Kiddie Gaga

We went to a friend's house on Saturday night. There happens to be a drum set and microphone in their music room. Somehow the microphone and stand found it's way in to the kitchen. 

This is what ensued:



I could barely get her to stand still long enough to snap a photo with my camera phone. She was singing and twirling and acting like the rock-star that she is.



I do think that a make-up lesson is in order when she turns 16, although the trip back to 1986 was delightful.

Wordless Wednesday - Generations

"If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors.  All of them are alive in this moment.  Each is present in your body. 

You are the continuation of each of these people."

~Thich Nhat Hanh

When we were in Illinois a few weeks ago, we finally connected with my grandfather.  He was doing yardwork when we pulled in to his driveway and he immediately put down his leaf blower and pulled up a chair.

We spent nearly an hour talking

and sharing that afternoon. 

And what a blessing it was,

to spend that time,

four generations together.

Something Good - Cuteness

I am linking up with LeeAnn today over at The Life of Rylie and Bryce too.  If you feel like sharing something good, and spreading some good cheer, head on over there and link up!

For the purposes of this post Good = Cute, so let's just go with it, mkay?

My something cute for the week happened early Monday morning.  If Chloe is going to wake up at night she always seems to do it between 3 and 4 am, and usually it's exactly at 3:45 am that I first hear her begin to stir.  Lately, though, she hasn't been calling my name, or crying...she's been singing. 

Last night at 3something in the morning (I did not reach for my glasses so I have no idea what time the clock actually read) Chloe started her "usual" on the monitor.  I listen for a moment and roll over.  She continues, over and over, and over again.  About 10 mintues later, Hubs turns towards me and mumbles "What exactly is she saying?"  Me: "You can't understand that?  She's singing, "No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed." Him:  "She is even cute in the middle of the night."

She sure is!  I have no idea when she stopped singing, but at some point she did and she fell back asleep.  That child makes me smile even when I sleep.

Oh...and we have Pig Tails y'all!  Real Pig Tails!  It only took her 2 years and 3 months to grow them, but we did it.  She still doesn't really like to wear them, but when she does, it's hella cute! 

Happy Wednesday!

I Gotta Feeling

That Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night...

Nearly a week ago Camdyn graduated from pre-school.  The children wore the shirts that they tie dyed a few months ago, and they wore their smiles, and an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

The teachers lined them all up on the stage while cameras flashed and moms waved.

Then a little voice boomed "Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance."  My girl commanded every one's attention.  She projected her little voice and spoke with authority.  I was so proud of her.

Her teacher told me that this is the last year that they will be allowed to say The Pledge of Allegiance and being that this is the last time it will be spoken at a graduation, she wanted to make sure it was done right.  She is disheartened about that, I think, and I am too.  Our pre-school is at a church, you would think that The Pledge would at least have a place in church...

Then the big class performed their song and Camdyn sat and waited patiently until they finished.

Then, it was her class' turn.  All six children stood, the teacher turned on their music, and they began singing their song about the colors of the rainbow and they had sign language for the entire song.  Cam looked so cute as she concentrated on all of the signs.  She didn't miss a single one. 

Then the two classes sang a song together that they wrote themselves to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas...only it was called the Twelve Days of Summer.  It was really cute! 

Then it was time to receive their certificates or "cer-tif-li-cates" as Cam called it. 

And in less than 30 minutes, the sum of 5 years spent learning in pre-school, came to a close.  I got choked up a few times...and it was mostly just pride that was lodged at the back of my throat.  But, really, I was happy for her.  Happy that pre-school has been such a positive experience for her.  Happy at how much she has learned and grown, and how loved she has always felt at school over the past 5 years. 

We then went to the church courtyard and had cake, cookies, and juice.  Cam wore her corsage that I bought her to mark the occasion, but she by-passed on the cake.  She just wanted to run around with her friends.

Then, most of the parents packed up their kids and we headed down the road to a pizza joint that also has a mini arcade and an ice cream shop.  The kids played games, ran around, ate pizza and played, all while the adults lamented about the Pre-School years over a beer. 

As much as Cam will miss the teachers and her classmates as she heads to Kindergarten in the fall, I think I'll miss the friendships that we've built with the families in her class.  We'll still get together, though, I think I'll have to host a "reunion" party once a year. 

At about 8:45 I headed home with two very sweaty and sleepy little girls, who bypassed the tub, and went straight to bed and didn't bother to wake during the night. 

