my little baking slave

look who won 2nd place in a community bake off.  

   

2:25

it's the time kinsley hops off the bus.   she hugs a couple older girls goodbye, pleads to play with ethan, invites neeshe and yohana over, then remembers her mom and sisters are standing there patiently waiting for some attention.  

our routine is to delay play dates until we can catch up, have snack and read her daily cuddle book.   kinsley reveals things she brought home one by one out of her backpack.  i ask as many questions as i can until she begs for mercy.  

my girl is growing up and it's hard not knowing the full picture.  i feel like i am putting together a puzzle of her day.  here are some of the pieces:

1.  saying i am proud of her is an understatement.  learning to read and write is amazing...especially if it is your own kid.  i love her terms:  she says she stretches the words out like a rubber band.   she is proud...we are proud...it is a win-win.   

2.  ben takes her to school every morning.  one day i had to bring her and did not expect it would take the vice principal, computer teacher and guidance counselor to peel her off me, screaming.  that was a rough start to say the least.  i was a nervous wreck to take her the next day but ben was out of town.  enter the best idea ever (credit to ben):  she took a picture of him and carried it to help her be brave.  it totally worked and he remains zipped in her backpack for emotional emergencies.   

3.  she has been talking about the school store for weeks.  one would not believe the amount of joy in that child when we let her bring some allowance to pick something out.  she couldn't sleep the night before she was so excited.   $1.50 later: a squishy bear keychain. 

4.  after talking about friends in her class she told me that joey takes medicine that makes his hair fall out.   my heart sunk to the floor as i asked her to tell me more about him and learned my fear was true.  absolutely heartbreaking.   joey is in my thoughts so often.  i don't know him or his story but he has impacted my heart.  the journey with him may be one of the most important lessons kinsley, and i, may learn all year.  

for the baby

caroline elizabeth,
you, my sweet one year old, bring so much laughter to this home.  i tell you all day long how funny you are.  your noises, silly faces, mischievousness and character bring every single one of your family members smiles every single day.  we are so thankful for you.

your sisters love to push you in their baby stroller.  they whip you around the corners and you seem to thrive on adrenaline rushes.  

you have an enormous smile.  this picture doesn't do justice to how big it can get.

you chose not to flash your big smile on this trolly ride.   longest trolly ride ever.  

your favorite toy: connect four.  putting the pieces down the slot is your hobby.  i swear i have seen you try to make patterns.

it's just hallie and you when kinsley is at school.

one of my favorite recent pictures.  i love the hands and little teeth.  

you can find a number of body parts when i ask.  i am partial to your tongue and belly button.

this is it.  the face you make ALL THE TIME.  when you are mad, happy or just deep in thought.  you scrunch up your lips so your nostrils are covered.  it is a gift not many can do.  (readers....try it...can you block your nostrils with your lips?)  

you ALWAYS want to be near or on me.  i give it a couple weeks before you can shimmy up my leg.

i love my little walker.

this is another thing unique to my girl.  when you are upset or frustrated you get in this position.  that means you are in this position lots.  

 you prefer to be off the ground.  you are pretty proficient at climbing on top of things that you should not be on top of.  

 sometimes, just sometimes you get new outfits that are not hand-me-downs.

you are a beautiful thing, miss caroline.  thanks for making this year one of my favorites.  

 

quotables

"mommy, i really hope my boyfriend, curly jack, is at school today."