And a good evening to you from the Queen City, where yet another FANTASTIC month is in the books. Plenty to record, so let's get amongst it, shall we?
5/1 - So let me brag on my oldest today! For the second time this school year, Kaitlyn Taylor cashed in her hard earned Bradford Bucks to give the class a party. The theme this time? PAJAMA PARTY!!!!!!! It was $100 Bradford Bucks, and Monday is now the scheduled day for the party. It's so official it's on the class calendar. Way to go, kiddo!!!It was a good day at school and after school, as the ladies took advantage of the gorgeous weather to hit the park. K got a HUGE bruise on her arm, but it didn't slow her down! Rough and Tumble, baby!
Also, Bear is continuing to NAIL the potty training! She peed in Froggy Potty again today! We are seeing more and more dry diapers for longer periods, which suggests that she's really starting to just naturally figure it out. Exciting!!!! I mean, this girl is a rockstar!!!
5/2 - A sweet moment today: Kaitlyn presented Jenny with her "Mother's Day Book," which is something she'd been working on at school. It was really cute - lots of stories or anecdotes were included, and almost every page had a drawing. She did a REALLY great job with it.
5/3 - A HUGE DAY IN THE TAYLOR HOUSEHOLD!!!!!!! CORA BEAR OFFICIALLY MOVED TO A BIG GIRL BED!!!!! JT had talked about this being the day, but we weren't sure. We asked Cora that afternoon if she wanted her big girl bed, and she instantly smiled (face lit up). We knew she wanted it, and so we just decided to go for it. It was going to be a no nap day anyway, so we knew that should help with the exhaustion factor. And get this - THAT GIRL SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!! THANK YOU, JESUS!!!!!!!
That wasn't the only Bear news for the day - that girl is getting her 2 year molars! One has already popped through, and the others aren't far behind. That likely explains why she's been a little fussy and clingy lately, but on the whole she's been a trooper.
5/4 - We went into K's room about 6:30 (after she'd slept through the night - YAY!), and she was all smiles! But the funniest part - Jenny asked, "Did you fall out?" And Cora immediately said, "Yes! On mine arm." Too funny! She didn't cry out - simply fell out of bed, climbed back in, and then went back to sleep. HOW BLESSED ARE WE?
Today was a big one for K: the K-6 Bradford Spring Spectacular. It all started with a "Scavenger Hunt" on the path in the woods. We looked for flowers, trees, insects, animals, etc, and the kids had fun with that (we saw plenty of classmates and other friends). After that we walked over to Kaitlyn's class and then over to the Art Show, stopping first at the Raffle. This was fun, as it was SO CUTE watching Kaitlyn evaluate all the bags and put tickets in the ones she wanted. She loaded up on the one that had LOL surprise dolls! Unfortunately (but not shockingly), we were NOT winners. However, it was fun, and we enjoyed it.
It was then over to the art show, where each student had a piece of framed art available for purchase ($40). K's was an owl in a tree, and it was really cute! So we picked that up - along with some popcorn - and then headed out after a good 2 hours at the school. I really do love that place - so many wonderful people, so many fun activities, and so much promise in the years to come. THANK YOU, FATHER!!!
We then rolled over to CFA for some ice cream and time in an (air conditioned) playground - score! The girls were SO CUTE playing together. Cora wants K to pick her up all the time and walk with her while chanting "Bug a boo...bug a boo." Cora just cackles. But beware when you want to do your own thing and Cora's not done with you! She will come up to you and physically PUSH YOU to go where she wants you to go. This girl doesn't play! Needless to say we've had to explain that's not proper behavior, at which point she always immediately breaks down into a pool of sadness and tears. good times...
The other thing to note - I came into K's room tonight, and she was reading Amelia Bedelia. This was SUCH a walk down memory lane for me, as Grandmother Taylor used to ALWAYS read Amelia Bedelia to us when she was a guest reader in elementary school during library time. So sweet! I took a photo and sent it to mom and dad. A special moment indeed.5/5 - Today was a great one...and a busy one! We went into Bear's room at 6:48, and she hadn't left her bed. She was sitting on it playing SO GOOD with her animals. YES!!!!!! A miracle! After church, we rolled down to the Tacy's for an afternoon with Nole Nana and Grandpa. Uncle Ron and Aunt Janet were there, and we had a fantastic visit with them. We had great food, went for a walk, had plenty of laughs, and really enjoyed ourselves. The girls played GREAT together and on their own - K even did two REALLY tough puzzles which she'd never seen before. Way to go, kiddo!
Bear was in Heaven with the princess castles, and she curled up with Aunt Janet for a good chunk of time to show her all her toys (and especially all the ponies). Janet was great with them, and the girls were all about her - holding hands, showing her things, and talking to her a lot. It was sweet.
