School's In Session

In reality, it's been in session for 2 months now and I'm just getting around to writing about it, bad mommy. But the long and the short of it is, kindergarten is going great, as is three year old school!

I will try to recap the first day, but to be honest, it was pretty much as you would expect. We all loaded up in the car together and headed out the door with showers taken, breakfast eaten, and lunches packed, all by 7:40 in the morning which was quite a feat until this day in our lives. Now as I write this, it's somewhat old hat, but, on that day, it felt monumental. We headed off to Bonita Springs Preparatory and Fitness Academy to deliver Payton to Mrs Fangmeier's classroom. On the first day, we were encouraged to walk our kindergartners into the classroom, get her settled and move on. We took a few minutes, took photos, and off we went. Payton was super excited, but as we left she did shed a few tears. I swore to myself I would be strong and not let her see me cry, so I put on my big girl panties and smiled, waved, promised to come back, and walked away, with a few tears hidden away in mommy land. Jason thinks I'm silly when I cry at these things, but he let me have my few tears in the car as we headed to Preschool at the Lamb to unload another! What I haven't mentioned to now in the story is that as the morning was progressing, I was coming down with a nasty stomach illness, that makes it all somewhat fuzzy, and each step of the day fuzzier. So, there aren't many pictures of Parker's drop off, and my memory is not 100%, what I do know is that Parker was returning to her classroom from the previous year and already knew most of the staff quiet well. She was still hesitant, but didn't make too much a stink. And I headed home to an empty house. Bliss, I'd been looking forward to having an empty house for years, and I finally had it! Too bad I was too sick that day to really enjoy it. I figured out a few things to do with myself until pick up time, and headed out to get Payton. She came bouncing out of the school so excited to tell me how much fun it was, and I was thrilled for her!
She told me that she really wanted to ride the bus the next day to get home. I told her that she might be able to later, but for the next day I'd be picking her up so that I could take her to dance class. Well, things didn't work out quite like I had planned. I knew that Tuesday afternoons were going to be crazy this year because I'd scheduled Parker to be in a dance class from 3-4 with me running over to the school to pick up Payton at 3:45 and rushing her back for her 4:15 dance class, and this was to be the first of these crazy afternoons. What I didn't plan for was the school sending her on the bus! I pulled up in a rush into the pick up line that had gone so smoothly the previous day, asked for my second day kindergartner only to be told that she had been put on the BUS! By this time I was worried about Parker coming out of her class at 4 scared because I wasn't there to collect her, so I rushed back to the dance school, on the way calling Jason to tell him to get to the bus stop. After collecting Parker, I decided to go back to the school, just to make sure Payton REALLY had been put on a bus. The thought of her waiting at the school thinking I'd forgotten her made my stomach hurt, so I just had to go back and confirm it hadn't been a mistake. Poor Mrs Fangmeier looked like she wanted to cry when I asked to confirm that and asked WHY she'd been put on the bus. See, it was also her first year of school at BSPFA, so she was trying to learn the ropes too. Apparently the school had Payton on the bus riding list, because when I signed her up for the school last February I'd checked a box to inquire about using the bus service. I tried to reassure her that I wasn't mad, but that for future reference she'd be picked up. That was until I got home, and the darned kid was SO proud of her bus riding that she insisted on riding it full time! That lasted about two weeks and the newness wore off. Now we're both happy to meet up in the pick up line each and every afternoon at 3:45 without fail. For now it's fun to have that bit of time in the car together, wonder how the next 14 years of it are going to feel...

Colorado Bound

In late July early August we snuck in one last trip before we have to start playing by the public school god's calendar, packed our bags and headed for summer fun in Colorado. The girls spent the whole month of July asking, "Is it today,is it today? Are we getting on the airplane today?", precisely why I don't tell them about ANYTHING fun until the moment it's happening. But alas, the day arrived. I had some dread going into the adventure, but kept my hopes high, and expectations low for the travel days. It was the first time since Christmas '09 that we had all four flown together, and this time we had connections and planned to carry on all of our luggage for 8 days. The last trip involved vomit both directions, so I was rightfully nervous. But, as they often do, my girls impressed me and were mostly perfect angels the whole time. They tried hard to help carry bags, behaved well, played well, and even tried to help a baby in the seat next to us by sharing their snacks. I was very proud of them both.

