A New School Year is Under Way!

The school year creeps up on me every August and my kids don't haven't even started actual grade school yet but we do start a new routine at daycare that is considered a school year so a new year is under way - just like the big kids!

Caden and Maggie have transitioned to the 3/4's classroom and are enjoying their new teachers Ms. Lauren and Ms. Nicole.   They are continuing to work on their letters and numbers.  They are learning lower case now along with reviewing upper case letters.  They are tracing their names that has led to them being able to write them - well Maggie can anyways.  Art is a favorite for both and they could not have more different approaches to coloring, Caden colors heavy and fills the picture; Maggie is lighter, dainty and likes less choice of color but has an order to the lack of color.  Just tonight when I walked in Caden was doing "homework" - seriously they had to finish coloring a picture for school - I could not believe it!  Both kids are excited that their friends transitioned with them and they are enjoying their class.  I think they will learn a ton and I cannot wait to see what the year will bring.

Mallory and Cale have also transitioned to their new classroom as well and are in Toddler B - really TODDLERS YIKES!  They are enjoying their new teacher Ms. Courtney and love that Ms. Rachel moved over with them.   They love music time!  These two are even doing art - really they have done art and do great when they do not try to eat the crayons.  They have a schedule to follow of school day schedule, which amazes me and I wasn't sure how it would really work but tonight when I walked in to pick them up there were 7 toddlers (age 12-18 months) sitting completely still while Ms. Courtney read a story - I just could not believe it.  I can't get 4 kids to sit still much less 7 of that age.  I was impressed and now believe that they too are getting a lot out of their class.  They are loving their new friends, enjoying being with some older kids and really are doing great. 

I think what has hit me harder this year is not my own kids and their progression but the progression of Matt's cousins who were all so young when I started dating Matt - 11 years ago.  Kelsie is a SENIOR, Brady and Kasey are freshmen, Drew is in 8th grade, Mason in 7th - really these kids were so young when I first came around, heck Kasey was our flower girl, and now they are becoming grown teenagers!  Kasey made it very apparent that she was a freshman when she asked if that meant she is finally in the adult name drawing for the gag gift party, you have to be a freshman to get in, and as Matt said yes it hit me how old I am getting and how long I have had the privilege to be a part of this amazing family. 
They aren't the only ones - Connor, Spencer and Natalie are growing before my eyes and I just cannot believe it.  I mean I changed Spencer's diaper and remembering holding Connor at my first family function - the annual gag gift party.  It seems like just yesterday Natalie was starting kindergarten now, second grade already!  Really time is flying by for them all. 

To all of my family and friends who are teachers, you are doing an amazing job that not many could do - I wish you luck this year with your classes.  Please know that this parent I am extremely grateful for the job you do and hope you continue to do it because you love it!

To all of those kids who are growing too fast, including my own, I wish that you all continue to grow into amazing young adults and remember that you are very loved by your family, we are always here for you. 

My advice is to keep learning kiddos as I believe learning truly is just one amazing gift we have been given the chance to experience!

I love you all and cannot wait to see what the year holds. 

The Cale Man is walking!

On Thursday of last week Cale took his first step unassisted!  It started with two steps in the morning.  I handed him off to Miss Jes, he wanted down so she set him down and he took two steps to get to the shelf of toys.

He had a big day because they got to go to Busy City for the first time and there he took two more steps! Miss Courtney was so excited to tell me about his walking when I got there to pick him up. 

All in all it wasn’t much but 6 unassisted steps in the day have led to a few more each day. 

Both he and Mallory want to walk into school now (we have to start leaving 10 minutes earlier for me to make it to work on time) but who can take away the moments of them learning to walk and becoming even more independent little creatures? 

Cale is so proud of himself after he takes those steps.  The high fives have been flying.  He is still the world’s fastest crawler but he is sure learning to ropes of walking.

I have said it probably a million times in the last year, I cannot believe how fast my kids are growing! 

While I sit here tonight listening to them play with their cousin, I just smile, life is good, and my kids are happy and healthy and family is absolutely the best!

My Children Just Melt My Heart!

Over the past week or so I have seen my children grow more than I can ever remember seeing in a short time. 
I may not be able to explain exactly what I have seen coming out of them in words that may make sense to many but I am going to try my best because watching them this past week has just melted my heart for the amount of love and joy and pride they are bringing me is growing everyday!

