Ode to Beautiful Children!

I know that this should actually be called "Kelly's First Day of First Grade", but I think she looks adorable today, so therefore she deserves an Ode (honestly, I don't think I really know what an ode is, but I'm going to do my best here.)

Secondly, I know that I am bragging on my beautiful child, but if you were to see my baby pictures you would understand why I am shocked to have such a beautiful girl.(not that I was super ugly, but I was no Gerber Baby)

Yesterday Kelly asked me if I would curl her hair for school! I tried to keep my composure (although, we all know how excited I really was) I said sure! Right there is a HUGE difference between my beauty and me.

-----FLASHBACK AHEAD-----

I remember my school picture day for First Grade. My mother decided to curl my hair for school pictures (she might say I wanted it, but I would say she is delusional) I already had my hair in a pixie cut so it was super short. Now anyone knows that you don't curl short hair, because then it just looks stupid. Once my mother started she couldn't stop, well you can't really I guess. Half a head of curls would probably have looked even worse. It was a battle for both of us. In the end I think it turned out to be a losing battle for both of us.

I ended up with the awful curls, and she ended up with a daughter who's hair resembled Bozo the Clown. When I looked in the mirror I started bawling (it really was that bad). Then she tried to make it all better by letting me wear one of her necklaces. It didn't really help though, it's kind of like when your child falls and breaks their head open. Sure you can give them an ice cream, but that doesn't change the fact that their head is broken.

With my head of curls, someone should have broken my head... yes it was that bad.

-----FLASHBACK OVER-----

So in honor of what a head of curls should look like, I have posted some pics from this morning. Kelly was really excited for school. I'd like to say that I was excited for her too, but I'm not. I enjoy her company, her smile, her sense of humor and her love for her siblings. She is the peace maker among them. She is the program director for all things imaginative and I am going to miss her... again.

Annual 1st Day of School Picture on Porch

Annual First Day of School Picture with Parents

Annual First Day of School Candid Shot

Annual 1st Day of School Picture with sister on Front Porch

Annual 1st Day of School Picture on Bus with friends

Delaney, Sophie and Kelly. Too bad that sticker is in the way

Why does Kelly Dance?? Just to look cute!

Yes, I understand how shallow that sounds and I hope you know that I am HALF joking. I want them to dance because they enjoy it and I think it is good experience for them. Oh and so they can be Rockin Dance Stars like their mother!

For Kelly's birthday my mother gave her this cute little white tie jacket that dancers wear to dance class. It has her name down the side. When she opened it she was super excited. (She had no idea what it was for, but she loved that it had her name on it.) Soo these pictures are for you Nonnie, Thanks

So the one thing I forgot to take a picture of was her sleeve where it says her name. Silly me.

Look Who's 6! (Tomorrow)

So my sweet little girl is finally 6! You would think I'd be saying, "Wow time flies! I can't believe she's 6", but no not me. Kelly has been reminding me for the past month that she was going to be 6. She has marked the days on the calendar and has been counting down daily. It has been a very exhausting month. The only "joy" I have gotten from this countdown is that I have been able to say "Is that how an almost 6 year old would act?" (And yes I'm sure that I have WAY over used that phrase this month, but I'm the parent I'm in charge.) So today is the last day on\f her countdown.

One of the things I like about my children's birthdays is how I "relive" their birth each year (you'd think that would be good birth control? obviously not). Your first pregnancy and baby is so different then the rest. I remember my mom's friend thinking we were young for starting our family and would always say "Well, at least they get to grow up together". She was right too. We have sure had a good time "learning" how to be parents.

When I think of Kelly I think of her as Adam's and my first "joint project". All those years of imagining what my children would be like and who they would look like and how they would act and then one day...Kelly was here! I felt like I was still playing house. She is the child that I "imagined" for so many years. She is a kind child, a great sister and a loving daughter. She puts her siblings first and is always willing to wait her turn, knowing that the younger ones usually go first. At the end of the day she still finds comfort in her mother's arms and I treasure my time spent with her.

Her biggest flaw is that she still believes people. She believes her friends when they tell her they read big chapter books or that they are from Egypt. She believes that everyone tells the truth all the time. (Even when I try to explain otherwise). This is something else that I know won't last forever. I just pray that she will learn how to tell who is joking, pretending or lying. I guess if that is her biggest flaw (I mean besides the drinking and swearing) I should count my blessings. Happy Birthday Kelly!, Mommy loves you.

TIME FOR THE PICTURES!! Now If I were Super Mom I would have pulled out my favorite pictures, scanned them into the computer and them put them into some slideshow type thing with music to go with it. If I was feeling especially ambitious I would add some voiceovers of me and Adam telling Kelly how special she is. BUT I am no Super Mom. I went to my picture folder on my computer and scanned through to try to find some of her at various ages. I tried, but some of them are still not that great of pictures. Also, as you look at them try humming Tim McGraw's song called My Little Girl. It adds a touch of sappiness to the pictures.

Kelly on her Blessing day.

Kelly at 4 months old. Not the cutest picture of either of them, but like I said not many to choose from.

The first one is Kelly at about 15 months and the second one she is 2 1/2

Kelly on her 3rd birthday!

Here is Kelly at 3 1/2. She is holding baby Tommy.

Here is Kelly last week. She has decided that she likes to do the dishes after dinner. See she really is a good girl. (Yes, now I am bragging. Somebody should hit me)