While I was away on my blog break.....

1. We visited the Clifford Exhibit at Crown Center. I am saying it was a kind of a flop, might have been better if it hadn't been so crowded.

2. Brad was on (for about 2 seconds) Man vs. Food. He was eating lunch there one day in May when they were filming some footage of the restaurant, Papa Bob's in Bonner Springs, Kansas. He mentioned it then, but I read in the newspaper in July that it was going to be aired on August 11th at 9:00 p.m. I was actually shopping at Wal-Mart when it aired and he calls me "Um, you missed it!" I said "Well, didn't you record it?" So when I got home we had to review it in slow mo. The next morning after I came home from my run, Brad was getting ready for work and I said "You are not going to believe the paparazzi outside! You better sneak out the back door." It was fun to show the kids and make jokes about it. You know I love you Bradley, who is such a good sport!

Missing Sis

I was worried about who would entertain Jilli while MK was at school. So we hired some help..........

Mia is a lot cheaper!

But this has certainly kept Missy Miss busy for two days.

Oh Jilli....

Friday was Jilli's first day of preschool. Jilli is such a character and my life would be very boring with two daughters who act the exact same. Thank you Lord for Miss Jilli, she keeps me on my toes!





She had to be woke up for her first day of school, wrestled into clothes, and bribed to brush her teeth. Of course the traditional front door photo wasn't her style, so she didn't look at the camera.

Thank my sweet LORD that he held her hand and gave her courage to not cry when I left her and held her safe all day. I was expecting drama, but she was calm. I was worried sick about the little bug all day though. Once I picked her up she announced that she loves school. All was well.





On her second day of school we got an email saying that "we can tell she is not a napper and is working on being quiet so others can rest." Oops. So they must have let her "read" books and folks, her words are far more entertaining than anything Marc Brown or Norman Bridwell could ever dream of!

We love you Jillian!

All You Really Need to Know You Learn on the 2nd Day of Kindergarten

Helping me before school

On Friday afternoon Mia Kate was bursting with energy and informed me that......





1) "Mary's mom is named Anna, that is Jesus' grandma. Did you know Jesus had a grandma?"





2) "George Washington was our first president."





and after running to dig a penny out of her piggy bank...





3) "See this monument, that is the Lincoln Memorial, and if you go there, right in the middle is a statue of Abraham Lincoln."

Really?




She was cleaning out her backpack and telling me about all of her papers and came across one she did in library and said "Obviously you know what this one is!" She was peach in the library, called me "Mrs. Reuter" and raised her hand like a star. I didn't even go peek in her classroom, but did a low wave when I saw her walking past me in the hall. It is really nice having her so close!

Miss Kindergarten

A Mom's Prayer On the First Day of School
Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch cards are full.
And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do.

But a mom still has to ask.
Will You walk with them?
Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it?
Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only
You can give, and will You keep harm far away?
Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn?
Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?
Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and
wisdom and creativity and more patience?
Will You bless them for their efforts?
Will You love all those children there,
the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full,
the ones who feel alone?
Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish
and to love those who are different from them?
Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?
Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

We love you Mia Kate! Words cannot say how proud we are of you! You are a blessing, a gift, and an amazing little lady. Let your Light Shine Sis!

Cry much? Keep reading......

Prayer from 6 Happy Hearts.

A Mess, and I am crying while typing.

The last few weeks I have went through the motions of getting the girls ready for school, but didn't really let it sink in until they were in bed last night. Then, I lost it. I went in to MK's room and cried/prayed over her. Then I went to my room and as I was brushing my teeth and Brad asked "How was your day?" My response while spitting was "Fine" and then intense bawling.

Brad: Are you really crying?
Me: YES! I am sad and really crying about kindergarten!
Brad: Oh Stace, calm down.
Me: Well you know that next week she will make her first communion and in the spring we will shop for prom dresses! Hysterically crying, flopped on my bed.
Brad: Laughing You think she will find her boyfriend in kindergarten?
Me: No, but just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. I am so worried that I didn't do a good enough job raising her these last five years and am just sending her off! Still crying.
Brad: You aren't sending her off to college, it is kindergarten.
Me: I know, but she can't tie her shoes!
Brad: She has velcro.
Me: I know, but school is rough sometimes, making friends can be rough. I KNOW! I taught them! What if she can't find someone to play with at recess? Full hysterics.
Brad: She will have her good and bad days, just like everyone.

At this point I just gave up, still sobbing, but no more explaining. I was being completely nuts, Brad was being himself, obviously practical and nada emotions or worries. Good thing, because if both of us were nut jobs we would really have problems. And yes, she is going to school where I taught for 6 years, plus work their a couple of days now. Yet, I was still crazy.

