Kindergarten. We came, we saw, we are conquering (or in my case coping)

Well, we did it. We survived the start of kindergarten, we are six weeks in to be exact and moving right along like a well-oiled, sight-word seeing, number counting machine. We've learned how to maneuver morning drop-offs and after school pick-ups, prepare for the daily task of homework and, maybe the biggest, most eye-opening change, buy our own lunch at school.

And I say "we" survived, because not only was this a big change for my guy, but it was a MAJOR change for me. For every new step kindergarten introduced, I have been nervously standing by watching and waiting for the moment he will say he needs my help, because as we have both learned kindergarten is not just a new and exciting world of school and new friends but it is also the time of letting go.

At the start of the summer I ran into an acquaintance who has a little girl of her own in grade school, and she said one of the most profound things I have heard in regard to your child starting school. She said, "This is the only time we have with them." When you talk with fellow moms of toddlers and preschoolers, it seems that you're always sharing little tips or advice on how to tackle daily challenges, and on this particular day, her statement stuck with me because it is so true. I am so grateful and blessed to have been able to stay home with Braedan from the moment he was born, but those five years flashed at the speed of light. The days, weeks, and years are all a big blur of play dates, mommy and son days at the park, tantrums, sick days, hugs, kisses and I love yous.

So I took my acquaintance's insight to heart, because the clock was ticking on our time together. I made sure the summer before kindergarten was filled with as much fun and good times as we could handle, whether we were here at home or out and about.

And here is my kindergartner on his first day of school. 

A Walk to End Lupus Now

In the past I've talked about how lucky I am to have my sister, and just when I think she can't be more amazing she goes and outdoes herself again. With the five year anniversary of my mom's passing coming up this April, she has come up with a way to honor our mother's memory by becoming involved with the Lupus Foundation of America. In late March we will participate in San Antonio's Walk to End Lupus Now, a signature event of the Foundation which raises funds for education, support services, programs and research.

Now, as a mom myself I see the strength a mother holds to do the very best for her family day in and day out, and I marvel even more when I think about my mom. I marvel at how she not only maintained that motherly strength for my sister and me, but that she also did that on top of enduring her daily struggles with Lupus. I only wish we had known more about the Foundation and its outreach, because I know on some days my mother felt as though she was the only one battling her condition. It would have provided a little comfort to be connected with programs or others with the disease and hopefully the funds we raise can do more to educate those affected by it along with their families.

The walk is taking place on Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m at Brooks City Base and if you're in the San Antonio area and would like to join us, please come out and participate. It will not only be a good way to support the Foundation, but it will be a fun time to remember our mother. If she was here with us today I could just hear her say, "Oh Jenny and Jacquelyn, I'm going to need a wheelchair, tan locas if you think I can walk all of that." She would have loved to participate, but she knew her limitations. I know of course some of you are too far away to join us, but if you would like to help with a contribution you can make a donation in my mother's name. My sister set a goal to raise $1,000, and she is a little more than halfway there. She created a page on the Foundation's website, and you can go here to check it out, http://sanantoniolupuswalk.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1094227&lis=1&kntae1094227=543C54E3B434425EADD2A8B5DF1E042A&supId=398874706&emaillogid=7501804851



 

What does the cow say?

According to Kylie, not "Moo" but "Mmmm." And when you ask her what goes quack she replies with an energetic, "Duck," which makes me laugh, because her level of enthusiasm for that answer equals what yours or mine would be if we were answering a million dollar question. I guess that is one of the best parts about the stage she's in--the excitement and joy for all the new things no matter how big or small. Right now her biggest thrill is standing up and taking a few steps on her own. The most she has done is about five to eight steps, and those few steps have her smiling so big, giggling pretty hard and panting as if she just jogged five to eight yards instead of walked. Part of me is so ready for her to "step" into this first only because she is getting too heavy for me to carry, but I know the moment she begins walking I'll feel a tiny bit sad. Sad because it's just the beginning of her not being so dependent on mommy anymore.

As it is she is already so opinionated and she's only one. I know you think I might be exaggerating, but the hubby can confirm this as well, only he doesn't so much think of it as being opinionated but rather a tendency to be sassy. For example, at bedtime we read two to three short stories, but she has to give them the ok. Her acceptance and rejection system consists of leaning over the arm of the rocking chair while I hold up a book from the pile sitting nearby and she'll either: 1) sit back on my lap and hold Ele the Elephant (her sleeping pal) close to her to prepare for the story or 2) shake her head no and give it a slight swat away with her arm if it doesn't make the cut. She's just like her daddy in that way cut and dry, to the point and no hesitation with the decision-making. It almost makes me laugh when he calls this stuff sassy, because all I see is him. Like him, she knows what she likes and has no problem letting you know and how can you not give in to a sweet face like this.


Her first ponytail, even if it is a tiny one.

Big girl standing up



She can help with simple tasks and during bath time she loves to splash herself and wash her hair.



Looking for something while on our walk, but she needed two pairs of binoculars in case one didn't work.
 