Once we arrived in Colorado we had a jam packed week planned, starting with an overnight camping trip with Grandma & Grandpa, Collin, Robynn, Addy & Jax and Cousin Angie. Once again, a new experience that caused me some anxiety as we were unsure how the girls would do "roughing it". The girls were in HEAVEN. They tromped around with Addy and Jax as if they'd been camping all their lives. They were naturals! The Birthday Twins, Payton and Angie, took off right away crossing the creek walking over a downed log. Then the girls found a nice big well burnt log that was long enough that all three of them could wrap their hands around to pick it up getting black soot all over themselves before anyone could stop them. They played in the ice cold stream water as if it were 95 degrees. Jax worked hard to keep up with a grim most of the time, well, that is when he wasn't falling over things. Parker learned the hard way that we don't wear our shoes into tents when she tracked Baily poop into Angie's tent in the first 30 minutes or so. Maybe Angie learned a lesson about not inviting 4 little kids into her tent, we'll have to ask her about that. As the evening moved on it began to rain. And rain. And then it rained some more. But, as we Orr's were taught to do, we partied on, no stinking rain will ruin our parade! We played in the camper for hours and the kids never really thought much of it. Eventually we started to get hungry, the rain slowed and we started dinner, which quickly became dinner under canopy as it started to rain again. So we huddled up, snuggled up and ate in shifts holding kids. Payton loves a good storm, Parker Addy and Jax were not so sure about it all. There might have been some tears, and there were definitely 6 little ears with hands over them. Soon enough we gave up on the canopies and moved the kids back to the camper and started tucking them in for the night. This is the first time P & P have shared a bed, and I had no idea how it was going to go. The plan was that our girls would sleep in one bed, Addy and Robynn in the other, and I would sleep on the table/cot area in the middle. Jason, Collin and Jax had the big tent. Sounded like a great plan. As the night progressed things changed. I ended up in bed with my girls, Robynn ended up - well, I'm not really sure, and Jason ended up in the camper on the table/cot area because Jax was not into the whole sleeping thing and cried for a good part of the night. We woke in the morning, some of us laughed it off, and had breakfast. Payton had big dreams of roasting marshmallows on our camping trip and I couldn't stand the thought of disappointing her, so, after a healthy breakfast, we sent Grandpa and the kids off to hunt for marshmallow roasting sticks. There really aren't words to describe moments like those, watching Grandpa and the 4 of them tromping around makes my heart go pitter patter. They returned, and had a ball roasting/burning/eating marshmallows. That's what camping's all about! Since returning home Payton's already been making plans for our camping trip NEXT summer. Oh boy.

The four of us took a day trip to Boulder and Jason gave us a quick walking tour of the campus. It was either orientation or tour time for incoming students, so we saw tons of 18-19 year olds walking around with their parents in tow, doing the same thing we were. Walking in buildings, poking around, trying to imagine. For them it was what will be, for us it was what was and also what could be. Very strange to think that in 13 years we'll be those parents which is

The rest of the trip was so much fun, but I can't type for days on end so I'll try to cut myself short. We had a chance to catch up with friends on Sunday at Arapahoe where the girls had their first diving board experiences. The loved it, too bad there are so few of them around anymore. Then we had a party at Mom and Dad's to catch up with many other friends. Payton worked on her Jody chant and charmed everyone. We spent every moment we could with Addy and Jax, and the girls loved every bit of it. I do love living in Florida, but I sure hate that the girls are so far away from everyone in Colorado. We're so lucky that we do get these blocks of time, and that everyone makes such an effort to set the time aside to get together, to travel and to make the best of the moments. I have so many photos from the week, I have no idea how I'll choose which ones to post here.

Fishy, Fishy

I know that I spend a lot of time venting, laughing and releasing frustrations in my blog, but not today. Today is all pride. Today I want to tell you what it's like for me to see my girls succeed.