Bear was on no nap for the third day in a row, and you could tell that it was taking its toll. She's a rock star and was super good, but by that 3-4 PM witching hour, that girl had flat out had ENOUGH. She almost fell asleep in the stroller and actually asked to go to sleep in the back and play about 4:30, but obviously that was NOT the plan. We just BARELY made it home before she fell asleep in the backseat - and Kaitlyn wasn't far behind either! And I'm happy to report that Bear slept GREAT in her big girl bed for the third night in a row. YAY!!!!!And a bragging moment - the girls were VERY polite and well mannered at dinner, and I heard Ron and Janet say quietly, "Look how well behaved these two are." That was a good feeling! Proud of you kids!
Big moment for me tonight. As I've mentioned periodically, I find myself still saying "no" too often or trying to enforce rules that don't matter. I realize more and more that being tired is part of what makes me short with the girls, but luckily on this day I'd had pretty good sleep and was more aware of my actions and words. Well, I'm about to leave K's room after tucking her in, and she says, "Sleep with me for a minute, dada." At first my instincts kicked in - always put your kid down awake, it's already late, you must keep to the schedule, etc - but then it occurred to me: how much longer do you really think your daughter will want to curl up with you? And so, with the music box playing "Memory," I laid there for 2 or 3 minutes while K sucked her thumb and curled up against me. It was just magic, and as the music box wound down and started playing slower and slower, I found myself almost at the point of tears. I didn't want that music box to stop, as I knew that would break the spell. But, as with everything - kindergarten, swim team, vacations, life - the inexorable march of time moves on, and with it, so do our days. It was wonderful. It was sweet. It was perfect. It was something I hope to do again.5/6 - Today was a GREAT one for K: PAJAMA PARTY AT BPS!!!!! It was really awesome, as Mrs. Pate sent out a message the night before reminding everyone of the PJ party and thanking K for sharing her Bradford Bucks with the entire class. I mean, I have to brag on my kid here - this is the SECOND time she's cashed in bucks for the whole class, and no other kid has done it once! So proud of you, Suzie Q!
Also, Kaitlyn is back to praying at night, and I cannot tell you how sweet her prayers have been lately. She is really constructing sweet, coherent, loving thoughts, and it's just beautiful to listen to. I am SO THANKFUL she knows Jesus and has Him in her heart at such a young age.
The quote of the night was at the dinner table. Jenny had made veggie tots for the girls (which I thought were quite good, for the record). Well, Cora takes a bite and says, "These tots is terrible, mom." and then she spits them back out! When she's done with the meal, she looks at both parents and says, "These teeter totters is terrible." HILARIOUS! It was a priceless moment.5/7 - So I just have to be honest, vulnerable, and transparent - today was an EPIC PARENTING FAIL. I had a GREAT day at work - things are really starting to click now, which is a great feeling. I came home thinking I could bring that positive energy to the house, but alas - the wheels just feel off.
Long story short - K and I just did NOT get along. I think I annoyed her, and she just shut down and refused to obey/listen/talk with/speak to me. What started as passive resistance eventually led to a total shutdown, and by the time we got to the bath, she didn't want to say a word to me. I asked her if it was something at school or something else, and she just shook her head. When I asked, "Is it me?", she just curtly nodded and walked off. Ouch...
Bear was crying nonstop as well, and she was FURIOUS that I was putting her to bed vs. JT (she was taking K since I'd had her the previous few nights). The girls always ask who's got Jenny (vs. me) every night, as both of them want her. Whoever gets stuck with me usually bawls, and tonight was no exception. :-)
Cora was a MESS. When I finished reading to her, she went into full-on frump mode and wouldn't speak to me, look at me, or even let me touch her. When I asked her if she wanted to climb into her big girl bed, she actually just laid in the floor! I then tried to put her in the bed, to which she made her legs rigid and REFUSED to lay down! I finally had to "sweep the legs" to lay her down, at which point she wailed like a banshee (JT rushed over thinking she was hurt - it was THAT loud). Cora probably cried for 30 minutes and was then away for over 90 minutes before she settled! Not a great night. 
After it was all said and done, Jenny provided some really great coaching about things I need to consider doing differently - a lot of it centered around not asking so many questions about K's day and just letting her be. I went to bed that night rattled and rather disappointed in myself - one of my worst efforts in a long time. I prayed about it at life group and the following morning, as it was heavy on my heart. This time is so precious and so fleeting, and I don't want to lose a second.5/8 - RESILIENCE!!!!!!! Can I just say THANK YOU, FATHER!!!!!! Honestly, tonight was just INCREDIBLE with the girls. Jenny had life group, which meant that I was the one putting them to bed. Bear was a mess when I arrived home - screaming bloody murder - but after that it was a PERFECT night. The girls were SO sweet, we had a lot of great laughs, we played quite a bit, and it was just a perfect night. When I asked Cora if I could pray over her, she walked to her bed, grabbed lamb lamb, and then climbed into my arms and laid her head on my shoulder. Kaitlyn also snuggled with me - AMAZING!!!!!