Sibling bonding - over the last week or so the love my kids have for each other has become so apparent.  Mallory lights up when Caden is around and loves to give him kisses. 
Cale will laugh and play rough and tough with Caden. 
Maggie and Cale - well they will be my trouble makers together.  Just the other day the two of them were off with  the entire box of Cheerios, when I asked what they were doing, "having a snack".  Then on Saturday I ran upstairs for a total of about 4 minutes leaving Cale and Maggie in the living room - when I came back Cale was covered head to toe in Oreos!  Maggie's reply, "but he likes them!"  I just laughed and tossed him in the shower. 
Caden is a sweetheart, most of the time, to his siblings.  He loves to give the little ones kisses before he leaves them for the day and he is protective of Maggie.  On Sunday, he showed his care for Maggie by telling her to "be careful so you don't fall.  Hold my hand" as they took down the gate and went down the stairs at Memaw Jo's to get their ball that fell down there.  It was one of the sweetest moments I have seen between the two and I just couldn't stop the laughs or the tears. 
Caden and Maggie will sit on the couch together to read books - Maggie does the reading, Caden the listening - and even though they cannot read yet she tells amazing stories. 
Maggie wants Mallory to sleep with her and I caught them after bath laying in Maggie's bed together.
Mallory and Cale, well their interaction with each other right now is to fight most of the time but they will play together and are quick to follow one another around a room.   Just tonight they were giving each other kisses trough the railing by the stairs as we headed down to get ready for bead.

I knew the bond of twins was amazing, but I didn't know that the bond I am seeing my children build with each other would impact me as much as it does each and every day.  They care for each other, worry when one is not there, and just love to play together.  I know this will not always be the case but for now - it amazes me, helps me think we are doing something right in raising them and just melts my heart!
They are just growing what seems to be faster and faster each day. 
I have seen Mallory truly develop her personality over the last couple of days.  From flirting and dancing at the Reds game, to kisses for Caden, to standing on her own and taking many steps while holding your hands to finally starting to walk.  She was a silly mess on Sunday and just laughing at everything.  Mallory is a chatter box and will tell you exactly what she thinks.  She says go and "uh oh" is now used at the appropriate times.  Her open mouth kisses are just too sweet and plentiful!  To watch her go from my baby to a toddler is heart breaking but amazing.  I love learning new things through the eyes of my children and I love to watch them grow,  I am just not sure I am ready for her to walk and become this big girl.

Cale is an eating machine - he put away an entire quarter pound Hebrew National at he ballpark on last Friday - Brad Kuhn will be proud!  He is a little vacuum and will eat just about anything on the floor.  He is the still the world's fastest crawler.  He loves to laugh.  He hasn't felt very well lately but he is always good for a snuggle.  WE did lots of snuggling this last weekend.  He is starting to sing lots and LOVES to rock it out by dancing in his car seat to and from daycare, although he likes Lady Gaga and I am not too sure I like that music choice.  He isn't quite into walking as much but he does climb the stairs well and will sneak his way up if you don't have the gate down.  Once he gets there he is quite proud he made it all by himself. 

Caden is growing on his social skills and just last week played baseball with a few boys he didn't even know.  He can name every Reds player now and no stop wants to talk sports, I know that is breaking his daddy's heart.  Racing, baseball and hockey are the favorite sports as of now. 

Maggie, well she is Maggie.  She always keeps us guessing on what exactly she will want to wear each day.  It is usually a dress and winter boots but you never know with her.  She has a plan and she likes to stick to that plan no matter the weather or the match.  Maggie is getting ready to start dance again next week and cannot wait.  She is my big girl who is super tiny, Cale and Mallory are only a few pounds behind her.  Her imagination continues to amaze me and she takes in everything.  She is really exploring her feelings right now and does not like for you to be angry with her or to make her upset.

I love my kids, I love that they are growing and learning.  I cannot believe how much they amaze me everyday.  I absolutely love to watch their bond grow.
 

Siblings are the best and the fact that they are showing the signs of their bonds at an early age truly is a blessing. 

and she if off....

Well Mallory has done it - she is beginning to walk!  She took her first unassisted steps yesterday while at Memaw and Papaw Paduano's house.  While she can only take a few steps at a time it really started to click for her yesterday as she started to push herself to stand up first then take off and actually walk!

She has been walking while holding hands for the last 4 weeks or so, she has been standing on her own for about 2 weeks and she has been cruising the furniture for 2 months or more. This time she did it, took those steps and did it all by herself! 

She does have her first bruise from falling and hitting the table but she bounced back nicely and I am sure will be running by the end of the week.  Especially since she and Cale are transiting to their new classroom this week - they are now with the bigger kids! YIKES they are growing way to fast!

I don't think Cale will be far behind, he will walk holding just one hand but we will see because he tries to run - since he is so fast at crawling he wants to get to where he is going walking that fast too! 

I will try to get some video/photos posted but for now I wanted to just mark this milestone and say:

Way to go Mallory!  We are so proud of you!

You have taken your biggest step yet and now there is no stopping you!