and then she was six

As I pulled into our parking spot on Friday I realized that the little girl in the back seat had been awfully quiet.  I turned off the car and turned in my seat to see a quivering lip and tears about to spill out of two beautiful blue-grey eyes.

'What's wrong sweetie?' I asked.

In a small little voice she answered me.  'It's my last day being five and I'm just so sad!'

I crawled into the backseat, unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her into my arms.  As soon as her head touched my chest, she began to sob.  We stayed like this for about 20 minutes while I told her how great being six is going to be.  Soon....she'll be competing in her first science fair, we've got a whole summer to perfect swimming underwater and since she just learned to read, there are so many books to be devoured.  She'll be a 1st grader before you know it and I bet she'll lose some teeth this year.  There's ice cream to eat, pictures to draw and new friends to make!

Being five was nice, but being six is better.

As much as I'd love to keep her little and hold her in my lap forever....she's has to grow up.

This morning I served her Lucky Charms (a birthday tradition since it's always right before St. Patrick's Day) in fine china and her milk in her favorite Alice in Wonderland cup that her Grandpa gave her.  She's decided that she'd like to eat all of her meals this way and she'd like her Dad to be her personal butler.

I love you Princess!

Gratitude {6}

In September, I read Daring Greatly by Brene Brown.  Like her other books, this book changed my life! One overwhelming message for me was this.

Don't squander joy.

There had to be something from each day that I was grateful for.  Once I took the time to look for them, I saw them like bright lights in the dark.

At that same time, I started to blog my gratitude moments on Sundays.  You'll notice that I feel off the posting wagon in October.  Life got busy but I've still been noticing the joy.

The other day, it occurred to me that when I started to really be grateful for things like my husband and my kids' teacher and acknowledge these gifts in my life....more blessings and joy poured in.

I told facebook the other day that I feel like I'm living a charmed life.  I've had an amazing year!  I've traveled from coast to coast, I've made amazing friends and had fun with them, I've been invited to several really entertaining events in Denver because of my blog, I sang with my favorite band and I judged a cake competition.  Last week, I even won some Chocolate Balls from Leslie Gail's Mom TV Show!

If you do nothing in 2013....do this:  Embrace the Joy!

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Mini Me

She was the very best surprise I've ever gotten.

And possibly the cutest baby I've ever seen.

She's an old soul and wise beyond her five years.

She's helpful, kind and generous to a fault.

She's so much like me.

She's loving, but angers easily...sometimes holds a grudge.

She's so much like me.

She likes things like she likes them, and don't touch her stuff!

She's all about Hello Kitty and drawing.

She's serious and funny....makes me laugh everyday.

She's vindictive and naughty...makes me want to pull my hair out!

She loves chicken nuggets, My Little Pony and being a Kindergartener.

Her brother and whoever isn't on red at school are her best friends.

She's my cooking buddy, shopping companion and snuggle bunny.

She's my daughter!

We went to The Nutcracker yesterday.  During intermission she discovered that she had 15 emails, 25 facebook likes and a voice mail.  And then she re-applied her lip gloss. 

I'll tell you more about our adventure tomorrow.

1...2...3, Eyes On Me

Hip Hip Hooray!  It's a Skittle Day!

Life is good.  The kids are both enjoying school and love their teachers.  Parents and teachers are lining up to join the PTA and I'm enjoying my three beautiful hours of free time in the morning.

Of course, everything is not coming up roses....there has to be a thorn.  I have only made a few new friends so far.  I've been reminded that last year was special, it's only been five days and some people are intimidated by my personality beauty.  Thank you Keith for that clarification.

My afternoons with Mallory have been so fun.  She likes to clean mess up her room and watch My Little Pony.  Yesterday.....I gave her a little bag of animal crackers and when she was done, she asked me what they were made out of.  I said...Animals.

This is the look she gave me.

She insisted that I was kidding.  

I suggested that she should learn to read so that she could read the labels on her food.

Two hours later, she picked up a book and started reading it....out loud.  She was READING the book.

Five days of Kindergarten and my girl can READ!

See how smug she looks?  I think she's been reading for a while and holding out on us.

Poor Alex should get used to be taught.  Before bed last night, she was demanding that he have EYES ON HER.  Maybe she'll be a school teacher someday....

Linking up with Emmy Mom and Kmama for Proud Mommy Moments!