June Bug

K,

Did you know that your nickname was June Bug before you were born?  Yes, you were supposed to be a June baby, not a May baby--but God's timing is always right. 

We have been on several adventures in the last week or two.  We have had some pretty days (also some hot ones) so we have spent considerable time doing fun things outdoors.  We have celebrated Daddy for Father's Day.  Even though he had to work, we picked out a funny card about animals in the wild and their farts (because what little boy and their daddy doesn't think that is funny) and gave him a bag of sweet chili pistachios which we know he loves.  I always enjoy hearing you call out, "Daddy" when he comes home from work and you have something to show him or tell him as he walks through the door.  You always like to have boys club when the opportunity arises and revel in "kicking me out of the house." 

We went over to Hollins one hot Saturday morning, Daddy & I's anniversary actually.  I thought it would be nice to revisit the place we met with you, since Daddy had to work.  We went and visited the horses and then walked around in Beale Garden. 


We had a generous friend give us a gift certificate to the Mill Mountain Zoo so we also enjoyed a cool morning there before it got too hot.  We also managed to have our fun before a big group of kids came in and began running all over the place.  We rode the Zoo Choo for the first time.  Your favorite animal to see was the Red Panda because he was smiling at you!  We then went up to the picnic area near the star and had lunch and played on the rocks and slide there. 


Last Saturday we enjoyed a hike with some of our church friends to Roaring Run.  You and Mr. Mark's dog Cooper only have one speed, so we were first to the water falls.  On the hike back down you hung in with the Burr family.  I am really thankful you did not step on the copperhead snake that we came across in the path just moments after you. 
 

Last week was my fourth and your second year at Vacation Bible School.  We had a wonderful time!  It was tiring for ALL of us, even you sir.  But, you had a wonderful experience.  One day you came home and told me all about the story of Jesus calming the waters and how your group climbed in a box that was a boat and water splashed on you (from a spray bottle)! You have been singing all of the songs you learned, even the one in Spanish.  One day you said, "I liked singing 'Yes, Lord' (which is really 'I'm Trading my Sorrows') and I was good at it, and the other children were too!"  You were engaged in the activities all week. I believe your favorite thing might have been playing balloons and noodles with Mrs. Mary. 


On the final night of VBS we had a summer concert at Covenant and we brought in Little Critters Petting Zoo.  Despite the rain, this was a great success.  Not only did you enjoy looking at all the animals, but you played in puddles, danced to the music, and pulled weeds from the flower beds (yes you read that correctly)! You had so much fun I hated to make you leave, but bedtime was past due. 


We had dinner at Great Tom & Great Jane's house Saturday evening with the family.  You were pleased that Beba made you more cheese ball since Daddy and I ate it all last time.  I wish I could deny this, but I cannot....and I might eat it all this time too.  Papa Tate made homemade ice cream with blueberries and strawberries, yum! Great Tom took you for a ride on his Kubota which you really enjoyed. 

I took you over to Mommy Time, an indoor play area for kids yesterday.  You just loved it.  There is a big obstacle course there to climb in with slides on it and a ball pit.  Also some swings and other things. There were a few other children there and I was impressed at how you played with them and used your manners.  It is nice that it is so close and not too expensive for an hour of play.  Also, I got to sit and read a book while you played which was honestly worth the cost to me. :)

This week you are at one of the preschool camps, having a blast with all of your friends.  You will come home with lots of new artwork to share.  You don't know it yet, but this weekend you will get to go and spend time with Papa Bass and Grams.  I know you will love this because you were just talking about them this morning and said that you miss them.  Daddy and I will miss you over the weekend but I am excited for you to have more fun adventures with them. 

New obsessions: Garfield, Super Heroes, Camping (sleeping) in your old nap roll. 

 It becomes harder and harder to remember you as the little infant in our arms in the first weeks of your life.  We love you a whole lot, and we are really proud of you and the person you are becoming.