It was an answered prayer, and JT was right - I need to just say yes more often. I wasn't worried about the schedule or the clock, and I didn't chase them for everything they needed to do. The result? We actually got in bed FASTER than the previous night when I hounded them! Talk about a lesson learned!5/9 - Girls were up EARLY today! Bear was up before 6, and Kaitlyn followed suit about 6:08. Bear has gotten adventurous enough to go over to her seat and flip through books, but mercifully that's all she's done so far. :-) Speaking of books, Cora is LOVING Dumbo right now! She wants to read it all the time - it's a must first thing in the morning an before bed - but get this: she does NOT like it when I do voices! Just. Like. Her. Sister. Come on! My voices are GREAT! I was doing the high pitched voice of Timothy the Circus Mouse, and she said, "Why. Are. You. Reading. That. Way. Gag." Too funny! Oh, and the picture of Timothy on page 8 is pretty much Cora's favorite thing on earth - too funny!
The girls were great again tonight, but Cora was NOT happy when I took a booger out of her mouth before she could eat it. She was ANGRY! It wasn't anything a little sniffing of her ear and tickling of her tummy couldn't fix, of course.
Oh, and get this - a few weeks back I probably mentioned that we lost a library book. We'd searched everywhere for it, and ultimately we had to pay for it (a whopping $7, which we did take out of K's allowance). Well guess what - WE FOUND IT TODAY IN THE SITTING ROOM. I mean...really...REALLY?!?!?!? Kate was over today, and as usual the girls got on like a house on fire. Bear didn't nap today, but she was great and stayed in her room, flipping through books in bed. LOVE THAT KID!
Oh, and a classic moment. I was talking to Cora at dinner, and she was explaining how a bird flew into the garage and got trapped there while mom and Bear were at the Y. Cora was describing how Jenny finally convinced it to fly away, and she kept saying, "Den mama said - have to go THAT WAY, Birdy Bird!" Honestly - I think she said that 10,000 times...and I laughed each time she finished.
5/10 - The girls woke up SCREAMING in excitement about Vol Nana's arrival this morning, and the weekend was a blast from that moment forward. K had a great day at school - she used her Bradford Bucks to buy extra recess for the entire class! I am SO proud of that girl. This is the THIRD time that she's purchased something for the entire class. Love it!Jenny took Cora to the Y with her, where Bear is becoming quite the little celebrity. The staff is amazed at how well she's doing with her ABC's - she can basically sing them all! Also, they have been really impressed at how well she does puzzles. She apparently did a 12 piece puzzle by herself with limited help on this day!
Since then, Bear has been doing puzzles NON-STOP. It's amazing to watch! And while she still needs quite a bit of help on them, you can tell that she's starting to figure things out. It's renewed Kaitlyn's interest in it as well, so as you can expect we now have puzzles in various states of completeness ALL OVER THE HOUSE. But hey - it's a noble pursuit, and it's proof that BOTH girls have their mother's ability for spacial reasoning. WHEW! :-)
Mom arrived a little before 5, and the girls were squealing with delight. Cora screamed "VOL NA-NA!!!!!" about about 400 decibels. Too cute. :-) But I did have to coach Kaitlyn that she couldn't wake Vol Nana. At first mom said, "sure you can come in when you wake up." She wasn't as keen, however, when I mentioned that would be 6 AM on the nose... :-)The girls played pretty much every single board game we had over the course of the weekend, trotting out about half of them this evening. It was so funny - it came out of NOWHERE! They haven't even thought about these games for months, and suddenly they were pulling stuff out of the woodwork. It was priceless - and great to see them getting some use!
5/11 - I am happy to report that, while K was up at 6:30, she did let mom sleep until 8:30. :-) They all rolled to the Y to watch K at Dance, and then we headed over to Cafe 100 in Huntersville for lunch. We sat outside, which wasn't great given the rain. However, once we got everything reshuffled and adjusted, we had a really nice meal (that place is ALWAYS so delicious). We did try to monitor bear's chocolate milk intake as best we could, as that girl was ready to INHALE IT. She did finish a mammoth glass, but we were able to spread it out over an hour vs. 10 minutes. :-)One thing to call out - the house is just feeling SO MUCH HEALTHIER right now, and you can tell we all just feel better. The girls are getting up earlier, and while some of that is excitement and a new bed, a lot of it is the end of allergy season. I feel pretty confident at this point that K does have some allergies, as it is INSANE how much better she now feels. She's not blowing her nose, she doesn't have any red bags under her eyes, she's not coughing. It's much the same for Bear, although it was never on the same scale.
