First day of kindergarten

I woke Bella up around 7am that morning. The first words out of her mouth were the same as every other summer morning: "What are we going to do today?" I just laughed at her. And she laughed too when she remembered that this was the day she had been counting down to for the past three weeks!

Her outfit had been laid out the night before. The one that was picked out over a month ago. She couldn't wait to put it on.

And she knew exactly how she wanted her hair.
 Two pony tails.

By 8am she was growing impatient. She wanted to get going! But she still had over a half hour until her bus would come.

So I just took more pictures.

And tried to capture some details that I don't want to forget.

When it was time to head out to the bus stop, 

we all went together.

My mommy-heart was so happy that she had some older church friends on the bus too. I knew they'd take care of her.

The sight of this had me feeling a little weak.

Not Bella though. See her blurry leg. . . she ran to that bus and was so eager to get on.

I saved my tears for this moment.

And then turned around and saw that 

Graydon had some tears of his own.

I thought it was so sweet that he was sad to see his sister leave. But then he kept crying out, "My turn! My turn!" I soon realized that he wanted to get on the bus too.

Curtis was still just waking up at this point.

Andy, the boys, and I walked back to the house, loaded up the van, and headed to school to meet Bella when she got off.

Here she is setting eyes on her new school for the first time.

And this sweet lady putting a nametag on her backpack is her teacher.

When all the kids were accounted for, they headed in 

and Bella began her first day of school.

We then made our way to the orientation in the library. They gave out a ton of information that I don't even remember. But what will forever stick in my mind is when the Guidance Counselor announced our kids as the class of 2024. I think the eyes of just about every mommy in the room began to fill with tears.

Thankfully, those were the last of my tears. Bella loves school, thinks riding the bus is the coolest thing, and is making some good friends.

Here is Bella, in her own words, after her first day of school.
Bella's First Day of Kindergarten from Karen Kilps on Vimeo.

Back to School Eve

It was raining cats and dogs that morning, but I promised the kids Sidewalk Chalk Paint and I have to keep my promises.

After pounding my chalk bits into powder and mixing in some water, we were ready to paint.

It's a good thing we have a covered porch.

Curtis found his own ways to get involved.

Our final summer fun activity complete.

Later that evening, we celebrated a Back to School Night.

There were decorations.

Flowers and candles. (I envisioned just a cheap bouquet of carnations, but the least expensive flowers at the grocery store that day were these pink roses. Ended up working out perfectly for our pink-loving-lady).

Some back-to-school advice.

A crown that I made for her third birthday that she never wore and of course the 'You are Special' plate.

Bella chose the menu: spaghetti and meatballs. We toasted our kindergartener-to-be with sparkling grape juice.

And for dessert: Chocolate Cream Pie!

Soon enough is was time for pajamas, stories, and sleep.

After all, it was a SCHOOL NIGHT!!!

Writing a love letter to her daddy. . .

On the dryer of all places!!!

Gotta love this thoughtful, silly girl.

1,000 Gifts. . .

#27. . . birthday cards in the mail -- stretching my birthday out just a little bit further

#28. . . simple recipes that turn out delicious

#29. . . pulling the boys in the wagon

#30. . . Bella pulling the boys in the wagon - while riding her bike!

#31. . . taking pictures with my cell phone camera

#32. . . the ever-expanding vocabulary of my two-year-old

#33. . . a box filled with getting-to-know-you questions

#34. . . a free photobook filled with family memories

#35. . . pretty toenails

#36. . . the healing power of a kiss from mommy

#37. . . flavored coffee creamer

#38. . . rocking my boys to sleep

#39. . . snuggling with Bella at night and talking about our day

#40. . . sweet rest after a long day

#41. . . the smell of clothes just out of the dryer

#42. . . the feel of clothes just out of the dryer

#43. . . Curtis's fluffy hair after bath time

#44. . . freshly bathed children

#45. . . riding bikes after dinner

#46. . . the morning sun painting pictures on our living room walls

#47. . . new school supplies

#48. . . coffee in the morning

#49. . . updating the blog with my smart phone

#50. . . a quiet morning

#51. . . one-on-one time with Bella while the boys nap

#52. . . Graydon's hand resting on mine

#53. . . Curtis saying "ma ma", "da da", and "uh-oh"

#54. . . an earlier bedtime routine for the kids

#55. . . a meal of plastic food made in Bella and Graydon's kitchen

#56. . . praying together as a family at dinner time

#57. . . Graydon *helping* with the dinner dishes

#58. . . Andy and the kids chasing each other around the house -- and all the laughter that goes along with it

#59. . . a refrigerator covered in artwork

At summer's end. . .

I could ask where the time has gone, but I don't have to. It's all right in front of me.

These are the ways we spent our summer. There's just one activity left to do. Sidewalk Chalk Paint. All of those stubby chalk pieces will be broken down and made into something fun and new. We'll do that on Tuesday. Our last day of summer.

Wednesday is the kick start to a new school year. Bella's first school year. Lots of emotions are coming my way this week.

But I won't think about that for now. We still have two days of summer and there's still a little bit of fun to be had. Like this park. We went there for our first time and are surely going back.

Happy Labor Day!!!

One more week. . .

Big sister duty

Bella reads her Bible to Graydon.  Love it when they get along so well!

1,000 Gifts

It was the Christmas season.

I stumbled upon a website about a six-year-old little girl.  Battling brain cancer.  I read her story and the pleas of her parents for prayer on her behalf.  I prayed.  Then I thought to myself. . . if that was me and I could have anything I wanted for Christmas, all I'd want is a healthy child.  That is all I would ever want for the rest of my life.  I'd never ask for anything else if I could just have that.

I entered back into my own reality with a huge dose of contentment.  I have the very thing this family prays, dreams, and cries for.  My family is healthy.

Our health is not something that I take for granted.  But in that moment, I felt even more grateful.  And we're not just healthy, we are happy.  Our marriage is strong.  We have a nice home.  Loving family.  Good friends.  We are blessed.  And I don't want to take any of it for granted.

But sometimes I do.

Each day unwraps many little gifts for me.  And I miss them.  I'm either not paying attention or I'm unaware.

Someone else felt the same way.

I haven't read her book, but I am ready to take on its challenge and make my own list of 1,000 gifts.

  

  

So here I go . . .

#1. . . the scent of fresh air filling our living room

#2. . . chubby legs taking their first steps

 #3. . . our family portrait created with Bella's pencil and crayons

  #4. . . birthday balloons and streamers still up in the living room

  #5. . . Graydon sticking his popsicle stick in the gap between his front teeth

  #6. . . music that calms my heart

  #7. . . taking photographs through a new camera lens

  #8. . . daily rain that gives me a rest from watering outdoor plants

  #9. . . a flourishing Lantana plant

#10. . . feeling the earth tremble - a great reminder of Who is in control

#11. . . laughter from my children

#12. . . the bird camped outside our window for hours

#13. . . grilled cheese dinner by candlelight

#14. . . Graydon's mealtime prayer: counting from 1-13

#15. . . meeting a new friend

#16. . . a whole day free of schedules and commitments

#17. . . shelter from the storm

#18. . . talking for hours over dinner with girlfriends

#19. . . the names of my children on a necklace

#20. . . anticipated power outages that never came to be

#21. . . chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate chip cookie inside

#22. . . parents who are still married after 35 years!

#23. . . AA batteries on sale: a 20 pack for $2.99

#24. . . a morning nap on the couch after a night spent on the floor

#25. . . blue skies after days of gray

#26. . . roses that returned for their second bloom this summer

I'll be keeping my ongoing list in my personal journal and adding it here as often as can.

Maybe you should try it too?