Charlee Bookidis Had a Farm

E I E I O.

Charlee helped Nana harvest Kale for vegetable soup.

"I do it MYSELF!"

Yummy kale

She carried it from the garden to the house

Christmas 2012 in 3D

The red and green PJs made their second appearance this year. Seeing the kids lined up in them is like a 3D movie for your eyes.

We spent Christmas at Opa & Nana's with Tom, Tracy, Owen, and Cora. The kids were excited for Santa and his reindeer to visit.

Twas the night before Christmas and all were in PJs



Kate wrote notes for Santa and his reindeer.

"Dear Santa, Wen do you leave your house. How meny presents do you deliver. Kate, Claire, Owen, Cora, Charlee"

Santa wrote back. Kate was thrilled that he answered her questions.

 

Santa gave the girls and Owen Legos. Chad and Tom had as much fun assembling as the kids.

 

Santa brought Claire a horse barn. It was a big hit.

Chad made fabulous wrapping paper!

How many girls does it take to put a star on the tree?

3 to be exact.

 

 

 

The morning after we decorated the tree, Claire came in our room early.

 

    "Momma, come with me in the living room to see what Santa brought us."

 

    "Uhhhh, Claire-y, Santa didn't come last night. It will be a long time before he comes."

 

    [Puzzled pause] "Momma, come with me to look out the window and see if it snowed."

 

I think we've read Olivia Helps with Christmas a few too many times. Olivia and her family put up their tree on Christmas Eve and awake to presents and lots of snow the next morning.

 

It's going to be a LONG December!

Tree Farm

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we drove to Washington, Missouri to cut down our own tree. The farm reminded us of OUR farm.

We met the owner, a 60-ish, kind, nice-looking, previously-weekends-only, gimme-cap-wearing farmer who also harvests pecans from his land. I know. You're thinking, "I know someone who resembles that man!"

After a short tractor ride into the fields...

We began our hunt.

 

Found it!

 

 

And conquered it with a few easy saw strokes.

Finished the outing with hot apple cider. Yummy!

I don't wear diapers anymore!

Whoop! Whoop!

Family Pics

Our babysitter, Ellen, has a photography business. She took our photos the first weekend in November when Opa and Nana were here. Nana directed the one of the girls marching in a line, trying to recreate the famous mud marching photo of my sisters and me.

Happiness Is

I had a teeny tiny health scare recently. While I was sitting in the waiting room contemplating the end of life (yes, a bit dramatic), I wrote the following.

30 minutes after I wrote it, I learned I was completely fine. Might as well save it for posterity!


Happiness is...

The Charlee wake up. "Ma. Maaaa!" And then being greeted by her mouthy smile.

Being the small spoon to Chad's big spoon.

 

A perfect cup of black coffee, Kaldi's Highlander Grogg, and making one for Chad his way with soy milk and agave sweetener. 

 

Finishing an early morning run with Julie and walking into a quiet, sleepy house. 

 

Kicking ass at work. Solving someone's problem. Understanding something new. Explaining a complex thing simply. Teaching, helping, and listening to coworkers. 

Laughing out loud. 

 

Watching Kate read or run after the soccer ball. 

 

Hearing Claire express her feelings. "I'm frustrated." "I love you [more] than Legos."

 

Reading a book that moves me. 

 

Planning and making a new recipe that I'd make again. 

 

Hanging out with the gang of my extended family. 

 

My parents marveling at my kids. 

A little nervous and a little excited

Today was Kate's first day of kindergarten. We've never been worried about the transition from preschool to kindergarten for Kate. I spent more time worrying about what to pack for lunch than I did about how she would feel about starting in a new place.

Kate prepared by meeting her teacher, visiting her school, braiding her hair, painting her fingernails, and helping pack her lunch.

Claire's had a rougher time with the change than Kate. She doesn't like that Kate doesn't go to school with her anymore.

Here's the rundown of how kindergarten morning went.

Kate: One of the first things she said this morning was "I'm a little nervous and little bit excited." She couldn't wait to get out the door.

Claire: pissed that she didn't get a new dress and a new school. She said "I'm fussy. Do you know what that means? It means when someone is frustrated because the big sister gets the special stuff, and the little sister doesn't." Getting ready was rough, but drop-off was fine. Possibly related to parental guilt: Claire and I went shopping after school today and bought HER a new dress.

Charlee: could have cared less. Just wanted "brefuss" and "brush my own hair!" 

Chad and I took Kate, took about 50 pics, tried not to cry, and then went to breakfast with our friends and neighbors, JB and Julie. 

Our neighbor, Patrick, and Kate are in the same class

Julie surprised us by stopping by K's class and offering to take a family pic

We picked Kate up together. Here's a synopsis of our conversation.

Us: How was your day?

K: Great!!

Us: What did you like most?

K: Seeing my friends Nick and Charlie.

Us: What did you like least?

K: P.E. It was boring.

Us: What was hard? What was easy?

K: Nothing. It was juuuussssst right.

Us: Do you like kindergarten?

K: I want to do kindergarten FOREVER.

Love that kid!!!

Charlee Belle: 24 Months

Charlee turned two on May 12. Her stats:

• Weight: 25.8 lbs (38%)
• Height: 33-1/4 in (35%)
• Head Circumference: 19-1/8 in (81%)
• Eyes: Still blue
• Hair: red, growing, and a little bit curly

Since we don't have an infant around, I spend more time with Charlee than I did with her sisters at this age. And it's a great age. She's happy most of the time, communicates effectively, and loves to tell us she loves us. "I yuff you, Momma." "I yuff you, Daddy."

She still likes to be rocked at bedtime, and she asks us to sing the names of her friends at daycare to the tune of Twinkle. She also requests "Ho Ho" which is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Her bedtime is around 7, and she usually sleeps until 6:30. Her afternoon nap lasts 1.5-3 hours.

She's more verbal than we expected her to be. We were out of town last weekend, and when we returned she said "I missed you, Momma." Some of her other favorite sentences are:

• I do it. (often followed by, "Help!). She tries to do most everything herself.
• I did it.
• Thank you.
• I don't like that.
• Go!
• Stop!
• I py somekin (I spy something--one of our favorite car games)

Charlee's top 10 list (based on the frequency and urgency that she mentions these things):

1. Yogurt
2. Popsicles
3. iPad (she's a whiz with the puzzle games)
4. Kate and Claire
5. Momma and Daddy
6. Blanky
7. Swing
8. Dora
9. Hopper (her friend at daycare)
10. Beebo (her belly button). We bought her a 2-piece swimsuit because she wanted to show her belly button like her sisters. If you're making a joke right now about her teenage years, he he ho ho ha ha ha!

And her resume includes the following accomplishments:

• Dresses and undresses herself
• Puts on her shoes
• Opens her yogurt
• Eats with a fork and spoon
• Drinks out of a cup
• Tells us how her food tastes: sweet, sour, or spicy
• Climbs up the ladder on our playset
• Runs and giddyups (aka gallops like a horse)
• Sings several songs including Twinkle Twinkle
• Uses the little potty occaisonally
• Holds her own with her sisters. I often hear from them, "Charlee won't let me..."
• Greets strangers with "Hiiiiiii," a tilt of her head, and a dazzling smile.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy mother's day to Grandma and Nana!

Strawberry Eating

We went to Eckert Farms in Illinois today to pick strawberries. The girls ate more strawberries than they picked. Chad and I did all the work. We left with 10 pounds of berries, juicy chins, and red fingers.