It's the Night Before Kindergarten

We can hardly believe Kate starts kindergarten tomorrow (technically today.. it's after midnight and I am still up, even though I need to be awake in six short hours).  How fast these years have gone!   

We know she is so excited.  She is sleeping so soundly in her bed right now (probably because she got at up "school time" this morning... quite the shift from our lazy summer mornings).  And. I know she will wake up tomorrow ready to eat breakfast, get dressed, and head off to school.  Her being so excited makes it less sad for me.  But, still... she's my baby girl and I kinda can't believe I have to share her with school for the next thirteen years and then some. 

It's hard to not get all nostalgic and think about how much she has grown and changed in these five years. Part of me wishes she was still so little, but a huge part of me just loves where she is right now.  She is fun to be around, she is so eager to learn about everything, and I know we have so many exciting adventures ahead of us.

  

I get all worked up sometimes thinking about how much "more" I feel like I should be doing... "I should read more books, I should do more spectacular crafts, I should start more traditions, I should cook more with the kids, I should, I should, I should...."  It's easy as a mom to beat yourself up over things.  But, as I see Kate face kindergarten with such confidence, I realize that Mark and I are sending a pretty awesome little girl into the world.  She is brave, kind, responsible, independent, witty, so smart, a great big sister, sweet and sassy, and compassionate.  And she has a huge heart.  

I am sad that Kate won't be with us during the day, but I am genuinely SO excited to see her start this journey.  I can't wait to watch her soar this year and in the years to come.  I made her promise me tonight that she will always tell me all about her day.  I never want her to answer "fine" when I ask how her day was.  I never want to hear that she did "nothing" today.  I want to hear about all the projects, all the funny stories, the new things she is learning, the new friends she makes... I want to experience her excitement, always.  

Kate, we can't wait to hear all about your first day!!! You're going to rock kindergarten, girl!! 

Cake made by Gran

Moving Day

We had a never ending move at our house in Union.  First (before all the projects), we packed up a ton of boxes and moved it to Mark's mom's basement to store it while we were in between houses.  Then, every time my parents would come out to help with a project, they would take a load.  I would load up my van when going to St. Louis for whatever reason.  We left furniture and other things to stage the house. 

Then, towards the end of "Operation Get Our House on the Market", it became very apparent that we weren't going to successfully finish with two little kids running around.  So, we moved them to Gran's first.  I went over and got their room all set up and the kids and Mark moved in a few days before I did (my mom and I finished up the last of it and Mark made a couple trips back after work to help).

The night before they moved, all the neighbor kids came over to take pictures and tell the kids goodbye. This was like our preliminary move. ha! We still had to have a big moving day once the house sold, so they all knew the kids would be back to play at some point.  

We came back a couple times here and there to do a few things at the house, so Kate got to play with the neighbors.  

Then, finally about a week before our closing date, we did the final move.. which turned into three trips because we had a crazy truck mishap where we got the last remaining Uhaul in St. Louis and it was about 3 feet too short for all of the stuff that was left at our house.  Mark and I ended up off loading the stuff in storage, going back and getting another load in our van after returning the Uhaul, and then my dad brought his van the next day and we finished it up.  What a mess, but it got done! 

All the kids in the Uhaul.  

We had friends that came over to help us (thank you, thank you, thank you!). How cute are Trevor and Jack working together to put this pillow on the truck?? 

Saying goodbye to their first house. 

You may think Jack is sad and doesn't want to leave his room, but no... he was more than done at this point and just wanted to be asleep. 

At Mimi and Papa's the next day.  Gran and Nanny took them out so Mark and I could unload at the storage facility.  

We were blessed with awesome neighbors in Union and it was sad to leave them.  I'm so thankful our kids had so many little friends to play with during our time there.  

So, our stuff sits in storage and in Gran's basement until we find a house. :)  

Kansas City

We had a little weekend getaway a couple weeks ago with Gran and Nanny to Kansas City.  It was SO much fun!!  The weather was amazing... so unseasonably cool.  

We left Friday morning and pretty much crammed in about everything we could before we left on Sunday. 

We did the aquarium and Legoland the first day...

Staying up late doing her new Lego set with Mommy in the hotel room overlooking downtown Kansas City. She asked to sleep with the curtains all open so she could see all the downtown lights. 

The next morning, we went to Kaleidoscope, which is a fun arts and crafts place for kids. 

We went to the Crown Center and saw Curious George. 

We stood in line to eat at a super famous BBQ restaurant in a gas station.  Well worth the wait.  So yummy! 

We went to a Children's Farmstead. 

We went out for ice cream.  This ice cream made Jack's poop blue for two days. No lie. 

The kids swam in the hotel pool.  

Sunday, we went to Kansas City's Union Station.  We did the National Geographic Real Pirate exhibit and Science City (funny how when you go on a trip, everything you do is geared towards the kids. ha!)

We ate at lots of yummy restaurants, had lots of laughs, spent quality time with family, and had a ton of fun.  It was a great little weekend getaway!! Love making memories!