A new outlook on Two

My favorite age  is  was 12-24 months. Elli has showed me that two is awesome. I love her at this age. Daily smiles and laughter, people.

Two= sweeping in high heels and a cape

 Two= sporting 'boo boo knees' with her gym leo and requested 'pigtail in the back'

 Two= kissing the daddy that just feel from the dining room chair

 Two= proclaiming you are Elsa at least once a day

 Two= getting into sister's rainboots, getting them to open the door for you and finding a puddle

 Two= pinchable cuteness

 Two= figuring out how to get dizzy

 Two= learning how awesome Daddy is and trying to do what he does

 Two= still giving snuggles to Mommy even though you figured out how awesome Daddy is!

I love TWO!

A top ten for the last ten

The Top Ten Bests of the Last Ten Years

10. The in betweens. You know, those times when there is nothing big happening, nothing to celebrate but life itself. Those are the times that you are really living and loving. So maybe you celebrate the color purple, because you can!

9. Getting to have honeymoon periods over and over again. We can thank the military for this one. There is the downside of being apart often, but my cup is half full, people. So I see it as a chance to run into each others' arms in sheer joy at the end of the apartness.

8. BO... yes, we love each other's body odor! No, BO was the call sign for Brady in utero.

7. Dash-2... Second pregnancy, second girl, but a whole new piece of work

6. Dale... Last but certainly not least, Elli, our little fighter, would not let you consider her as least ever.

5. Leaving stereotypes at the door. Men don't always grill and mow, women don't always scrub the toilets and do dishes. We found each other and compliment each other VERY well.

4. Exploring new activities together. From kayaking the cove on our honeymoon to zip lining for our 10th anniversary.

3. Riding the roller coaster of Karl's naval career. There have been high fives of joy, and pats on the back of pride to smooth over rejection. There have been expected deployments untraveled and unexpected missions avenged. We have 'seen the world'; the world between Pensacola and Norfolk. There have been stories shared in immense detail and classified adventures untold. Without the ups and downs, the roller coaster would not be fun.

2. Learning who we are as an individual by being part of this union of two. You quickly learn what your true priorities are in life when you are in a partnership.

1. Making it to today. Because every new day together is my favorite day. One in three marriages have fallen apart by 10 years. Proud that we are stronger now then ever.

What a lovely decade it has been...I will double down on that!

Rising 2nd Grader

This is getting real people. I am the mother of a rising second grader. No turning back now.

Let's view Brady's first and last day of school.

Now while Brady didn't sprout quite like Reese. She only grew a measly 2 inches compared to Reese's three. Brady was too busy absorbing all the teacher has to offer. Like how to read like. a. PRO! Brady advanced from a later kindergartner reader to a early 3rd grade reader during this school year. The first timed math test they took, only one kid got them all right the first try...yep, my kid! She got the citizen of the month in November and Star Student in June. She was voted "most wants to be the teacher" by her class.

I don't think I was prepared for how well public school would suit her. I really do like, no love, montessori school but for Brady the structure of public school is more comfortable for her needs. This comfort allowed her to excel to new heights. The school system identified Brady as gifted and she will be in a cluster class (about one third of the kids share the label) next year. A resource teacher will come in regularly and supplement the cluster with brain stretching material.

Next year is going to be a great year too, I can feel it!

Sleepover without the Slumber

Brady asked for a sleepover for her 7th birthday. This momma isn't quite ready. We compromised... all the fun of a sleepover (pizza, movie, candy, PJs, staying up late) without my taking care of other children overnight. So her party was scheduled 5-9:30. I know, genius!

I will have to say, it may have been my favorite party I have ever hosted. It is also my first 'drop-off' party I every hosted. So that means the kids came adult-less. That means this momma was one vs. ten. Pure innocent fun without loads of mommas intervening.

I smiled the ENTIRE 4.5 hours. My cheeks got sore and I kept smiling. It was a blast to watch, so I am sure it was a blast for the ten kids.

Brady was the brainstormer behind most of the party. She decided the colors should be red ("boys might not like seeing only pink"). She picked "Sound of Music". She decided to have a candy buffet instead of a cake so it was like the movie theater. She came up with labeling the bathrooms and exit like the theaters.

