One More til Four

Kemper,

It is so hard for me to believe that you will be four years old next month.  What a journey we have had!  I love the person you are becoming.  It is really fun to watch your imagination come through your play as you make up games to play with us and create elaborate stories with your toys.  You continue to become so animated and conversational with people.

In the last month you have enjoyed not one but two trips to stay at the cabin in North Carolina.  We were fortunate to have our friends, the Derrenbacker family join us for the week of Spring Break.  We left on Easter afternoon and stayed for a week of rest and fun.  Although I was sick for a few days, it was a blessing to have our friends there to help entertain you.  We spent one day at the Biltmore Estate and we were amazed at how well behaved you were.  I was certain that the day would entail whining about being bored or so tired we would have to carry you but you had a wonderful day and kept up with the older kids beautifully.  Mostly you had great fun riding your scooters around the porch of the house and watching the girls play Mario Kart.  When the afternoons were warm enough, playgrounds were also a great outlet. 





After only a week back at home you were able to spend several days at the cabin with Grams and Papa Bass while I attended a conference at Montreat.  The weather was so crazy that you had a snow day on Monday and much needed day of outdoor fun on Wednesday.  I am so thankful that your grandparents have this beautiful place for us to go and stay. 

 

On pretty days we've enjoyed the Duck Pond and the various playgrounds our beautiful community has to offer. We also spent one sunny afternoon playing outside at Papa and Beba's house.  On chilly, rainy days we have built Lego kits and made sure they were "orga-sized."  I have no idea where you get that from!


We've had some pretty full days at preschool and church to which you are sure to tell me, "We had a big day at church, Mommy" as I collapse on the couch.  Beba and Papa have been attending worship with us at Covenant and sitting with you in the pews as you have declared yourself too big for the nursery but are not so certain about Children's Worship yet.  I am so proud of you for sitting so quietly and patiently during the worship service.  Daddy has started a new job which has him at work for four days and then three days at home with us.  While it is an adjustment for all of us and hard for Daddy not to see you much several days a week, it makes those weekend days we have together all the more special for boys club and special outings. 


Friday night we had a little scare as you got pretty sick with croup and seemed to be quite wheezy and struggling with your breathing.  We immediately took you to the new ER center about 5 minutes from home.  Honestly, it just feels really good when I get the parenting instinct thing right.  We cannot say enough good things about how kind they were and how efficiently they treated you.  The breathing treatment they gave you worked almost instantly and you haven't had any trouble since, not even coughing at night.  We did stay home from school today just in case but you have really been doing well.  We even took a trip to a little playground and the library to get out of the house.  Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things tomorrow. 

Whenever you get mad at me you tell me I am not invited to your birthday party.  I've been informed the theme has changed from Paw Patrol to Curious George.  I do so hope you will allow me to come (i.e. throw you a party).

You bring joy to us all--you are so, so loved. 

Love,
Mama, Mama!, MOMMY!

March Madness

Dearest K,

It has been another full month in the Mitchell household.  One of the blessings of social media is the capability to look back through my Facebook timeline and see just what we have been up to in recent weeks. 

At the end of February you enjoyed your first experience at Chuckie Cheese when we went to celebrate a friends’ birthday.  It was fun exploring all the games with you and you have been asking to go back!  My favorite part of that day was when you and Daddy showed up with matching shirts, completely unplanned. 

We had a Parents’ Night Out event at Covenant at the beginning of March and you had a great time playing with all your friends.  Boy, were we worn out when we got home!

We have spent some time at the library and playgrounds of course, when the weather was warm enough.  Last week we went to the music playground when we had some extra time, which you enjoyed.  It was a good reward after running errands with Mommy.

On one sunny afternoon we went to Salem and visited the duck pond and the playground. You’ve also been helping out some with cooking in the kitchen. 

 

The weather has been crazy! We’ve had TWO snow days in March! The first one was good enough to warrant building an excellent snowman in the back yard.  It was a great day to have some extra family time.