The day went quickly, including stops at Lowe's and then....SWEET FROG!!!!!! Y'all, Kaitlyn was SO EXCITED - she basically chanted "Sweet Frog, Sweet Frog" non-stop from the time we finished lunch until we showed up at SF (in a downpour of Biblical proportions, mind you). Mom treated us all to fro-yo, and we made it count. :-)
The afternoon was filled with more board games - my favorite of which was Operation. Cora tried to play it, and mom got SO TICKLED when bear just kept pressing on the side of the board (the buzzer went for probably 2 minutes straight). The girls potted plants, painted nails, and just had a blast.
A moment of panic for me - the exhaust fumes in the Xterra were very noticeable today, and I realized that yes - we did in fact have a leak. Instantly I panicked and thought, "have I poisoned my children?" I honestly was on the verge of really freaking out when I remembered that God did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of peace! And so, taking action, I got an appointment scheduled for next week to get it taken care of (that work is actually in process as I type this - THANK YOU, FATHER!!!!!).
5/13 - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!! Can I just take a moment to say HOW INCREDIBLY BLESSED AND THANKFUL I am for the moms in my life? Today was just an incredible day on SO many levels, some of which will be covered here - some of which were God moments that have been recorded in the Encounter log.
Church was just amazing - the message was incredible, the weather was perfect, and the pics were got were AMAZING! After we got home and had lunch (and did a little more potting and planting!), mom took Kaitlyn to Birkdale for some ice cream at Kilwin's and a movie - Dumbo! It was an afternoon of HEAVEN for K - Vol nana, ice cream, popcorn, a movie, and then a playground. They had about 5-6 hours together, and I'll venture to say it was the best 6 hours of K's month. :-) So cute. Bear, however, was NOT as happy. :-) She woke up from her nap, saw me, and said, "Where. Is. Vol. Nana?" She didn't like the response of "she had things to do." That being said, we rallied quickly, and we actually had a PERFECT afternoon. We played outside in the backyard, and Cora sat on the swing with JT for probably a good hour! All told, we were in the backyard for almost 2 hours before queuing up a movie for Bear (Barbie in a Mermaid's Tale, of course...) - IT WAS SO NICE!
K was really sweet that night but already getting sad. After reading to mom and hugging her twice, she tried to hide her tears by saying, "My eyes are really running tonight." Too sweet (mom had to fight back tears on that as well).
5/14 - So I was in Minneapolis for work today and didn't really get the chance to talk to the girls much. I did, however, see Kaitlyn in her costume for the dance recital (they had final dress rehearsal tonight) and let me tell you. SHE. LOOKED. BEAUTIFUL. SO PRETTY (AND SO BIG!)!!!!!!
5/15 - I was still in Minneapolis this day, so I got these updates from the airport:
1. K started swim practice today!!! She was in the same lane with Alison and some other friends, and you could tell that she REALLY had fun. They worked on freestyle and backstroke, and she said that it went great! Honestly - I think having more friends will make such a difference, and it makes me really happy to see how much she enjoyed her first practice. That being said, she did confirm that the water was SOOOOO COLD! :-)The other news from swim practice - K was hanging out with some friends at the playground after practice, and she SUCCESSFULLY DID THE MONKEY BARS ALL THE WAY ACROSS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!!!!!! Jenny captured it on video, so I got the chance to see it. She did GREAT. She started and then stopped, but the loss of momentum didn't deter her. Instead, she just ratcheted it back up and CRUSHED IT. Way to go, kid!
But the highlight of the day: K gets in the car at BPS to come home and has this verbatim conversation with Jenny:K: "I have a boyfriend."
JT: "You do? You're too young to have a boyfriend. Who is your boyfriend?"
K: "Ricky." (side note - when Jenny texted to tell me that K had a boyfriend, I immediately wrote back "It's got to be Ricky" - CALLED IT! NAILED IT!" Anytime she's at an event, I've noticed he is the ONE BOY she always says hi to AND is the only person she'll roll down her window for at carpool to call out to).
JT: "Why is Ricky your boyfriend?"
K: "He's nice. He's a boy. And he's cute."
JT: "Well that's good. What did he say?"
K: "Oh, he doesn't know."
PRICELESS!!!!!! Love BPS. Love my girls. Love being a parent.
On the Cora front, that girl is ALL ABOUT these little toys called "Pomsies" right now. Seriously - when you give her that thing, she LIGHTS UP, and when she pushes its nose so that it starts babbling, she just cackles! It is so funny and is the INSTANT antidote when she's misbehaving.
5/16 - Tonight was Kaitlyn's dance recital, and can I just say that it was AWESOME!!!!! She looked SO PRETTY and SO BIG up there, and more importantly - she really, really had fun! She was animated, had a huge smile on her face, and just seemed to relish every second of it. I was SO PROUD of her for making the most of it. And you could tell that she was loving it, because after almost 2 months of begging to stop taking dance, her first question was "Can I do dance again next year?" Too funny! But it really was sweet, and she really did seem to have fun up there.