We live in Florida and our girls have been in the pool and ocean practically since day one, at least since day 20 or 30 for certain. They've always loved to be in the water, alone or with us, just love to splash and play. For Payton, I think swimming came more naturally than walking, she was literally all over the pool by herself as soon as she first had lessons starting right about when she turned two. That summer she was a swimmer, she'd jump in, swim across and do it over and over again. To be honest, it wasn't pretty, it was actually pretty scary/disturbing to watch, but she could do it and we were proud. That was three years ago, and since then it's gotten less painful to watch, but it still wasn't graceful. Until now. This summer we decided to sign both girls up for swim lessons at the public pool away from their friends and with a new teacher. It was hard to say the least, because Payton's class was at 8 a.m. for 2 weeks, 4 days a week, but so worth it. Payton is a ROCK STAR in the water! Both girls had an amazing teacher, Chris, who really knows how to work with kids. In watching Payton I've learned something about her, she is a pleaser. I guess I knew that before, but seeing her working with the teacher, working so hard to do exactly as instructed, it was so obvious. One day I suggested that she try to rub her tattoo off while she was in the water during class. She set me straight right away, telling me that she has to pay attention to the teacher and can only do what he tells her to. Who could argue. Throughout the class Chris complimented Payton, and it just fueled her fire to learn more strokes and to do them even better. By the time the session was done, he was suggesting we look into getting our little fish into the swim team. And then there's Parker. Parker's struggled more to master swimming, and it's been hard for all of us. She LOVES to be in the water, but being the youngest of the girls in the neighborhood and not having learned to swim, it's always a little frustrating for her. She plays on the steps while everyone else is everywhere, she begs for us to carry her around, she sometimes just plays around the edge of the pool when she gets bored on the steps. She's had lessons before, but she's just never been able to GET it. She gets close, then has a scare where she swallows a little too much and panics, and we're back to her clinging to a grown up. Well, not anymore! I can't even describe the feeling watching her figure it out over the last few weeks, I sit on the pool deck fighting back tears that well up each time I see her. And then she looks over when she reaches the edge and gives me a HUGE grin, and of course another to Chris. It's almost too much for me to take. I'm sure that a few weeks from now it will be old hat to all of us, and we'll forget the days of Parker on the edge, but for now, I'm one proud mama! Scares me to think what's ahead.

Little Ballerinas = Big Ego

A few weeks ago the girls had their Spring Dance Recital, wrapping up their first full year of dance classes and receiving their first trophies ever. Both girls are enamoured with the trophies, they carry them around, play with them and even took them to school to show them off. We're very proud of them both, and they have received lots of congratulations from everyone including family and teachers. Payton's being moved up to a class that competes and Parker's moving up to the class that Payton has attending this year. We are supper proud of them. Everyone's been telling Payton how she was the BEST in her class, and apparently she's taken it to heart. Here's the conversation we had in the car on the way to class.

Payton: You know, I really deserved that trophy, because everyone tells me that I was the best in my class. So I really deserved that.

Me: Yes honey, you were very good.

Oh boy, we've created a monster.

Marriage

Recent Conversation with Payton

Payton: Mom, guess what.

Me: What,Payton.

Payton: Sophia's mommy and daddy got married. they even kissed. But now they don't love each other. Today Sophia's daddy picked her up, but usually her mommy does.

Me: Okay...

