She did it!!!

Abbie has one hour and fifteen minutes left of the school year! It went so fast. I'm sorry I didn't write more during the year to be able to remember it later. She LOVES school. When she realized that she would have to stop for the summer she was so bummed. She is looking forward to sleeping late for a couple weeks though.

She's learned to read, which is AMAZING. She's been "reading" to her animals forever, but now she can read them the words on the page rather than the ones in her head.

She learned to write, and boy does she wright. The notes we get are sweet, funny and heartbreaking. She'll write a grocery list for me, but then when she's mad or bored I get a note asking why I'm doing that to her. She CRACKS me up. Each note has better punctuation and spelling so I guess it's all good. I remember the week they started working on the question mark & exclamation mark, the notes were full of them.

She's learned a little math and a LOT about money. Now when she does things she asks if she can get paid for it and how much. It's interesting to see what she thinks is worth a dime or quarter. She is very motivated by the dollar store. I am glad she's so easily pleased, but I know the day will come when a dollar is nothing to her.

She also learned how to deal with mean kids. I hate that it's necessary. There was a boy in her class who had some issues and I don't think he could help the mean, but there were girls in her class who could absolutely help the mean and they just didn't feel like it. they are 5 years old, really is that necessary. But then we are at school events and I see & hear their parents and it makes sense to me why the kids are mean. I really hope no one ever sees me or over hears a conversation I am having and says well no wonder her kid is so bad!

This summer she's spending some time with all of us and going to day camp. She'll get a break from all the work as she put it :) And then comes first grade in the fall.

I SAID FIRST GRADE PEOPLE. For real, when did she get this old? When did I get this old? How does time move so fast and so slow all at the same time? She's worried about new people and working hard, I'm worried about her growing up. I look at her sitting on the couch next to me wiggling a loose tooth and I see her growing up into a person not my little girl and for sure not my baby. But she's doing it, we are making it through and it's been such a wonderful ride so far.

KDG program (14 photos), by melissa vessell

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growing up

once in a while something happens and it hits me how big Abbie's getting. Tonight she helped her dad sweep the sidewalk & driveway after he mowed the grass but she didn't use her little push broom, she used a big broom. Then at dinner she set the table, scooped her pasta and got just the right amount of cheese. Not to mention the fact that she is reading, spelling, writing, adding and who knows what else.

When did it happen. I just turned around and next thing I know she's a kid. I almost don't recognize her sitting across the dinner table from me. Yesterday morning she came out to the garage as I was leaving because I forgot to make her a smoothie too. When we moved here she couldn't even open that door!

Just over a week left in kindergarten. She has LOVED it, well after we got past the terror of the first couple weeks. She was so scared and nervous, but in the end she's had a wonderful time. She loves her teacher, and couldn't believe school would be over, she thought it would just go on and on and on. Then when she found out her teacher was moving and wouldn't even be at her school next year she was heart broken! Thankfully her teacher is super sweet and wonderful and said she would love a pen pal, which is great because Abbie would LOVE to have some mail in her mail box. She always looks like it's Christmas morning and Santa didn't show up when there's nothing in the mail for her. She's asked if she could write a letter now, but the year isn't over and her teacher hasn't left.

I'm so proud and so sad all at once. She is growing into a great little person. She is sassy, happy, funny, moody, smart and all the great things she's supposed to be.

I can't wait to see what's to come.

quick one :)

Sorry it's been a while since I updated, and this is just a drive by.

Abbie's parent teacher meeting was Friday. She is doing great. However Thursday night every time we would mention the meeting she would change the subject. Pretty sneaky stuff for a five year old. So finally I asked her if there was something she needed to tell us. She took a very deep breath and out came "itwasnaptimeandweweretalkingandshewastalkingtomeandsheaskedustostopandididn'tlistenandsheturnedmycardandi'msorryandididn'tmeanit" followed by a seriously pathetic face and almost tears. Apparently she was talking during nap time and got her card turned, that's like getting your name on the board. So first I told her she was going to be fine, but that I'm sure Ms. Dixon was disappointed that Abbie didn't listen. We had the whole listen to your teacher talk. But good grief you would think she'd been in a fight or something!

When we got to the meeting we told the teacher and she didn't even remember. It's rare for Abbie to get her card turned, but it's always for "chatting" wonder where she gets that. So I told the teacher I used to have to sit BEHIND my teachers desk in first grade.

