Daddy's Girls

We’ve been parents for close to 9 years now with kids in school for over 3. Even with extra curriculars we’ve still managed to be home for dinner (most) every night and have them in bed at 7:00. I knew the day of having crazy nights and eating what we can in the car would come and I guess it’s finally happened. Katie started soccer yesterday and that’s what team sports schedule does apparently. Especially with 2 working parents.  But she is the cutest little soccer player if I do so say myself! Monday and Wednesday’s will be practice from 5:45-6:30. And Wednesday will be crazy because I also pick the kids up at school and go straight to art for Lillian from 3:30 to 5:00. So yesterday was a quick dinner we could grab in between the two because Matt and I also had to pull some teamwork for him to pick them up at practice so that I could make it to a final walk-through before closing today.  And today I am especially thankful for Raegan and friends. Lillian had destination imagination try

We go from getting a phone call about talking too much on the 2nd day of school to being the very first student of the week. The only kid that completed every assignment and also didn’t lose any behavior points.  I surprised them at lunch for the first time this year before I even knew this. I was needing some extra one on one time after they were gone all weekend. :)  So since Daddy was staying at the camp I decided to celebrate her accomplishment by getting her decked out for soccer followed by dinner and playing at Chick-fil-a. We don’t normally do anything during the week so it was a treat.  Congratulations KJ! Keep up the good work. 

We had the nicest weekend celebrating our anniversary. Yaya picked the girls up right after school on Friday and kept them through today so that we could. I can’t tell you the last time we had an empty house with neither of us having to go to work but it’s been years. They went to the lake a couple of times over the summer but it was during the week. And most times they go to Yaya‘s or my dad comes here it’s so we can go somewhere else. So it was nice to have a quiet house with just the two of us.  Friday night Matt grilled steaks and we watched a movie. And Saturday was a movie and early dinner at Superior. And waking up to a quiet house this morning and being able to chill for hours was icing on the cake!  The girls had a great time too. The did lots of swimming plus went out to breakfast, a boat ride and swimming in the lake, crafts and golf cart rides. Yaya and Capn’s house is definitely the coolest!  So thankful for grandparents that love our girls and are happy to take them and g

13 years ago we got married at the Riu Palace on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. I won’t say everyday of the last 13 years has been perfect, but I can’t imagine anyone else I would want to spend this life with. I love you Matt and I’m so thankful for the husband and Dad that you are. Me and the girls never question where your priorities are because you’ve always put us first and we know how lucky we are to have you! Happy Anniversary!

What a lucky man that gets to take 3 girls out on a date Saturday night. :) We went to see Alpha, a movie about the first man to even have a dog (or wolf in this case) for a pet. It was fitting and we really wanted to see in theatre because Matt and Katie call us a wolf pack and are always howling at each other. It was a really good movie and fun for us to get to go. Have to get in that family time before hunting season starts, lol.  And today was a super special day too. Lillian was presented with her 3rd Grade Bible this morning.  I don’t know if All Methodist Churches do this but mine did as a kid. I don’t really remember getting it, but I still have it and it is the only Bible I have ever used. I also have my mom and my great grandmothers Bibles that they received in third grade to give to the girls one day from their namesake’s. I love that the traditional continues. 

Well, Lillian is a little over a week into school and this is Katie’s third day. And so far so good! Katie really likes it and I have not had too hard of a time adjusting to having no kids. Although I know it probably hasn’t really hit me yet and I have been staying pretty busy with work. BUT... it’s also only Katie‘s third day of school and I have already gotten a call from her teacher. Now in her defense, her teacher said she is calling a lot of parents and trying to be proactive instead of reactive which I totally get it. This is her first year teaching and she is under the microscope with the school board. She said she has already had two random stop bys so she is under a lot of pressure to make sure kids are following the rules right off the bat and Katie as one of her talkers. (Surprise surprise- she has always been a talker and I’m sure she feels like she rules the school with his much as she has been up there.😉;) Now she was quick to say she is not bad at all. She just had to

Katie and I both made it through her first day of kindergarten. Surprisingly I didn’t cry. (Which Lillian was disappointed about, haha) She was excited and that made it much easier to let her go. Her hug goodbye lingered for awhile but I looked back as I walked away and she was already busy talking to kids at her table and playing with play-doh.  Her day was fun and she played with our neighbor, Landry on the playground at recess. She said her friend Britney who has been her best friend for years ran away from her and I said that that’s just the way it goes when you change schools sometimes. She seemed OK with that and I’m glad that wasn’t upsetting.  I’m going to be OK with her being gone. We will get lots of cuddle time in the morning (I asked her today to promise me that would not stop) and play time in the afternoon. I think the thing that is the hardest is knowing I’m sending her out into the “real world” and I’m not ready for her to not be so innocent and naïve about everything.

