2017

Last week Lonnie and I were talking about preschool.  Not a major conversation but he was asking me about the differences between Mothers Day Out and preschool.  He was mainly wondering if we can just keep her in MDO until she goes to kindergarten (because we love it so much)!  I told him I didn't really know all the details but, yes, she could stay at MDO until kindergarten because they have a preschool class.  I was telling him that I had heard about a couple of other preschools in town but I honestly felt like it was so far away so I would look into all of our options as it got closer.  And the conversation went on....

After we talked about it I started thinking more about it...because planning is what I do.  As many of you know or have experienced there is usually a wait list for good preschools or daycares.  So I thought it would be a good idea to plan it out in my head just so I would know when I needed to make some calls.  

And that is when I figured out that my child will start kindergarten in 2017.  Having a date placed on it kind of freaked me out!  I've just never thought about it that way before!  I realize that is still 3 years away so I am not crying just yet but knowing that I only have 3 more years of her at home with me makes me a little sentimental.  

I even called my friend Sarah (teacher) to confirm my math.  In Arkansas, the child has to be 5 on or before August 1st to start kindergarten that year.  So Blakely misses the cutoff by a couple of months.  That means she will start kindergarten 2 months before she turns six, in 2017.  She will always be one of the oldest in her class and I think that is great.  Starting children in school a year early is not an option in the public schools here.  (Sarah wouldn't let me do it even if it were but there is no need to get into that today!)  If I would have had Blakely a couple of months sooner then I would only have 2 years left at home with her.  So we kind of have an extra year together and an extra year of MDO/preschool/whatever we decide.  Sweet deal.  

Have any of you put a date in your head about when your kids will head off to big kid school? 

As of right now (because when it gets closer you know I will be researching ALL of the school possibilities) Blakely will go to school where I went to school all 13 years.  And because you read through this nonsense you get a picture of my kindergarten class.  Can you find me?  ;)  Good luck because it is a terrible picture!  

Five year old Kelly circa 1987

My little singer.

Y'all.  My girl is a lover of the music.  But mainly she is a lover of singing.  She sings all.day.long.  There is a constant string of nursery rhymes coming from my living room, the back seat of the car or from the bathroom.  

She gets this from my mom who has been singing with her basically since birth.  I mean I sing to her some too but I am not going to be winning any singing competitions any time soon.  My mom, on the other hand, can carry a tune very well and is definitely teaching Blakely all that she knows.  Every Sunday when Blakely comes home from GranDi's house she is singing a new song.  Most recently it was "She'll be comin' round the mountain".  

Here is a list of the favorites right now.  She knows all the words (although some of them come out sounding pretty funny) and the hand motions can get pretty out of control. 

ABC's (LMNOP sounds like Elmo-P)
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Ring Around the Rosie (ACID! ACID! We all fall day-own!  Makes me giggle every time)
E-I-E-I-O (All songs eventually come back to this one.  For example, baa baa black sheep have you any wool? E-I-E-I-O.  With a baa baa here...  You get the idea)
I'm a Little Tea Pot
The Itsy Bitsy Spider  
Where is Thumbkin?
If You're Happy and You Know it (This song is never ending and MOM must participate or it isn't any fun at all)
The Wheels on the Bus
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (Tinkle Tinkle)
Five Little Monkeys (usually mommy or daddy is the one jumping on the bed)

I will get some videos on the blog of this because it is hilarious but she is in a phase of pouting the second I pull out my phone.  Not cool, B.  I did post a little video of the singing in this post.

I am super glad that my mom is teaching her good wholesome songs because around here we jam out to Ludacris on the daily.  She even gets low when he asks "How low can you go?"  and she definitely shakes her moneymaker!  Oops.  ;)

Officially mom

When Blakely first started saying words she called me "mama".  That really only lasted for a tiny amount of time before she switched to "mommy".  So I have been "mommy" for most of the time I have actually been a mom.  

Anywho.  About a month ago, I noticed her calling me "MOM" and it has literally taken me this entire month to come to terms with this new name.  She just sounded so, I don't know, grown up when she said it!  When she says it I can actually hear my teenage self whining to my own mother.  Gah.  She is not a teenager!  She is a toddler!  I hear "NO, MOM!" multiple times a day.  Usually when I ask her to get dressed.  I also hear "Me do it, MOOOOOOM" a lot also.  A few other favorites....  