Afterwards we played tag outside on the front lawn (it was at a church) and just really had a great evening. We took some photos, had a lot of laughs, and just generally enjoyed ourselves. K didn't get down until 9 PM, but over the course of all that I was given the revelation that it's okay to not try and teach/script/control every moment. I know that some of what I'm writing now is more for the encounter log than here, but the truth is our girls are a gift from God, and raising them is a privilege that he's given us. Consequently, there has to be some overlap.
In the last 48 hours I've learned that you really can say yes more often. And what's more - you can say no reactively and then change your mind - AND THAT'S OKAY. Honestly, life has been better and more fun, and the girls have laughed a lot more around me (and behaved better). I have realized that I've been striving a bit too much - trying to make every second a teaching moment or a way to prepare these girls for life. Instead, I need to just "be" and love these moments that I've been given. The Holy Spirit has really been helping to show me this (both via revelation and through Jenny), and I am so grateful for that constant instruction and support.
5/17 - A super cute moment today - Kaitlyn made the Bradford Instagram page! We were sitting somewhere when Cheryl texted and said, "Have you seen the BPS Instagram page today?" We looked, and there was a photo of Kaitlyn showing off her little toy ring. So cute! But then we saw why - the photo beside it was Ms. Pate digging through a trash can with the caption: "what do you do when a student loses their ring? You find an AWESOME teacher to go digging in the trash for it. THANK YOU, MRS. PATE!" Too cute! That gal is a rock star. Teacher of the year! :-)
5/18 - Another big milestone today - K'S FINAL GYMNASTICS SHOW!!!!! She was REALLY not looking forward to it, and in the moments leading up to the show we found out why - she didn't want to have to do backward rolls. We told her to just enjoy it and try to have fun - I challenged her to have as big a smile on her face for that hour as she had during the dance recital. Sure enough, I'm happy to report that she did great!They did a really good job with the setup - they recognized the senior team for their accomplishments, and they had each group rotate and do every single exercise (floor, beam, bar, and trampoline - in lieu of vault of course). They also did some warm ups and got to walk the podium (to the Olympic music, no less) with their trophies, so that was cool! It honestly was a great experience, and Bear was really good, too. We were sitting on a trampoline for most of the show, and poor Bear was really having trouble walking on it. But that didn't stop her from trying - and jumping! Honestly, as long as she had goldfish (we are now eating flavor blasted goldfish...which are AMAZING) and a block from the foam pit, all was right with the world.
The afternoon was a full on blur of company. Megan, Ryan, and Jonathan came up during the afternoon to hang out with us, and I'm proud to report that we made FULL USE of our outdoor space! We grilled on the patio, and I hooked up the doggy sprinkler. The girls had a BLAST shooting each other...and then I got in on the act as well. We also had the frozen pool out, and they really had fun splashing around in that. It was honestly the most we've EVER used our backyard - yay! The dream of using every square inch of our place is coming true. THANK YOU, FATHER!!!!! The girls ate great, played hard, and really had fun. And get this - THE CRIB IS NOW OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!!! Megan and Ryan decided to take it, so we broke it down and shipped it out - INSANE! I am really excited for them, as it was a GREAT crib - it's just always wonderful when we can keep things in the family.
5/19 - We had 2 church services today, and K got to play the game in the Arrows room BOTH TIMES! She had to bunny hop with a "mud ball" (aka brown balloon) around the course - it was pretty cute to watch her.
Afterwards we came home, where I watched both girls plus Cadi (Jen's daughter) while they went down south to visit Cuz. Cadi slept for a good while, meaning that Kaitlyn, Bear, and I got some really good bonding time...including my oldest CRUSHING me at monopoly. Cora and I played with the ponies and did some puzzles. It's funny - Bear will ask you to "play puzzles," but what she really wants is you to put it together while she watches. I asked her to at least help me flip the pieces over, but she was having NONE of it. Too funny.
Once the girls returned about 5, I shot out with K for a little daddy daughter time to hit Sweet Frog. It was a "no weigh day," meaning K could fill her 12 oz cup as much as she wanted. And let me tell you - THAT GIRL PACKED IT FULL. I honestly couldn't believe she ate it - it was AMAZING! That place is SO good, and we had a good little afternoon there. It was really sweet - she climbed on my lap about halfway through, at which point she would take a bite and then lay her head against my chest while chewing. It was so sweet - I was in Heaven! We then ran around a bit to "burn off some sugar" before driving home, where we ran around some more before calling it a night. I did let the girls watch a show, but it was hilarious - anytime you say "show" Cora immediately says "I want Barbie in a Mermaid Tale!" If you don't give her that, well...SHE. GOES. BALLISTIC. Rinse/repeat 12 million times so far this month. 
