Piggy Plum Pie Dance

Because you will likely never get to see this in real life...

Little Sissy's Preschool Interview

Big Sissy's Pre-Kindergarten Interview

This is a little after the fact, but I had to make this into a YouTube so all my iPhone and non-Facebook family could see it.

Kids Thrived & Mama Survived

I have dreaded this day since Big Sissy was born--well at least since I realized she was bright and capable of learning. What happened to the days when girls didn't need an education? They were content to just follow their mamas around and learn good practical skills like sewing and cooking and shucking corn? OK. My daughter wouldn't learn any of those things from me. And the truth of the matter is that I loved (and still love school). I thought I could teach her at home, and if you've read my blog for any length of time you know the angst that I have endured in trying to make this decision. But the decision has been made. Big Sissy started Kindergarten today.

She really hasn't ever been nervous. She has had some questions along the way. For example, when we first told her she would probably be riding the bus she wanted to know the story of her Aunt Regina, who was killed in a bus accident about 25 years ago. That was the only context she had for bus riding. Then when we started talking about eating lunch in the cafeteria, she wanted to know how she would find her teacher and not get lost, etc. But once she gathered all of the appropriate information, she was fine. I, on the other hand, have not been fine. I have been panicked. I don't know what it is, but I have been so scared to let her go. God has been gracious along the way in sending me "love notes" to let me know that He is taking care of her. One is a sweet lady at our church who works playground duty there and has let me know what a nice environment it is. Another is that we found out this week that a little girl that we know from our MOPS group will be in Big Sissy's class.

So today was the day. I interviewed her last night, but for some reason I can't post it here. She said that she's most looking forward to eating in the cafeteria. We all got up bright and early to get ready. Daddy even worked from home this morning so he could be here.

The bus was scheduled to arrive at 8:28. We sat on the porch and finally saw it pull around the curve at 8:40. I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing, but I managed to get a quick picture before my eyes glazed over with tears and all I saw was a big blur of yellow pulling away with my precious little girl inside.

But as fate chance God would have it, I didn't have time to wallow in my sorrow because not just one of my children went to school for the first time today but TWO!!! Little Sissy started preschool too! As soon as the bus pulled away, we booked it out of here to get Little Sissy to her school. I wasn't as sad about that for some reason. I think it's because (1) it's only two mornings a week, (2) she is going to miss her Sissy so much and needs something to keep her busy, (3) we got to stay for an hour with her today, (4) she's very social and I know she'll be fine.

I couldn't have been happier to walk in and find a whole room full of the activities that I rarely never let my kids do because they're too messy. I value the idea behind them, though--you know, creativity, sensory experience, yadda yadda yadda. Just try picking up "normal" messes of 3 little ones, and you'll understand. It was such a treat for her to play with real play dough, play with sand with no bugs in it, AND paint with real paint. None of this paint with water stuff at preschool. No, siree! She even had to wash her hands when she was done.

She cried for a few minutes when we left, which surprised me, but I checked in before we left and she was fine.

I always ask at the end of the day (especially a monumental day like this one) what each family member's highs and lows were for that day. Big Sissy said her high was playing with Sarah (our MOPS friend) and she couldn't think of a single low. Little Sissy said her high was snack time at school, and her low was having to sit in a different seat in the van so that the preschool workers could buckle her in easier. A good day, I would say, and a good start to a new chapter in our lives. Now I better go to bed and get ready to do it all again tomorrow.

The John in our Backyard

I try and try to tell people how blessed we are, but I just have to say it again! We are so blessed! We have great kids, a great family, a God who cares for us, and people on earth to remind us. Here is our latest blessing. My uncle recently moved to a house that had previously been owned by people with little girls. I'm actually guessing about that, but what I do know is that when they moved they left this AMAZING playhouse in the yard. When we were there for my cousin's high school graduation and it became clear that neither she nor her sister are probably going to be playing with it much, my uncle offered it to us for our girls. Don't mind if I do. I've been dreaming of a house like this since Big Sissy was a baby and we saw something similar at a little shop in Texas. We spent all morning scrubbing spiders out of it, and it is good as new. Now it's all ready for the tea parties.

We promised my uncle we would name the house after him. So now we have a John in our backyard in case you ever come to visit.

Independence Day--Country Style

In keeping with our 4th of July tradition for the last few years, we spent the 4th of July in Indiana with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and their family. It's always a great time. She's a fabulous hostess and has mad cooking skillz, and he is Mr. Pyro Man Extraordinaire. Put them together, and what do you get? A weekend full of wonderful food and impressive fireworks. Add to that the country experience, and it is a great vacation for us city folks. My kids had such a great time feeding chickens, catching caterpillars and butterflies, picking blackberries, and playing with their cousins. These are great memories we are making. And every morning now we eat "Brimm Jam," which my sister-in-law whipped up right after we got in with the blackberries. We're all impressed with her!

Part of my personal tradition is dressing the girls in obnoxious festive clothes. One of these days they'll probably make me stop that.

The guys were "festive enough" in their coordinating team gear.

This is Carrie from Little House on the Prairie. Oh, my bad. This is Little Sissy with her blackberry bucket.

Little Buddy got to get in on the action too!

Look, Mom! I got a blackberry!

National Conference

I am so behind on my blogs, and there's so much I want to tell you about. Before I try to catch up, though, I'll fill you in on where I've been most recently. I just got back from the 31 National Conference in Columbus, OH. I became a consultant too late to go last year, and I probably only signed up this year because we were able to earn "conference bucks" to pay for registration and hotel. I thought it might be just sort of a paid vacation, which I really felt like I needed to be a better "me" for my family. In the end, I only paid $21 for my hotel, $18 for gas, and a few meals here and there. But I came away with tons of information, new product, and a vision for this business. I'll be honest and say that this job has been hard for me in some ways because I don't feel like my "calling" is to sell bags. But being in a faith-based company and seeing the testimonies of so many women who have been able to help others through this business has inspired me to think of this as more meaningful than selling bags. I'm putting it in God's hands to see where he takes this and for how long. For now, I'm fired up and ready to do this with all my might, soul, and strength!

Recognition for becoming Senior Consultant at the Awards Banquet

My new friend Monica ended up riding with us because she didn't know anyone else in her area who was going. It turned out to be such a God-ordained arrangement. Our hearts bonded quickly, and we had 14+ hours in the car to talk, share, laugh, cry, and commit to praying for each other. I like her even though she told me I'm the age of her step-dad. :)

Me, my Senior Executive Director, and my Director

Me and Wendy. I was her first recruit, and this year she became a director.

Reaching new heights together. In so many ways.