Sugar and Spice x Three

Sugar and spice, and everything nice...WHAT?!?! That's what they told me little girls were made of. My dear Parker, I'll give you a little sugar, a LOT of SPICE (like cayenne pepper maybe) and everything nice, well, that one's tough. You are three now and you are three times trouble. I often tell you that either your middle name is trouble or that I spell trouble P-A-R-K-E-R. You are all attitude, weather you're being bad (often), argumentative (also often), sweet (usually right after bad/argumentative), or charming, you do it all with attitude. Daddy and Grandma Jackie like to blame me, but I think I'll pass the buck, you get your "spice" from the Kipp side of the family, and maybe some of your Grandma Joan in there too! The problem is, you are so stinking gorgeous it's hard to get really mad at you, although we have mastered the ability to do it. At school Miss Deb and Miss Angie tell me how sweet you are, and how smart you are. They tell me that you are very good at following directions. Of course, I know you're smart. You impress (and distress) me daily with your smarts. Last week when we were trying to teach Payton her phone number, you picked it right up along with her. You were bumped up to the 3 turning 4 year old class room when you were 2 because you were too far ahead of those 2 year old "babies" in the other room. I had a "portfolio review" with Miss Deb just yesterday where she went on and on about you, I don't know what you do to her, but she believes you are the bee's knees. She bragged and bragged about your cutting skills and a cute little house you had built by yourself out of popsicle sticks. I have to laugh as she brags about how well you cut, since I've found little snips out of TWO of your favorite dresses. At home you're forbidden to touch scissors, but apparently she's got you trained well at school. You've learned to open the fridge on your own, so you think you can help yourself to anything you find. When you go missing we always know there's trouble to be found.
Grandma Jackie calls you "Me Too". You really don't have any concept that you are two years younger than Payton. You believe, and for the most part do, everything she does. I'm not sure how you're going to handle her going to kindergarten next year, you are both going to miss the other one an insane amount. You are dying to "go to soccer" because we told Payton that she's going to learn to play soccer at school next year. I mentioned to Payton that she could get her ears pierced if she'd stop sucking her thumb, and you’ve decided that you want your ears pierced and there's no need to wait since you don't suck your thumb. Now I hear it about every 30 minutes, "Mommy, get my ears pierced NOW?!?!" It was hell waiting for your birthday to roll around, you were certain the whole time we were planning and celebrating Payton's last month that it was also your birthday. And the funniest little sister/big sister recent story is that last week I heard Payton SCREAMING from upstairs "MOMMY, MAKE HER TAKE MY DRESS OFF, I WANT TO WEAR THAT!!!!!" Oh boy, it's gonna be a looong 15 years. The only relief I see is that your feet are going to outgrow Payton's in the next couple months, and well, we do have a LOT of clothes, so hopefully we can find something you will both like every day that isn't the same item. Soon enough Payton will be in uniforms at school and it won't be such an issue.
With all of this said, you are the light of my life, you make me laugh and cry. Each morning you wake me up about 7, and when it's not a school day that gives us an hour or so before anyone else is up in the house. Sometimes I put on cartoons for you and go back to sleep. But other times we have fun together snuggling, or making eggs or playing together. As much as I hate to be up at such an hour, I do love a little one on one time with you. I can't wait to see what your future holds Baby Girl.

Did I mention you THINK you can read? Here you're reading a card that you tell us says "Happy Birthday Parker, Charly, Leslie, Jack...Karl...and AVA"

Payton you've just turned 5, and we adore you at 5. In the fall you'll head off to school, all day, every day, to "five year old school" as you fondly calls it. The other day the realization that you'd be in school all day hit you and you were so sad that you would be away from us so much. It's a little shocking to me too.
At 5 you are darling, sweet, caring and so grown up! You've always been a pretty good kid, but these days you are easier and easier, and more and more fun. You're inquisitive, asking questions such as "How does the car run?" and sometimes the tough ones like "Where's Ava's mom?" You love to dance and to dress up, but you also love to fish in the lake, and can't wait for your big fishing day with Collin and Laura out on the boat. You're starting to take a lot of interest in writing, asking how to spell all sorts of words, and then practicing, even writing your own thank you notes this year (painful for both of us). At your five year doctor appointment the doctor asked if you knew your phone number, and I felt terrible that I hadn't taught you, so in a matter of two days you learned it, and now know both mine and Daddy's. I love that you have the self confidence to speak to adults, and ask questions, even if you're a bit shy at first, it makes you even more charming when you do come out of your shell. You love to swim, and you jump at any chance you can get to have Daddy take you to play tennis. You can't get enough of your friends, especially your BFF Charly, sometimes making your other friends jealous of your relationship. Even though you girls are a year apart, you're the best buds and play wonderfully together. I admire you for always including your sister, even when she makes things harder, you still include her in your circle of friends and sometimes even watch out for her. At school you spend your time drawing flowers, rainbows, and practicing your hearts with Sophia. Your little stick people are the BEST.
A lot is happening around us right now, so many life changing events for our loved ones. You're dad and I lay in bed at night wondering how to explain it all to you. You're so observant, you know when things are out of wack, and, being inquisitive, you ask questions. For now, we try to answer your questions simply without adding any stress to you're little life. All we want you to think about is playing, learning and enjoying the year to come. We'll handle the rest.
We love you princess!!