I then decided to read this book called "While They are Sleeping" and it is prayers for your children. I opened it up and noticed the inscription within the cover. It was a gift when I was pregnant with one of the girls, and it was from, none other than, MK's kindergarten teacher! She is in good hands!

This morning we walked her in as a family. I was holding back tears the entire walk from the front door in. I have thought about this day for years, always knew she would go to school here. I stood in that school while in labor and gave Kansas Assessments. People most likely thought I was rude this morning, but I couldn't talk, in and out, unless they wanted a real mess on their hands!

Hiatus

I am taking a two week break from blogging.......School starts in exactly two weeks and I have a multiple page (yellow legal pad) to do list. We have meet and greets, picnics, pizza meet and greets, ice cream socials, check in night, my teacher in service, etc........ Big transitions here at the Reuter household, Mia Kate going to Kindergarten and Jillian going to Preschool. I am so excited for a schedule!

I thought I was avoiding the school supply list and back to school shopping by buying a wrap pack for MK, having a uniform, buying the back pack last year. Then I go to Jilli's school to turn in one packet full of interesting forms only to pick up another packet to fill out. I have decided to start carrying address labels in my purse and just slap one on anytime I have to fill out a form.

Jillian is attending an extended day preschool while I work, therefore she doesn't need a sitter and we have the other three days to hold each other. Not kidding.

Within Jilli's new packet was of course a supply list. It is a doozy. Along with 4 bottles of glue (what? why?) crayons, paper towels, tissues, etc. she also needs the following.

1. A framed photo of her family. No bigger than a 5 X 7.
2. A toothbrush. The handle no bigger than an M & M. (What?)
3. A travel pillow, a blanket, and a large pillowcase to store them. Obviously for naps.

and the real kicker......

4. House slippers.

Really? Is that necessary? Add that to my list, "Find the other Bunny Slipper."

My goal is to spend some more quality time with the girls and try to manage the list gracefully. Therefore, my next post will be a picture of my sweetest Miss Mia Kate with her sassy hair and toothless grin, sporting her backpack and plaid jumper, off to Kindergarten! I will be the mess next to her.

Where did the time go? She is ready, ready, ready for school!
Her first "special" will be taught by good ole Mrs. Reuter.

Lord help her teachers. One form said "Does your child anger easily or throw temper tantrums?" This is the 3 year old class right?

Evil Kenevil Update: Brad revisited the orthopedic surgeon and he appears to be healing nicely. He began physical therapy this week, wearing his shoulder support sling for another 3 weeks. Yeah!

Sweeties

The girls play together really well about 90% of the time. Of course they fight or withhold toys from one another too! I love to listen to them play, it is hilarious. Often times they mimic things I say, which is sometimes eye opening. Their favorite game is called "2 Mommies" which is just them playing dolls. The 2 Mommies usually load the car, our fireplace hearth, and go on an adventure. They also enjoy playing Hair Dresser, My Littlest Pet Shop, Princess Dolls, Dollhouse, and Trains.


This summer I have tried to just let them play, if they are playing really well I try really hard not to interrupt them. Last week while I was doing laundry and showering they were playing nicely. These are the things I discovered them doing......

This is our coffee table with 7 puzzles, must have been a long shower!

I did some rearranging in their rooms and set this nightstand in the hallway. They of course used their little imaginations and quickly incorporated it into their play. If you can't tell, it is their horse drawn carriage.



The kids are in rows. The baby "Rosalina" is in a car seat under the blanket.

I would really like to record them playing, but when they see the recorder they want to perform a dance. Which in itself is also highly entertaining. Jilli is going to be so sad when school starts, her little playmate will have limited time!

The Prince is Having a Ball

Another notch on our Summer Check List was to attend a performance at The Theatre in the Park. The girls were so excited to attend Cinderella, as it is one of their favorite movies. This marked MK's second visit to TTITP and Jilli's first time. MK loved the entire evening and watched with great intensity. Jilli ate all of the snacks as quickly as possible and then entertained herself with wet wipes. She wrapped them on her legs and sorted them, it was pretty hot. Overall we had a wonderful time, TTITP is a great venue for family fun!

The One Arm Bandit joined in the fun!

Mia Kate wore her Cinderella dress and a crown. :)


Jilli doesn't have a Cinderella costume, but boy howdy she has a "beautiful twirly Little Mermaid" size 18-24 month velour dress. Have I mentioned that she is obsessed with it? Trust me, this was an all day question "Can I wear my most beautiful dress? I need to because it twirls." I let her wear it, but did draw the line with layering a sweater over it? She was sweating profusely, hence the wet wipes mentioned above.