Another Milestone

Today was a big day! I was at work, my girls with my mom, my phone rings and here's how it goes:

Me: Hello!

Kaylee: Hi Mom!

Me: Hey, Kaylee! How are ya?

Kaylee: I lost my tooth?

Me: You what?

Kaylee: I lost my first tooth!!

Me: Shut-up! (Very loudly, while at work, then thought maybe not the most appropriate response to my 5 year-old, but in my defense I was shocked!)

So we talked a bit more, although poor Kaylee has had a cold so she doesn't have much of a voice. In some parts of the conversation I couldn't tell if she was crying or just horse.

My mom got on the phone and said Kaylee had been watching TV and came in and said her tooth fell out. It's her bottom left.

I couldn't believe it! I didn't even know it was loose. At our last dentist appointment, almost 6 mos ago (I know this because our next one is in 1 week 1/2), the dentist said her teeth were a little loose but it would be awhile. I guess I didn't really know what "awhile" meant:) I suppose I anticipated she would lose them soon, as she got her first 2 teeth by the time she was 4 months.

Tonight while at Kick's selling tickets for Towanda PTO, my mom and Tim brought the girls up for dinner and she showed me her new smile. The photo on here isn't that great, it was pretty up close and it's sort of hard to see it missing. I will be sure to get more photos, but wanted to get one on the big day that it was lost. She was so excited!!!

So the Tooth Fairy will be visiting shortly:)

It's so hard to believe that we are ready for Tooth Fairy visits. Weren't we just struggling with teething? I suppose not. Another great milestone reached on this awesome journey! Congrats Kaylee McKenna!!!

WOW!

The other day I was wathing Oprah. I don't usually tune in but I happened to be flipping and stopped on her show. Since it's her last season she's been doing some interesting shows. I didn't watch the whole show, probably not even 1/2, but what I did see struck me. She was talking to families who have spouses, sons/daughters, etc in the Military. Some have lost loved ones and some have spent much time as a single-parent as their spouse was serving us overseas.

I have always had a deep respect for the Military. I feel like all of our freedoms are owed to them, past and present. When I was a senior in high school I talked to an Army recruiter and was heavily considering joining (Did I surprise you?). It's true. Brad was planning to go to the Navy at Annapolis, we were going to go our seperate ways and I had serious anxiety about college and my ability to succeed there and didn't want to potentially waste my parents money. This would have been a way to not only serve my Country and feel as though I was making a difference, but also a way to earn my own way through school. Don't get me wrong joining the Army gave me serious anxiety too:). Alas it was not meant to be, because of the severity of my asthma, the recruiter, after discussing my medical history, said I most likely wouldn't pass their physical and therefore wouldn't get in. So I just went straight to college.

Brad ended up not going to the Navy because he has such bad eyesight. Even after the Baseball Coach and a Naval Officer tried to appeal they still said "No". So he ended up going to IWU and playing ball. The rest they say is history.:)

I think things turned out the way they were suppose to because had only one of us gone down our original path then we wouldn't be the "us" we are today. Which means no Kaylee or Ainsley. That's a very powerful thought! I can't imagine my life any different than it is now. Someone more powerful than us knew better and the plan laid out for us was to be an "us".

It seems to be easier to see "the plan" when it is something that has been a positive. We don't tend to question those, we just give thanks. When things happen that I don't understand those are the times I question and analyze. I want to know the deeper meaning and see the bigger picture. But I suppose it's not for me to question and know right now. Those are the times I need to have Faith and to Trust.

Times like when the Supreme Court upholds a groups rights to protest at Military funerals. Regardless of your thoughts on war the reality is we are fighting one. So the least we can do is support those that are fighting for us and protecting us, rather than use the memorial services of fallen soldgiers as your platform to spew your hateful messages. The very soldgiers who are protecting your rights.

I have the priveledge of working with someone who has served many tours, most recently from 08-09. He's a Captain in the Army and has sacrificed a great deal for this Country. He is one of the most honorable people I know and Brad and I are so fortunate to call him our friend! He is also given me a great perspective on war and what serving your country really means.