Shampoo and other Parker Troubles

In less than one week Parker has gone into the shower, pulled down my shampoo and filled her dry (previously clean) hair with gobs and gobs of shampoo, twice. I don't know why, and I'm pretty sure that there is no good reason other than she's Parker. The first time I thought it was a little funny, told her it was bad, grabbed her, stripped us both down and jumped in the shower. The second time didn't go so well. Instead, I grabbed her, tossed her alone in the shower with her clothes on and turned on the shower, which starts off pretty darned cool. I rinsed her off while she tried to figure out what was happening, all the while reminding her that using the shampoo without mommy is naughty. Wonder if she's going to try this again, or if I'm going to have to start locking the bathroom doors.

Guess I'll add shampoo to the shopping list.

This is the same month that I found her in her bed at nap time with her legs, sheets and wall covered in ball point pen. I've since learned that you can't get ball point pen off the wall with Magic Eraser, and you can't cover it with yellow paint. Still looking for a solution to this one.

Are we three yet???

Nah, nah, nah LOO LOO!

I think that Payton brought this phrase home from school, and Jason QUICKLY broke her of it, teaching her it's not nice and not tollerable. Somehow Parker hasn't gotten the memo, so her new favorite past time is running around torturing Payton chanting it at her. Payton's convinced it's a bad word and has a very naughty meaning, I just think it's hysterical. Guess I should stop her, but I'm pretty sure it's better than some things she could be calling out to her big sister.

Seriously?

I'm sitting at my desk (which is right outside Parker's door) frantically trying to get a few things done while the girls are supposed to be napping, when I hear the clinking of a fork against a plate. That's strange, both girls appear to be in their rooms. I race downstairs to see if someone (Parker) is at the table eating the rest of lunch that had been abandon. I notice that Parker's plate is missing from the table, but can't find her anywhere. Thinking she might have snuck downstairs to finish up, I look in the laundry room, all the corners and under the table. Nothing. I'm thinking I've lost my mind, where could the plate have gone? So, I head back upstairs to my desk, thinking I'll pop my head into her room to see how the nap is progressing. I find her sitting in her bed, plate in lap, using her fork to eat the remaining chicken and broccoli. wow, just wow. How did I not hear her go downstairs, carry a plate of food - with silverware back upstairs (with one arm in cast) get into her room, close the door, climb into bed and proceed to eat a meal I previously battled her to eat.
This story takes place about 10 minutes after I found her with my Clinique powder poured out all over her sheets, also while I thought she was in her room.

Angel Face

These days Payton seems to be our little angel, each girl takes her turn as angel and devil, so don't think I'm playing favorites. The devil stories are funny to read and write. While the angel times are wonderful and proud moments, but I often forget to write them down. So here's my tribute to the current "good girl".

Payton seems to mostly know right from wrong, and often even chooses the right. She's inquisitive, always coming up with questions that make you go hmmm or give you a good laugh. She makes up songs and dances moving with grace (kind of). It's darling to watch, although sometimes frustrating to hear her constant noise that often has no real message to get across, just noise to amuse herself.

Right now she has a constant quest to write. In the last few weeks or so she's fallen in love with writing. She loves to practice her own name, Parker, Mommy, Daddy, Oliver, Ava, Charly, Grandma. We hope and pray this love of learning will continue into kindergarden next year.

Payton adores music. She's had a girl crush on Taylor Swift for a while, she LOVES to "Rock Out", and can party until the cows come home. Payton has a few songs she's deemed her own, with her own names for them. Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" is known in our house as "Short Pants" and is also affectionately called our song (Payton and Mommy's), Pink's "Raise Your Glass" is know as "My Rock Out Song". I wish I could think of some of the others, it's too funny to hear her go on about them.

Payton's has had her own revelation recently that she's growing up, she likes watching "grown up" shows. It seems to have started a few weeks ago with I-Carley ( a Disney channel kids drama) with her friend Jordan and when she sat down and watched the movie "Powder" with Daddy. Now she points out to us any time she's tuning into what we've got on the tv, guess it's time to REALLY start paying attention to what's on the boob tube!

