Daisys

I can still remember canvasing my neighborhood with a Girl Scout cookie form in my hands, the dream of going to Disneyland on those sales never fulfilled. I remember the "bridge" ceremony at brownies and learning the Girl Scout creed. And now, the torch has been passed along! I lasted about two years -- let's see how far our girl takes this.

Abby's first Daisy meeting included 14 girls, every girl in both Kindergarten classes (those boys are still ruling the school). I love that she now knows (most likely) every girl who she might be in class with for her entire elementary school career. Small town at it's finest.

Learning and coloring in the creed :

Sitting in the friendship circle after singing Make New Friends (this hasn't changed!)...

And their second meeting allowed all the girls to wear their vests to school. The local CHP officer visited and even showed off their K9. Next month -- off to Apple Hill to make apple pie on site.

1286.  still getting the biggest hugs and kisses from fordy

1287. abby's hand holding

1288. impromptu hugging with each other

1289. "it's good we are together, Abby."

Five Years Ago Anniversary

It seems like about 2 years ago that I wrote this post, the one from almost exactly one year ago.

This year was much less eventful. So uneventful, even, that I didn't wake up with the memory of that day, five years ago, bouncing around in my brain.

The very dark morning in which we took our baby who'd been fasting for hours and drove her into the depths of a hospital parking garage, not exactly knowing when we'd leave there with her.

The minutes that felt like slow-motion where they took her away through those operating room doors. Away from us. But toward a surgeon with large hands who somehow, by the grace of almighty God used her small tools to operate on a heart the size of a walnut. The oddly peaceful and strange hours where we hid in our car, trying to sleep, away from the hospital smells and sounds. The "coincidence" of needing to pump and accidentally running into our surgeon who finished early declaring, "Yes. That was a very large hole. She's going to be doing much better now." And then, relief.  Fingers that couldn't text fast enough and call quick enough to spread the good news. The news I was secretly afraid we'd never hear.

And then this smile on day two post surgery...

And the long days of quick recovery that followed. Being discharged realizing that other babies in our room never would be. Those would spend all of their fleeting days in that hospital. An entirely new level of thankfulness spread over us then. And then leaving -- where Grandma and Grandpa back at our house sanitized the whole place. This guy looked like this -- and that was without an Ebola scare. :) Can you imagine if it was today? Hazmat suits would be at the ready.

And here we are currently -- awaiting the whistle for the Dolphin Dash at school. 

And to be honest, on the days when I want to ring her neck, I try and remember how hard I fought for her to live. And it puts things all back in perspective. 

1282. health

1283. not syringe-feeding her the breastmilk fat

1284. no crying during eating

1285. growing, running, sweating

Summer Dancing and Park-ing

Abby was a part of a recital this summer - we showcased those tap shoes we bought at the beginning of the year. I might be biased but I think these little cuties were the hit of the show. And Ford sat still the entire time. The day was a win!  I was so proud of her...

And Ford kept up his intense love of swinging and park-loving. 

Every chance he got (whenever Abby was at a playdate) he begged and begged. 

It was only my pleasure to oblige.

1278. cool nights

1279. tech stuff working flawlessly

1280. conquering fears

1281. sales at the right stores for Abby

Fading Summer Haze

As summer's glory is fading more and more each day (school schedule! early to bed!) I'm looking back with fond memories already.

Fordy getting comfy by the pool at the Country Club (thanks, Danielle for the invite) while devouring hot dogs and taking in the chlorine filled haze.

Sunsets like this....

While making first-time-ever-in-this-house s'mores...

And waiting for the perfect marshmallow to cook...

Worth the wait....

Crafts outside....

Our favorite tire swing....(how many kids can we fit on there?)

And playing in the freshly-delivered mulch....

It was a lovely summer.

And we were so thankful that we turned on the A/C a handful of times because of the positioning of our home. Lots of shade. So thankful. Cause it gets dang hot here. Truly. Now if I can just stay warm through the winter! 

1276. warm evenings and cool nights

1277. new mercies

1278. filtered water anytime

1279. learning to say no

First Time Ever, Soccer!

Soccer.

When we heard that a few of her preschool friends were signing up, we asked her if she wanted to do it. The World Cup frenzy was soon going on and although we didn't watch tons of it, we thought she knew (after practicing a few times) what she was in for.

But the first practice, a week before school started, was a little overwhelming.

She cried almost the entire first practice. 

And I was so surprised. 

This from the girl who jumped on a  waterski a summer ago and blew my mind with her courage and bravery. But somehow, this was a lot to take in.

So we did lots of hugging and shoving her back out there, hugging and wondering why it was so hard, and finally, the practice ended. Whew.

The coach was so wonderful with her. Taking her hand from time to time and doing drills "with" her and encouraging her along. I was so thankful for him. I've come to find out that Coach Chris is a single dad who's daughter is on our team. He gets 5 year old girls. Whew again. Prayer answered.

