All the celebrations

This month marks my eighth year of blogging! I didn't really think it would go on this long. I have had the typical thoughts about my kids getting older, and my needing to censor what I put here (fewer photos, still no names, etc.)... and wondering, naturally, if it's interesting to anyone but me. Maybe I should stop. I wonder if I'll ever come back and read it when I'm older? I like to read the archives now, after all. I wonder if we'll still all be rambling on when we're retired and have grandkids running around? And our kids and grandkids will think we're so quaint because the rest of the world will have moved on from blogging long ago.

[Related: Yesterday I racked my brain trying to remember KT's toddlerhood. Her birthday's tomorrow. More on that later. It was harder to remember than I feel it should have been. I was trying to think about what she looked like, and specifically what our routine was in the afternoons, when AJ was still at the daycare with her. Did I get her from her classroom first, and carry her into his classroom? Or the other way around? I think it was the other way around but... I'm just not certain. And I couldn't remember all of her teachers, or exactly which classroom she was in, when. It's not a big deal, but memory is a funny thing, isn't it? I suppose I'm glad for 8 years of blogging, and the categories of "whole lotta nothing" and "daily round." And for posterity: She was in the infant room with Ms. Jean and Ms. Loretta, then moved over to Ms. Kathy, and then I think it was our beloved first Miss Michelle for the next 2.5 years, she moved up with KT, all the way to Ms. Penny, who was an odd treat for age 3 (!), and now we have lovely Ms. Gail and Ms. Tiffany. There.]

And today is Valentine's Day, of course. Happy happy to you and yours. Me and mine had small celebratory goings-on this morning. I had bought Snoopy-themed Whitman's Samplers for the kids, and a card for each of them, and a card for my Darling Husband, and when I got to the kitchen table at 5:30 a.m. I found a Pandora gift bag and a card with my name on it, too. So sweet. I put the kids' breakfasts on festive "heart" paper plates and let them eat a Little Debbie Valentine's treat with their pancakes. I like our little modest acknowledgement of Valentine's Day. I realize someday it won't be mine to celebrate with the kids, so I like keeping it low-key. But I also like knowing that they'll remember these things, and pass a little of the Valentine's love to their spouses and kids someday, I hope.

Tomorrow is KT's 5th birthday. She has been (sshhhh, don't tell anyone or we'll jinx it) super good the last few days. We had one spectacular meltdown (she and I both) the other night when she refused to go to bed, and that made me resolve to give up yelling for Lent (the shame!) -- but otherwise she has been very interested in helping, very sweet with her brother, and very excited about being five. Part of the thing about yelling is that I think she's finally at the age where me saying, "I'm so disappointed in your choice, KT," will make her feel REALLY sad. I mean, hanged head and leaving the room and everything. Remorse! It's what's for dinner! But let's just hope the good behavior continues and none of that will need to be used on her, anyway. Ya-ya-ma and Papa J. are coming up to celebrate the weekend with us, and her party is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Oh, and I'm supposed to take donut holes to her classroom in the morning. (Future self, you can remember THAT classroom appearance because now it's documented!)

We got her a bike so she would stop riding AJ's and making him mad. Well, I grabbed her a Disney princesses bike-in-a-box which we subsequently deemed too small. So I'm exchanging it today on my lunch break.(It is SO handy to have an office located between a Target and a Toys R Us. Suburbia, man.) Maybe I'll find one that doesn't need assembling. Also got her a $2.99 kite for this spring, and a new pencil case for my little artiste, and a jewelry-making kit. I think she'll be happy with those things.

Good grief, this post isn't over yet! Because we're also celebrating our third Pinewood Derby on Saturday. I'm excited because my parents get to experience it. Not that it's fancy -- it's metal folding chairs in a school cafeteria! But there's community there, and heck, the racing is FUN to watch, no matter if you know anyone or not. During the same morning, over in the school library, KT has her Kindergarten testing. I know she'll be nervous but I also know she'll be fine. Gosh, I'm so happy she'll be in the right place next year, near to her brother every day, in our church home and chosen school family. I have been laughing at how I know the Kindergarten teachers are going to shape her into a proper young lady -- and probably put her "on yellow" a few times there in the beginning, too.

I should shut up and get to work. Life is pretty good, though, you know?