We recently lost our cat Oliver, who I've had since I turned 21 years old. Payton loved Oliver dearly, and Jason and I were very concerned about how she would take it. Payton is a very emotional girl, so I was terrified of telling her, probably more so than making the decision to do it. We decided it would be easiest on her to tell her after the fact instead of before hand having her say good-bye and having to explain our "choice" in killing a member of our family. Ugh, I even hate typing it out. So we picked the girls up from school, brought them home and just told them that Oliver had died that day, no need for tons of details for a 2 and 4 year old. She was a trooper, I was so proud. Of course she cried, but I was so thankful that she didn't get mad or blame us, she was just sad for the loss of her friend. Within a few minutes she was okay, and although she's asked some basic questions since then, she's done very well with it. She even helps us out when Parker asks, over and over, "Where's Oliver?" Always the good big sister she pipes up "Remember Parker" Oliver's dead" and goes about her business.

My little angel.

Parker's Broken Arm

We all knew it would happen, but I'd hoped not QUITE so soon, not at 2 1/2 years old. Parker landed in the hospital with a broken arm last week. The part I find funny is that she didn't do it jumping off the 5th stair in our house, or climbing the fence, or even falling off the top of the playground equipment. Nope, she did it innocently (I'm told) sliding off the bottom of the slide at school.
The story goes something like this. 3:45 p.m., my phone rings, it's the school saying Parker fell off the slide and is now favoring one arm over the other. They didn't exactly say come get her, so I didn't think too much of it, said I was going to finish the errand I was running, then I'd come over. I headed to the school about 15 minutes later, and as I was pulling in the parking lot the phone rings again with the teacher suggesting that I need to contact the pediatrician right away. I'm thinking, seriously, she bumped her elbow people! I head inside to find a bawling little girl, but I'm still not convinced. I pick her up off the assistant directors lap and tried to sooth her to no avail. I'm starting to buy into the hurt theory, but not serious injury. The whole time the director is telling me she needs to be seen, she needs an x-ray. It seems she could sense I wasn't buying in, so she made a point to tell me that they'd be footing the bill. This made me a bit more willing, but I still wanted Jason's 2 cents before jumping into the excitement of it all, not to mention the details such as what to do with the OTHER sister, Jason's 5:30 final walk-through in Lehigh and who's gonna do anything with her at 4:30! So, I loaded the girls up in the car and headed home. Here's where I need to offer my poor baby a public apology that she can throw in my face as an adult. Remember sweetheart, I really didn't think it was broken. In loading the girls in the car I had to finagle Parker's arm into the car seat, and it sickens me now to realize how much that probably hurt her, I'm so, so, so, so, sorry honey. I hope that I was gentle, but I'm certain it hurt a bunch. From there we headed to the house and as soon as Jason saw it swelling he sent us on to see someone. Payton headed to the Pabst for the evening, Jason to Lehigh, and Parker and I to Bonita Community. I am so thankful that A. they got her in quickly and B. Grandma Jackie dropped what she was doing and came to help. We were in and out of there in an hour with an xray and diagnosis of a broken humerus, right at her elbow. The bad part is that they sent us to Heathpark where we ended up spending the night. Poor kid cried for what seemed like days, but it was only hours. She was scared and hurt, and no one was making it better. It was after 9 by the time the nurses got around to giving her anything for the pain. Looking back, I feel really bad that I didn't fight more for her, but once we were in our room (at 7) she calmed down and seemed happy to watch cartoons. Eventually they did come in and started and IV, which seemed to make her more mad than the broken arm itself. She had her broken left arm in a splint, and her right arm/hand all tied up with the IV and the hand taped to a pillow/pad thingy so she couldn't use either hand. The night went pretty well and in the morning they took us down for surgery. It was pretty quick, and within 30 minutes or so the surgeon came out and told me all was well. A few minutes later the nurses took me back to her in recovery. You always wonder how you will react to anaesthesia. Well, Parker is a violent one! She woke up kicking and punching! ME! I feel a bit bad admitting this, but I was very thankful for the nurse who gave her some more something to calm her down, something went into the IV and she was suddenly happy to snuggle in my arms. Daddy arrived shortly thereafter and we all headed upstairs to wait for her to wake and head home. She was released that afternoon and we headed home for a LONG weekend. Parker was whiny and demanding, Payton was pouty and demanding, Mommy was fussy exhausted, and Daddy, well, he was trying. Eventually we all got the swing of it, and now it seems our only big frustration is bathing. So, we just avoid it! Not really, but maybe a little. I have a countdown in my head of days left to getting her really clean, and we're at about 14 days, can't wait.


