded in the water in search of shells.  Then everyone was just in the water..... 

Madeline, Claire and Kate retrieving shells from the water.  Enjoying finding every single one. 

Stephen was content with his feet in the sand, and then sitting and wading in the water.  It was his first time on a "beach" this season.  

Our four little ducks. 

My Little Minnow

Kate is a Minnow with the Walton Park swim team.  To say that she loves it is an understatement.  Everyday she looks forward to going to swim team practice and learning "how to swim under water."  She is definitely a Daddy's little girl in that manner, I was not on the swim team when I was her age.  However, my first job was at the Walton Park Pool "snack shack" and I used to work during the swim meets.  My friend Jocelyn used to swim and I would watch her compete in between working.  So, I guess we are coming a little full circle here?

Stephen, is extremely jealous.  He wants to do EXACTLY what his sister is doing.  He ever so slowly inches his way up to the side of the pool, slides beside two kids, and waits his turn to go across the pool.  Then he can't figure out why he does not get a turn.  Thankfully today the pool was open to everyone and we could spend time in the baby pool while the big girls had practice. 

I really can't think of the better way to prepare Kate for swimming and she really enjoys it.  Can you tell?  

Summer Days are Here

With our house on the market, it has been a challenge (to say the least) keeping it clean and picked up all the time.  I found the best thing to do was just stay out of the house.  Actually, it was the perfect thing to do.  We have spent our days, feeding the ducks, running through sprinklers, picking strawberries, swimming at swim team practice, and spending time with family and friends.  I love summer time... I do believe it is another magical time of year.  I love loosing track of time, staying up late in the evening, the sounds of the crickets, catching fireflies, backyard barbeques, pruny pool fingers and slightly tanned bodies show the reward of a day out in the sun.  As much as I dislike the warm humidity, I think I am going to miss it.  You have to leave the south and come back to really feel the difference.  Flying into Milwaukee, I didn't actually feel the transition.  However, when I landed in Charlotte it hit me... the warm mist and sweet smell of the air felt like a warm blanket welcoming me home and it stayed with me till I landed in Richmond.  I could feel the south and know that will always remind me that I am home. 

One BIG word....

CONTRACT

Mended Little Hearts

When Claire entered into this great world, she brought her radiant light to all of us. From the beginning, I tried explaining to Kate about Claire's "special" heart. Photograph's captured Claire's surgeries and brought some understanding to both Kate and Madeline. On Monday at the Mended Little Heart's Golf Tournament, as the MLH awareness video played Kate recognized EVERY picture of Claire! "There is Claire, Claire there you are again!" Kate thought nothing unusual of seeing Claire on the big screen and proceeded to tell her that "it is all about you Claire.... Claire, you are a rock star!" The whole thing brought me to tears....

If you have not seen the video before, he is a link. Be prepared, it pulls at your heart.
http://albums.phanfare.com/1364093/1110960#imageID=6093433