Pomp and Circumstance - Kindergarten Style

It seems like just yesterday that I snapped these photos of Camdyn on her first day of Kindergarten.  She was so happy she was glowing and not a tear was shed as her Daddy and I kissed her goodbye that morning in her classroom. 

And now, here we sit at the end of May, the end of the school year approaching like a freight train. 

Kindergarten is nearly over. 

She grew up immensely this past year...and she had a ton of fun doing it. 

Come to think of it...we all grew up immensely this year. 

Where she began to lay the groundwork for good work habits, study skills, and focus.  I began to lay the groundwork for personal happiness, goals, and a functional family.

 


 

Where she declared victory for earning 20 reading counts points and getting her picture on the tree in the media center, I declared my own personal victory.  I am happier than I was before...maybe not every day, but in general I am happier and healthier. 

I told you.  :)

Where she did gem mining and learned about rocks.  I moved rocks too.  Actually, more like big chunks of concrete.  I took a long hard look in the mirror and I made changes.  Changes that make my life better and more active.  Changes that put priorities in order. 


She learned about rocks with the help of a guide.  I moved mine with the help of dozens; friends, pastors, therapists, my family and God.  It takes a lot of people, and a lot of power to move big rocks, but I am doing it....steadily and with help.

And throughout the year, she continued with her riding lessons.  She's posting like a pro, she's jumping rails and still looking forward to every lesson.  She's found her passion.  We've rediscovered ours.

It's up and it's down.  It's life. 

And friendships make it easier.

Maybe it really is true, that everything you need to know, you learn in Kindergarten. 

It's been a year of learning for all of us.

Last night Camdyn graduated from Kindergarten.  We are so proud of all her accomplishments this year.  She's grown, she's changed, but she's still our energetic, exuberant little girl.   

A little girl who has learned the trick of an "open mouth smile" from her Momma.

 Open Mouth Smile = Super Happy and Copious Amounts of FUN!

In celebration, we had yogurt at OrangeLeaf after the ceremony....nothing says celebration like ice cream with any topping your heart desires!

Please hang with this wiggly and over-zoomed video until the 3:10 mark.  It'll be worth the giggle.  Promise. (Taylor Swift Cam is in the back row)



I am so proud of you, Cam!  I'm hoping that first grade brings a whole lot of sunshine with it. 

Love you!
Forever n Always,
Momma

The Show

It's hard to believe it's been nearly a week since we went to the Taylor Swift concert.  We had been looking forward to this show and a night out on the town with the girls for weeks. 
We started off with a early dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  I forgot to pack crayons and a coloring book for Cam, but she did well, and actually impressed with me with her ability to self-entertain.

Of course, we hit traffic on our way downtown, and when we finally got within sight distance of the St. Pete Times Forum, it was 7:00.  Camdyn was so afraid that we were going to miss it, and I was getting anxious too! 

But we arrived, and hadn't missed a beat!  The first stop was the restroom, where Camdyn took this photo with her ticket.  For whatever reason, she had her leg up in the air with her hand on her knee, like Captain Morgan.

And then we got really excited about all the giant Taylor Swift posters in the corridor.

We found our seats, which were pretty killer.  We had a great view of the stage.  Notice that Cam has on a yellow TS t-shirt.  I ordered it off her website for $5.  It's a really old shirt from her days opening for Rascal Flats.  I didn't care.  We avoided the T-shirt line and I saved some $$.  Score!

Here's the girls!  Thanks for coming with us and making our night so special!

So Sweet!

During a ballad, Cam made the Heart on her own, while she was swaying to the music.  Girlfriend had no problem keeping up with TS.

This is where she came down off the stage and walked the perimeter of the arena and then sat on a small stage at the opposite side.  She was sooo close to us.  (she's blurry and in purple and glows like the angel she is).  We had such a great view at this point in the show, that we actually all sat down and rested our tired legs. 

This is the finale.  She flew on this balcony all around the arena, and ended up flying directly over top of us.  It's also the part where I screamed like a teen-age girl and Cam said "Ow, Mom.  That was right in my ear.  Quit it."  Sorry kiddo. 

And after 2 hours of solid, non stop, entertainment, it was over.  We took a very tired little girl home with us, who absolutely had the time of her life.  I'm sure she won't ever forget her first concert, and I just can't wait to do more mother/daughter things with her (and her sister) in the future. 

**all photos provided by Vanessa

We are seeing Taylor Swift on Saturday

I am so excited to see this sold out show with my gal pals and my oldest girl on Saturday night.  She is a huge fan although she doesn't know it yet....or maybe she does.

Chloe Sings the ABC's

I'm so much quicker with the video camera this 2nd time around. I realize that one day she'll wake up and the baby voice will be gone. One day, she'll belt out her ABC's perfectly as if she'd been doing it all her little life. So, I pick up my  Sony Bloggie (like the flip, only better - love that device) and I press Record...because a few years from now, this cuteness will be a long lost memory.

MisCELLaneous Monday - Where am I???

Where have I been?  What day is it?  What's my name?  How did I get here?  Yes, yes, I ask myself these questions often.  Life is a whirlwind.  Lovin' it and surviving it!   

So, it's time to post some CELL phone photos in this MisCELLaneous post as well as a few deets on what I was doing last week, when I wasn't here.  Here we go!

