Games, games and more games, and then a play

Dear Abigail,

Like I mentioned, we headed into Mimi's on Friday afternoon.  For a couple of hours, it wasn't going to happen.  We were heading in for Kateland's graduation, and that was it.  Well, her graduation is held outside, so if it rains, it happens in the gym.  Well, if it happens in the gym, she only gets 4 tickets.  And, well, I am not in the top 4, maybe top 10, but not top 4.  SO, when the weather suggested thunderstorms at 6:30 (about the time of graduation), I decided we would just not go after all.  I didn't want to drive all the way in just to sit at Mimi's house (she potentially would have been top 4!), so I just made an executive decision to not go.  Well, you didn't like that.  At all.  If anyone has any doubt that you love your Mimi more than anything else in this world, just show them this video.  They will be convinced (and also convinced that I am the meanest Mommy in the world).  

Yeah, you were not happy with me.  But, I just knew they were going to have that graduation in the gym.  Well, we waited around long enough and about 2:30 the school decided it would for sure have it outside, so...

Yep, that's right, I changed my mind.  And just like that, you changed your mood.  It's crazy how quickly you can switch it on and off. 

So off to Mimi's we went.  Like I said, Friday night was with Bebe while I went to the graduation, but Saturday was a whole other ball game.  Literally.  We started things off with John Michael's soccer game at 9:00 in the morning.  At that point, we were already hot and sweaty.  We came home and 'rested' for a bit then headed to Emily's softball game.  It was jamboree day or something.  All I know is there were horses, face painting, then 2 bouncy slides that were covered in mud.  Oh, and it was REALLY hot.  We got there a few minutes before the game was supposed to start so we ventured to the horses, which you loved!  

After the horses, we stood in line to get a clown to make a puppy out of a balloon and then decided to head to Emily's game.  Well... it was delayed.  So, we ate some hot dogs and ice cream, because that's what you do at a ball game, and patiently waited for the game to start...

Sadly (sort of), Mommy had to take Kate home after the first inning.  It was way too hot and way past her bed time and we had a big night ahead of us!  But, good news is you got to stay with Mimi.  That's code for 'go down that slide that Mommy didn't want you to go down!'  I can't imagine why I would be so mean (please note the white shorts...)

Yeah, I would have thrown them away.  BUT, in Mimi's defense, she got to work on them and by morning you never would have know they were once black.  While Mimi was working on the shorts, I was working on those feet, and the rest of your body.  You were NASTY and we had a date with Papa Rob.  As soon as I got you cleaned up (and then Kate awake!) we headed to Papa Rob's and then to Incredible Pizza.  Now, let me tell you a little bit about this place - Crazy.  That's what it is.  It's like Chucky Cheese meets Daves and Busters and Cici's pizza got thrown in there as well.  But, you loved it!  You jumped from one game to the next, having a blast the whole time!

Your favorite by far was the go carts.  You and Papa Rob got to ride together and guess what...

You came in first place!!! That's y'all holding up the #1 sign!!  You beat everyone and were so excited about it too!  The whole time you were riding you were just squealing at the top of your lungs!
After go carts, we played a few more games and then found the bowling alley.  This was a close second, but I have to be honest, you need to get a little better :)

After bowling, we found miniature golf, and, well, that kept your attention for about 3 seconds.  You were too busy climbing on everything.

After golf, we decided we'd pack things up and head on out.  Little did I know it was after 8:00!  I was shocked. It's like a casino in that place.  No clocks.  No windows.  Oxygen was pumping in there :)  We had fun though, but man alive we all were worn out.  We eventually found our way home and all crashed!
On Sunday we got back on the road fairly early because we had a play to get to.  We were going to see Alice in Wonderland at the Boiler Room here in Franklin, but here's the fun part - it was outside!  It was a fun little picnic family gig, where the play was all kiddos.  You had a blast chillin, eating some fruit and watching the play, front row!

And you loved meeting Alice herself!!!

And then there was the whole gang!  The Queen, twiddle dee, the Rabbit and Alice and wanted to take a picture with YOU, seriously!  You told them the Queen was your favorite character!

You also told Mommy you wanted to be in a play and I bet you would be awesome at it.  Mommy's going to look into it in the fall, because what's one more activity, right??!
During the play (and probably because he was so hot), Daddy suggested to you before checking with Mommy to stop by Sweet Cece's on the way home, so... we did!

We all enjoyed a nice cool treat after the afternoon in the sun.  It was cooling off a bit, so Daddy decided to grill us some burgers and we enjoyed dinner outside!  A lovely end to a fantastic weekend!  Love you!  Summer is here, heat and all!  I can't wait to have so much fun with you!