We have also gotten haircuts, played at the mall, and gone downtown to the Peter Pan playground and went for a walk through Elmwood Park.  The delights of spring days!

Our evenings have been filled with Legos and Dance Parties.  You’ve also been giving Daddy a run for his money in Mario Kart! You are doing preeeetty well with not napping….but we do have the occasional nap in the car and we have found you ‘hibernating’ on the couch a few times.

On Wednesday before Spring Break there was an Easter Egg Hunt at school.  At this time last year you screamed bloody murder and were terrified of the Easter bunny so I was a little bit nervous as to how things would go.  But as you told Mrs. Kim afterwards at church, “I was brave.”  You were a champ, you even got pictures with the bunny.  I do believe the fact that chocolate candy was involved may have made all the difference. 

Over the last 24 hours you have been at Beba & Papa’s house.  I know you will return home with a great Easter basket and stories of playing with Becca the Basset Hound. 

After church on Sunday we leave for a week at the “cavin.” We are excited for some friends to join us there.  A well-deserved time of rest for all of us. 

In recent weeks you have become more articulate and able to carry conversations. You are learning the difference between the truth and a lie.  You continue to practice recognizing letters and numbers and writing your name.  You are also learning the skills of dressing yourself (slowly but surely).  I look back at this time three years ago when you were crawling everywhere. 

Every day we are amazed. 

Love you,

Mommy

Love Day

Kemper,

The hours, days, and weeks all run together sometimes.  That sounds crazy but I promise when you are older you will suddenly understand.  In the midst of the mundane we have had some great fun this month!

At the end of January we traveled to Williamsburg and Richmond to visit with some of our favorite people!  It was wonderful to watch you make friends with Emma and Isaiah while we stayed with Meagan & Mark.  The love language of the weekend consisted of screams and squeals!  We had all kinds of fun on a beautifully mild day. Mark was brave enough to have you guys all by himself so Mommy and her girls could go out together.   After a delicious breakfast with Jennifer & Matt on Sunday we went to Richmond and worshiped at Three Chopt Presbyterian.  It was so lovely to see friends there and celebrate Pastor Brenda's retirement.  You were quite smitten with Hana, daughter of Crystal and Zach.  You seem to collect the pretty ladies wherever you go.

Speaking of pretty ladies, you had quite a logical explanation of your intentions to marry Emmi S.  It went like this:

K: when I marry Emmi, I am going to give her this ring (I don't even remember what the ring was)
Me: Oh you're getting married?
K: Not yet, we don't have our married clothes on!
Me: maybe you should wait until you're a little older. How old do you think Daddy and I were when we got married?
K: Four!

Dalton came over and played one Saturday. The wait was excruciating!  You were so excited to show him all of your things you enjoy playing with.  There were Paw Patrol toys from one end of the room to the other, and your police car was driven more than its fair share.  The giggles were priceless.

We've been having lots of dance parties in the evenings.  I think you know all the words to JT's Can't Stop The Feeling otherwise known as The Trolls Song. You've also broadened your base of One Direction songs.  You call them, The Preeza Boys and I have know idea where that came from so I go with it, haha!

For Valentine's Day (Love Day), Daddy made us cinnamon rolls for breakfast.   I've managed to keep most of my chocolates away from you!  You had a little bag of goodies from school to enjoy.  You made little hearts at school and I loved to see them displayed on Mrs. Fiona's door.  Along with the love bug that illustrates how well you've been tracing your letters at school.

You got to spend some time with Papa and Beba when you were out of school this week.   You were so excited to go and play with Becca at their house.  Beba brought you some fun water toys that you've played with all week.  It has been unusually warm this week so we have had multiple opportunities to play outside, especially in your water table and pool which you've been asking about all winter.

We are trying to adjust to the fact that you are growing out of naps.  I think this may be harder for me than you!  But you seem to be going to bed better in the evenings.  I can only keep praying for more nice weather so you can get out and about in these extra hours in your day. 