Tomorrow it’s for real. Katie is going to kindergarten and I officially have no more babies home with me during the day. I’m having a tough time accepting that. I was sad when Lilli started school because I knew I would miss her and I definitely have those same emotions. But this time it’s more than that. Tomorrow marks the end of a whole season of my life. No more weekday play dates or dragging kids around for errands (I probably won’t miss that part;) No more afternoon cuddles while we wait for it to be late enough for the bus. No more skipping school just because. Now I do understand that this is part of life and I also realize that it probably will not take very long for me to find a new routine and enjoy the hours I get to myself. Katie is definitely mature enough and ready. And it won’t take long for her to find her new normal either. But not today... We have been making the most of the last few days. Saturday was a total lazy day and the girls and I never got out of our pjs. The

KatieJane is now officially a kindergartener.  She went today for her full day screening. This is way different than what we experienced with Lilli. She met her teacher one on one for about an hour while I waited outside the room. Now they have a full day of screening. There are 18 kids in her class so they divided in groups of 6 to go today, tomorrow and Monday before it really starts Tuesday with all kids together. She did great! She was nervous this morning but after some Mama cuddles, we got up and ready to go.  She did great at drop off and when she got off the bus she said it “was so fun but I’m so tired!” She has never had a school day that long.  They had P.E., an alphabet scavenger hunt, lunch in the cafeteria and read lots of books. She really had fun and says she’s excited to go back next week. I hope knowing that makes it easier on me Tuesday because I cried like a baby after I left her room today. 

Lillian is officially a 3rd grader! It’s crazy to look back at pictures and see how she has grown over the years.  This is every year from PreK3 to now.  She honestly has not been thrilled at the thought of going back. She much prefers to be home with the family and she was nervous about all the things that come with third grade such as switching classes and state testing. But after some cuddles from Daddy last night  She woke up ready to take it on!  I know you’re going to do great Lilli Leigh! Our neighbor Christy had a party at her house this morning for a bunch of incoming kindergartners. It was nice for Katie to get a day of fun and meet some people she will be in school with. We came home for an afternoon of playing and cuddles before we waited on Lillian to get off the bus.  And then Pops got here for the night.  We are keeping Saint while they go to Italy for about 3 1/2 weeks so it was very exciting for him to get to hear all about the first day. She loved it of course! She sa

Today was the day we had been anxiously awaiting for weeks. We finally got to meet the girls teachers and see the rooms where they will be spending a lot of time over the next 9 months and I couldn’t be more pleased with what we found. Katie’s teacher is only in her 2nd year but is so excited for a fresh start with Apollo and seems very nice. Katie really likes her and I signed up to be her room Mom. “Mrs. Johnson’s Jungle” looks like a fun place to learn and she is so thoughtful to have a survival kit for the parents too. Katie will go on Thursday for a full day of screening with only 7 kids (she’s even riding the bus home that day!) and then starts for real next Tuesday.  Lilli has 3 teachers this year but we only met her home room teacher, Mrs. Stokely. Lilli and I both really liked her immediately and she’s so excited that all of her best friends are in her class. She starts Wednesday so I really can’t believe that tomorrow is the last day of summer. She’s not ready but she’ll have

The girls spent all last week at music camp at church learning a whole play in one week. Lillian had a pretty big speaking role as Serious the Robot and also sang a solo and Katie was in the chorus. There were 50 kids total and it’s really amazing what these kids were able to learn in one week and they did great!  Matt and I were definitely proud parents. I had several people comment about he was smiling and beaming at her the whole time. Nana, Jimmy and Yaya were also there to cheer them on. They all drove over just to see the play and went home that night and I can’t tell you how much they meant to them (and me). All 3 of them had a drive for 6 pm on a Sunday but these girls definitely know they are loved. What a great way to end the summer! 

Summer is winding down and we are trying to make the most of it. We went to the lake for the afternoon after camp yesterday for some swimming with the cousins. Rachel came in with the kids and we were so glad to all be together. It’s been since the beach! Life is so busy for everyone now that kids are older so it’s great to make it a point to get together  Then today we went to Ella’s birthday party at Altitude. This is one of the girls favorite places and there were at least 25 kids for them to play with.  And when we got home we immediately changed in to our suits for the afternoon at the pool with Christy, Noah and Landry I’m so glad we were able to make the most of this last weekend. Only 3 more days until the 1st day of school for Lilli!