Kate turns 3!

This birthday was a fun one for Kate - mostly because she "got it" this year.  She understood that she was going from 2 to 3, and that she would get presents, and that it was her special day, and that she'd have a cake and we'd sing to her.  She also made it clear early on that she was going to have a princess birthday.  So the night before I tried to make the house look very "princessy" for her so she'd wake up and feel like she was in her own little castle... 

There was a little trouble with the cake Sunday night ;{  And I ended up spending way too much time doing and then redoing this one so I never had the chance to make mini ones out of the cupcakes I had made for her party (which made me very very sad that they just had plain old ugly cupcakes).

We made the huge mistake of letting her take a long Sunday afternoon nap.  Normally if she falls asleep in the car on the way home from church she wakes up once we get her out.  But she didn't this time so we let her sleep... too long.  And we tried to put her to bed several times but she just wasn't tired.  Actually ALL of my kids fell asleep on the way home from church!... I guess a very busy first week back to school and getting back into a routine wiped them out... 

Since she was up until almost 10pm the night before she was not about to be awake at 6am.  But I knew how disappointed she'd be if she woke up and everyone was gone and it was just her and I and we couldn't do most of the presents, etc.  So I woke her up after everyone was ready for school.  And we had a donut diamond ring breakfast and opened about half of her presents...

Then she and I had a little playtime before we got ready for her "party".  We just had two of her little girlfriends (Charlotte Owens & Bella Flanders) over for a princessy playdate.

We just had two of her little girlfriends (Charlotte Owens & Bella Flanders) over for a princessy playdate.

Very sadly, mostly because of her lack of sleep and a little part attitude, she wasn't super nice to her friends for a good chunk of the party :(  She had to be put in quiet time a couple times throughout but at least the other two girlies played nicely together and still had a good time!  So when her party was over she got sent up to her room for a nap (which she all but asked me to go do).  And then she was a much happier girl the rest of the day.  She was very excited to walk with me to the mailbox and discover three cards and one package all for her!  

And we opened a few more presents after kids got home from school.

For her birthday dinner she had originally asked for "nuggets and ketchup" but thankfully changed her mind to "movie night"  which means pizza in front of the tv.  And she just happened to get a new Minnie movie for her birthday so that worked out perfect!

Unfortunately her friend Blair was out of town on business so he couldn't join us that evening but Laura & Milli still came over :)

And then she finally got to have her princess cake...

My baby girl is three (sigh)...

***Kate's 3 year well check was originally schedule for her birthday.  But after the clinic cancelled and rescheduled her appointment twice (!!) she was finally seen on October 2nd.  Her stats were as follows:  Weight 31.2lbs (52%), Height 36.6in (34%), BMI 69%

First Day Back to School!

Monday (August 19th) was orientation at the elementary school.  I took Brynn and Tyler in to meet their teachers, show them where their classrooms where, get their supplies put away, and have them listen to the teachers talk to us for a bit.  The PreK teachers had asked that we not bring the kids to orientation because they wanted to talk to the parents and have us fill out all the paperwork.  That was fine and I respected their wishes but I wanted to make sure that I was there when he found his classroom and met his teacher for the first time.  But he has been waiting for this day for so long and really wanted to ride the bus to school on the first day.  So I sat down Brynn and Tyler and explained to them that I knew they would be excited and anxious on their first day of school and that it would be fun to see their friends again, but that I really needed them to be Dylans best friend for this first week of school.  I asked them to watch out for him and help him learn the routine.  I wanted them to be with him on the bus, take him to the cafeteria when they got off (that is where all the kids in the school congregate until the bell rings) and then to help him listen for when they call his grade and show him where his classroom is.  And I actually did trust them to do that - they are usually very good with each other.  And so the next day was the first day of school.
   

Here are the kids with their teachers:

Brynn 4th Grade with Ms Daniel

Dylan PreK with Ms Batyski

Tyler 2nd Grade with Ms Williams

Brynn was thrilled that she got to start coming out of her room at 6am again (geez) - during the summer we wouldn't let her out (who knows when she actually wakes up?!) until 6:30am.  Tyler hadn't been feeling too well the day before (stomach and headache) so he wasn't in the best mood.  And Dylan was thrilled, but ended up being a little more hesitant and shy then I thought he'd be.

Off to the bus stop!  Where they get picked up at 6:43am...

...with our friends, neighbors and bus stop buddies - Celes & Macy Mathews and Milli DeSio.

Dylan was first in line!... but when the bus stopped in front of him he froze or something and the next thing you know his siblings and friends were pushing passed him to get on and he was the last one standing there.  Seeing that he became a little unsure, and seeing that his siblings already forget everything we had talked about, I went up and gave him some loves and got him on the bus - and made the mom decision to get in the car and rush on over to the school so I could meet up with him there. 

It was perfect timing.  I walked up just as I could see them getting off the bus.  Here came Brynn.  Then up came Tyler.  And I asked them where their little brother was??!?!?!?  I turned them around to show them that he was standing by the door of the bus unsure where to go or what to do and ALL ALONE.  I was not happy.  I sent Tyler back to get him.  Gave my older two a talking to.  And helped them on their way once more - but lucky them with me in tow now.  

We waited in the cafeteria and then when they called the PreK students Kate & I took Dylan to where his classroom is and introduced him to his teacher and then left him there :)

Kate asked a few times where our Dylan was.  But I explained to her how our days were now going to work and she seemed to be good with it.  When we went back to pick him up (10:15am) he and Kate stopped to catch little frogs for a bit...

In the car ride home she told me she had an owie.  I told her she was fine.  She told me she needed a bandaid.  I told her she was fine.  She persisted.  I told her to please sit quietly and that I would look at it when we got home because I wanted to talk to Dylan about his day.  Huh...

...as it turns out she really did have an owie :{  And I have no idea what happened.  I also didn't get much out of Dylan other than he had to sit a lot and was kinda bored.  So he wasn't exactly jumping for joy.  But I do think he likes school and will adjust quickly.
We got the other kids off the bus that afternoon (they get done with school at 1:35pm and home around 2ish) and rushed off to more dentist appointments for Brynn and Tyler.  No, they didn't have cavities from their previous appointment but Brynn had more enamel issues that needed to be worked on and Tyler had indents in his new molars that they needed to put sealants on.  Once they were done we had a few minutes to grab them an early dinner before our next appointment to get the girls haircut.  The closest dinner options were Sams Club or McDonalds.  They chose Sams Club.  Whatever :)  Brynn got a slushy since her mouth was still numb...    

Kate has never had her haircut.  But it has been getting long and curly and tangly and out of control.  So I decided it was finally time for a big trim.  And since I was a little nervous about it I made appointments for her and Brynn to see my awesome hair lady.  Kates hair was really quite long - when wet it would reach her cute little bum.  Brynn's has just been getting longer and longer too so it was time.  

 Brynn went first and so Kate had a good example to follow of how to act and she did great. 

 They both cleaned up very nicely :)

Funny side note:  This past Saturday a Barber Shop just off of Base was giving free haircuts.  So I sent PJ over with his two boys.  I couldn't help but laugh when Tyler walked back in the door.  Its hard to tell in this picture but he had a very distinct hair line.  I told PJ I could totally tell him what ethnicity the barber was.  Tyler might as well have also had something etched in to the side of his head :)  Apparently they offered to do PJ as well but he politely declined.

Anyway... it was a very busy first day of school.  And we definitely had to go over (and over again) their responsibilities of helping their little brother for the next week or so.  But I think its going to be a pretty good year!!