Love you so, so much!

Mommy

JanYOUary

K,

You are becoming so expressive and talkative that I find it hard to recall the funny and thoughtful things you say.  I do know that I hear my name no less than 1,000 times a day and I now understand why my mom used to shout "I'm changing my name to Shafrona Garber" from the other room all the time (the name is sort of a family thing...I'll tell you the story another day).  We basically had an entire week off from school last week and when we asked you, " Do you know what is great about a snow day?" You said, "being together." You melted my heart.



Heading back to school after the holidays was swell. You hardly batted an eye when I dropped you off in your classroom.   I think you were ready to see all your friends again.  You have attended a couple of birthday parties as well and that was delightful to get extra time among your classmates.  You weren't too thrilled at going to Soccer Shots ( I still don't know exactly why you don't like that) but you loved being there for Emmi and by the end you didn't want to leave.  You greatly enjoyed playing in the water at Green Ridge for Amelia's birthday too.  I honestly can't believe you are all turning four.

Beba spent two days with you last week for which we are so grateful.  You actually sent yourself to nap one day, which is mind boggling.  Beba brought me some of my Grandma Pearlie's jewelry and we had fun on Friday night going through it.  I wonder what Pearlie would have thought to see you putting on her beads, dancing around, and calling yourself a rock star.  I think she would have loved it.  Seeing some of her pieces of jewelry brought back memories of my days with her as a child.  I am so thankful that you also get to have time with all four of your grandparents.  My early memories of rocking in her lap on the porch and eating lunch at the bar in her kitchen are precious to me.


We got to spend some time with Grams and Papa as well this month and will see them again tomorrow.  I know you are excited and probably already plotting how you can wrangle another train ride at the mall out of them.  While they were here they got you into singing One Direction and you basically serenaded Daddy with the entire song "What Makes You Beautiful."  It's so adorable.


The weather has been crazy--as I think it always is in Virginia now-- so in a week's time we have played outside in the snow and also at the playground without jackets!

I've been wildly entertained by watching you try to barter and trade with Daddy in order to gain more LEGOs from Daddy's collection--or at least get the ones you want on any given day.  We've also built lots of "pup houses" and a double decker bus out of your magnet blocks frequently.  I can't really fault you for liking to play with tiny toys, I did too as a child.



Favorites:

Food: Chicken Nuggets
Drink: Is there anything other than apple juice?
T.V. Show: Horrid Henry and Trolls
Toy: Well, Panda bear was out for a while (I was so sad!) but I think he's back in.  He needed a new bow but you didn't like it so now he has a cool Paw Patrol shirt (thanks Build-a-Bear). And LEGOs All the LEGOs.
Color: Blue (you only want to wear blue shirts at present)
Game: We've been playing Monster Bowling and I told you if you knock them all down you have to take a victory lap, thus increasing your activity by half and wearing you down more quickly for bed.

It has been a fun few weeks and I am glad you were home mostly with your cold last week so that you could get well. I am nervous about the stomach bugs and flu going around so I hope some time out of school helped all those germs die for folks.  But, I am also delighted that you are back among your peers learning and playing together.

We love you lots and we try to soak up our time with you and remind ourselves these days will not last forever. Even though sometimes the days are long and patience is thin.   So we linger at story time. And sometimes we let you nap in our bed.  We snag snuggles on the couch and bear-traps before bedtime.  We try to let the toy piles slide a little bit and let you think you're sneaking in the cookies as part of a healthy diet.  Your smile and laughter are infectious.  You are precious to us.

Love,
Mama.  Mama!  MAMAAAA!!!! (literally yelling this from your bedroom as I type).

When Christmas Comes To Town

Kempy--

You are on the road to the cabin with Grams and Papa.  The house is a maze of toys and boxes. Daddy and I are back to work after the Christmas Holiday.  We had a blessed Christmas season.

I am so thankful that we are all healthy and able to enjoy the twinkling treasures of the season--from Christmas lights to Christ in a manger, we have been fortunate to be among family and friends.