To wear pants or no pants

Nothing annoys the hubby more than hearing the weather report as the top story in the national news, so this post will push him over the edge since that's the my main point of today's update. It's funny to see how soon he's forgotten the negative effects snow and ice can have when you're trying to travel. I guess you can chalk that up to another way we've become spoiled here. But while he listened to yet another riveting tale of last week's polar vortex, all I kept hearing in my mind was the countless protests Braedan would have at the thought of needing to wear pants, or even worse-- a jacket. When I hear the weather reports for Chicago at this time of year I'm thankful we no longer have to endure a winter that leaves lingering effects into April, and another reason I'm grateful is to not have to force him to bundle up in a big puffy jacket. It's bad enough when I have to break the news that he may have to wear pants or a light jacket, so thank goodness we no longer live in an area with winters that pack a bite. Instead we live in one that can't make up it's mind whether to stay cold or mild. I'll take the crazy seesaw action of a Texas winter, because even though we started off last week with morning temperatures at or near freezing, by the end of the week things were looking up giving Braedan and daddy the chance to break out their fishing gear for the first time this year... in pants, a light jacket and all.

Go with what you know

So Tuesday was a big day for me because not only did I update the blog, but I cooked dinner using a leftover frozen meal. Somewhere in between there I got the chance to do a little bit of cleaning and met some friends for lunch. I know you're asking, "Who is this person?" I almost threw in an early morning run, but I decided not to get too crazy. Out out of all those things, the two I'm most proud of are the dinner and my swept and mopped floor. I feel as though maintaining clean floors with kids is always a losing battle so when it happens I bask in my domestic glory for about an hour or two because that's about how long it will last until Braedan, Kylie, or even the hubby, come bounding through and track crumbs or dirt all over it again.

But enough about the floors, because I want to move onto one of the things I love, besides my children, and that is food. I mentioned my feat of using a previous meal to whip up something new, but I can't take all the credit for it. The leftover taco meat I had in the freezer and the addictive yet what did we ever do before it existed, Pintrest, gave me the idea. I know I've only posted a recipe one other time before, a Mexican dish, and sorry for not going outside the box but this one is a Mexican dish also. I made a beef and bean enchilada casserole and you can find the recipe here, http://www.recipegirl.com/2012/10/22/beef-and-bean-enchilada-casserole/.  What I love about this is that it gives you the great taste of an enchilada without all the work of making a real enchilada, and given how overwhelmed I sounded in my previous post you know I need a break anywhere I can get one. The other great thing is that Braeden likes it too (I omitted the green chilies and used a mild enchilada sauce so it's not too spicy). Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it but I did snap a picture of the rice I made to go with it. 

Anyhow, I thought this might be a good meal idea for some of you. Next time I post one I'll do my best to make sure it's something other than Mexican food. But hey, you can't blame a girl, and a Mexican one at that, for trying and going with what she knows.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder (I hope)

I'm sure when you hear from me about an update the idea of order and togetherness don't come to mind since it feels like what seems an eternity (at least to me) since my last post. I wish I could provide a reasonable excuse as to why I've been away for so long, but unfortunately I can't. I wasn't away accomplishing fabulous things. No, I've just been away trying to accomplish life with two kids.

After my sweet Kylie turned one in October I thought I was well on my way to looking like I had things together but soon after that...BAM. Daylight savings time ended and all manner of naps and schedules went out the window and there I was again feeling like I had no clue of what I was doing even though this isn't my first rodeo in the kids department. Keeping her on somewhat of a good schedule and ensuring Braedan is entertained and challenged is about all I could handle the last few months in addition to the day-to-day tasks a stay-at-home mom encounters. Oh, and I can't forget about trying to accomplish all that, plus keeping up with the hustle and bustle of the holidays which seemed to have started the day after Halloween as opposed to what should be an obligatory and respectful waiting period until after Thanksgiving.

And as I type this I feel so inadequate because I think of those moms with three kids, or more specifically, friends and family who work and have kids and I feel like such a wimp. I have to remind myself that I'm doing the best I can, but recently one of my best girlfriends from college, Betty, made me feel better about my motherly faults and she didn't even know it. On the website I share with her and my other college girlfriends we exchanged one of our daily threads, and I can't even recall what the whole thing was about. We might have discussed the need to get things done at home, but all I remember is one line she wrote, I don't know how you stay at home moms do it. Bless her heart, because I'm always thinking on the other end about how working moms do IT along with all the other stuff.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is I blame my absence from the blog for the last three months on my lack of good time management skills, sleep deprivation and, for the month of December, the retail world. But rest assured in the midst of my countless self-doubting moments these past few months, both Kylie and Braedan were having a great time. Kylie had a fun-filled birthday with family, presents and one of her newfound favorites--dessert. She really had not tried anything sweet prior to her birthday cake so you know that was a big hit.

By the time Halloween rolled around they both had a great time even though we were eaten alive by mosquitoes while trick-or-treating.

 

During November, we enjoyed visits to San Antonio and Houston where we caught up with family and friends, and in December the idea of Christmas and a visit from Santa Claus in both Corpus Christi and New Mexico helped Braedan to keep us on our toes when it came to planning the gift delivery. (Which by the way, I think Braedan now believes that Santa can make several stops and Christmas just isn't the one day but maybe a whole week long. That is a whole separate post I'll have to tackle some day.)



This year he wanted a tree of his own for his room.

And that was the end of our year in a nutshell. I'm going to try my best to stay on top of this whole stay-at-home mom gig along with everything else, including this blog.