Oh, and I asked Kaitlyn tonight: "Sweetheart, you technically have 2 more gymnastics sessions left if you want to finish those in stead of going to swim practice." Her response: "I am so DONE with gymnastics." Too cute! But I wanted to confirm it, and I was glad she was that emphatic with her response. 5/20 - So I have to mention here how much Cora is singing these days! Both girls do sing a ton (Kaitlyn has been singing "My Girl" from her dance recital and "Lean On Me" from the end of year kindy show nonstop - complete with motions :-)), but Bear in particular is just hilarious. I went into her room the other day to hear her belting "What a wonderful name it is, the name of Jesus!" at the top of her lungs while still on her back in bed. I also tucked her in one night while she continued to sing: "Head. Shoulder. Knee. Toes!" My favorite, however, is when she asks for "the Donut song," which is really "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley (aka "Don't worry about a thing"). It stems from a towel Granny A gave us with a donut on it that reads "DONUT Worry." Well, Jenny started singing the Bob Marley song, and now Bear wants it every time she's getting her diaper changed in the evening. And since I a) don't know all the words and b) don't have the same inflection and cadence as JT, Bear pretty much wants to stab me every time I try. Seriously - you should hear the exasperation in her voice.
What I will say - Bear is definitely plumping up, so we are going to have to watch some portion control AND what she's consuming. She's getting better about her vegetables, but she is really all about her carbs. I noticed today that her thighs are definitely bigger than they've been in awhile! It is just REALLY tough with the second one, as she sees what the first is eating and wants it so badly. AS a parent, I haven't totally figured out how to strike that balance, so that's clearly what I need to think about and pray about next.
On the Kaitlyn front, Jenny has asked that she stop saying, "How dare you!" all the time. We know that she's joking, but she does say it with reckless abandon - even when people are around. To her credit, she's already greatly diminished usage, and when she does say it she catches herself. So progress is being made at least.
Separately - that girl is really starting to read with inflection and speed! I am so impressed with the speed at which she's reading. I really hope we can support her enough to keep this up over the summer.
Lastly, she got an invitation to Laney's 6th birthday today, and the good news - it's at Frankie's Fun Park! K is SO EXCITED. Too cute.
5/21 - Daddy Daughter Date Night this evening! I took K to Panera, where we CRUSHED some mac 'n cheese (still the best!), a brownie, some chocolate milk, and a bit of lemon drop cookie. We were there about an hour and really did have a nice time. I want to start finding multiple activities for us so that we can elongate date night, but we're just not there yet - especially during the school year. Oh, and I found out that K has a new boyfriend - Gavin. Apparently some friends told Ricky, so she had to swap. Gavin apparently "doesn't talk," which means "he won't embarrass me." We also confirmed that K didn't play with Kate on the playground today because "Suzie has taken over." LOL - fast times at Bradford Prep. :-)
Also, Kaitlyn had her dentist appointment today. While everything did look good (and Cora was apparently an angel waiting patiently while K had her cleaning), the dentist did say that her thumb sucking was now pushing on her permanent teeth and moving them back a bit. He encouraged her again to not suck her thumb. Jenny reminded her of it in the evening, and K said, "But I won't be able to sleep!" She did lay down that night without her thumb, but I will be honest - that hit me with a wave of sadness. 
It's funny - last year felt like the year of "tremendous change and upheaval" for us, but there's been every bit as much change inside the house this year. Cora is running, jumping, and speaking so clearly. She's in a big girl bed and is about to start pre-school! The whale spout continues to move further and further back on her head and will soon become a full-on ponytail. 
Kaitlyn is now SHOWERING!!!! She loves it (loves the massage on her back), and both Jenny and I have been in there with her to ensure her hair gets properly washed. There is other stuff, of course - she's getting taller, leaner, making new friends, learning so quickly, reading to us, reading by herself, writing stories, drawing amazing pictures, really starting to learn about Jesus and faith - and about to be a first grader! As I recount all of it, I just realize how quickly they are both growing up, and the thumb sucking - while originally I was a strong proponent of ending - just suddenly took on a new identity for me. Instead of something we needed "to break," it became one of the last vestiges of an era about to end, one from which you never return to and whose ending signals some end of innocence. I think it's close either way, and obviously it's a good thing once it's done. But MAN - I am going to miss seeing that little thumb pop into her mouth has she turns onto her side and snuggles up in the pillow. 
5/22 - K cashed in Bradford Bucks for "special supplies" (aka Ms. Pate's special stash) and for the right to bring a cuddly friend today. She better use those puppies up, as realistically she's only got a few more days left to cash them in! Seriously - the next week is all about field days, field trips, and even a pajama/movie/popcorn day! These kids are living the life!And Bear is doing EXACTLY the same thing K used to do, and it's so cute. She's saying: "Hey, mama, watch me do XXX." Then, after JT does, she says, "Hey Kate-win, watch me do XXX." Then it moves to me and then whoever else is in the room. Too cute, and EXACTLY what K used to do. The other day it was "watch me drink my milk." The parents were only too happy to do it. Kaitlyn...not so much. :-) But I have to give her credit - she's been a really good sport about it.