So, I've learned a few things from this. First of all, I am my mother. I feel like I underreacted just like my mom would have (I do mean that in a good way). I didn't freak out at anyone or about anything, I didn't cry (not until she was in surgery and couldn't see me) and I didn't really think anything was wrong until I saw the x-ray. Love ya mom, thanks for the cool head. Also, I learned that if you have to take a kid to the hospital, unless it's a dire emergency DO go home and grab some basic items (computer, phone charger, toothbrush, FOOD) cause you're just gonna sit and wait for a really long time so you might as well take 5 minutes to prepare. I've learned that washing a kid with a cast is misserable, but that otherwise they jump right back into life. Oh yeah, one more thing, I learned that Tylenol with Codine seems to be the one thing that will make Parker fall asleep when put to be at 8 p.m.. Sure wish we had more of that stuff!

Catching Up

Christmas has now come and gone, and we're back into the swing of things, but I don't want to let it go without capturing a few of the great moments with the girls. As I suspected, it was such an incredibly fun fun fun year in our house. Payton's now 4.5 and Parker 2.5, and they are both in love with the holiday.
Both girls were in ah every time we'd leave the house in the evening seeing all of the houses with lights and decorations. On more that one occasion Parker gleefully shouted out "I see a REINDEER" to which Payton would respond "A REAL one?!?", and each time Parker answered "YES!!!"
Payton was quick to decide that the Pabst light display far out did our lights, due to the simple fact that her icicle lights were colored, while ours were white. Seriously kid, you're starting to give mommy a Leslie complex! She also informed me this season that it would be okay if I died and she didn't have a mommy (a terrible threat I threw out when she almost knocked me off the ladder) because she could just go live with Leslie. Wow, just wow.



This year is the first time we have had the girls enrolled in a dance class, and therefore there was a grand performance for the holiday. We of course had no idea how this would play out, so tried to keep our expectations in check. Last year I'd taken Payton to watch some of her friends dance recital at a mall stage, and when I asked her if she'd like to do that next year she was quite sure that she did NOT want to get up on stage. Apparently she's over THAT. Both girls did a fantastic job, maybe not catching all the steps just so, but they got right out there on a huge auditorium stage and danced their little hearts out,brought a few tears to my eye. Payton's already asking when they can do it again. I honestly don't remember ever doing anything like that so young, but I do remember going to see Angie (I think) at a recital in St Louis when she was little. That has got to be terrifying for them, but I was super duper impressed by both girls. When the show was over, we learned that Parker is the youngest student at the school, la-tee-da, as Grandma Orr would say.
As I suppose every generation realizes, Christmas just gets better and better for kids! There were SO many things to do in the weeks leading up to and even after Christmas. We had party after party, craft after craft to do. We went on an nature winter lights walk with Grandma Jackie and roasted marshmallows for s'mores. We had a cookie and craft party at Kaitlyn and Karyn's house. We went to the winter festival in Bonita Springs with the Nerneys, the girls played in "snow", Parker and I even got to go sledding! Of course there's our tradition of visiting Santa at Bass Pro, where I think the girls get almost as excited to see all of the fish in the big tanks there as they do to see Santa. So many events that we had to skip some, just to save all of our sanity.
In trying to make the most of our Christmas Eve we decided to cram in a day full of activity. We started by letting the girls open a few gifts. This is when I learned that Payton has become quite particular in what she likes and doesn't. I was so excited for her to open a fantastic deep red leather jacket, when she quickly burst my bubble, with a very flat "I don't like it" accompanied by a quick toss to the side. The next day it became more and more apparent that if it isn't pink it has no place in her closet. Thank goodness Grandma came through with Zhu Zhu pets, as the girls were very happy to have a fun toy to play with. We'd also invited Grandma Jackie to join us for a movie, Disney's version of Rapunzel, Tangled, at the theater so off we went with candy in hand. That went pretty well with everyone happy when it was all said and done then we rushed home for an abbreviated nap, then drug the girls out of bed and into their Christmas best to head off the madhouse, I mean church. Our good friends Tom and Jill had been talking about preparing a traditional Seven Fishes dinner, after going to church, and they invited us to join. At first I was hesitant and nervous. Hesitant because I'm not familiar with Catholic traditions, nervous to have my unruly children in a church service. But, as Jason said, he had to go as a kid, so our kids could too! We arrived early enough to get seats in the very, very back, and to have 10 minutes to sit before the service started. That was just enough time for Parker to get antsy. So, in the first 5 minutes of the service she and I headed outside where she informed me that she was ready to go home. Ha, ha, ha, not happenin kid. So back in we went. She made it a little longer, then headed outside with Daddy for a stint, then back in to finish off the service. Overall, I thought we did pretty well, and Payton was a very good girl throughout. We headed back to the Nerney's and had a yummy dinner and time to enjoy our dear friends, realizing how truly blessed we are.