Abbie also wrote a note for her teacher, she spelled all the words by herself, sealed it with a butterfly in one of her left over Halloween goody bags. What we didn't' realize until the teacher was opening it was that Abbie had "paid" her. There was a quarter in the note. Abbie was so proud it was cute.

anyway, that's it for now. More this weekend & pictures, promise.

look what I made

Sorry the pics aren't great, but I finished it. I told Kay I wouldn't give up and I didn't. Don't know if I can ever do it again, but I made this one :)

In other news we are looking for a dog. We've got it narrowed down to a breed we'd like to rescue and now just looking for the right one for us.
Now I'm going to bed!

birthday pictures

And a couple from Halloween

quick update

just a quick update. Work is great. Really it is. Abbie is wonderful. Yesterday at breakfast she came up with a list of words that rhymed with log, she came up with them, spelled them and wrote them all by herself! I was AMAZED. Just excited and amazed. We went letterboxing, I'll have to do a post on that later. Then the library. I got an easy reader for her, and she READ IT the first 4 pages on the way home READ IT BY HERSELF. She spelled the words and we helped her with the sounds but DANG IF SHE DIDN'T READ IT ALL ON HER OWN. I knew it would happen. I knew she would grow up, I knew it was coming, I just didn't really know it, does that make sense??

anyway, back to work longer post someday, sorry

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

this is not what Abbie's costume is going to look like, well unless I win, but GOODNESS isn't this beautiful!!!!

Queen of Hearts and Alice in Wonderland Costume Set GIVEAWAY!!!!

school, work, travel....

So Abbie started school last week. Monday she was anxious and didn't really want to go. She's not loving after care, but it was her second day. We can't already start skipping. So Tuesday when she got up she said she didn't feel good. I didn't think she looked good, but assumed it was just nerves so I got her moving and headed out. Rick took her to school and she lost her breakfast all over the parking lot apparently. The playground aide even thought it was nerves and if she was better after lunch to bring her back. So Rick headed home with her. It was the second day of my new job so I wasn't going home. He managed to get her to school and after care apparently didn't go well, but we made it through the day.
Noodles for dinner, it's Abbie's favorite place and Grandma sent her a gift card so she was buying. We get there, park in a REALLY close spot which is cool because it's on campus, order and get our noodles. After the second bite she screams and starts crying, she said her throat hurt, she couldn't swallow without crying. She wanted to leave noodles. SHE NEVER WANTS TO SKIP NOODLES so momma panicked a little. Of course dad is a couple states away on a trip, may as well be in Switzerland...oh wait that's where he was a week or so ago. Anyway we get home, relax on the couch and all is well in the world. She never did eat the noodles.

Today was MUCH MUCH better. I dropped her at a neighbors because Rick is gone and i have to be at work before school drop off. I think that helped a lot, at least it distracted her and her WONDERFUL teacher helped her with the transition to after care.

So today was better than yesterday and this momma is counting on the fact that tomorrow will be better than today...........








ps I think I'm going to really enjoy my new job.

First day stuff

Well Abbie started school today. Kindergarten. Sort of hard to believe. Seems like just yesterday I was sitting on my couch looking at the tiny baby she was wondering how I would ever be able to go back to work and leave her.

A friend asked me if I cried when I dropped her off, I did, but she didn't even look back and I'm so glad I was the one crying not her!

Here are some pictures. We'll add the details tonight when she gets home and tells me all about it. I start my new job Monday so it's perfect timing. Rick got back from Switzerland/Germany just in time and heads out again on Tuesday.

Here are a few pictures, here's the link for all the pictures I took. http://tinyurl.com/krdt2g

school & stuff

well she's registered and stocked. All we have to do is find the outfit. We looked at Gymboree, Gap and Childrens place and nothing really struck her fancy except for a pair of sparkly pink sneakers. I told her we couldn't buy any more shoes until we double checked to see what shoes at home wouldn't fit. We have 10 pairs of shoes in the yard sale box. TEN PAIRS OF SHOES. She has a bigger shoe problem than her mamma.

So anyway we are on the hunt for an outfit. Has to be longer than her finger tips for daddy, pink for Abbie and reasonably priced for mamma. We'll see. We have a couple weeks to go. Dad is leaving Monday for 2 weeks, TWO WEEK and then will be home for about 6 days and is gone again for some more days. Hopefully Abbie will be starting school and I will be starting a job in that time so keep your fingers crossed for the crazy in this house :)

sorry for the short post.

tiny toes

SHE'S GONE.........

ok, not forever, but until Friday. She left Sunday morning. Vacation Bible Camp at her grandparents. She was as excited as I was nervous and I'm guessing having as much fun as I am missing her. Today she's having a picnic in the park and staying at her aunts house. Friday there's a show, and we won't miss it.
It feels odd not having her here, but nice. It's strange hearing the alarm go off and realize I was sleeping not being kicked in the back by tiny toes. Reminds me that one day the toes won't be tiny and they won't be sneaking into bed with us every morning. We went to dinner and were sort of lost, we could go ANYWHERE without thinking about the kids menu and would Abbie eat any of the food or if the service would be fast enough to keep her from getting bored.
I know we've got a long way to go with Abbie, but it's interesting getting a glimpse of what life will be like when she's a "big kid" and doesn't need us to be with her all of the time all of the days. It is nice without her, but I'll be SO glad to have her back. Just like when she's a big kid, it will be nice to see her be growing up but I'm going to really miss the tiny toes in my back.

