Memories

I love watching my children grow up. They are so much fun. I keep thinking about random memories that I want to write down, and remember later. So you will occasionally see a post that is just something I want to remember.

Here is my first one:

Kevin is finally over sleeping in a bed with his brother. It has been coming for months, and I have talked to Colin about it. But Colin is used to sleeping with a person next to him. So he moved Gwyn in to his bed. So Gwyn and Colin are usually in the bottom bunk, and Kevin is supposed to be in the top bunk. But it is summer, and hot, and the top bunk is miserable. (I remember those days when I was a kid.) So, Kevin has been sleeping on the floor. And there are a few times he has been resentful, and slept in the bottom bunk, and Gwyn ended up at the foot of the bed. For those who are still following, that is all 3 kids in the bed, and Gwyn is too long, so her legs hung off the edge. (It was super adorable. As soon as I get things working, I will upload the pictures.)

But the reality is that Kevin needs a bed. Gwyn has been told she needs to stay in her own room, a rule that I allow her to break when she says she will sleep on the floor. Basically, bed time is a revolving, wonderful mess in our house!

Kevin Turned 10!

Kevin turned 10. I have a 10 year old. All my kids are in school and one of them is 10. This thought weighed so much on me for days that I thought I would freak out on his birthday. I ended up being so giddy all day because I was so happy for Kevin!

Kevin had 2 parties, which is what we have done the past few years. One party was for friends, the other was for family. His friend party was Friday night, and he chose to go to Kokomo Joes. It is like Dave and Busters, but for children. We got the boys unlimited lazer tag, and then a couple cards loaded with money to split with the other rides and games. They rode go-carts, (The boys who were tall enough got to drive, but Kevin and I had to drive two friends.) mini-golf, arcade games, photo booth, and jumped on inflatables. Including all that and pizza dinner, they were there about 2 hours. I am so happy that Kevin had so much fun, and that Colin was also there and had fun. The boys know each others' friends pretty well, since they often both play with whatever friend happens to be over.

I asked Kevin what he wants to remember and he said, "It was awesome. I had a great time with my friends, and I won mini-golf by a point. Go-carting was fun and I loved unlimited lazer tag."

(Cute story - there was a girl from their school there with her friends. She was hiding from the boys and her friends would shout her name. It all starts so young.)

I asked for a group picture. I got the dab. This is the one with Gwyn.

The only picture in the strip of 4 that was actually of non-blurred faces.

After Kokomo Joes, cookie cake, this is the pose Kevin gave as his friends sang to him.

The family party was on Sunday evening. Most of our families come, and we usually play strange games after dinner. (This year it was Happy Salmon.) We had ice cream cake for the first time at one of our birthday parties. My brother Jake was there, who I greeted with "Hello Colin in 8 years." (Colin looks a lot like him, and he even moves like him. I see Jake when I watch Colin run.) My brother Tony brought his wife Hannah, who found out they are having a BOY the day after the party! I enjoy having our families over for parties. It is crowded, but fun.

Saturday Mornings

As much as I already love the weekends, I have been given a reason to love them more.

This girl.

Gwyn's new thing is to wake me up on the weekends. She does this by climbing into bed and snuggling with me. I feel a little hand pick up my arm. She puts her head on my shoulder. And then she just curls in. I love it. It is one of those things I will miss immensely years from now.

I'll Just Leave This Here

Here is some start-of-the-year things Kevin filled out this week.

I added "Wichita, Kansas." When he was asked "When I grow up, I want to..." he wrote "make a difference in the world." He also wrote in "Things I don't like..." "Princesses and Barbies." You can tell he has a little sister.

3 Truths and 1 Lie

What I want most in the world is... to have a good life. I feel sorry for... people that Trump blames them for what they didn't do. I never want to forget... how much my family loves me. <3 br="">

Just A Daddy Doing Daddy Things

The First Day Of School

Kevin is starting 4th grade, Colin is going into 3rd, and Gwyn is starting Kindergarten. I can not believe how big the boys are getting. They are little men! As for Gwyn, she has been so excited, but she also told me that she is "a little nervous." Her teacher is the same teacher the boys had for Kindergarten, and we love Miss Glenn. I think Miss Glenn and I have been more excited than G!

As for this morning, I stayed home from work (beginning of the year meetings) to put the kids on the bus. Gwyn was so nervous that she started over-controlling things after breakfast. She had to put her socks on about 5 times, and then had to tell me exactly how to play with her legos. (Colin tried to play but was yelled at.)  All the kids were smiles for pictures, but she didn't count on there being other kids at the bus stop. She was quiet there, even though there was another little girl going into Kindergarten at the bus stop. She only whispered to me once, (When the other mother mentioned her husband's job, Gwyn asked me quietly why I didn't say her daddy's job.) and then asked me to pick her up.

I had talked to the boys a few times about Gwyn, and that she was nervous to get on the bus. So I told them to help her find a seat, and then to give her a thumb's up on the way off the bus. (Kindergartners wait on the bus for their teachers the first few days.) So the boys took over when the bus showed up. I was kind of sad since I wanted to tell Gwyn one last time "You got this." But I didn't get to. That kind of bothered me throughout the day.

When the kids got off the bus they were all happy. On the bus, Gwyn was sitting next to the little girl (Addi) and the first thing she said was "Can I go to Addi's house?" So it was a good day. (She also fell asleep about 3 minutes after bedtime.)

I talked to Gwyn at bed time and told her that I wanted to tell you "You got this." before she got on the bus but I didn't get to. She told me "Mom I already knew that. But I might forget other times. You will have to remind me then." Ugh. Could my kids be any cuter?

This is when Gwyn saw other kids at the bus stop.

Her face when the bus pulled up.

be cuter?

Kieran!

Kevin's sister Kelly has lived in Australia for the past 3 years. She finally moved back! She brought with her her Aussie husband Kev and their son Kieran. This is the first time that we have met Kieran. We have met Kev on trips they made to the states for holidays. But Kieran was born last June, and since they had a new baby and were saving up to move back, this is Kieran's first time state-side. (Don't even ask how much 5 tickets round-trip to Australia costs.)

Here is his adorable little face, and some of the pictures we now have of him!

Creepy Face Swap with Gwyn.

While in Branson on vacation.

This is one of my favorite pictures because it reminds me of...

...this picture! Look hoe much bigger Colin is!

Kelly, Kev, and Kieran moved to Denver two weeks ago. (That is where Kelly lived prior to moving to Australia.) So we only go to see all three of them a few weeks this summer, but we are already talking about when we can visit.

Gwyn's Preschool Graduation

Her graduation was in May, but I am finally blogging about it. She was in a class with only 3 other students heading off to Kindergarten in the fall. (Most of the other kids her age were in another class.) The graduation was fun and very cute. Gwyn got a gown (Blue kids move to Kindergarten.) She got to keep her cap, and there were snacks afterward. She was very proud, and had that smile she only uses when she is proud. (Chin out, mouth closed.) It was very fun to watch. (Neither boy had a graduation since they were at UCDC for the entirety of their preschool.) Both of Kevin's parents were able to make it, and of course brothers were there as well!

Her "proud of herself" smile.

Gwyn and one of her best friends, Annagha.

They had these collages made. This was hanging in the graduation area.

One of the videos is of her saying what she wants to be when she gets older. She said "a reading teacher." (You can here me gasp in adorable shock.) The other is of her getting her diploma.