Kara is 3!

Three Years!  Honestly, we thought we had a three year old on our hands about 9 months ago.  Kara has always seemed a bit mature (other than her lack of coordination in which we still cringe every time she starts running because she. will. fall.), and we have to keep reminding ourselves that she is a toddler, not a teenager.  

Her third birthday was much more fun than her second.  Last year we were in the middle of a move, and she kept getting yucky stomach bugs.  This year, she had a gymnastics party with all of her little friends and we made a point of taking her on a special date.

For the date, we all dressed up and went to Downtown Fort Worth.  Kara wore her beautiful gold gown, and she had fun picking out our outfits as well.  I should have stood firm when she chose my extra pointy silver blister-makers, but I had forgotten the torture of those shoes, and my toes are still healing.  Otherwise, it was a fun time for all of us, and I think Kara felt special and loved. 

Lunch at Mi Cocina.

Loving chocolate yogurt with mochi (that's fancy for little sweet bites of Japanese glutinous rice deliciousness).

Strolling through downtown Fort Worth with Daddy.

Riding the escalators at Barnes and Noble after thumbing through wedding magazines.

This is her 3 year old letter:

Dear Kara,

You are 3 years old!  This has been a big year for you.  We have been amazed and challenged as you have grown in independence, knowledge, and truth.  Your confidence and kindness stand out as strong indicators of your character, and we feel these will be great qualities for God to use now and as you get older.  You are beginning to understand the value of trust and you desire to know God.  Your memory is incredible, and we are proud to see you using it to learn God's word.

This year you have most struggled with finding the balance between independence and submission.  We have talked many times about obedience and respect and how it is important to remember that your ways are not better than God's ways.  This is a struggle that every person must deal with, and we will continue to help you in love and discipline.

You are an encouragement to those around you. You care for those who are hurt, and you try to help when people are upset or sad.  We love your compassion.  A verse that reflects that is Proverbs 12:25 -- an anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.  This is a way that you serve others and shine a light for God.

We love you, and we are proud of who you are becoming.

Love, Daddy & Mommy

Snow Day!!!

Yes!  It snowed here (a couple weeks ago)!  And it stuck (for half a day)!  Now the temperatures are worthy of short sleeves and sandals, but I can't not post about a snow day.  It's just kind of cool and out of the norm.

Kara and the dogs waiting to go outside.

Aimee's first snow.  Chilly baby bunny.

Kara listening to the "crunch, crunch, crunch" of snow underfoot.

And now the story of how an exciting snow day turns into two girls crying....

First off, we weren't prepared for this.  There was a rush of trying to get the girls fed and dressed in clothes worthy of snow.  Well, dressing Aimee was easy enough because she lives in warm jammies, but Kara seems to think that heavy clothing is nothing but a nuisance.  She says it hurts.

So by the time all that is done and we're ready to go out, Aimee is due for a nap.  But she was good  and happy until I tried to lay her down to make a snow angel.  Big mistake.  Big.  Huge.  So, so mad.  She started wailing like I had hurt her.  Hence, no pictures.  I decided to go inside and put her down for a nap, and I told Kara she could continue to play outside in the snow.  Both girls were good with this arrangement. 

Just as I had finished changing Aimee and I was laying her in the crib, Kara comes wailing and screaming into the house. "It hurts!  It hurts!  It's so cold!".  I was pretty surprised when she came into the room wearing nothing but her thermal shirt and panties.  These are the moments where I am learning to suppress the urge to ask her what were you thinking?!  Indeed, being half naked in the snow does hurt.  It hurts worse than heavy, warm, cozy winter clothing.  Oh, sweet girl.  

Hopefully, this was a lesson learned...especially since she was responsible for going back outside to collect her clothes out of the melting snow.  We are going to Idaho Falls later this week, and she will probably lose a body part if she decides to disrobe up there.    

Videos of Kara's Dance Performance

Kara really enjoyed her dance class this past semester.  She did a combination of tumbling, ballet, and tap.  Between the classes and watching a little too much Angelina Ballerina, she has actually learned quite a bit.  I certainly was not using words like plie and arabesque when I was 2 years old.  Doubtful I could even pronounce them.

Her class did a sweet little Christmas-themed performance for the parents this past week.  We got to see some of the things they have been learning, and they showed us the costumes for the big spring recital.  The costumes are bright purple, sparkly, and have a full, puffy tutu.  Needless to say, someone is very excited about that.