So, by the second practice, it was much less weepiness and much more "Okay, mom, I'll go but I'll miss you" -- and soon enough she was doing "butt kickers" to warm up (it was a form of bribery to say, "let's not be late! you don't wanna miss saying butt for the butt kickers!")

And she stood on a cone alone by practice number three.

And she ran and didn't prance like a pony.

And actually started to keep up.

And dribble.

And chat post-practice with pals.

And have to tell little brother that it wasn't yet his turn (next year!) "but look at my cool socks."

The first game was a bit tough at first. Daddy was out of town and this was the overall attitude that surfaced. It was based in fear again -- of the unknown of how it would all go. But God had it so that we had the game on the exact same part of the massive field where she practiced and her coach was the referee and all felt fairly normal. And there was no complaining about the uniform. Can you believe? Another answered prayer.

Soon it was pre-game huddle time.

And some grass picking for our sweet number 7.

I was expecting to have to have her sit with her team if she refused to play,

preparing myself for crying and not being "allowed to sit with us" since she committed to be a part of this adorable team.

But she played. The whole time.

And had an amazing throw in (her speciality seeing that she still runs away from the ball during the game - I'm afraid my offensive genes have mutated)...

And before I knew it, it was "2,4,6,8..." (how are they still doing the same cheer from 35 years ago?)

and the game was over.

Introducing....The Shakers! (smiling girl third from right)

And the best part of the game?

Nope, not the 5 to 2 win.

The snack pack she got afterward. Gummies, a Capri-Sun and cheddar bunnies.

Oh me. Oh my.

Next up : encouraging the eye of the tiger and kicking the ball into mommy's shins to build up some aggressive soccer skills. We'll keep you posted.

But for now : success = no tears. 

And that makes mama happy.

1272. grandma and papa coming to the game

1273. cheering and the soccer culture

1274. watching her grow

1275. getting a view into how to respond differently

A Birthday Build A Bear Workshop Trip

To reverse just a little, right before Abby's birthday, she got her present from Grandma and Papa. "Let's go before your actual birthday, huh, Abs?" Grandma said.   I doubt she had ever heard anything more exciting. A gift before her birthday? Craziness. Knowing she would get to go to Build A Bear Workshop? Insanity.

If you knew the Frozen mania in her life back in May, you'd have found it hard to believe that she talked about this every single day to the tune of 10x as much as her anticipated Frozen party. She'd built if up just a tiny bit in her mind, huh?

First things first -- she picked out her "bear" which was actually a My Little Pony creature (those things are crazy!) and Ford picked out a bunny which he promptly named Thumpy Tumpy. Go figure. Here they are picking out what would go into the heart of their animal. Kindness, happiness, joy, athleticism, love for reading etc. Pretty cute.

And then over to the "fill 'er up" station where they put their foot on the pedal that literally pushes the fluffy insides into the animal. Very fun. And powerful.

Next up - "washing" your animal with cyber soap and "popping" the bubbles on the screen with the ducks. Fordy loved this.

Fordy and Papa -- the finished Thumpy Tumpy (which also smelled like Bubble Gum, for $5!)

And not to be outdone, Rainbow Dash, also smelling of Bubble Gum.

The final dressing room shot -- Ford got a t-shirt to make his bunny a little more manly and give it super hero status and Abby's was expensive enough naked, thank you very much.

Couldn't get out of the store without some Thumpy Tumpy love.

The birthday girl was beyond happy. 

And that was that. 

No more hounding and asking for everything she saw at the mall.

Contentment. Can you imagine?

1267. pre-birthday fun being so fun

1268. that breeze through the right window at night

1269. not running the air during warm days

1270. trying new clothes without crying

1271. seeing her through new eyes

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Preschool Lemonade Social

And then it was Ford's turn.

His sweet preschool teacher who I've mentioned is just amazing, sets up a Lemonade Social for the kids to meet their new classmates and settle in before the first day of school. 

He was asking me every day when he would get to go to school and play on the pirate ship.

Walking the plank, usually reserved for week 2 of school after it's been mastered, was the first thing he ran to. He's been watching the big kids do it for a year. 

In true Ms. Amy style, the kids got to paint different pieces of metal and wood which will eventually be put together to make a music wall. How cool is that?

This guy was all smiles and made a few new friends in the 30 minutes we were there. 

Including this fun skeleton which resides all year long...

I swear he could go 5 days a week. 

But we're sticking with 2... 

And when Ms. Amy read a book to them I looked over and Ford was right at home.

The shoes were off.

And he was as comfy as can be.

Maybe more than he should be. 

I had the kids fill out forms on their first day of school and I can't wait to see what the one at the end of the year says. My favorite line? "What do you really not like? Spankings." Amen.

1263. ready for preschool

1264. staying seated during breakfast

1265. chore chart re-do

1266. laughing wildly in the car with the kids