"Come wit me, Mom"  
"No, YOU go to timeout Mom"  
And my personal favorite that she yells when she has disappeared into the bathroom "MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM, wipe me booty peees!"  

Mommy just sounds like she is still a baby, ya know?  Mom is what she will call me when she is 40.  Yikes.  My baby girl is growing up!

This pose came with a very exasperated "NO.  MOM.  NO PICTURES, MOM!"  

What do your kids call you?  

A wedding post!

Since Sarah's wedding was 2 months ago I figured it was time to blog about it!  Ha!  I was waiting on pictures from the photographer and that took a little longer than expected.  So I know you've  been on the edge of your seats but here is a picture overload of the super fun wedding!  

Sarah and CJ got married at a place here in town called The Royal Ridge.  It is really neat and they have only been doing weddings there for about a year.  Basically they live on a ridge and the views are absolutely beautiful.  They built a large barn where they hold the reception and you get married outside.  

Their setup is really great actually.  They live there but the entire bottom floor of their house is where the girls get ready.  They have huge mirrors and a great place to get your hair and makeup done.  There are a few different rooms and plenty of space for 10+ girls to primp.  So we spent the whole day there getting ready and drinking champagne.

pre hair and makeup.  not pre champagne.  

post hair and makeup :)

Bless Hannah.  She came out with a friend to do all of our hair.  She cut and colors all of us anyway and she did such a great job!  

Lonnie brought Blakely up after her nap so I could get her dressed and fix her hair.  She was so not having pictures that day so I don't have any great ones but she was sure looking cute!

We took a few pictures before the wedding and then some after.  

being silly

Love this one of Sarah and her mom.  

Can we talk about how awesome that brooch bouquet is?  Her friend made it and she worked in pictures of Sarah and CJ as a baby as well as a pic of Sarah's dad and CJ's aunt...super special peeps.  

Right before it was time to start all of us girls had to go upstairs so we could make our grand entrance walking down the outdoor steps.  Lonnie was staying downstairs with Blakely and was going to tell her when to walk.  I had a little moment with her just giving her kisses and telling her how beautiful she was.  Lonnie snapped this pic and it is my favorite of all time.  Then she wanted to give Aunt Sarah some good luck kisses too!

the men making their way to the ceremony

Blakely and Kyndal were to walk down right after me.  We had practiced throwing the flowers and walking numerous times but she would never do both at the same time.  I was a little concerned but just thought if I can get her down the aisle then she can go off with Lonnie and he can handle her for the ceremony.  No way was she going to stand up there with us during the thing!  When they started walking I could hear her talking.  Then the talking got a little louder.  About a quarter of the way down she was full blown yelling ME SHROW FLOWERS while throwing them like baseballs.  Quiet giggles went around the crowd.  Then she made them all full on laugh when she stopped and yelled FLOWERS ALL GONE! UH OH! and proceeded to start picking them up.  I knew she would do that so I walked a little ways up the sidewalk and got her and Kyndal's attention.  All I had to do was say one word and they both booked it down the aisle.  Marshmallows.  

Then of course beautiful Sarah made her way down the aisle and the ceremony got started.  It was beautiful and we all got a little teary.  

And then the stressful part was over.  It was time to party!  We all went back into the house and popped the champagne before taking more pictures with the photographer. 

this girl was super happy to have the "standing in front of a crowd" thing over with!  

It was dreary all day but right when the ceremony was over the sky opened up and we got the most beautiful sunset.  I have to think that Sarah's dad was watching over her and gave her that sunset that she wanted.  It was beautiful.  

You know we had to play a little football....

We were all announced into the reception soon after that.  I didn't know that part was happening so there was pressure to make a grand entrance. 

nailed it  ;)

The rest was just all fun and dancing and more champagne.  

I don't even know what's going on here.  

or here... 

Blakely had the time of her life dancing.  She would shake her booty for a while and then come over and get someone to come dance with her. 

 I love kids dancing at weddings!  Lots of ring around the rosie..