When we see soldgiers out in their uniform we easily identify them and can take that opportunity to thank them. Their families, not so easily identifiable. The ones who support their choice, carry on with life the best way they can here and have to really rely on Faith and Trust. There sacrifice is huge! Processing it all really makes one thing "WOW"!

List Crazy!

Are you a list maker? I am, I make lists of lists I have. I carry around at least one notebook in my purse. Why? For lists. That and it also has all of Kaylee and Ainsley well-doctor visit height, weight and the respective percentages. Yes, I copy them every time I get a new notebook. Why? I don't know. I like having it handy for reference. Why? Again, I don't know. But I digress.

Lists! Yes, lists. I have several lists in my head currently that I continue to get my notebook out to transfer from brain to paper, but have yet to really do. Some, not all. Yes, they have to be specific to what I need and if they aren't well I start over. What lists am I currently working on?


-Ainsley's Friend Party; invite list; to do list
-Girls joint Family Birthday Party; invite list (although this is immediate Family I still make a list:) and to do list.
-Kaylee's Friend Party; invite list; to do lisy
-Girls Birthday wish lists. This involves 4 lists: What we are getting them, ideas for Brad's mom, my mom, and my Dad and Sallie. I try to give everyone a seperate list of ideas to avoid duplicates. Of course I also keep copies:)
-List of things around the house I would like to have done by the girls birthdays.
-Of course my general house list I keep for stuff that is on the "To do" list for the house in general that is forever evolving. What does that mean? A new list.
-Kaylee has decided for her birthday, from us, she wants her room redone (oh yes, this will have it's own post and emotional one for me, stay tuned:) and I need to track what needs to get done.

Do you think this makes me OCD? Maybe a little ADHD? I don't know. I just like to be organized. At work I keep things on my Outlook Calendar but also write them on my desk calendar. And just between you and me my desk calendar has things written on it with the dates highlighted in different colors. Yellow=work, so if it's worked related it's highlighted yellow, i.e. every other Friday for Payday. Pink=Girls, easy pick on the color:) So if the date involves them it's green, and so on.

Yes, I'm a list maker, to this I confess. I know they say the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, but for me it's a wife of life. Without them...well then I'd have a problem:)

St. Patrick's Day Miracle

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This morning, while I was at work, I received a video text from Brad. Apparently last night, while all the house was sleeping, sneaky little Leprachauns snuck into Kaylee and Ainsley's room and left some treats.

The girls were super excited for St. Patrick's Day. I painted their, and my, nails green. They set their clothes out on their dressers with their new St. Patrick's Day shirts right on top and made sure I had my green shirt (my Cub one of course) set out as well.

The house was quiet last night and no one heard a peep. I suppose you wouldn't with Leprechauns, they are awfully small. When the girls were getting dressed this morning they found some shamrock confetti sprinkled on their dressers with some gold chocolate coins, a green pack of Trident gum and a small paint book.

While watching my video text of Kaylee and Ainsley explaining to their Dad about what had happened in their rooms the night before. In the process it was deemed by Kaylee a miracle.

So there you have it, a St. Patrick's Day miracle! Miracle's do happen...if you just believe:)

Thoughtful Thursday

So here are random thoughts that go into my mind throughout a day....

1. Do my actions speak louder than words?

2. Am I intentional in my actions?

3. Are the perceptions of my actions and/or words really what I mean by my actions and/or words?

4. Am I to protective of my kids?

5. Do I allow my kids enough room to "grow"?

6. Do I do the best to treat them equal in every way I can?

7. Is telling them I love you, I'm proud of you and giving specific examples on a daily basis enough to make them secure in that and believe that.

8. This is an example of an argument that goes on in my mind: I should take more time for myself. When would I do that? What would I do? (think of something)I could just do that with the girls. I like being with my girls. Why don't I find something for us to all do together instead of apart?

9. Can someone have too much pride?

10. Are the people that appear to have it the most together the one's falling apart the quickest on the inside?

I really think I could keep going with thoughts I have. These are pretty consistent thoughts. Sometimes my thoughts change with the seasons, i.e. currently I have daily thoughts about the girls upcoming birthdays and their parties. Maybe this is why I'm so tired at the end of the day but can never sleep:) What thoughts keep you occupied during your day?

Cookies have arrived!

If I haven't gotten them to you or contacted you to make arrangements I will be soon!