My last attempt at grad videos

Alright... seeing how my daughter is weeks away from being a kindergartener I figured I would give these preschool graduation videos one more chance to upload. And after ALL night they are up! Crazy internet!!

They had a "potluck" type of get-together afterwards. We decided to make graduation caps out of mini muffins, icing, shortbread cookies, licorice and m&ms. YUMMY! She had a blast making them. Mostly because I let her nibble on all the goodies as we went.





While we "baked". . . Mykah played...



Then we were off to the party!
When she marched in the shyness set in...



And it lasted through all of the songs! All of the songs they sang she had been singing around the house for WEEKS before this big day. I told her way ahead of times on numerous occasions that when she was singing them at graduation there would be TONS of people there watching. She seemed more than ok with all of that. Then the big day came...





By the end of it she was all warmed up and ready to sing. And yes... (if I haven't already mentioned this) I did cry a little during this song. It was just SO sweet... and sad. Saying goodbye doesn't mean the same thing to kids though... so she was fine with it all.





Before we headed out I got a couple of shots of the 2 of them. The pictures may all be crap, but be glad I got ANYTHING! I was operating the camera, video camera and taking care of Mykah. Talk about a tired momma!

Seems as if this might work

The internet seems to reject the idea of any type of video from me. Some times I luck out though... :o)

A chapter has ended

My baby... yes... my BABY is done with preschool! I have a flood of mixed emotions. I am SO happy that she is going on to something more challenging. So glad that she will be making new memories and new friends. I am welcoming the upcoming changes and challenges, but this all means something else as well. It means she is growing up!! I know... its not like I can change that, so I might as well embrase it, but its all happening SO FAST!! It seems like she was JUST Mykahs age! Like I was just spoon feeding her and changing her diapers. Now she will have homework and afterschool activities! Like I said... I am welcoming these upcoming changes, but WOW... my baby is going to be a KINDERGARDENER!!

Some shots of her and her 'teachers' in preschool/ daycare. :o)

Ms Stephanie

Pizza party to celebrate

Ms Saggera (I need to check her spelling...)

Mrs Charlene - the teacher of Kaylas group. A truely amazing teacher!

Ms Elaina


Now for me to go back and post about her graduation. I need to get video on here for that. We all know how iffy the internet is with me and video. :o)

My amazing....

Had a teacher’s conference this past week. Mrs. C. and I laughed quite a bit. Yes... my daughter still has issues sitting still during the preschool programs circle time, but we both agreed it’s probably boredom. I mean... when you take five year old that can read, write and do simple math, and start teaching them the sounds of letters... they are going to get bored.

Anyways... that was only one of the good laughs we had. We both shared stories about Makayla and her amazing creativity. We think it’s amazing just how creative she can get. She will take an ordinary book... take the characters and make up a completely new story. Then she will re-take those same characters and they will be doing something else entirely. It doesn't have to be story book characters either... it can be a couple of rocks, sticks, blades of grass, pieces of paper... ANYTHING and this kid’s imagination will go straight to work.

We talked a lot about her absolute LOVE for animals. I mean it’s crazy! She is NOT the typical girl with a love for babies, barbies or dress up stuff. She is ALL about her stuffed animals. They are her absolute favorite toys hands down! I have tried to show her different things when we go toy shopping, but she just frowns at me shaking her head and quickly find her way to the PetShops and stuffed animals. Yes… she still loves her PetShops, and still wants to buy them regularly, but she doesn’t insist on taking them everywhere like the stuffed animals.

Truly an amazing big sister! I mean REALLY amazing. I’m sure that has a lot to do with the fact that Mykah can’t talk and isn’t mobile. Once those things start happening, and he’s annoying her and taking her toys… I will report back with what type of sister she is then. :o) For now she LOVES to play with him. She loves making him laugh and usually laughs to the point of tears when he does something she thinks is funny. One day she asked me “mommy how come when I laugh at Mykah I get tears in my eyes?!” I told her “that’s when something is REALLY funny!”

Happy stinking Mothers Day.....