5/23 - BOYFRIEND UPDATE! So apparently K still has Gavin as a boyfriend. However, she and Ellie are also now sharing Camden. Apparently this is kosher because the boys don't know that they are, in fact, "boyfriends." It's honestly all just too funny. LOVE THESE CRAZY KIDS!!!
Oh, and Bear did say, "May I please be excused?" when she wanted to leave the table yesterday. I mean...WHAT?!?!?! Who is this child? :-)
5/25 - So today was a really good day, featuring 4 HOURS at the Sports Club pool! The girls were really good and had a lot of fun. I was exhausted when it was over, as I spent a lot of the day picking up and throwing K (my shoulder is feeling it today!). We also treated the girls to an Italian Ice...and they LOVED IT (shocking). It was a super hot day, and all I could think was how thankful I was to be living in Highland Creek with access to so many pools. CLT is on FIRE right now! 
The one hiccup of the day - K had told us for the last day or so that her throat hurt and had even come into our room several times in the evening/early morning to tell us it was bothering her. Jenny was all about taking her to the Peds, but I was operating under the assumption it was viral and nothing could be done (or alternatively something else was in bloom. Well, ultimately we ended up taking her to Urgent Care, and dare I say that my wife is a PROPHETESS!?!?!?!? NAILED IT - Strep Round 4!!!!! But K was super brave (sent my a voice text to tell me that the testing wasn't bad at all :-)), and we now have yet another prescription for Cefdinir in the house! Both girls were down EARLY last night, and Jenny and I were fast follows - BUSHED! 
5/26 - I am happy to report all of our Disney dining reservations are now booked! More to come on these, but suffice it to say you have to book SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE to get your spots!!! We took it easy and were inside most of the day, largely because a) it was 10,000 degrees outside and b) K was still contagious and clearly a bit lethargic. That being said, she is already showing signs of life and gaining energy. She's just getting the medicine once daily, and I'm due to give her the next dose here shortly.
The weekend has been really good, and I've had the chance to have some real bonding time with the girls. This is has been especially good in Cora's case, as I feel K has received a lot more of my focus and attention lately (dance show, gym show, date night, etc). Cora and I have had a lot of fun this weekend playing on the steps at the pool, playing in the kiddie pool, and playing with hatchimals in the house. :-).5/27 - K had perked up considerably by the end of the evening the night before (we are talking running around the house chasing Cora - AMAZING what two doses of that stuff will do!), and so that made today a REALLY good one - at Brewers @ 4001 Yancey!!! We rocked up about 12 and had a good 4 hours there with Team McLaren and some of their other friends. There was an adults table and a kids table, and Kaitlyn had a GREAT time! Cora didn't have as much fun I don't think (poor thing was just so hot and tired - she almost fell asleep on the drive down!), but between food, petting doggies, and running around with the other kids, she seemed to have fun.
For Kaitlyn, I think it was a case of finally getting some dedicated Kate time. I get the sense she hasn't seen her as much at school lately because "Suzie has taken over" (that was a direct quote). You could tell that K really had a blast, as evidenced by the big smile on her face (She actually told Jenny that she was having SO much fun).
We got home about 5ish, and we tried to cool off with a little television and dinner before calling it a night. The whole house was in bed before 8:30 - adults included!
5/28 - So today was a good day, but some challenges are emerging on the behavior front. For starters, Bear has become really tough at dinner. She'll always eat her main, but she wants virtually NOTHING to do with the fruit and veg. She will often say, "Dad, will you help me?" But when I got to scoop up a bite of veggies (which is always where I start), she just goes into meltdown. The last two nights we've actually had to take her plate away from her with food still on it, as she was throwing utensils, knocking the plate around, and just being generally disagreeable. Crazy!
Starting tomorrow, we are going to introduce her veggies and fruit first before she is offered her main. Obviously she won't like that, but there's no doubt that little face of hers is getting rounder!
Also, both girls are now saying, "One second" any time you ask them to do something. And while it used to literally be one second, it's now become a convenient way for them to just ignore anything we ask them to do. The girls were a little tough tonight, and I could tell JT was over it by the time I got home. I think Bear's constant whining and crying is slowing fraying us both - similar to her first year of life when she cried constantly. Pray for us! :-)Oh, and tonight Kaitlyn told me that she was glad I wasn't going on the field trip tomorrow because I am kind of annoying. She also didn't want to hug me at bedtime. Cora (who I read to...which she obviously wasn't happy about) refused to let me hold her and said simply, "Just leave me alone." Ah, it's nice to be loved... :-)
5/29 - A fun day for Kaitlyn and the Bradford Bears today - a field trip to Patterson farms! And get this - K actually guilt tripped Jenny on Sunday about not going, so JT and Bear made the trip as well! Now admittedly Jenny didn't see much of K during the day (she wasn't a chaperone and had the nugget, which obviously is a challenge in and of itself), but she did have fun and got some really cute pictures. I loved this, as Jenny got the chance to observe K "from a distance in the wild," and it sounded like she had a lot of fun. She's been hanging out with Ellie a ton lately, and they seem to be getting on like a house on fire. I do know that Ellie certainly likes her jewelry! Case in point - she basically snatched K's necklace off right in front of both JT and Alexis (Ellie's mom). Too funny!