There was one snow day, early in December.  It was a Saturday and Daddy had to work so we decorated sugar cookies and ventured out into the snow just a tiny bit.   You helped with Christmas Tree decorating and have enjoyed colored lights in your room.
 

We experienced your first Christmas Program at school--Mommy, Daddy, Beba, and Papa Tate were all in attendance to witness your musical performance.  My favorite part was seeing you turn to your friend beside you and say, "that's my daddy!" I've also loved being serenaded with "When Christmas Comes to Town" in the car ever since.


Our first presents were exchanged with Auntie Whitney, she and her parents spoil you every year and you are enjoying your gifts.

Once out of school for break we enjoyed a few mini-adventures last week.  On Thursday, we went to the Taubman and played for a few hours.  On Friday, we went to the zoo and enjoyed the quiet while visiting the animals.
 

Christmas with the Tate's was on Saturday this year, which we are so appreciative of, to be able to see the entire family even though it was not Christmas day.  The adults enjoyed delicious food while your entire being was wrapped up in the opening of gifts. I am so sad that you refused a family photo...maybe next year.

We all made out like bandits, but your Paw Patrol Boat was certainly the biggest hit.  You enjoyed playing with Becca, until she knocked you down and stole your cookie in the front yard.  What can I say, I love Beba's Oatmeal Scotchies too.
 

Christmas Eve found Mommy at work in both morning and evening but we squeezed some family time in the middle.  I hope you will come to enjoy the tradition of new PJs and a book on Christmas Eve... this year you were not so fond of opening a package that did not contain toys.

Santa came on Christmas Eve, after we were long asleep.  He left only crumbs of your cookies and Rudolph gobbled up his carrots... but they left you a thank you note and candy canes in return.  So excited was Santa to fill your couch with toys, he left a trail of magic North Pole Snow and a perfect foot print at the fireplace!  Daddy and I loved opening the wreath you made us at school and Daddy appreciated his handcrafted Soup Bowl we made for him.  We constructed your new Lego kit before breakfast. We sang Christmas Songs together in the car for about 40 minutes on the way to New Market, before you and Daddy both passed out for Christmas morning naps.


We spent much of Christmas Day with the Mitchell's.  You made Aunt Meredith play tag all over the house and enjoyed the wrapping paper ball fights after opening gifts.  You were really good at helping us with our clues and finding hidden "golden tickets" that Papa Bass left for us.  There was great joy in digging through your stocking and you've been carrying your Paw Patrol Plane all over the place. Once again, we made out like bandits, and are blessed by the love and generosity of our families.

One day you will come to know that the real gift is the one God gave us so long ago.  And you will recognize the truest blessing of Christmas is to be surrounded by people you love, and doing kind things for family and friends.  The dazzling lights, the ribbons and bows, are just trimmings that add sparkle to what should always shine--love.

Speaking of love, we sure do love you, a whole lot.

Love,
Mama

Platform Three and One Half

Stinker--

I have to call you that here because you won't allow me to call you that in person anymore....but you've deserved it lately! I mean it in the kindest sense of the word, I use it as a loving nickname, most of the time....because even when you are being less than perfect, you're normally still cute when you do it.  What it is about children and their ability to maintain the cute factor when being absolute terrors?  I think it's how humanity is protected from extinction.

Here we are at three and a half years old.  I honestly cannot believe it.  You're so grown up.  You formulate full thoughts and sentences.  You are going potty very well, we have not had an accident in over a month (knock on all the wood). Your Halloween candy has served as excellent treats for potty use. You also earned not one but two more Paw Patrol trucks, Skye and Everest. This has provided endless times of hiding the kitty cats so that you can save them.  :) Also,  I think you've grown another inch.

Since my last post you celebrated Halloween--Superman complete with the much coveted pink cape.  There was a parade and trunk-or-treat at school and then we went around the neighborhood Halloween night.  You're already talking about next year's costume--today it was a pirate.