last day

Today is Abbie's last day at daycare. She's only been going two days a week since I got laid off, but today will be the last of even that. There are a whole list of reasons but for today it doesn't matter. I can't decide what the knot in the pit of my stomach is about. I don't know if it's because she's a "big girl" and so much closer to kindergarten than I'm ready for, if it's because I figure I'll be scrambling soon to find daycare because not having a spot will be the quickest way to get a decent job offer, or if it makes me that much more worried about the job situation or if there's just a not because I'm anxious and nervous about every choice I'm making lately. What ever it is there's a knot. She was excited. I don't think she's been loving the place lately, there have been a LOT of changes lately and a couple of her friends have left recently so that hasn't helped.

Anyway, it's the last day....

pictures and stuff

Loves her new flip flops

the outfit for the flip flops

here's the outfit we need to make flip flops for

Great Grandma Loeb & Abbie

Uncle Stan & Abbie checking out the fairy house

this is the fairy house, see the green, that's the roof

here's the hammock Abbie fell in love with, nice shot for a kid

this is the fairy school

another pretty picture Abbie took

Happy Abbie

Friends she made at Solstice in the hammock she loved

Abbie thought her lunch was beautiful, and found she loves brie

Abbie thought Grandpa's dinner was beautiful, it was really yummy too

she was pooped after a party

got feet

here are Abbie's new flip flops. I love them. We are going to make some pink/green/yellow ones to go with an outfit Grandma got her. These are to go with her 4th of July outfit, yea, I know obvious right ;) anyway. I love them.

we are spending the week in STL after spending the weekend in Ohio. I'm doing another blog post in a sec with pictures.

by the way, do you have feet or know a girl who has feet who would love these flip flops? what would you pay for them? I'm just curious?

tuesdaycakes

Not sure if the lovemyabbie people all read the cup cake blog, but just incase you are interested. Todays cupcake was great.
http://www.tuesdaycakes.blogspot.com

what Abbie did this morning

I got this game for Abbie
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B00000K3XI/sr=8-1/qid=1244152892/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=165793011&s=toys-and-games&qid=1244152892&sr=8-1

She loved it. I thought it would be something I'd have to help her with, but I got her started and backed off. She got through 21 of the cards without much help really and was disappointed when we had to put it away. I'm always amazed to watch her solve puzzles, she LOVES them and she's really good at them. Letters not always so much, but puzzles are like heaven for her. Sort of the opposite of me, so that's probably why I'm so impressed.

Anyway, looking for a good gift, this is perfect. Mighty Mind is what it's called and like I said she played until I made her stop. She also loves
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NNLNW8/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=3201567235&ref=pd_sl_45g5lvvb93_e

what I did this afternoon

One of my aunts gave me a box full of fabric, most of it Mary Engelbreit. I love Mary Engelbriet, I have since the 80's, worked for her in high school and some days I wish my house looked like one of her lovely, lovely drawings.

So anyway, I've got some blocks now what to do with them. I'm thinking they should have red material, but was also thinking the soft green from that chair in the last shot would be nice. It needs more blocks I know if I want it to be a full quilt. I have almost the same shade of yellow on the walls in the computer room, well on 2 of them anyway. It would be pretty as a wall hanging in there also, or slightly bigger draped on the futon, who knows. any suggestions? anyone?

thank you

A year ago today we were in Washington DC. Wonderful vacation, wonderful wedding, wonderful time. However the most memorable part of my trip was the visit to Arlington Cemetery. This is the most memorable image for me.

The crisp uniforms, the polished shoe, the spotless rifle, the closeness of the soldiers, the solid of the stone, the path walked over and over and over and over, it just all took my breath away, but more why they were there, who they were, what they were honoring, the whole thing.

To all those who have served, are serving or will serve, thank you.

sewing

Did your mom or grandma or anyone you love ever sew you something? A blanket, halloween costume, outfit, head band ANYTHING? Get a sewing machine, buy one, borrow one, steal one and sew something yourself. Figure it out, stick with it, take the time. You'll find as you are cutting and stitching and ripping seams and resewing and trimming threads just exactly how much they cared for you. You will know even more how much they cared if you wait until you have EXACTLY the amount of time left you need to finish the project and then subtract 10%. Oh, and make sure that just as you are starting to sew that you realize there was one thing you had to have that you completely forgot and the store is 20 min away and closes in 15 RUN!!!

I made Abbie a dress last night, not the first probably not the last, but ever time I sew her something I am reminded of all the care and love that went into every stitch of anything that was ever made for me.

Thanks mom.

Pictures to come...