I feel like it looked something like this, but I don't really remember.

Either way, Kara is going to think she looks like this:

Here are the videos of her ballet and tap performances: 

Forget it. I just don't care anymore!

I try so hard sometimes...

Somehow I got it into my head to teach Kara a little social responsibility.  Something little, like cleaning the litter at our neighborhood park.  For some reason people love to drop food wrappers on the ground instead of into the several trash cans placed all over the park.  It is really sad to me, and I figured we could do something about it.  

So, Kara, Aimee and I got our little plastic bags and headed out.  Kara wasn't as into picking up trash as I had hoped. She wanted to pick up the dog poop instead.  Which probably would have been fine, but we didn't have that many bags.  Seriously, neighbors...there are also doggie poo bag stations all over the place.  So disrespectful.

Anyways, we got to the park, picked up some trash, played on the playground, ate a snack, and started heading home.  On the way, I stopped to pick up another piece of trash next to a park bench.  While I was picking it up Kara ran to the other side of the bench and quickly ran back screaming.  She had ants crawling all over her.  So of course, I dropped the bag, disrobed her in the middle of the park, and started swiping the ants off of her.  She was still screaming, not because of the ants, but because she dropped her pumpkin bread that we were eating for a snack.  "My bread!  My bread!"  In a way, I was a little relieved that she wasn't focused on the bites all over her legs, back, and arms..it was really good pumpkin bread.  

Finally, convinced that there weren't anymore ants on her, I turned to get her clothes and shake them out.  My heart sank.  The wind had carried our open plastic bags of trash into the middle of the duck pond.  All of the trash was just floating on top of the water.  I was done.  Lost cause.  We made it worse.  Let's go home.

So, Kara is fine, but remember let no good deed go unpunished.  Hope we didn't end up killing any ducks, turtles, or fish.  We may wait a while to try that one again.  

By the way, here's a recipe link for the pumpkin bread.  It's actually pumpkin beer bread.  I bought some pumpkin ale on a whim, but no one here drinks beer, so we had to find another way to use it.  Good choice!  Oh yeah, and it's vegan for those who care.

Pumpkin Beer Bread

Aimee has something to say

Aimee is a little talker when given the chance (meaning Kara is at school or taking a nap).   When Kara was a baby she was more of a noise-maker; squeaks, squeals, and grunts being her specialty. Aimee seems more into forming sounds using her lips and tongue. Here is a video of us having our afternoon coffee talk while Kara naps. 

Kara's first day of school

Kara has started school!  Our little social butterfly is attending two days a week of preschool/MDO.  I have long romanticized the idea of homeschooling our kiddos, but we thought this would be a good season to try out a more traditional school approach.  Kara has been patiently waiting to attend school since the first time she saw a yellow school bus (15 months old).  Watching for the bus in the afternoons and seeing the big kids walking home was a highlight of her day.  Oh the big kids.  She really wants to be a big kid.

Well, with her outgoing personality, her love of all things new, and her super desire to make friends, we're trying it.  And obviously it will be awesome to have some one-on-one time with Aimee during the day.

So far, so good.  Lee got a bit sentimental on Kara's first day of school, but it just seemed like another day for our girl.  Kara went straight to her classroom without any hesitation or even a "good-bye" for mom.  I had to quickly say it to her back as she shut the classroom door on me.  I appreciate her confidence, but I'll try to get a hug from her in the parking lot next time because there's no point in stopping her once she's in the building.

When I picked her up from school, I tried the whole "how was your day" interrogation.  Oddly, she had very little to say.  Very unlike Kara.  We can do a 3 hour car drive with her talking the whole way.  We never have a silent dinner.  So, I'm not sure what that is about, but we'll see over the next few weeks.  I was a little confused and concerned, but the next day was the same.  Excitement, straight to class, door slammed in face...so she seems to like it.  Maybe it's just not something for Mommy.  This is Kara time?

On her way to the building.  She picked out everything from her outfit, to her hair style, to what went into her backpack.

Cheesy first day of school smile!

So long.

After her first day of school.  A big girl now.

So begins letting her go...

  

I love baby smiles!!!

We're starting to get a few small smiles from Aimee.  The reflex sleepy smiles are sweet, but there's something special about a real smile...the ones you have worked for.  And it's even more exciting when I'm ready with the camera!