We traveled to New Market and spent some time with Papa Bass and Grams early in November.  Daddy and I went to a great wedding with friends.  Grams gave you a Lego kit and we've built the firetruck literally a thousand times.

There was a Drumstick Dash at school, where we ran around and then played in a bouncy house.  When I told you about the race you said, "I'm gonna get the drums."  :)













We also celebrated Thanksgiving--although we were both sick so it wasn't exactly a fun week.  There was a bit of cabin fever by the end.  Lots of tissues and very little appetite.  We somehow stumbled upon these weird videos on YouTube with a woman playing with Paw Patrol and mystery characters in Slime of all things.  These were so annoying to us but you just loved them! Luckily that trend has faded and was replaced not long after by Shrek Happily Ever After on repeat.  We did get to have lunch on Thanksgiving with Papa and Beba.  It was a pretty day so we played outside some too.

We got to have dinner with Papa Bass and Grams after the holiday as well, which was so nice.  I look forward to all being together at Christmas time.  Much activity around Christmas family time and what types of gifts will come to you.  I am already thinking about what toys you are outgrowing to make room for new things.


The mild weather has helped some with cabin fever--I feel like when the nights get dark early, we get bored and unmotivated a lot faster.  So we've spent some afternoons after school at the playground before nap time.  We even went down to the Peter Pan playground one day, which you really enjoy because we don't do that often.

We've had some fun with old friends too.  Last Saturday you got to play with Dalton, Maya, and Evelyn at the Gingerbread Festival in Salem.  You were not engaged by the activities necessarily, but you did love running free with them on the playground.  I'm glad we could see friends and enjoy some holiday cheer.

You have some fun coming up at school.  We are going on a field trip on Wednesday and then you have a holiday program and pajama day on the 15th.

Current Favorites: Legos, Boss Baby Movie,  and touching the Christmas tree.

*Addendum*  I forgot to mention that we went back to Appomattox and visited our beloved friends there last month.  This is where we brought you home and you spent the first nine months of your childhood.  It was a lovely day and bittersweet for me.  I am so thankful for our time in that community but I miss them dearly.  It was wonderful for you to meet those people who have loved you since before you were born, but also interesting to see you interacting with children who you will no longer grow up with, running in a place that is not your home (although you treated it as such).  You've told me several times since then, "I like that church, Mommy."  I like it too, and I hope we can visit again sometime. 



Love you kiddo,

Mommy

Septober

Kempy:

In almost three and a half years I have never missed a monthly post on your blog.  I have been late more frequently than not in recent months, but never missed all together, until last month. It makes me sad to be behind on something that I love to do for you--but it is an indication of what the last few months have been like for us. We have had a lot of fun in our free time--as a family and also doing different things with friends.  But Mommy has been very busy at work with a new pastor and Daddy's hours have often been early and long.  All this to say, what spare time we have had in recent weeks, we've spent it together and downtime has been mostly spent sleeping!

We enjoyed Labor Day celebrations with the Miller family, they are so kind to open their home to us. It was a treat to watch you swim in your floatie and figure out that you could actually do it on your own!  You so loved playing with Maya and Dalton.

Three Musketeers!

You began your three year old class at Covenant Presbyterian Preschool with Mrs. Fiona.  I am so pleased that you enjoy this class so much and seeing your friends every day--especially Emmi, I am told you all treat each other more like siblings than friends, which means perhaps you invade each other's space and rough house a bit too much.  You are loving special activities--music with Ms. Candace, Soccer Shots and Bricks 4 Kidz after school. You come home singing songs, telling me about Pumpkin science experiments and adding to your growing "cowekshun" (collection) of acorns. Last week all of the students came and sang for a Senior Tea at church. It was awesome to watch you interact with your peers and enjoy the music. You also love to come and play in my office after school (I don't know what the draw is there except that you get candy from Kim & Gail.) :)

First Day of School with his Animals

You've gotten to go on some adventures with your grandparents this fall.  You visited the cabin with Grams and also their new house in New Market while Daddy and I had a weekend with the Hollins fam.  It was a really wonderful weekend for us to be with people we love so much and we hope to do it again soon, maybe with all the kiddos next time so you all can play.  You also got to spend the night and and a day or two with Beba and Papa Tate for Daddy and I to have some down time.  I don't know how you do it, you always return from these adventures with more stuff than you left with....but who am I kidding, we are all suckers for your smile and love to shower you with goodies.

