Just Dance

Makenna’s been taking dance class since September and usually they’re practicing behind closed doors but every quarter, they let the parents in to watch them practice.  It’s usually around a holiday and so this was their Christmas dance to us.

"Firsts"

Well, being that this is her first year of school, we have had a lot of “firsts.”  I was completely unaware, unprepared and amazed at all that I’ve had to deal with already as none of these were on my radar to happen this early.

The first one happened on Nov. 21^st, 2011 – Being kissed by a boy on the bus.  As soon as she got off the bus she informed me,

M:  “Cody kissed me!” 

Me:  “WHAT?” 

M:  “Cody Kissed me!” 

Me:  “Why?” Came my reply shortly followed by “How old is Cody?” 

She told me that Cody was 5, maybe 6 (me thanking God it wasn’t one of the older kids,) and she then made this statement which I absolutely loved…”Doesn’t he know that now I’m going to get virus and that I’m allergic to kisses?”

Me:  (stifling a laugh and a smirk as she was so serious,) “I guess he doesn’t…but let’s keep that thought for another 15 years!”

The next “first” was on Nov. 29^th, 2011 – Our first time learning that light bulbs that have been on are very hot.  She was trying to turn off a light that was part of our headboard and it doesn’t have a normal light-switch so she thought she just had to turn it to go off.  I believe we learned our lesson on this one.  Usually it only takes one time for this lesson to sink in.  A long with this lesson came a lot of tears, (screaming, let me not forget the screaming) and a whole lot of dramatic hysterics.  I can’t even put into words the hysterics (that show how much of a drama queen I have on hand).  Not to minimize her pain, as I’m sure she was in pain, but we had to call daddy right away and he brought home some things to fix her up; like burn ointment and gauze pads.  We then wrapped up her hand and she liked her “cast.”  She was more than proud to show it off and we had to convince her that some time without it on was needed as the days wore on.

This one isn’t a first but more of a follow-up to the kissing incident…On Dec. 2^nd, 2011, Makenna woke up and had gotten sick.  The poor thing hadn’t gotten sick in such a long time that she didn’t know what to do so I found her sitting on the toilet holding puke in her hands.  Close but not quite was my thought, and it was hard not to laugh even though I had a mess to clean ahead of me.

But her first comment, “See Mom…I told you I’d get sick from the kiss.”  Yes, Makenna, you’ve proven that kissing a boy can make you ill…congratulations at learning such a lesson this early in your life…again, can we keep this lesson in our mind for the next 15 years or until you’re out of college?  You are planning on a 4 year residency somwhere too right?  That counts as part of college.

After a few hours she was her usual self so I took her grocery shopping with me (as Friday’s are my get things done day and a sick kid wasn’t going to stop me).  I decided to buy a toy for the dogs which Makenna then confiscated saying that they would just ruin it and she proceeded to keep it and slept with it to ensure I wouldn’t sneak it away from her and give it to the dogs.  I tried to convince her, to no avail that it was a treat for the dogs, but she literally was crying at the thought of me giving them this squeaky, green, elongated Santa-looking dog to rip to shreds.  So I let her have it until she didn’t care anymore…about February is when the dogs finally got it.

On Dec. 10^th, 2011 she had her first invite to a birthday party for a kid from her class.  She loved it and showed me that I might have a cheerleader on my hands.  She was literally next to the kids after they bowled cheering them on, shaking her hands like they had pom-poms in them.

Since then she’s been invited to another party for another classmate and I have many more firsts to write about but this post is long enough!

Pre-Christmas happenings

Well, I fell off the blog-a-sphere again but will still work on trying to catch up and hopefully by the time Makenna graduates from high-school (or college) I'll have found the time to keep you all up-to-date.  I think that gives me enough time....or maybe not.

You can see by these pictures (back on Nov. 18th, 2011) that she loves to help cook.  Especially if the reward is chocolate batter:

But she does offer to help to cook meals, on occasion.  In fact, on December 6th, she made her own toast.  Got the bread out, put it in the toaster and pulled the lever.  Not rocket science but the fact that she was willing to do it was a step towards major independence.  You can say that I feel more confident sending her out in the world now that I know she can make her own toast.

