Growing Up

Jordy woke up sick on Sunday - not good!  Kaylea asked me what I had planned for the day.  It was raining and I didn't have too many plans so I asked what she wanted to do.  She suggested painting pottery.  We arrived a little too early, so we headed to KFC for lunch beforehand.  We made it to the pottery place right when they opened and Kaylea selected a cat to paint.  She had fun.

After a short break we went to the Kindergarten Cookout at our church.  The kids met some other kids who will be at their school and found their new classroom at church.  Kaylea got a new bible to bring to church.  They had inflatables and dinner as well.  The church leaders talked to the adults while the kids played.  It was a fund night.  We also met some of new neighbors, who just happen to be someone I used to play softball with back at New Albany.  Looking forward to the move and meeting new people.

Cooking with Grammy

After spending a week home with Daddy, Kaylea was happy to see her friend Lucy on Saturday when we met up at Cooking with Grammy at Adrienne's in Jeffersonville.  This was a birthday present from Lucy.  The girls had a great time decorating a cupcake and baking a few items in the kitchen.

That evening we went to Lucy's house to celebrate the end of summer.  Kaylea, Stella, and Lucy played non-stop for 3 hours.  Kaylea had a blast.

Last Day at Christian Academy

Kaylea had her last day at Christian Academy last week.  Below is a picture of her with her two best friends at school - Stella & Lucy.  They built a great friendship this past year and I know Kaylea is going to be sad she isn't attending kindergarten with them this year.  Christian Academy was an awesome experience and I'm so glad we had friends who told us about the preschool program.

Before My Final Week of Training This Year

I have traveled a lot for work this year.  My final full week of training was this past week in Washington DC.  Jordy went to DC on Friday to visit a friend.  I flew in on Saturday to spend the night and following day with Jordy.  Kaylea and I spent a fun evening inside on Friday night.  After playing and eating dinner at home, we got out the Easy Bake Oven for a night of baking.  We made strawberry cookies with lemon frosting.  We finished just in time for Trina, Meagan, and Mimi to stop by.  Kaylea was so excited to see them that she gave away the cookie she promised me (don't worry, I didn't really want one anyway).

Birthday Party #2

Friday was Kaylea's party with her friends.  I actually sent her to school because I had to finish making her cake and Jordy had to finish a paper for his summer class.  We had the party at Kazoing for the second year in a row.  It's a like pricey, but I had at least 3 kids tell me it was the best party they had ever been to.  We ended up having 20 kids at the party.

We spent the first 30 minutes bouncing in a room with 5 bounce houses.  We then moved to the Glamour Studio.  The girls were allowed to select a fancy dress, have their hair styled, nails painted, and make-up.  The boys had the option of dressing up and having their face painted.  I think Kaylea changed dresses about 3 times.

We served pizza & cake.  The kids then put on a fashion show and had some time left to play freeze dance.  We didn't have time to open presents (we actually weren't planning to anyway), so we wanted until the next night to tackle that.  We had Frozen Anna & Elsa necklaces for the girls and glow swords for the boys.

After the party Owen got to come back and spend the night.  I think this was a party fit for my little princess!

Birthday Party #1 (because you need 2 when you turn 5)

Get ready for birthday party overload!  This year we decided to have 2 parties because we didn't think we would have enough room to have everyone together in once place.  It turns out we probably would have, but it was very nice this way.

We celebrated with our families on Wednesday.  We actually started the day with a trip to the doctor & dentist.  We thought ending the day with a party would be fun.  Kaylea requested a cookie cake for this party, but ended up eating an orange flavored cupcake with no icing I had made from leftover batter.  When the doorbell started ringing Kaylea was super excited.

We had dinner.  Her selections included ham sandwiches (we also had chicken salad), chips, watermelon (she had grapes), buffalo dip, mac & cheese, and pickles.  She was very patient about cutting her cake and opening presents.  When it was time she was very ready.  She got some of her favorite presents - we try not to focus on presents, but how can you not when you are 5 years old???  I'm going to post some of her favorites so she can check out this post one day - she got the biggest dog ever from her Uncle Richard & Jake; beados and a gift card for more beados from her Uncle Steve & Carol; a Monster High Locker from Shannan & Brenden; an Easy Bake Oven from Nana & Pop; a movie from Mikey & Meleena; a ton of crafty things, an iTunes card (which she promptly bought the Lego Movie with), a princess twirling wand, and some make your own books from Trina, Meagan, and Linda; a Barbie Car from Mommy, Daddy, & Mimi!

She had an awesome time visiting with family and getting playtime with the ones who love her most.

Let Them Be Little

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand

Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute

How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink

Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon

So, let them be little 'cause they're only that way for awhile

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh, but let them be little

I've never felt so much in one little tender touch

I live for those kisses, your prayers and your wishes

And now that you're teaching me how only a child can see

Tonight while we're on our knees all I ask is please

Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for awhile

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh, but let them be little

So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around and

It's time to let them go

So, let them be little 'cause they're only that way for awhile

Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day

Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle

Oh, just let them be little

Mm, Let them be little

Billy Dean - Let Them Be Little

Kayea is Turning 5!

Here are some things I want to remember about Kaylea at age 5:

• Kaylea loves to be on stage, but hates having her picture taken.  It is quite a challenge.  She will not pose for a photo.
• We have watched her learn so much this past year.  She is inquisitive.
• She loves to watch movies and play pretend.  She plays with very few toys, but loves to color, make books, and do crafts.
• She attends Christian Academy Preschool and has made a lot of great friends.
• Favorite Color – purple & pink
• Favorite Toy – iPad
• Favorite Fruit – apples
• Favorite TV Show – Sponge Bob
• Favorite Outfit – Hula Dress (colorful dress)
• Favorite Game – Scrabble
• Favorite Snack – cookies & milk
• Favorite Animal – cat, horse, dog
• Favorite Song – ABCs
• Favorite Book – animal book
• Best Friend – Lucy & Stella
• Favorite Cereal – Fruity Pebbles
• Favorite Thing To Do Outside – swing
• Favorite Drink – sweet tea
• Favorite Holiday – my birthday
• What Do You Take to Bed With You At Night?  blanket
• Favorite Breakfast Food – toast
• What Do You Want For Your Birthday Dinner? Cake, sandwiches, chips, & popcorn
• What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? a princess doctor

We took Kaylea to the doctor this week.  She was supposed to have her kindergarten shots, but they didn't have all 3 she needed so we decided to reschedule so she only had to go through that one time.  She measured 43.5'' tall, which was in the 75th percentile and 44 pounds, which was also in the 75th percentile.  The doctor asked her to do some developmental stuff.  He asked her to write her name, draw a circle & a square, sing her ABCs, count to 15 (she kept counting and he stopped her). She had her eyes tested and did great.  

We returned for shots on Friday.  It wasn't fun, but she was a trooper!