Really I shouldn’t be like that… REALLY!... I love the fact that I am a Mother. I absolutely adore the two people on this earth that have given me that title. I am SOOO lucky for what I DO have, but this day always makes me think about what I DON’T have! Today seemed especially horrible. I think because I now have NO parents… none! Not even the one I rarely saw and had a half-assed relationship with while he was here! My dad passed away on the 19th of last month, and even though today is Mothers day I couldn’t help but think about them both. While I am happy that my dad was able to meet my kids, it SUCKS that they will never know him. Makayla is 5, but I am absolutely positive when she is older, and shares the story of her grandparents, my mom and dad will be skipped over with a quick “I never met my mom’s mom, and I met my mom’s dad when I was a kid, but I don’t remember it.”

I secretly hoped and prayed that starting my day with Church, which I haven’t been to in YEARS, would somehow make the day deal-able. Well, let me tell you this… Church is nowhere near the same when you are holding a nonstop squirming 7 month old, and constantly telling a 5 year old to sit still and be quiet. I did enjoy it, but I felt more frustrated when I left that when I arrived.

So here it is 9pm, and I am sadly… happy that this day is over. Not that tomorrow my mom and dad won’t be on my mind, but at least when I look at my phone, check facebook, or read my e-mails there will not be CONSTANT reminders that I am now a parentless parent.

Can't do what I planned to do...

And DAMN is it frustrating! I planned on posting a bunch of videos when I restarted this site, but for some reason the entire internet seems to reject my videos. Wondering if I’m doing something wrong. Lately I have I been ALL about the video camera. I pick that up more often that I do the camera these days.

It’s Ok... I can blog here with no pictures right?!... I’m sure I’m getting a lot of weird, blank stares out there! haha.

We had a great Easter. The Easter Bunny made a sneaky appearance when we weren't looking. He left eggs along the side of our house, and when we got to the back of the house we saw that he left Kayla and Mykah a basket on our swing. Sneaky sneaky bunny. :o) Kayla was excited and Mykah was... well... 6 months old so I’m sure you can guess his reaction to it all.

Why did I start this page up again?...

Oh yea… to share stories and thoughts about the kids. That’s right! To bad I STILL have no time or motivation to keep it up.

Anyways, Sunday night here. Both kids in bed. I’m doing laundry and wandering internet while my mind wanders over the last 28 years of life. Crazy to think of where I came from and where I am now. I’ve been thinking a lot about the past actually. I think it all stems from recent visits with my dad. My brother, his son and grandson, his sister, me and my 2 kids got to visit with my dad for a while a few weeks ago. While I was at training last week my kids went with Aunty Louise to visit him again. She said he really enjoyed seeing them. He was all smiles and telling everyone so proudly that those were his grandbabies. I HATE that it has come to his recent situation with cancer for us to start a relationship. But I do enjoy the fact that my kids can put a smile on that man’s face. I wish I was there it see it again.

Kayla really seemed to enjoy her time with Aunty Louise. I know Aunty Louise enjoyed spending time with them as well. Mykahs second tooth came out while he was there. :o) He is still the happiest little guy anyone comes across.

Off to fold my laundry and get ready for tomorrow.

Disney on Ice

On 25 February Niki, Jasmine, Nana, Kayla, Mykah and I all went to Disney on Ice in San Jose. It was a first for all except Niki and Jasmine. We all had a great time. The show was included Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy (of course), Cars, The Lion King, The little Mermaid and Tinker bell. I think I enjoyed the show a little too much! Me and Nana were amazed at the skill level of the skaters. Makayla said her favorite part was Lion King. Even though I enjoyed it all I would have to say my fav was probably Tinker Bell. And if I had to take a guess I would say Mykah’s favorite part was Cars. NOT because it is a boy, but you should have seen this little guy following Mater around the ice with his eyes! It was SO adorable!!

brief updates...

A couple weeks ago we (Duncan and I) were asking Makayla if she had a boyfriend. She had been mentioning this boy named Aiden, who is the same kid who gave her a birthday card, so the ‘boyfriend’ question was only appropriate. She answered with “NO! I’m not going to marry him!”

