Kicking Off Summer

Did you think I'd given up on the blog?!  Although I'm "off" work for the summer (that's such a funny statement when you have three kids) we've been busy...

Having birthday parties...

Growing vegetables (we hope)...

Playing ball in the backyard and at the field...

Attending weddings...

Pretend shopping...

Losing teeth...

And even a class reunion!

(These are some of my best friends from high school!)

We also celebrated Father's Day, but I don't have a single photo of my husband....but he is still here and handsome as ever ;)

Mother's Day

I got all sorts of wonderful treasures to celebrate the day....home made cards and pictures, flowers, a "kindergarten" cookbook, lotion, kitchen towels, a water proof picnic blanket.....

But the happiest person in the house this weekend was not me.  It was our sweet little Shay, who is quite proud of the fact that she can cruise around all by herself now!

Happy Day

Church.....candy....polka-dot dresses....kite flying....and more.....
It was a good Easter.

Conversations

Kale: "Bailey, I'm going to the bathroom before we start our game."

Bailey: "You better ask mom, first!"

Kale: "Bailey, I am SIX years old....I make my own decisions!"

Bailey: "Okay, but don't forget to flush the twalet (toilet) and wash ya hands!"

Kale: "Uh, HELLO!  My brain is bigger than an elephant's!  I know!"

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Dain:  "Kale, are you excited to come to my flag football game today?"

Kale: "Yes."  "Will I get to sit on the sideline?"

Dain: "Yes."

Bailey: (Standing up on her chair and flinging her arms over her head) "And I'm going to sit in the princess line!!"

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Me: "What did you play at recess today?"

Kale: "I played tag with Austin and Josie."

Me: "No Josh?"  "What did you play?"

Kale: "Well, Josie used to be Austin's girlfriend, but not anymore." "We played tag."

Me: "Oh....who is Josie's boyfriend now?.....you?"

Kale:  "I think so."

Me:  "You think so?" 

Kale: "Well, Austin said he didn't want to be her boyfriend anymore, and that I was her new boyfriend."

Me: "Hmmmm...we'll have to talk to dad....I think you may be a little too young for girlfriends."

Kale: "Ya.  I should probably wait until I'm like, sixteen, right?"

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Kale (while we're eating dinner):  "Eliza in my class told me that you can cuss at someone with one of your fingers!"

Me (after Dain shoots me the "this one is all yours look"): "Yes, that's true."

Kale: "Which one!?"

Me (again after Dain shoots me the "how ya going to answer that one look"): "Well, the middle finger."

Kale (gesturing): "This one?!"

Me: "Yes...but we don't ever do that to people or we'll get in BIG trouble." "Understand?"

Kale: "Ya." "Does it mean anything bad to show someone your thumb?".......

BiRtHdAy BoY

SiX ReAsOns We LoVe YoU sO mUcH...

1.  You are the greatest "little sister helper" in the world. Teaching Bailey to play soccer, running for diapers, feeding Shay, sharing toys...you do it all without [much] complaint

2.  You are so good at hide-and-seek, sometimes I think you've snuck out of the house because I can't find you

3.  You can READ!!!!

4.  You know more about dinosaurs and KU basketball than most adults

5.  You work so hard during soccer games--never stopping even when you're tired

6.   In the words of your teacher, "you are are sweet as can be, genuine and kind, and you get along with everyone"

Happy Birthday, Kale Bug!

Youngest Sibling Blues

Poor Miss Shay spends a lot of time like this these days....

(If you look really close...past the dirty, finger print smudged window :) ...you can see Kale and Bailey playing outside.  Sometimes she screams at them and I'm quite certain she's saying, "Hey guys!  You forgot me!!!"

 The other night she was determined to participate in coloring pictures.

1.  Pulling up to see what's going on

 2.  Attempting to climb on the chair

 3.  Crying in frustration

 4.  Giving up and crawling to Mom

It ain't easy being the baby!

On a side note, Shay can say (at least that I can understand) several words now.

Mama, Da Da, more, dog, brother.

 But, her favorite phrase by far is

"What's dat?"

She says it over and over and over while she points at things.

It's adorable.  (And a bit exhausting.)  But mostly adorable.

My Sunshine

I'm pretty sure God gave us Shay to remind us the importance of a smile....how it is a simple act of kindness that can change a person's day...

And I'm so, so thankful for that....and for you Miss Shay.  May all your days be filled with sunshine.

Happy first birthday!