- LIFE in a [not] nutshell... -

Oh my goodnesssssss, what is this life??!  After feeling one breath away from death for many MANY moons [more more and moreeee posting to come on this and the ever-exciting life of the budding bump/morning sickness culprit, but all who have followed here for a while know I am never the most glamorous of pregos because holy nausea and vomiting be mine forever and ever AMEN], alas! There were a few exciting life occurrences between Christmas 2020 and Harper's last day of kindergarten in May 2021, so I'm here today to boast them loudly and proudly.  In a not short recap -- but in total mom fashion [because #letnothinggoundocumented] -- lesssss' go! 

 

In January, our neighborhood planned an outing to the skating rink! It was Harper's first time on ice skates, and she loved it!  Scarlett was terrified of the ice and stuck close.close.close by her mom in the heated snack tent nearby... The apples never fall far from the tree; can you guess whose mini each girl is?! ;) :) 

February was a frigid and frosty month; we made it through with lots of crafting and reading and playing [and mebbe a little lot of TV/movie watching while I gestated a little 8-week fetus from the couch].  Harper and Scarlett had really started playing well together over the winter, so it worked out perfectly that they could entertain each other and truly enjoy each other's company while I puked/napped/peeked an eye open every so often to make sure the masses were still alive!  It's soooo true what they say:  sisters make the best friends! 

 

 

 

 

^^ Thank goodness doc is in the house...got that broken leg fixed up in no time! :)  

 

In late February, we hit up our favorite Mexican restaurant marking our first time inside an eating establishment since March 2020.  PASS THE CHIPS AND SALSA while we raise our marg x1/lemonades x3 and shout, "Ole!" 

The end of February brought more and more sniffs of normalcy as places around town started to open up again.  Scarlett enjoyed Tot Skate for the first time in over a year [I've wondered several times if she even remembers life pre-COVID?! She was a fresh 2 years old when it hit and the ways of the world changed drastically overnight...]...

...and our family enjoyed an inaugural 2021 outing to the zoo!  The zoo staff was strict with masking for ages 9 and up, but Harper was so used to wearing her mask every day at school that she insisted on wearing hers also.  [Scarlett snubs her mask whenever possible, because, "I a kid," and I can't agree more!]  It was a chilly, rainy day, but it was so nice to be out of the house with something to do!

In March, Harper started tumbling at a local dance studio...

...and Scarlett signed up for gymnastics at the YMCA! She was quickly gaining confidence in her flips and skips until this one unfortunate incident [which I accidentally caught on a burst photo on my phone and have since reviewed 10+ times truly wondering how she didn't snap her neck in half......#reallifemiracles].

We nearly had to pull out of the whole gymnastics season after the very first class when Scarlett discovered that the instructor was a male [and a super young, energetic, fun one, at that!] and would NOT participate in class without me inside and two inches away.  But!  The 3-year-old's preferences be 'dat way or 'da highway and she "don't yike boys" [AKA men] at all these days, so we luckily got her reassigned to another class with two female instructors.  Thankfully, the rest was history!

 

We also scored a brand new, shiny MINIVAN in March!  ...Brand new to us, that is; but we bought it used from Brian's aunt with plenty of life and shine left.  The kids are SO EXCITED [Harper has been begging for a van for years, in fact, and is always embarrassed when I pull up to get her after school in carline with squeaky breaks and "a really junky car"] and both offspring have enjoyed giving everyone a "tour" of the spacious inside at any chance they get.

March brought several more Tot Skate sessions at the YMCA.  Some days, the rink was packed to the gills with kids; other days, it was supa' sparse.  One day at 10:00am, with the entire rink to herself, Scarlett skated around and said, “I guess e’rybody else is still sweepin’!”  Guess so, girl. ;)

April highlights included manicures + pedicures at the nail salon for Kate's 6th birthday...

...and another family outing to the zoo to preview the new Dinoroarus exhibit!  Scarlett slept through the first half of the adventure but woke up in time for the carousel, sea lion show, and train ride[s].  I cherish outings like this and quality time with my little fam!

We continued home improvements throughout the month [will we ever be finished with our long-@$$ to-do list? It's starting to seem unlikely...] and Harper also started T-ball practice!  The first game is in mid-May, and we're looking quite forward to watching the girls play!  Only two teammates are non-classmates of hers, so it should be a fun little bi-weekly reunion for the STB girls.