A few nights after that she asked me about Aunty Jessies wedding. I told her it was in November. She asked “What am I going to be? Adam is going to be the ring-around-the barrier.” I told her she was going to be the flower girl. I asked her what a wedding is. She responded with “It’s when people kiss! I don’t want to have a wedding!” haha





On the Mykah news front... I was absolutely convinced my son would never eat from a spoon. He absolutely hated it. He would not only spil the cereal or oatmeal back out, but would also start crying if I gave him more. Well... I disovered the secret. He likes his food mixed with his formula NOT just water. He now loves the stuff. We haven't done anything more than cereal and oatmenl, but he is all about it. The doctor wanted us to wait until 6 months to start feeding him "food" anyways.

He also just learned to roll over. Up until yesterday he was absoluetly content laying on his back. He showed no desire at all to do much else. Of course the night after I was telling Nana that... he started rolling nonstop. Now getting back over to his back is another story. Hasn't figured that one out yet.

Playing together

I was in the kitchen washing dishes and I could hear him cracking up. Of course by the time I grabbed my camera the laughs were toning down.

A Mother of a WHAT?!

Oh yes... that would be the mother of a FIVE year old! Yes... my little girl is five years old. I am without words. Time flies truely TOO fast! It seems like just yesterday she was Mykah's age. A few months ago we decided to give Makayla a slumber party for her 5th birthday. She invited her 2 best friends – Jasmin and Imani. Imani also has a little sister who came. So Saturday around 4 -5 all the girls showed up. Kayla was so excited. We had pizza, snacks and cake. Even though she choose a kitty birthday theme, she wanted a Care Bear Birthday cake. The girls all played for a little while longer, then it was time to roll out the sleeping bags. I was surprised at how well they all sat and laid in their sleeping bags. They watched Flushed Away and Sleeping Beauty (both movies Kayla got for her birthday.) It was around 10:30 when the movies were finally over. Jayda and Jasmin were the first two to fall asleep. Imani fell asleep next and of course Kayla was the last one. She rolled around until after 11! I don’t know how my child manages to stay awake for so long. Heres a couple of videos for now. Hopefully another video and some pictures to follow. Now if I only had the time.

Videos...

I have come across a BUNCH of videos that I have wanted to upload. Plan to do it here, little by little. Some may get pretty old, but this one if from just the other night.

Just thinking.. and man is there a lot to think about! Some time around 10 December of 2010 I will be getting out of the Army. The thought is REALYL nuts to me. Not that I have been imagining myself staying in the Army, but the fact that I am getting my resume and KSAs together, really makes it a reality. There is SO much to plan in the short 11 months that are ahead of me! Moving Kayla a few months after starting her first year of school, finding a job from the other side of the country, the traveling/ coordination for the move... It can really be a bit overwhelming.

On the job front, my plan is to start applying around May. I plan to apply for TONS of jobs. Apparently just getting my foot in the door is what needs to be my priority... even if its not in my ideal location. Once I get an idea of where I may be working, I will be able to get a handle on schools and daycares in the area. WOW... this all seems like so much.

Ok... deep breathe... lets remember why im doing this....

Ever wondered how sweet my daughter is?...

Tonight, after reading a few books. I told her to get ready for bed. Mykah was sleeping on the couch next to us. She says "wait mommy... I have to say Prayers for Mykah so the angels can watch over him." Yes... pure sweetness. :o)



She adores her brother. Usually a day doesn't pass that she isn't singing or talking to him. She makes up little songs with his name in them. Its cute.

And don't even get me started on how he looks at her. WOW! I don't think I have ever seen more love in the eyes of a baby. Truely a perfect pair.







Well... got homework to do. And a workout to do... and some Sex and the City to watch! haha
(also considering changing my URL... but don't know yet.)

Back in the swing. . .

I have got to get back in the swing of things. I have use to be so great about posting pictures and updates, but lately I just don't have it in me. I still TAKE pictures, but rarely do I post them to flickr any more. And when was the last time I actually did an update on either child? I guess now that I have 2 children, and am still in school and still working I just don't force myself to find the time. That really has to change. There are so many little things that I REALLY don't want to forget.

Got to get bck in it!...