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Okay so little sissy's birthday is coming soon and I am in a quandary about what to get for her. You see we have a kitchen set... a VERY BOY kitchen set that is just a few years old. She plays with it some, but not a lot (it is upstairs in the "toy room" and my kids do not play unless I am up there with them)



I am thinking that she would love a big-ol kitchen set and would play for hours... since it is just her and Silas I am thinking that we might get back to some good classic playing in the house. (instead of all the Power Ranger/Spiderman/ Knight role play)
I like this one...

But I also like this one because my friend Amy has it and it is kitchen set (on the side you cannot see) and manly grill on the other. It is too cute in person.


And then there is the doll house issue. This is what I originally thought I would do for her birthday and anyone who wanted (Nommie/Gran) to could contribute a room set to the house that they sell separately. My issue here is it only comes in 2 families... Caucasian and African American. I think either would be fine, but every doll I have bought her so far has been Hispanic so which family would I choose?



So, I thought about this Hispanic Doll house, and she loves Dora (or "Elmo" as she calls it) but I am afraid she will get tired of it quicker. But, it does have the same concept of buying rooms and vans and playgrounds.



And then there is this one that she plays with every time she goes to The Factory. But I am afraid the pieces are just to small for our house right now and she will not play with it as much until she is older. Instead of people it has all kinds of animal families that you can buy... and they are TOO CUTE!



So, as you can see, I cannot make this decision alone. I need help!

Cast your vote-

Sometimes...

Sometimes, life just has to stop. Sometimes, you have to put aside a fresh shower, a few loads of laundry, and making your daughters birthday invites. Sometimes you have to take the opportunity to snuggle up on the coach with your 5 year old who is about to spend his days with a stranger. When only you and him can be together because little brother and little sister are sleeping. Sometimes you have to hold that child, that not too long ago was a baby in your arms and just stay there for a few hours doing nothing (but watch his favorite show). SO, that is what we did, and I LOVED IT!
And sometimes, you have to choke back the tears when you just drift off to sleep and that 5 year old, who will all too soon think he is too big for Momma is giving you sweet kisses over and over again, because he loves you.

It is not the heartbreak of momma losing her baby to Kindergarten I want to remember, it is this... this time, this day... because I never want to forget.

FAIR Friday

I did not get a chance to post our Fair pictures from last week so I thought I would share a few. We enjoyed a great time at the county fair. Seeing as my family has not yet been to Disney World, you could not get any better than this.

It is no county fair without the typical cuisine.

Eliza was serious about her farming... all except the milking, and she had no part of that.


How could you not stop for a photo op like this?

Daddy and Bay did not know what they were getting into with this $4 per person ride. Let's just say it was not hot and Brent was sweating.

Callan loved the ride where he flew like Superman.

And even though Silas got the short end of the stick when his Bee would not fly up and down, only in a circle... he thought it was cool.

This is only a test

Callan had his pre-testing for Kindergarten today. I am not sure what happened when they took him back into one of the classrooms, but he tells me that they asked him..."Well, I cannot remember, but something." So much for this must-know momma who has been asking him things like...

Mom: "Did they ask you to count?"
Callan: "Um... yeah I think so, but I do not remember."

Mom: "Did they ask you how old you are?"
Callan: "No, I do not think so."

Mom: "Did they ask you your letters?"
Callan: "Maybe a few, I don't really remember."

Mom: "What about shapes... did they ask you about shapes?"
Callan: "Shapes? Ummm... No."

Mom: "Okay, colors, did they ask you about any colors."
Callan: "Yeah...OH YEAH...they asked me my colors, but they mixed them up funny, and I could not remember them."
Mom:"WHAT??? You have known your colors since you were like 2, what do you mean they mixed them up funny?"
Callan:" I don't know, I don't really remember."

GREAT... first of all they are sending us back to Pre-K, second they are taking away my teaching certificate, and third I am SOOOO in for it. I will have to volunteer each week just to know he actually even went to school. This from the same kid who told me he really did not have a need for the letter "P"??? Where does he get this from? sheeeesh

EIGHT

Exactly 8 years ago I woke up in the hospital after a night of monitoring 5 minute apart contractions with no progress (I should add here that sleeping pills and a 9 month pregnant woman do not go together, sure I needed the sleep... but a pregnant bladder never rests-it was not a good idea). I woke up to my Dr. coming in to check on another patient who was in active labor. The nurses had already told me that I was going home, and I was crying like a baby. I did not know if I could make it another day, I was miserable.

The Dr. came in and had pity on me, she told me that "since she had to be there anyway, and since I was 2 days past due (according to one of the doctors)", she would go ahead and induce. But, I had to promise not to call in any family until we started seeing progress. That was about 6AM. The rest was a blurr of unconsciousness and pain but after only about 30 minutes of pushing, Nicolas Baylor arrived into our world at 12:40 PM. My life changed forever. I was in shock for a long time. I just kept saying over and over, "This is my baby", "I had a baby". We were also in shock to discover that my first child weighed 9 lbs, 14 oz. I knew he was big because he had been cutting of most of my lower body for weeks, but I had no idea that he would be THAT big.
From the moment he entered the world, his life has been BIG. He is full force in whatever he does and never settles for anything less than his best. He really is a great kid, who knows how to turn on the charm. I have loved every minute of his precious life (okay I can count a few minutes that I might take back, but they were mostly my fault)and I thank God that He has given me the joy of raising him.

Second Grade

Why oh why does my second grader look as if he might be heading off to his first day of High School? It seems as if the days just pass by while I blink. Baylor had a great first day at school. I asked him what he loved the most, he said that he thought it was cool that he had his own desk. When I asked him what he could have done without, he said one girl KEPT ON ASKING QUESTIONS when Mrs. W said to raise your hand to ask a question. He is very excited that his going on the 3rd year buddy, Christian, is in his class again. He thinks it is going to be a great year, and was told that they would soon be getting their very own caterpillars in Science (he is just like his momma when it comes to that stuff). We are looking forward to a great year.



Could he have anymore school supplies?