Lucky #7!

Our girl is seven now! SEVEN! Seven and stubborn, strong, sassy, smart, sporty and seriously, seriously sensational! (Sensational, but don't forget stubborn. There's a reason why I listed that first.)

We kicked off the "Week of Lainey" last weekend with a visit from Grandpa, Sharon, and Chris. We finally got some gorgeous weather after all the rain and extreme heat. It was perfect! We kept it low key with presents and ice cream cake at home on Saturday and a trip to the Botanic Garden on Sunday. For her actual birthday on Wednesday, we granted her request for dinner at Chili's, followed by presents at home. She raked in the game Life, new books, a hula hoop, and a new sleeping bag. The sleeping bag is significant--after her Girl Scout sleepover a few weeks back she shunned her Cinderella sleeping bag and said she needed a new one "with a pattern and NOT a stupid princess." See, I told you--she's departing the "little girl" space and rushing straight into "girlhood." *Sigh*

But, the BIG birthday deal happened today, when we took Lainey and three of her friends to a horse stable for a pony trail ride. Not just a walk in a circle on a spoke-and-wheel job, but a REAL pony ride through a forest preserve. And Lainey got a BIG pony--almost the size of a horse. It was SOOO hot, but her smile made it SOOO worth it! Afterward, we went to Pequod's for her favorite pizza and then back to the house to decorate cupcakes. It was a pretty awesome day!

Laineybug, you take my breath away some days. I know we clash--like really CLASH--but, I am so proud of you and cannot wait to see what amazing things you'll do. I love you to the moon and back and back again. Keep the fire (even if you have to practice against me); you'll need it someday!

Happy Birthday to our girl!

School's Out!

Another school year in the books! Lainey had a fantastic first grade year—with PERFECT ATTENDANCE! She had such pride on her face when she accepted that certificate at the end of the year celebration. She was the only one in her class to get one! I don’t think I ever had perfect attendance. But, with a school as fun as Wildwood, who wouldn’t want to go? In addition to the first grade celebration, the whole school rang out the year with its annual Fun Day! Obstacle courses, water slide, face painting, and tons of junk food. A kid’s dream!

While Lainey was living up the last few days as a 1^st grader, Nick was starting his first days at the YMCA camp. I was a nervous wreck dropping him off Monday morning. I don’t know why I was so emotional about it. Maybe because he’s less mature than Lainey was at 5, maybe just because he’s my baby, but I was anxious all day long. For absolutely no reason. He LOVED it! When I picked him up he was playing basketball with another boy his age. When I asked Nick to tell me his friend’s name, he said, “Everybody’s my friend, Mom.” And my heart exploded right out of my chest.

Summer is off and running…we’re going to do our best to keep up!

First day vs last day!

Wonder Women!

Going crazy under the fire hose!

The Graduate - Nick's Turn

Nick had his Pre-K graduation last night and it delivered all the feels! The teachers did a wonderful job putting the program together and the kids ratcheted up the adorableness to new levels. Nick won the "Super Scientist" award and was very proud. I posted the videos of the program below. They are longish, but you MUST checkout the remake of "Summer Nights" from Grease (in Part II at the 5:41 mark).

This was our fourth graduation program at Care-A-Lot, but the most emotional because it was also our last. Next week will be Nick's final one with the Care-A-Lot crew before moving on to YMCA camp for the summer and Wildwood next year. There are no words to give proper justice to the women at this center. They are pure love and dedication, and I cannot be happier with our experience there. We will miss all the teachers and friends!

But, while we hope Nick can keep in touch with his old friends, we're ready to give him some new experiences! Get ready Kindergarten...Nick is coming for you!

With his teacher Sarah

 

With Sheri the Director (she's always had a soft spot for Nick)

The whole family!

Olivia! Best friend (and possibly future wife!)

Celebratory ice cream!

Nick says... Installment 3

Ugh. Could anyone else use a little pick-me-up right now? If so, I have the little dude to help your blues. Without further ado, I bring you this installment of "Nick says..."

Full of self-confidence--even for his average attributes..
"There’s no one in the world like me. I’m the fastest. Strongest. Best escaper. Best finder of things. (Long pause.) And my hair is brown."