In early May, Brian went back to in-person work for the first time since March 2020.  Of course, this qualified him for a "first day" pic on the front porch! :) #mythirdkid

And in mid-May, SUMMER BREAK BEGAN!!!  We have been keeping busy so far with lots of reading to grandparents [in person and via FaceTime], arts and crafts, puzzles, movie nights, outside play time, and laid back, lazy days! 

 

Looking forward to all the sunshine and warm weather ahead!  Any fun summer plans/activities/outings for any of you?! Send all the ideas our way; momma's finally feelin' great and we're ready to fill the calendar!

 

From January to May, that's it for now! 

:-*  :-*

- Peace Out, Kindergarten! -

And .just.like.that...

...this beautiful, self-deemed "older girl" is donezo with kindergarten!   

 

Whatttttt?!?  I just read back through her first day of kindergarten post, and I can't believe everything came and went so quickly.  My momma heart can hardly take it!  Between the strict masking every single day and all the other COVID-19 related changes that the school had to enforce in order to safely conduct in-person learning all year long, I am so proud of Harper for not just making the best of it, but totally thriving through all of it! 

A comparison from the first few days to the 100th day... ;) :)

Call me "that mom" or whatevaaaa, but I loved reviewing the schoolwork that came home in folders every day!  Harper was so proud of all of it, too.  She made big strides this year away from writing backwards letters and words -- total "mirror writing" was her norm in the fall, but she almost 100% corrected it all within a few months of hard work! 

Over Christmas break, she had the option to do a religion fair project on any Bible story she wanted, and she chose the Story of Creation.  We used the Cricut together a little bit, but all the rest of this diorama was her idea and craftwork!

On the last day of school, several families met up at Annie's for an ice cream treat!  Harper bumped into her 7th grade buddy there [who she didn't get to spend much time with this year thanks to COVID forcing classes to keep their distance, but we are hopeful they'll get to be together more next year!] and also lots of other classmates and friends who she will miss so much this summer!

Gosh, I just still can't believe it's over!  We love you so much, sweet Harper girl!  Now let's enjoy an amazing summer break!!! 

 

 

 

 

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL XXI -

Before she was headed off to a sleepover at Grammy and Papa's:
Grammy:  "Scarlett, give your Mommy a kiss goodbye!"
Scarlett:  *gives kiss*
Grammy:  "Give the baby a kiss goodbye!"
Scarlett:  "Wellllll, I don't know where 'da bebe's yips [lips] are..."

While driving past a cemetery:
"'Dere's alllllll 'da people 'dat died!"

One evening:
Scarlett:  "Why you got a bee-yuh [beer]?"
Brian:  "Because I want to drink a beer and watch TV and snuggle by you on the couch!"
Scarlett:  "Well you can't drink TOOOOO MANY BEE-YUHS, else you will get sick."
Brian:  "Ok..."
Scarlett:  "Why doesn't 'dat bee-yuh have a yid [lid] on it?"
Brian:  "Because I'm drinking it."
Scarlett:  "Well why don't you take a yitta [little] drink 'den put 'da yid back on?"
Brian:  ".....That's not how you drink a beer, bro."
Scarlett:  "Oh."

While scratching her cheek:
Scarlett:  "What 'dis fing [thing] 'dat won't come off?"
Me:  "Is it a little pimple?"
Scarlett: "No. Guhs [girls] don't get pim-puhs, only boys."

 

 

At 9:20 pm, staring at her full dinner plate from 5:30pm:
Scarlett:  "Daddy, I am hun-ga-ree [hungry], but I not feelin' yike [like] eatin' my dinna."
Brian:  ".....So just a normal night, then."

During an OB visit:
"Why 'dat docta' got a step-a-cope [stethoscope]?"

On the way home from school drop-off [at 7:40am]:
"Mommy, when we get home, can we bof' [both] eat an ice cweam sham-wish [sandwich]?"

While driving and approaching a stop sign:
"MOM!  'Dere is a 'top sign right 'dere, you know 'dat?"

After passing a flooded field:
"Is 'dat a yake [lake]?"

Proudly shout/screamed from the living room as the rest of the family is in the kitchen:
"I JUS' HAD A TOOTIE, GUYS!!!"

