Firsts

Myla started her first day of pre-kindergarten on Monday, and while it wasn’t quite the kick in the stomach for me as last year, she didn’t even seem fazed.  In fact, I went to kiss her goodbye and she said “okay, mom, bye!”  Her teachers (Ms. Jelly-bean and Ms. Teddy-bear) seem very nice and totally interested in each kid and she has a couple of friends from last year that are with her too.  I still rushed to go pick her up, and true to Myla form, she didn’t tell me a thing about her day.  But she did get a sticker for listening, so I guess that is a good sign!  She's the smallest girl in her class so far, and yet so big all at once.

And Check-ups

Kinsley had her 18 month check up on Monday – 18 months!? – and it was the first time with her new doctor, so she tried hard to be impressive.  She climbed up and down the stool, talked and didn’t even cry when the nurse gave her a shot.  She’s gaining fast on Myla – 32 1/2 inches tall and 26 pounds 12 ounces.  Her doctor thought she was perfect, healthy and happy – and yes, impressive.

Myla had a check-in with her eye doctor and I’m proud to say that after almost five years, we have finally been released!  Her eyes were 20/20 and she has no signs of cross-eyes or lazy eyes, which is seen a lot in preemies.  They thought that her eyes were beautiful blues – but of course!

We've been very blessed with these two girls.  And had so much fun in the process.  They certainly keep us on our toes!

Floppy hats and pretty shirts

Our little girls are such… girls sometimes.  They love to walk around and wear necklaces, or dress up as Cowgirl Myla and Sheriff Kinsley.  We’ve had many pretend picnics and parties and balls, and worn many necklaces, medals and scarves.  And sometimes, there’s just something in the store that you have to try on, or a box of clothes will arrive in the mail that you have to see how it looks.

It always amazes me how two little awesome beings could come from two tiny little cells.  They are happy and smart and funny – you should see the things that Myla comes up with when she’s playing or watch Kinsley walk around the house chattering away.  They are so sweet when it comes to giving hugs goodnight or recently, Myla will randomly say “Love ya’ mom.”  Its been great fun watching them grow and change each day.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about family and making memories.  My friend Kate just found out that her mom is terminally ill and each day I’m thankful for my family.  For my mom and dad.  For these two sweet smiles that greet me in the morning.  For each and every moment that we get to spend laughing and talking and being together. 

Wow – I didn’t mean to make this such a mushy post.  Sorry mom, should have put a disclaimer at the top huh?

Dancing and Singing

For the last five weeks, Myla has been going to a fairy-tale dance camp.  Its been pretty neat, they read a princess story and then the teacher attempts to teach a bunch of 4-5 year old girls some ballet to the songs that go with the stories.  Myla has really had a good time and spends a lot of the week asking when dance class is again.  There’s only one more though, so we need to be looking long and hard at a new class to send her to.  I’m sure it won’t be the same because Miss Jessica won’t be her teacher, but once she gets into it, she’ll like it just as much.  School starts up again soon as well, so between school, gymnastics and a dance class, this girl should be smart and graceful – a good combo I think.

Kinsley has discovered a love of singing and will walk around the house singing at the top of her lungs.  Especially if she is holding or close to a guitar.  Or if Myla has been singing a song in the car, Kinsley will join right in and just keep on going.  Its pretty cute to hear her go.  When she isn’t singing, she’s been picking up a lot of words – shoe, bubble, ball, balloon.  And she lights up when her big sister comes around or has been off somewhere and comes back.  She’s growing super fast (it seems) and I’m anxious to see what the doctor says for her 18 month check up.

Mini Vacation

Yesterday, we kidnapped Johnny away from his job (he worked 70 hours last week, he deserved it!) and went up the hill a little bit to Heritage Square.  It was a break from the constant question on if he has to go in or not and from the projects yet to get done around here.  And truth be told, it was a lot of fun.

Myla got to ride a few rides that she was barely tall enough for and a few others with her man of the hour.  She thought that it was all just for her.  Kinsley didn’t get to ride on as many things, but she had a lot of fun watching Myla and the other kids run around.  She did get to spend some time with her big sister in the jumpy castle, which, can I just say, was just about the cutest thing.