Zoos & Graduations & Some

Dear Abigail,

On Monday, we met Miss Kristin and Jacob and Anna at the zoo.  It was our first trip this year and what a beautiful day it turned out to be!  We got there a few minutes before Jacob and Anna so we hung out with the monkeys for a bit.  Man alive were they talkative this morning!!  

 And man alive if the two of you weren't just as climby as those monkeys!  Soon enough our friends joined us and off we went towards the petting zoo.  All 4 of you loved it and it gave Mommy and Miss Kristin time to chat it up!

 You saw these two goats and said "Look Mommy, they like to cuddle like we do!"  That made me chuckle!

It must have been "Let's do our rained out field trip day today" day because every school known to man was at the zoo!  It was a wee bit too crowded for our crew (or at least the mommas!) who can easily show up with no one at the zoo on some days, so we headed towards the farm animals where it's a little quieter.

 Silly faces!!!!

 We had a picnic for lunch and a little time on the playground and threw in a ride on the carousel and called it a day (or at least a morning!).

Miss Kristin is pretty skilled with riding and taking pictures, huh!

Tuesday was the infamous tooth day and Wednesday we went to story time at the toy store.  You were very excited, but I think that was due to Caroline getting to go with us, including riding in our car there!  For some reason, that really excites you!  

You two (and Katie bug) did really well at the store and didn't even ask to buy anything!  Caroline got to come home with us a play for a good bit before her mom came and picked her up, so that was fun, too!
We had a big day on Thursday - it was your last day of school!!!  (missing tooth and all!!!)

 Nine of the 13 kiddos from your class were graduating preschool and going to Kindergarden next year so your school had a graduation for those kids.  You ( and the 3 others) were the color guards for the ceremony.  You were SO proud carrying the American flag and leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance!

 

 After the Pledge, you sat down while all your friends sang songs and got their diplomas.  Afterwards we were sad to give hugs out to everyone, or at least Mommy was.  I don't think you knew what was going on!
Here's you and Gracie and Faith...

 And your teachers Miss Amy and Miss Denise...

 And Maylee and Asher - who you are determined to go to their house for a playdate!

 We did get to see everyone one last time at the park on Tuesday and Maylee had a surprise for you...

That's right!  She lost a tooth!!!  Granted she is five, but maybe you aren't growing at that much faster of a rate than the rest of the crew :)

On our way somewhere, we spotted a turkey and he just walked right in front of us!  You were as thrilled as if we saw Santa himself! Or, well, maybe Cinderella!

 Also, we were thrilled that the cows were literally at our fence the other morning.  You and Kate fed them leaves and grass and told them to come visit us more often!

 Your Aunt Carly also had a graduation (from high school) but you stayed with Miss Lauren. Good thing because we ended up standing up for the whole thing AND it was after 10 when we got home!  Look at this crew!  It's your Daddy and all your Clark Aunts and Uncles, in tacky t-shirts, nonetheless!  

 Even Mommy participated, at least for the picture.  Remind Aunt Amy of this when we wear these to her next costume party :)

That was Thursday night and on Friday we headed to Mimi's for Kateland's graduation.  Again, you stayed home, and again, good thing because, again, we stood up the ENTIRE time for this graduation, too!

This is where Mommy graduated from, but it was 17 years ago - WOW!  That's just crazy to me!  You really need to slow down or before I know it, you will be graduating!!  NOOOOO!
Okay, enough thinking about that - love you sweet girl!

Your First Loose Tooth

Dear Abigail,

So here's how the story goes...

You went to Mimi's house one weekend (when Mommy and Daddy dressed up for Aunt Amy's party).  I met Mimi half way on Monday and we were heading back home when you said from the back seat "Mommy, my tooth hurts."  I told you that I couldn't really look right now, but when we got home I would take a look.  Well, we got home and with the excitement of the weekend and all, we forgot about said tooth.  That is, until that evening when we were about to go to bed and you told me, again, that your tooth was hurting.  This time I looked and was SHOCKED to feel how loose it was.  I kind of panicked and called Mimi to check and see if you had mentioned it to her and more specifically, if you had fallen.  Four year olds are not supposed to have loose teeth!  

Mimi said that you did indeed complain about your tooth hurting, but she thought it was because you bit into an apple.  Mimi really freaked out, but at this point there is nothing really to do but wait until the morning.  So, we did.  And in the morning we called your dentist who suggested you come on in to check on that tooth, because he agreed, 4 year olds don't have loose teeth!  

So, after the Mother's Day Tea, we headed that way.  Now, the night before when I mentioned us calling the dentist, YOU freaked out.  You thought he was going to pull your tooth out and did not want to face that.  I assured you he wasn't but that didn't really convince you.  So after school I was a little skeptical about the visit and bribed you with Sweet CeCe's if you did good.  That seemed to do the trick because you walked in all confident and smiley!  