By all accounts the girls had a blast, and Jenny was able to bring K home early after playing around on the farm and at the playground. There were strawberries picked as well - Cora even did some picking! - and I'm happy to confirm that ice cream was consumed. :-)
Oh, and a BIG MOMENT today - I came home from my jog in the morning, and Cora wasn't in her chair. And then Jenny said, "Daddy, I'm so glad you're here - we have a problem. We've lost Cora." And then, from under the table, I heard the sound of meowing. That's right, sports fans - CORA IS NOW DOING THE RENEGADE KITTY IN THE HOUSE IN LIEU OF A DAUGHTER GAME. NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! The humanity!!!!!!!! Actually, truth be told it's pretty cute, as her "meow" is akin to a lion in the pride lands fighting off a pack of hyenas. :-) Plus her smile is a mile wide while she's doing it.
Cora is taking another page out of her sister's book as well - she's saying "Mommy, daddy watch!" on pretty much everything. And while sometimes it's not terribly profound, watching her dance is absolutely priceless. Most of the time it involves endless spinning (no idea how she stays upright?!?!?), but we also get the occasional bootie wiggle in there as well...which is nice. :-)
5/30 - Today was ANOTHER field trip for BPS (livin' the life, right?) - this time down to the Nature Museum and Freedom Park. I got the sense that the farm was much more fun, but the girls still seemed to have a good time (even if the playground was apparently less than spectacular). It's odd -they ended up not going to the playground at Freedom Park but instead went somewhere else. Kaitlyn was LESS than impressed.
And speaking of Kaitlyn - she no longer wants to be known by ANY nickname. Hoff, Goose, TT, Sneetch, Tater, you name it - all of these have gone the way of the dodo. Oh well - it was nice while it lasted. And it doesn't mean she won't come back around. :-)
5/31 - Today was movie and Pajama day at BPS, where the kindergarteners got to match Mulan and do Mix & Match popcorn. Man - talk about cruising to the end of school! It's like the best summer camp ever! But honestly, they've worked so hard and learned so much this year, that they absolutely deserve it. Plus I know that these moments are precious and the time is flying, so I want them to soak up every second of this.
On the Bear front, that girl is eating virtually NOTHING right now. She is all about her carbs, but it takes WORK to get her to eat anything else - including delicious fruit! We are also trying to get her to start spitting after brushing, but she's clearly not ready for that yet. All she's doing at this point is eating the toothpaste as soon as it goes into her mouth. But the good news - we are finally starting to see some foam in there when we brush (not her, but when WE take control), so I am hopeful it's just a matter of time. The dentist said that it's not really a concern until they turn 4, so obviously we've got some time (and it does beg the question of why they insist we start trying so early?...but I digress...).
Oh, and gotta brag on my oldest - Jenny said that she CRUSHED IT at swimming tonight. She said that she had tremendous form, and that during the circle swim she not only passed the girl in front of her but caught up to the NEXT person! Way to go, kiddo!
So there you have it - an INCREDIBLE month in the books. For my part, I have been without my laptop for the last week (we just added memory, and it's INCREDIBLY FAST!!!!!), and so I'm typing this on June 4 referencing a lot of notes and scrambling to remember everything that's transpired over the last 168 hours. It's been quite the whirlwind, and typing at this speed leaves me with the feeling that I've missed something. To that end, let me try and get some thoughts down:
1. I cannot BELIEVE Kaitlyn has one week left of kindergarten! That has just gone TOO Fast, and man what a year of change. She's leaned out, made lots of new friends, demonstrated she remembered how to swim, started chores, has deepened her faith, gutted out gymnastics and dance, and even learned to read! I am so so so so proud of her and love the fact that we've started Daddy-daughter date night.
2. Cora has definitely arrived at the terrible 2's, and she's tough at the moment. That being said, there are plenty of shining moments where her laugh is just incredible and makes me happy all over. She definitely is more attached to Jenny than me, and I'm not sure how much of that is a function of personality or just the reality that I'm not around her as much as I was Kaitlyn. In this period in K's life, I was working from home, had a much more flexible schedule (to be clear - I am NOT complaining about life right now, as it's still incredibly flexible - just in different ways), and did more pick up and drop off. Hopefully I'll get back into some of that in the fall, but I do wonder if that is part of our struggle. I am not part of the routine, don't know all the rules and rituals, and likely am a disrupter at the moment. Pray for this guy!
Oh, and on that note - I can confirm that the "Rod of Love" is now out and waiting in most rooms of the house. Watch this space!!! :-)
That's all the news that's fit to print. Chat next month!
Love,
Sam and Jenny
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