We spent some time before coming home eating ice cream and deciding what was the best part about the day.  Was it the rides?  The train?  The ice cream?  Johnny and I think it was just being together and happy, but Myla thought it was the swings. 

Both of the girls fell asleep on the way home and so we knew that there was no way they were going to bed at the “normal” bed time.  Instead, they wrapped up the day running in circles with their daddy’s shirts on their heads, laughing.  And right then, I changed my mind as to the best part of the day.

Kinsley, Meet Chair

Today, Kinsley tried to climb up a high stool at my parents house and it, in turn, decided to fall on her.  I know you can’t see it really well in this picture, but she has a nice goose egg right in the middle of her little forehead and a bruise on her nose.  She didn’t let it bother her though, she seems to not even notice, except when you want to wash her face, or take of her shirt.  Really though, she’s pretty happy.  (Reminds me of the time when Myla ran into a swing and got a shiner.)  Kinsley seems to be growing each day she wakes up and has finally gotten the fourth tooth in the front bottom to poke through.  She has gotten them in such a strange order, but still eats like its going out of style.  Teeth, schmeeth.  She is learning so much every day and is a very good mommy to her babies.  If you ask her where they are, she’ll go and find one and hug it or hold it.  Its very sweet.

Last week, the girls and I went on a tour of Hammonds Candy Factory here in Denver.  The wait to get in for a tour was long, the tour itself was short, but the candy!  Myla would have had one of everything if she could.  We finally settled on a pretty big cherry sucker that she’s still working on.  Then they gave us a “sample” on the way out – a full size wintergreen candy cane that she was so excited to give to her daddy.  Myla’s been doing a ballet class that she is really enjoying and this week is going to another mini-school learning about things under the sea.  I love to hear her imagination going – lately its about “somebody is in trouble” and she has to go save her.  Its kind of cute to see her in her princess crown and flying off to save someone.  Who says that princesses can’t be superheros?

Last week, we got a visit from some cousins that had Myla so excited she couldn’t stand it.  Kinsley held her own while they were playing, but Myla got to have a sleepover in the basement with them and thought that was pretty cool.  She was bummed when they had to leave, and she still asks when she can sleep with her cousins again.  I think she loves them…

Our Miss Independences

Happy Fourth of July!  Here we are, smack dab in the middle of summer and haven’t melted yet, even though we’ve been through some really hot days.  Johnny has been trying to get the swamp cooler going for the upstairs bedrooms mostly but to no avail.  I suppose since we’re already half way there, we’ll just keep truckin’ along without it!  We’ve been busy enough that even though it makes it hard for the girls to fall asleep, once they do, they fall hard.

Myla has been busy riding her bike with my dad and swimming as much as she can convince us to.  Today, she decorated her bike for the parade before a day at the pool.  She also spent a week at a little day camp learning about fairy tale magic.  In the mean time, she’s been practicing writing her letters – especially her name, its everywhere! – and her cutting skills.  She tells us every night that she wants to do something exciting, although we aren’t sure what she thinks is exciting.  I’m pretty safe with guessing concerts in the park, or the pool, but after that I’m stuck.  Next week she starts a little dance camp that I hope she will like.  She seems to be getting taller too, but when I measured her last night, she came up to the mark made in May.  Maybe I’m just going crazy.

Kinsley has been practicing her stair climbing and is very interested in what’s cooking for dinner.  She loves to be up and watching us stir or cook, even though it makes us really nervous for her to be up there.  We don’t bother much with putting the ottomans in front of the stairs anymore except to slow her down from climbing over them.  She also loves to play hide-and-seek with Myla and will bend down to look under tables or couches and will even do a version of counting with her hands over her eyes while she’s walking.  She’s a real good eater and has developed a liking for blueberries – something she got from her dad.

Johnny has almost got the sprinkler system in and in a short while, we should have some grass in our dirt backyard.  It will be nice as we transition into the late days of summer to be back on the deck while the girls run crazy on the grass.  Its fun to see them play and the backyard is slowly transitioning into a good place for it.