Dr. Yezerski wiggled it himself then took a picture of it, all to determine that YEP, indeed, you had a loose tooth!  And, it was not far from falling out.  AND, the one right next to it would be gone in about a month.  What in the world child?!  You are growing up way too fast!  

So, we left there with grins on our face because we were going to have a snaggletooth before long! Well, that, and because we were making a stop at Sweet CeCe's!  

Well, that was Tuesday, and you wiggled and played and showed off that loose tooth to everyone that passed by and sure enough, by Tuesday the following week, that tooth was just about to fall out!  Mommy was getting sick looking at it and Daddy wouldn't even come near it!  You thought that was way too funny.  We had to carry on with our day, though, so we ran a few errands and while at Target, sitting in the huge double shopping cart, you said "MOOOOOOMM!!!!! My tooth!" and I look over and you are holding your tooth!
Mommy was SOOO not prepared for that.  We quickly headed to the dressing room so we could gather our thoughts, get a tissue on the blood (yes, there was some blood) and calm down a little.  Ha, yeah right.  We were like a 3 ring circus in that dressing room.  You were so excited.  Kate didn't know what was going on, but was just as excited, and I was worried to death that I would loose that tooth!

We tried calling Mimi, but she couldn't pick up her phone.  Daddy had JUST got on a plane (for work) and wouldn't be able to talk for several hours, so we just shared the news with anyone we saw in Target!
Now that you had a tooth, the next step is to put it under your pillow, right?  NOPE!  The tooth fairy sent you a special email via Mommy's email address that said she was sending you a special tooth pillow.  One that you can hang on your door or bedside table, that way you don't have to sleep on a tooth at night!  She said that your tooth was SO quick at popping out that her special pillow was running a day or 2 behind.  You didn't seem to mind at all, plus Daddy wanted to be there when we got our first visit from the tooth fairy.  Finely the pillow came in and was it super special.  It even has a special pocket for your tooth!  You loved it and could not wait to hang it on the door, so, that night, you did just that!  And guess what?!  The next morning you ran to my bed, waking me up, saying the tooth fairy brought you THREE chocolate gold coins and a REAL gold coin!  You were sooo excited to have chocolate gold coins and even said "I'm going to give Mimi 2 of my coins."  You also lost the real gold coins within 3 minutes of holding it, but Daddy eventually found it (after some concerned tears) and we put it up.  You also got a pretty glittery dollar bill and a special teeny-tiny note from the TF herself, telling you your tooth was beautiful and she was happy to plant it in her garden!  She also had a new toothbrush and toothpaste (Tinkerbell, because they are fairy friends) waiting for you in your bathroom.
You were very pleased with the trade off and have been so happy to show everyone your missing tooth!  We are all still a little shocked that you are down one tooth, but I guess that's just life little girl!  You are just growing, growing, growing!! My little snaggletooth - cute as ever!!
Love you and your missing tooth grin!

Mother's Day 2013

Dear Abigail,

This Mother's Day was so special.  You had a Mother's Day Tea at your school on Tuesday and when we walked in, you and your whole class sang a beautiful song about loving Mommy!  We then had a yummy selection of muffins and casseroles and all kinds of other deliciousness.  After we ate, you gave me an awesome gift including an apron with your hand prints on it in the shape of a butterfly and a cookbook.  Each of your friends from school, including you, wrote your favorite thing to make with your Mommy and the way you make it.  Yours, shockingly, was chocolate cake, although I'm not sure we have ever made chocolate cake, but nonetheless, you were pretty spot on with how we'd cook it if we ever did :)

It was such a fun Mother's Day Tea!

Even Katie Bug had fun! 

Oh, and I also got a placemat with this written on it.  I love how I am 5 feet tall and 24 pounds.  It fairly close to the truth... 

On Sunday (actual Mother's Day) we decided to head to Radnor Lake for a little hike around the lake.  You LOVED it and kept saying we were on a scavenger hunt!  

If you can't tell, we had a blast.  We didn't make it all the way around.  It's a little more difficult with children, but it's a lot more fun.  It was a gorgeous day and we didn't want to go inside at all, so Daddy grilled fish out for us.  It was delicious and you even said you loved it.  After dinner, you said you had a surprise for me and guess what it was...

CHOCOLATE CAKE!!  No, we didn't bake it, but that's probably for the better.  You could not wait to get into and when you did, you did just that!

I think you approved :)  A sweet, sweet Mother's Day.  I love being your Mommy. You make each day special and unique and I am proud to call you all mine!  Love you Abs!!!