Then it came time for the dreaded (dreaded to her and now to us,) Christmas picture.  She was not willing for us to take a picture until we felt we got the "right one" for the yearly card.  We tried to include the dogs too but they were more non-compliant than our child...imagine that.

Lucky for us, Santa decided to make an appearance at Wegman's on Dec. 10th, and we got our picture:

Funny how that jolly guy can make everyone smile!

Halloween

Since the floods happened not too long ago (back in early September,) a lot of places that we would've taken the kids to in order to trick-or-treat in Conklin had been flooded.  So we decided to go around Chris's parents neighborhood and invited some of our cousins (Katie, Natalie, and Hannah)

Unfortunately, some of the houses had some scary decorations that moved and made noises.  That didn't go over too well with the kids

Picture of Hannah with Uncle Chris

After this neighborhood, we stopped at Chris's church for a Trunk-or-Treat but it was pretty much exhausted in way of candy and treats so then we did go out to Conklin and hit a few houses of those that were around.  Nothing like we did a couple of years ago but all together, there was enough candy to go around

Party Number 3 - Jumping Jungle

On Saturday, October 28th, we had the third and final party for Makenna's birthday at Jumping Jungle in Vestal.  It was mostly for little kids and that's why we had the "adult family party" the night before.

This was the best birthday idea I had and Makenna loved it.  Take out the "look for others in the dark" part (even though they were wearing glow-stick bracelets,) and it was a hit.

We ended up having two cakes as my Sister-in-law Autumn was afraid her cake didn't turn out so Chris and I scrambled and picked up a cake and he decorated it with the Hello Kitty picture (pretty good for free hand I thought!)

But my Sister-In-Law's cake was fine and looked great!  (it just didn't turn out how she had envisioned)

We got to the place early to set up and Makenna took advantage of the various inflated bounce houses:

Cousin Abbie really enjoyed the slide

Aunt Autumn enjoyed the massage chair a little too much!

Thanks to all that came and helped Makenna enjoy her birthday party!

Party Number Two

On October 28th, we had the second party for Makenna's fifth birthday.  Granted the first one, on her actual birthday was not "grand"  by any means but she still received gifts, and now here was her second round of gifts.  This time with grandparents and with an aunt, and uncle, and a cousin.

Hello Kitty Pajama's:

 Ice Cream Cake (with cousin Stephanie):

 Playing catch with Aunt Jennifer (mind you, the balls were NOT one of her gifts) - figures!

 I wish I had taken more pictures of other family that were there, but I guess I didn't.  She enjoyed her gifts and those that were able to come over.  On to party Number 3 tomorrow!

FIVE!

My little girl, has turned five!  I can hardly believe it.  It truly does fly by and I can't believe I'm writing this (even though it's three months after the fact).  She has grown in so many ways.  Just the other day I was looking at a picture that was taken shortly after she had turned four and I can't believe how much more mature she looks in one year!

We out did ourselves in the way of celebrating.  Considering her birthday was on a Thursday and she still had school the next day, we didn't have the parties (yes parties,) until Friday and Saturday.  But we did let her open some of her gifts on her actual birthday and had a celebratory cupcake.  It was the same cupcakes I took to her class for her birthday earlier in the day.

A bit frightened by Dad lighting the candles on her cupcake

Dora Ballerina Movie (Makenna is still wearing her dance outfit from class earlier that night)

Hello Kitty hat for winter:

Just in time as it decided to snow that night!

In looking back over the 5 short years you've been on this planet, I can't believe how much you've grown in height, looks, and personality.  I thank God every night for sending such a sweet spirit to me.  To show me face to face all my quirks and flaws as you reflect to me what I show to you.  This has only made me try and be a better person so that you will then reflect to other's what a great girl you are.

I so look forward to many more years of watching you grow, learn, and love.  You make me laugh with all your "butt-shaking" and you amaze me with the things you come up with, your amazing memory, and how you understand and grasp things so quickly. 

Even though I get impatient with all your questions sometimes, I love that you're trying to learn and understand everything around you.  I love Sundays most of all with you as you cuddle up on my lap during church and I'm trying to hold on and remember your embrace.  I know as you grow older those tender moments will be less and less as you grow and become more independent.  I hope you always know, that you can run back into my arms for any reason and I'll always have two arms open to hold you.

Happy Birthday my little one!