I couldn't imagine a better to close to this chapter.

I gotta a feelin' that tonight's gonna be a good night...



PS:  V - Thanks for running my video and helping me watch Chloe.  This night wouldn't have been nearly as enjoyable without your help!

Wordless Wednesday - The Next Chapter

"I hope your dreams take you...to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known."

~Author Unknown

She graduated from Pre-School yesterday.  In eight weeks she will be an official Kindergartner.  I don't know what exactly I was doing when she did it, but she grew up this year... a lot.

If I could re-live yesterday, like Ground Hog Day, I would.  Everything about the day was wonderful.

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

The Reason For Our Trip

I wrote last week about our experience coming home from our trip, but I never got around to writing about WHY we went on our trip. 

We went to Illinois to help Gramma celebrate her retirement.  She spent 20 years teaching mostly 3rd grade.  Whew.  And.  Hip Hip Hooray!  Camdyn and I flew in at 3:30 that afternoon, and by 6:30 I was dolled up and enjoying adult conversation in an upscale banquet room.  And for the first time ever, Camdyn was enjoying one on one time with her other set of grandparents.

Here Mom is beaming after receiving her certificate of excellence, or completion, or both!  I like to think that she is smiling because she knows she's going to get to spend more time vacationing at our house now.

I hope she doesn't kill me for posting this blurry photo, but I had to.  She is looking at my Stepdad and just finished reading the card he gave her.  I don't know what it said, but it must have been pretty sweet, cause Momma's about to cry.  He then followed that up with an Ipad 2, so she wasn't teary for long.

Then we woke up to a Saturday morning, with a wide open schedule, and chilly temperatures.  We didn't know what we were going to do with the day, but we did know that we wanted doughnuts...and coffee.  Well, the local Dunkin Doughnuts was closed, but as we were driving aimlessly in search of another doughnut shop we happened upon Dandy Doughnuts.  We pulled in and thought we would give it a try.

It turns out that this is no ordinary doughnut shop...it's special.  Special in that it serves Mini-bite sized doughnuts that are virtually calorie free.  I'm not lying here...only 185 calories for a half dozen of these scrumptious little bites of heaven.  And that's not the only bonus, they are fried in soy bean oil, so no trans fats or cholesterol.  Can you hear angels singing?  I can. 

So, we bought a dozen and grabbed a table toward the back of the shop.

Each table has a game on it.  Cam grabbed a deck of cards are we started playing Go Fish.  I didn't even know she knew how to play Go Fish with a deck of cards, but she does, and this game took us nearly 45 minutes.  45 minutes that I got to spend sipping coffee, nibbling angelic doughnuts, and enjoying the company of my 5 year old who is growing up faster than I care to think about.

The doughnuts can be pre-dipped with cinnamon sugar, or you can buy a sauce and dip them yourself.  Cam was a big fan of the chocolate sauce.  She's totally my kid.

We spent about an hour and a half in that little doughnut shop that morning.  It was the perfect start to a day that had nothing but unscripted good times lying ahead of it.  Don't you just love it when you do something unexpected and it turns out to be so much more fun than you had ever thought?

That was this particular Saturday...and it started at Dandy's Doughnuts.

~if you are ever in the neighborhood stop by and support this family-owned small business.  There is no better way to spend your hard earned dollars than in support of the American Dream of the small business owner.

Our next stop was to the local museum...

The Father's Day That Wasn't

It's odd having Father's Day and not spending it with the Hubs.  It's a Sunday, like any other Sunday, we went to church, and to Target, we fingerpainted, baked cupcakes, went to the park and swam in the pool...I took a moment here and there to text Hubs photos of the girls...it is Father's Day afterall, but it just didn't quite feel like it. 

Although, we didn't get to spoil him with breakfast in bed, or give him bear hugs in appreciation, I hope he knows just how much we adore him.  If I had to pick one quality about him as a Dad that I appreciate the most, it's this:

He is present. 

Present in the little moments like showing the girls hermit crabs in a bucket at the beach.  He is home just doing the the daily thing with us far more often than he's not.  He knows that the impact that we have on these two little lives will be our greatest accomplishment in life.  He makes us his priority. 

So, I'll write in his card tomorrow, and put the last few touches on his gift, and we'll celebrate soon. 

Happy Father's Day to my Dad, my Husband, and all the worthy Dads out there who enjoy the gift of children.