Fair with Grams and Papa

QT with Becca at Papa and Beba's

I went to see Hanson with Auntie Whitney and Aunt JP.  I had a meet and greet and it was wonderful.  I told Zac how you enjoyed singing along with them and that he was your favorite.  He said you could call him, "Funcle" for "Fun Uncle" and we had a good laugh.  Despite my best efforts I did not win you any drumsticks, nor did I buy you any merch. It was sad to walk in the door the next day and you say, "Mommy, did you get my drumsticks?".... but the plus side is the new Christmas album comes out this week and we can sing all new songs for the holidays!

Pure joy riding the train with Daddy & Mommy

You helped with clean up day at the office a few weeks ago when you didn't have school. I thought it would be a disaster and we wouldn't be able to stay and help with cleaning out cabinets, shelves, and closets, but you were really good.  You got to shred paper, play with rubber bands, and follow Mr. Mark all over the church.  I'm really thankful to have great people to work with who are patient with you.   You've also done great going into Sunday school with the other boys your age and going to the Children's Worship time some.  The day is coming when you will have to come sit in worship and I wonder how all that will work.

Last week we went to see Daniel Tiger Live! Grams bought us wonderful tickets to attend as a family.  You had a blast at the show, by the second act you were out dancing in the middle aisle with all the little girls.  You were third row and in the center so you had a wonderful view.  After the show we took pictures with Daniel and his mom, even though you were admittedly a little scared of their costumes.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

We've had some beautiful fall days to enjoy in the yard and at the playground.  Ms. Pam, our next door neighbor got a puppy, Ebony, and you love to go over and run around the yard with her.  On Saturday, we painted a pumpkin for Halloween, played at the playground, napped, and then went to the Launch Pad in Salem for you to bounce on the trampolines.  We are grateful to Shannon for inviting us to go with them for a fun outing.   This coming Friday will be Trunk-or-Treat at school and Halloween is right around the corner.  This year you want to be Superman, with a pink cape.  We think this is an excellent way to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. :)

Climber like Daddy

Artist like Beba

You are more talkative and imaginative every day.  We had a long conversation last week about the difference between being naughty and nice (Santa is coming).  You are beginning to try more things yourself as far as getting dressed and learning how to put your things away in class every day.  You are wearing big boy undies 95% of the time.  You are doing really well with potty training--except for the #2 part...we gotta get that down.  Otherwise, marking a chart for you and making a goal for the end of the month with a much desired toy seems to be working alongside the crowd mentality experience at school.

Favorite Show: Still overwhelmingly Paw Patrol (please note constant attire: underwear, socks, backpack, t-shirt, pjs, rainboots).  

Favorite Book: Opposites--a Richard Scary book we found cleaning out the church offices.

Favorite Toy: Daddy's special Marty McFly Lego--"Marty-Can-Fly" and the Zuma Truck for your first month of potty success which you said was "the prettiest pup ever."

Favorite Color: Pink and Yellow

Favorite Food and Drink: Still holding strong with Mac & Cheese and Apple Juice

Favorite Song:You love them all but I think "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands" has been heard a lot lately as well as " Shake It Off"  oh and we listened to Hanson's "I Don't Want To Go Home" on repeat every morning for like a week because you like "fast music mama".

Looking forward to the upcoming holidays with you Bear.  You're a stinker! We love you.

Love,
Mama

Duck Pond--clearly this Curious George shirt is a favorite!!