Last Saturday, we decided to convert Chloe's crib in to a toddler bed.  I was hella reluctant about this.  This is my second go-round here...I know better than to be EXCITED about this milestone.  I know that it inevitably means she'll get out of bed whenever she wants to, I know it will mean procrastinating bedtime and bedtime struggles at some point in the future.  But, the child needs to be able to get out of bed to use the potty, so in an effort to complete her potty training we converted her crib.  So far so good.  She has yet to get out of bed by herself in the middle of the night (which by the way, was supposed to be the point of converting her crib).  She is still sleeping well and still asks to go to bed at night.  But, I'm not declaring victory.  I know that this will be short lived.  ::Le Sigh::

I've purchased numerous items on etsy; headbands, knitted hats, tutus, hair band holders, leotards, but this is my biggest etsy purchase.  I purchased a dining room table from Modern Rust on etsy.  This farmhouse style table is made from reclaimed wood (I love you mother earth) and was made to order in 6 weeks and delivered from Virgina to Florida quickly.  Yes, it looks like someone put a picnic table in my living room, but that will change soon.  I am very pleased with the table and with the fact that the pink playhouse is no longer in my dining room.  Now, I just need to finish this naked room.

On Friday, I took the day off of work.  I attended an event at Camdyn's school in the morning, and then met up with Liz for some shopping, lunching, and a pedicure that didn't turn out like I visioned.  It was relaxing and the company was fantastic, but the polish on my big toes has this white ghosting across it.  I'm miffed enough about it to post photos of my "spoon toe" or "potato toe" as the hubs likes to call them on the interwebs.  Really, my big toes are so round...like perfect circles.  It's weird.  I guess I'll have to go back so they can fix it.

These were delivered on Friday and made me forget all about the botched pedicure.  I hear this show is fantastic, and I can not wait to take Camdyn to her first concert.  Of course, I paid way too much money for tickets to this sold out show, but I don't have buyer's remorse over it at all...this something we are looking forward to!

On Friday night, we packed the suitcases and loaded the kids in the car and took them to Orlando for a weekend get-away.  Our hotel room was upgraded...we ended up with 2 beds, 2 baths, and a loft style game room.  This was more space than we needed, but we weren't complaining.  It ended up raining the entire time we were there, so we spent a lot of time at the hotel, and the space really came in handy.  The girls enjoyed playing upstairs and watching movies in their room. 

On Saturday night, we met up with LeeAnn and Rylie and attended the Arabian Nights Dinner Show attraction.  The girls, all 3 of them, were so well behaved.  We ended up having front row seats and an unobstructed view of the action.  The dinner was a smidgen above average, but the show was fantastic.  When I asked Camdyn what her favorite part of the show was she said, "I don't have one.  I loved all of it!" 

Because of the rain, we cut our trip short and came home earlier on Sunday than we had planned.  My house looked like a bomb went off in it, so I set to cleaning.  While I was mopping floors, I caught the hubs doing this...completely on his own accord.  Reason #652 why I love this man. 

**note that the playhouse is not going to be permanently located there and the big brown box contains a new chandelier that needs to be hung
I hope y'all are having a great Monday!! 

Taking the World by Storm on 12" wheels

Last Tuesday night I asked the Hubs to take the training wheels off of Cam's much too small bike.  He grabbed his tools and together they sat down to work on the project, and five minutes later it was complete.

We spent 10 minutes that evening helping Camdyn learn to ride her bike.  We would walk next to her with a hand on her shoulder, ready to pull her back to center when she would lean too far to one side or the other.  It wasn't long before she was too hot and too tired, so we parked the bike for the night.

The next evening, I pulled my truck in to the garage and began my usual routine of unloading my bag, purse, backpacks, lunch boxes, and Chloe.  Camdyn asked if she could ride her bike.  "Sure.  But stay close."  I take everything in to the house and get Chloe set up with Dora and a cup of milk and then head outside to check on Cam.  She is standing in the driveway, her bike laying on the ground beside her and she says, "Well.  I have that all figured out."  What?  "You have what figured out?"  I ask.  She proclaimed, "I can ride my bike now." 

Um...okay.

And off she pedaled on her tiny 12" wheels. I guess that's the pay off for waiting until 5 1/2 to take the training wheels off. I have to hand it to her...the girl has initiative.



We bought her a bigger bike this weekend.

Well done, Cam. Well done!

Wordless Wednesday - Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

~Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any

you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course,

you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there

in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen

and frequently do

to people as brainy

and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,

don't worry. Don't stew.

Just go right along.

You'll start happening too.

OH!

THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

...You'll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

First Day of Kindergarten

I'm back.  We had the time of all times on our cruise.  Although, I've hardly had a moment to reflect, as we scurried in to the "back to school" routine the moment our ship came to port. 

This morning, we successfully dropped Camdyn off at school, without a tear shed.  How could I possibly cry when her expression was sheer exuberance?

I snapped a few photos (this was the only one on my cell phone) took a quick video, we sat her down in her seat, and said our good-byes.  We were the first parents out the door.  We had to be.  She doesn't like us to cling.  She doesn't need our reassurance.  She does change well.  She will be just fine and she knows it.

Although...I have already started counting down the hours until I pick her up. 

I just can't wait to hear all about her first day.

I officially have a child in elementary school. 

The thought is disturbingly wonderful.

Rite of Passage

On Saturday, July 9th Camdyn did something special:

I'd always told her that she could get her ears pierced for her 6th birthday.  Why 6?  That's how old I was when I had it done and I remember it distinctly.  I remember how proud I was of myself and what a big deal it was for me.  I wanted that for her.  I wanted it to be her decision and for her to have the same sense of pride and accomplishment about it.

We didn't make it to 6.  About a month ago Cam began begging to have her ears pierced.  She wanted to do it before Kindergarten and I kept holding her off.  Finally, I caved.  She met the biggest criteria...she really wanted it, and she was 5 1/2...close enough. 

She had both ears pierced at the same time and she didn't cry or whine at all.  She still is pretty stinkin' proud of her pretty ears and she can't wait to change her earrings in 6 weeks...just in time for the 1st day of Kindergarten.