He's got it figured out...
"It’s good to be younger. You get away with more stuff."

Lessons from Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree...
“Daddy, the tree’s making bad choices.”

One of these things is not like the other...
"When I grow up, I'm going to be a scientist, zookeeper, veterinarian, and a hunter."

On our future relationship...
Me: "When you grow up, will you still spend time with me?"
Nick: "I don't know, Mom. I'm gonna be pretty busy. I'm gonna have a lot of jobs. I'll see what I can fit in."

Why use the imperial or metric system, when you can use forest animals? 
Mark: "How big is it?" 
Nick: "You know. About the size of a possum."

He continues with his foreign language development...
"Mommy, I know a French word, 'zwooay'. That means 'get out' in Spanish." 

He know Spanish songs, too...and perhaps could benefit from a Sunday school class or two.
Nick: "Daddy, I know all of the Spanish songs. Muffin man is really a Spanish song. Muffin man is really muffin dog." (He sings the song, but says “Gormy Lane” instead of “Bakery Lane”). "Daddy, is 'gormy' a Spanish word?"

Mark: "Do you mean gourmet?"

Nick: "No. Gormy. Gormy Lane is where Jesus lives."

A little inappropriate, but I'm so damn proud he used the word correctly (guess which one I'm referring to)...
Singing in the swim school changing room..."I'm playing with my dinker, my dinker, my dinker."

Disapproving look from me. "What? I didn't say 'literally.' I'm not literally playing with my dinker."



Hope you got a chuckle or two out of those... this kid. He's magic!

Photo: Joshua Ford, Ford Photography

Toofless

Bye, bye front teeth! But, sorry Tooth Fairy, guess you'll have to hang out with Easter Bunny, because she's not buying your story either. However, she did backpedal on her disbelief. We assume she thinks if we know she doesn't believe, she won't get her cash. In reality, I'd be more than happy to hand over her dollar directly versus remembering to sneak into her room and put it under her pillow. 

When she lost the first one last week, she put it in a little tooth case to bring it home from school. Then for some reason, she took it out and put it on the kitchen table among a pile of peanut shells she'd discarded, and THEN allowed me to swipe up the discarded shells and wipe down the table, NEVER mentioning her tooth was there somewhere. Then bedtime rolled around she's all, "where's my tooth?" I was sorting through the trash trying to find it when I remembered she'd all but admitted she knew the Tooth Fairy wasn't real. So, I flat out asked, "do we really need the tooth under the pillow? I promise the Tooth Fairy will bring your dollar anyway." And just like that, problem solved. She was happy. I was happy.

Now we're just enjoying her adorableness!

Where are you going, my little one?

Photography: Joshua Ford, Ford Photography

My mom used to sing to me the lullaby, "Turn Around," when I was little. If you're not familiar, I'll leave it to you to Google the lyrics (and then get weepy), but this song keeps running through my head these days when I look at Elaine. She is wobbling along that very fine line between "little girl" and just "girl," weaving from one side to the other, not quite sure where she wants to be. And it's magical and heartrending and all-around wonderfully bittersweet. I find myself awestruck at this small human we've created and are raising. And I'm drinking in every cuddle, bedtime story, hair wash, piggyback, handhold, butterfly kiss that I can before one-by-one she outgrows them. And yet, even as I try to hold tight to these moments, I can't deny the flicker of excitement to discover who she'll become in this next year and the year after and the years after that. Because I think she's going to be someone pretty remarkable.

Easter Bunny No More

After a busy few days taking advantage of Spring Break, we kept things very low key on Easter. Just an early morning egg hunt and baskets from the Easter Bunny. Well, Nick got a basket from the Easter Bunny. Lainey got a basket from us.

Saturday night during her bath, Lainey started interrogating me on the Easter Bunny. I tried to hedge, but by the way she questioned me and the smirk on her face, I knew the jig was up. So, I reminded her that Nick was only 5 and that her friends might still believe, so mum’s the word.

Mark and I were a little sad, just because it means she’s growing up. But, we both agree the Easter Bunny is a pretty dumb concept, and we could do without the whole charade. But, I don’t think Santa is going to survive another Christmas...and that’s gonna sting.