My mom took her home when she was worn out and Lonnie and I stayed with our friends until the wee hours of the morn.  And I can't believe this but we did not get a family picture or even just a picture of me and Lonnie.  Total fail.  

I am so thankful for great friends.  We had such a great time together celebrating Sarah and CJ.  I feel like we need to do it again soon!  

And let's be honest....I have about 20 outtakes juuuuust like this one.  ;)

If you made it to the end of this super long post then you are my favorite reader by far!  ;)  

Flashback Friday-Sleepover Edition

Sarah texted me the other day saying that we needed to have a slumber party soon.  I have been thinking about it since then.  I think the last time we had one was wayyyy back in 2010 (not counting the bachelorette weekend spent out of town).  Katie had just bought a house and her husband was out of town so we made a weekend of it and had so very much fun.  As you can see.  And yes, Sarah and I wore the same shirt.  Not on purpose and not the first time that has happened.  

There was a lot of dancing.  

yes, I am spanking Jenny.  I don't even know...

Fun times.  I hope we can plan another one soon.  Jenny just bought a house so it seems like the perfect opportunity for a sleepover!  Happy Friday peeps!  

8 years ago...

I wrote this post on January 3rd (Lonnie's birthday) but somehow it got lost in my drafts and I forgot to publish it.  Basically, on his birthday, we were sitting around talking about all of the birthdays we have spent together.  I was telling him that I remember very well the first time we celebrated his birthday together.  He didn't remember it at all so I went looking for this picture to jog his memory.  It worked.  

January 3rd 2006

We had known each other like 6 months.  His mom took this picture.  The three of us had dinner at Lonnie's favorite restaurant (The Terrace...I'll never forget!).  It was the second time I met her.  I super love looking back on this picture because it makes me feel all of the feelings I was feeling then.  I remember all of it.  We were crazy in love, I was oh so nervous because I wanted his mom to like me (love me).  We were "talking" about moving here but mostly just crazy in love.  This picture makes me think about the beginning of us.  I love remembering that time.  I was a few months away from finishing school and he had recently completed his fellowship.  The world was at our fingertips.  He was turning 33 and I was 23.  BABIES.  Great memories.  

PS.  Have y'all ever even seen a picture of Lonnie with ZERO facial hair?

PPS.  My husband and my baby look very similar, no?  

Easy Valentine's (or not) activity for your toddler!

We woke up to straight up ice everywhere this morning.  All the schools are closed so even if I hadn't taken Blakely out of MDO this week she wouldn't be able to go today.  Juanet usually comes to clean on Tuesdays but the roads are bad so she's not coming either.

So me and B are stuck in the house again.  I wanted to come up with a fun way to entertain her.  I saw this idea on a blog (I can't remember where!) a while ago and it came to my mind this morning.  A super easy and not too messy toddler activity!  

As you all may know I have a craft closet and am somewhat of a craft supplies hoarder.  I had some leftover foam (I have no idea from what) so I cut out a bunch of different sized hearts.  I had heart cookie cutters so I pressed them into the foam and then cut on the indented line.  Very easy and it took me all of 10 minutes to cut these hearts out.  Honestly, I don't think you even need the the cookie cutters...  You can buy a large package of different color foam at your local craft store for pretty darn cheap.  (Hob Lob online sells this package for $6.  For comparison, I used 6 sheets to cut out all of these hearts.  If you don't want to cut stuff out they sell foam cut outs for a little more money)

Anyway.  I put a little bit of water in a sturdy bowl and laid some towels down just in case.  You really don't need that much water.  I only used enough to cover the bottom of this bowl.    

First dip the foam heart in the water.  

Then it will stick to the window.  Blakely was obviously amazed.  

She played with these for over an hour.  Unheard of.  Once they were all on the window she took them off, dried them on the towels and started over.  Then she put them all in the bowl and told me that they were swimming.  

I dried them off when we were finished playing and I think we will play with them again later in the bubble bath.  The foam doesn't really get that wet, it sort of repels the water so they dry out really easily.  Although if we play with them in the bath I will probably throw them out after that.  

I am already planning the next time I do this activity with her.  I am going to cut out different sized shapes and have her match them up and count them.  I have a lot of foam ;)