From there I'll tell a story that is now funny, although it certainly wasn't at the time, and hopefully the girls will not remember. Momma got sick, very very sick. We got back from the Nerney's around 9 and the girls rushed off to bed after putting out Oreos in hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. We'd eaten a ton, and I was so full that I suggested Jason and I set an alarm clock and lay down for a bit before doing our Santa duties. About 10 minutes before the alarm went off, I woke and rushed to the bathroom, which is pretty much where I spent the remainder of Christmas Eve and into the wee hours of Christmas morning. I'll spare the gory details, but I've NEVER felt so bad. I had thoughts of rushing to the hospital, but couldn't stomach the thought of destroying Christmas morning for the girls. How do you explain to two little girls that we'll be watching mommy barf in the emergency room instead of diving into Santa's treasures! Poor Jason was in a horrible predicament. He had a wife who was certainly dying, had very little knowledge of what/where Santa had hidden things around the house, and two little girls with big expectations. I tried and tried to go into the hiding room to get him started, but each time had to run back to the bathroom. Eventually he found the bulk of stuff, and tried to get some sleep while I tossed turned and ran to the bathroom all night. Eventually the sun started to come up and the reality that the day was coming and I was going to live (a little drama here). I was in good enough shape to realize I HAD to have a shower, but rough enough to not be able to do it myself. Jason showered my pathetic being, and we headed downstairs to see the girls in all of their amazement. And even though I was a mess, it was so much fun to see their excitement! Santa came through and delivered bikes for both and a kitchen to share. After playing for a few minutes Payton stopped dead in her tracks and said with a little fear, "but...where's my pillow pet???" We pointed out that there were still unopened packages and she was quite relieved to find her much coveted unicorn pillow pet, thank goodness. So the hits of this Christmas would be Pillow Pets, Zhu Zhu pets, bikes and the kitchen. They also seem to spend a lot of time playing in Parker's new tent and fighting over Parker's camp chair and Payton's Leapster game. There was so much that some of their gifts I've put away and will break out over the next few months so that they can enjoy everything as toys loose their luster. We played in the street with the Pabst crew and headed to Grandpa Jim and Grandma Barb's house for more gift opening and another great meal, which I could still hardly partake in at 6 p.m.. So sad, it looked amazing and Jason and the girls loved it!
We rang in the New Year with yet another party at the Carlson's and finished off our night dancing at the Nerney's until the wee hours of the morning. Boy oh boy are we gonna have trouble on our hands in the coming years. These girls danced until 1:30 in the morning and would have kept going if we'd let them.
I have to laugh at myself, because before the two week school break I was kind of sort of dreading being stuck at home with two hiped up Christmas junkie kids without being able to attend to work and have my moments of peace being in the office with adults. But I have to admit, it was really fun. The girls are getting old enough to do things and they just get so excited about it all! I even found myself getting weepy that this time in our lives is going to be so short. In the next few years they will learn about Santa, they will think that dancing with Mom and Dad in the wee hours of New Year isn't so cool (then in their 20's hopefully they will figure out it is cool), their wish lists are going to be harder to influence and in turn to fulfill, they won't be amazed by the REAL REINDEER in the neighbors yard. For now, I'll just savor the moments we have had, and look forward to next year!!