Since the movie of choice was "Sound of Music" I made them all PJs of similar fashion. So after pizza, all the kids were eager to put on their new PJs.

Well, then right after everyone was dressed they all decided to run outside to play...in their PJs. But who cares let them have fun!

Presents were opened, and every kid gifted the perfect present!

What a great group with is!

The movie only caught their attention for about an hour. But we caught a couple classic slumber party moments.

After I put Elli in bed,  I let the kids fill one jar up with candy... exciting. Jack even got to try his first Reese's cup!

Jack asked for a drum roll before he ate his first Reese's.

Candy and popcorn!

 When I saw them all wavering, I suggested playtime again and then the dress up bin was raided! Perfect time to blast the Frozen soundtrack! Girls chased boys, boys attempted to do the worm, kids played zombie, butterflies fluttered, lyrics were belted, memories were made, FUN WAS HAD!

All the kids were well behaved and not a tear was shed. I consider the night to be a success. I love that I was the only adult because I wasn't distracted by my own conversations and I reveled in the childhood fun of just being!

Can't wait to throw this type of party again!

Brain vs. Brawn

Last year of preschool has come to a close. This year has been quite the battle. Her amazing brain verses her ability to grow like a weed. 

BRAIN!

Reese learned to read this year. Not just slowly sound out each sound and then blend, I mean READ! She started the year being able to sound out a hand full of three letter words. Reese can add. Reese can tell time and calculate duration. Reese can critically think like none other. I have been asked questions about the government and taxes and why we have them. I have been asked "If the Earth is round, then why does it look flat to me?". I have been asked "Why does Elsa's ice castle have no furniture, does she just visit it, then leave when she needs to go to bed or potty?" (I betcha didn't even think about that one, did ya?)

Here is a video of Reese reading. We plucked this one off the shelf. We didn't practice before the video so you are seeing her true ability to read.

 BRAWN!

Reese has grown out of clothes and shoes like there is no tomorrow. Look at these side by side pics of the first and last day of school. The dead bolt moves from eye level to shoulder level! This year's adventure down gluten free alley has been awesome. Reese is healthier, happier, heavier, and TALLER! Isn't it a funny thing what the ability to adsorb your food properly will do to a kid?

Either way, whether BRAIN or BRAWN won, she has found her way to the finish line. She is now looking at being a Hermitage Viking KINDERGARTNER!!!!! 

A love affair with Benjamin

Before I get into this funny tale about my 'middlest', let's prep you with some background information.

As you may recall, our family went to the Great Wolf Lodge back on March 1st.

Also, as you may recall, Reese quickly became attached to the wristbands.

Lots of people ask her if they could take them off, I was even given suggestions on ways to trick her into taking them off. I however know Reese and she is self driven. She does what SHE wants because that is what SHE thinks is best. I knew she wouldn't go to college with them on so I just let them be. Just scroll through the last three months of blog posts... you will see a bright orange wristband in every picture. She even got a tan line under it.



Okay, now back to present day. GP (paternal grandfather) was being silly (like always) and trying to offer money up for Reese to do certain things. GP has a history of this, the first time was when Brady wasn't even crawling yet, and he tried to get her to crawl to a twenty dollar bill. Sometimes he is trying to buy a sibling or pet from them. He enjoys getting a raise out of them.

Reese was sitting on a new ride-on toy for Elli for about 10 minutes.

GP "You really like Elli's toy! I will buy from you for $100"

Reese "NO!"

GP "You won't give me that piece of junk for $100?"

Reese "NO!"

imagine the same conversation going on for a while.

Then GP changes his tune. "I will pay $100 if you let me cut off that orange armband."

Reese "Hold on, I have to get something."

You best believe that girl entered the room with a pair of scissors. She is no dummy and caught him in his bluff!

So after three months and one week, the armband is G. O. N. E.!!!

Reese was caught proud of herself. We got a pretty good laugh from the whole thing. GP, well, he walked away with one less bill in his wallet, but a memory to last a lifetime.

Reese is planning on buying an American Girl doll with the money (because the seven we have in storage isn't enough).