 

 

One morning as we're trying to plan our day:
Me:  "Harper needs some new clothes... I wonder if Old Navy has any sales going on right now?"
Scarlett:  "Yeah, I wonda' too..."

After passing a house that burnt down recently:
"'Dere's 'da burnt house!  I wish somebody could wiv [live] 'dere, but it's all burned up...  But YOOK [look]!  'Da trees didn't burn down be-cuh [because] 'dey are big and 'trong [strong].  ...But it's ok if houses burn down be-cuh at yeast [least] 'da people are safe and you can ah-ways [always] buy a-nudduh [another] one."

While in line at Starbucks one Saturday:
"Daddy ah-ways [always], ah-ways, AH-WAYSSS gets on a po' [phone] call when we in wine [line] at 'Tarbucks after we take Hawpie to school."

 On the way to Harper's T-ball practice:
"A COURSE, when we get to T-ball, Hawpie can't wear her sungwasses, be-cuh 'dats 'da rules to not wear sungwasses or bwacelets or wings [rings]."

 

Randomly:
Scarlett:  "Why did God make me yike [like] 'dis?"
Me:  "Because He wanted to make something really special, so he made you!"
Scarlett:  "Yeah, because we are yike His wo-bots [robots]."
Me:  .....

- Out of the mouth of babes: VOL XX -

While driving by a cemetery:
Me:  "Those are called headstones, and there's the building where you go inside to pick out a headstone for the grave."
Harper:  "So some day you pick that out for your family?"
Me:  "Yes."
Harper:  "So some day Scarlett and me will have to pick that out for you?"
Me:  "Yes.  But we might all four die together sometime, you just never know..."
Harper:  "Soooo, I'm guessing Scarlett and me will last longer.  'Cause we aren't as old as you guys, so we'll definitely last a lot longer."

While passing a Mazda convertible:
"Look, a real race car!"

Scream/shouted on the drive home from Grammy and Papa's as Scarlett was wailing that her water spilled:
"SCARLETT! REMEMBER THAT GRAMMY GAVE YOU THREE M&M'S TO NOT FUSS ANYMORE TODAY?  REMEMBER, SCARLETT??!?!"

After finding out she was going to be a big sister -- again!:
"Well, how do you know there's a baby in your tummy, anyway?  And how did the baby get there, anyway?"

Stomp/reporting into the master bathroom one evening after I asked her to "watch" Scarlett while I took a quick shower:
"Daddy took Sissy outside.  I told him NOT to get her dirty because she just had a bath.  And I don't know if she has shoes or bug spray on or not!"

While looking at photos of 6-week fetuses on Google:
"Well, that kind of looks more like a dinosaur to me." 

 

 

Randomly:
"Remember when we were at Mexico [La Casa, lol] and Sissy dropped her fork on the floor three times?! That was so crazy, but I was thinking we should go back to Mexico sometime!"

At the conclusion of an adorable song about Jesus:
Me:  "Did you learn that song in music class at school?"
Harper:  "Nope!  No singing at school with COVID because little spit germs come out of your mouth and spread the virus to other people.  So we just have to do music papers all year and just listen to songs and stuff, not really a lot of stuff to do that's really much music..."

At dinner:
"Do babies ever come out of your mouth, or only your tummy or vagina?"

At same said dinner ^^, as Scarlett was demanding to be spoon-fed:
Brian:  "Scarlett, when the new baby comes, I'm gonna have to feed the baby and you're gonna have to feed yourself!"
Harper:  "...Well DAD, you have two hands, you know..."

After lunch:
Me:  "Man, my stomach hurts..."
Harper:  "I bet it's because the baby is in there and he's so heavy that he's pulling your stomach down to your legs."

 

While driving by the Arch:
"Daddy!  Remember you said some day you would take me up in an alligator [elevator] to get to the top of that cross [Arch]?"

 

 

After getting out of bed for the fifth time one evening:
Me:  "Harper, get back in bed right now or you're losing your TV time after school tomorrow!"
Harper:  "Knock knock, who's there?.....BRIDGET MAD PANTS."

 

After pulling out of McDonald's drive-thru for a RARE treat:
"Well you KNOW, Mom, you shouldn't be feeding the baby that junk food..."

 

Randomly:
"If I lose my first tooth during the day, I'm gonna get a little bit of toothpaste and clean it off so the Tooth Fairy will think it's nice!"