Hugs (because I am not supposed to give you kisses),
Mama

Embracing The Era of Four

K,

I swear you have grown another inch in the last month.  It is possible,  after all you grew 2 inches since September.  It seems like every day a little bit more of the baby falls away and a little boy emerges.  Growth reveals itself in the way you speak and interact.  The scrapes and bruises that mottle your legs illuminate a boy who is still learning how his limbs work...not because you are too wild, but just a tad impulsive and clumsy.  Your little voice is so very sweet.  The first day I hear it crack in adolescence I will probably cry.

Watching the new sign construction.

Learning Fire Safety

Muffins for Mom

For Muffins for Mom & Mother's Day you gave me the sweetest artwork and a card about how I am Super Mom.  You said that at work I show my powers when I preach.  Melt my heart.  You also said I was five years old and my best dish is Mac & Cheese.  You know me SO well.

As the season grew warmer we got out a bit to play.  One Saturday while Daddy was working we went downtown early to the Peter Pan Playground and I convinced you to try out the fountains in Elmwood Park.  It wasn't long before you were drenched and laughing hysterically.

Downtown

Elmwood Park Fountains

We ended the school year with your birthday week.  Yes, you are following in Mommy's footsteps of stretching birthdays as long as possible.  On your actual birthday you opened your gift from your parents--the long desired Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head.  After school that day the staff at church brought you a cake and a huge Paw Patrol balloon that is STILL floating in our house.  The next day was a party at school for you and a couple of other students with summer birthdays.  We baked sugar cookies and took sprinkles for you and your friends to decorate them.  That evening was the big surprise we had kept secret for months--Beba and Papa got you tickets to see Paw Patrol Live.  You had a great time at the show and can recount for us the story line in detail.  You were not so thrilled to meet them, scared of the big costumes, but that is okay! I am so thankful to all your grandparents for providing these memories of Daniel Tiger and Paw Patrol for you.

Birthday Morning

Love from the staff 

Paw Patrol with Mom, Dad, & Beba

 The following Saturday we threw you a Curious George Birthday Bash at the church.  I am thankful that we had it there because it started to rain while we were playing outside so we were able to come in and utilize the hula hoops and pool noodles for games while we waited for the Pizza to arrive.  When not engaged in an activity you all had fun just running laps around the fellowship hall.  Grams & Papa Bass came, as did Beba & Papa, and your Great Aunts & Uncle and cousins.  Grams made your birthday cupcakes.  Of course the highlight for you was opening gifts, all your friends surrounded you to observe and even helped you with the wrapping paper a few times.  So many fun things to play with, it took all afternoon to open them all up and play.  The nap after that was glorious.

Birthday Bash

Last weekend we played with Dalton and went to story time at the mall.  You guys were so hyped up to see each other.  The following day we went to the Miller's pool party where you all enjoyed swimming together.  I am glad that you are happy to play in the water now and look forward to you learning how to swim.

This week Meredith & Nick came and stayed overnight with us.  You really loved building your new lego set they gave you with Aunt Mert.  They also gave you a cool tent to play in--but it is missing some pieces so we can't build it just yet.   Yesterday on Daddy & Mommy's day off we went to the Glazed Bisque-It and painted pottery.  Daddy wanted us to replace his Christmas Gift that got broken.  A fun family outing that actually had minimal mess.

Our afternoons and evenings have brought playground trips, chalk art & scooters in the driveway, water play and library books.  And lest I be accused of being a person who paints the perfect picture of life on social media (ask me in 15 years what fake news means) the transition from school to summer hasn't always been stellar.  We are lucky to have Beba & Papa hanging out with you a lot this summer, and teenage friends to hang out with you some beginning next week-- but you and I have butted heads several times in recent days.  There has been defiance (yours), there has been yelling (mine), and there have been tears (ours).  But I have to remember that transitions are difficult and the change from seeing friends every day to summers off is very different.  So, there you have it--I try not to dwell on the negative moments but we do have them.

We have Vacation Bible School, two summer camps, and a beach trip to look forward to in the coming months.  Here's hoping your shorts won't get too short, your hair won't get too long, and we can find you some sandals that hold up in this wild season we call summer.

Dressing yourself, selecting your own snacks, and eating cereal on the couch: "Because I am four years old so I can do it."

Love you, Bear.

Mom

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