Thankful

Our thanksgiving celebration almost didn't happen due to a random stomach bug poor Anni picked up a couple of nights beforehand. Luckily, no one else picked it up and she recovered much quicker than she usually does from these kinds of things. We drove through a flurry of snow to my in-laws and spent a day filled with lots of stories, a nap for me, and a whole tableful of amazing food. It was lovely and happy, annnnnd now I'm ready to welcome this little one. 

Pumpkin Patch 2015

Remember how I mentioned we like our traditions over here? Well last year, we somehow missed this one. I'm not sure why, because we're far busier and life is far crazier this year. Maybe missing last year reminded us how much we like our little traditions. Either way, this year, we came, we saw, we pumpkin patched.

The girls got a big kick out of finding "sister pumpkins" just like them. They also searched long and hard for their own perfect pumpkins.

Cider Days III

 

We are all about tradtion here at the Volk house. Or maybe I am and I force these things on everyone else? Well, either way, we are all about tradition here. And traditions of the Autumnal variety? Some of the best kinds. It's my absolute favorite season, so I'm all about dragging my rather good-sized baby belly off to festivals, patches, and as many crisp evening walks as possible.

This was our third year trekking off to Cider Days in our town, and it was an extra special one with three out of four grandparents there and the departure of several family members on the horizon.

 

This was Anni's third year getting to ride a donkey, but Colette's first. True to her sturdy little nature (despite her tiny stature), she hunkered down and held on tight. I know she looks scared, but she really wasn't, she was just set on hanging-on (she was safe, there's a "seat belt" wrapped around her).

There was the ever-popular petting zoo where a goat tried to trim my hair a few inches with his teeth. The girls have a "pat whatever's closest and run!" method that is both adorable and hilarious. 

Despite living 8+ hours away, my mom always fits right into our family when she comes to visit. She reads to the littles, helps potty train, cooks (my deep freezer is almost full, it's amazing!), and is generally a petite whirlwind of love and efficiency. In fact, Colette called her "grandma mama" or often just "mom" the whole trip. It was pretty confusing, but, don't worry, Colette then just called me "my other mama" most of the time, so that clears that up.

Colette's favorite part of our outing? This awesome train. I really should have taken her back later for a second time around.

After some significant Cider drinking, we settled in to watch a cowboy/lasso tricks show during lunchtime. It was significantly better than the magician (think super cheesy, not quite good enough for a birthday party magician). Anni was pretty concerned for the first three quarters of the show, because he had said he was going to include the kids, and she didn't understand why she wasn't on stage being included yet.

After several failed hand-waving-in-the-air volunteering attempts, Daddy got her down there for the "roping of all the kids". Sweet success.

Happy Fall! Next up on our docket? Well, the pumpkin patch of course!

Happy Constitution Day! (Yesterday)

One of the really fun things about our Nugget going to a classical school, is that they work really hard on things like memorizing the Pledge of Allegiance, and celebrating Constitution Day. I love it!

The First Day

It's the first day in lots of ways. Anni's first day away at kindergarten. Daniel's and my first day sending one of our babes off to school. Colette's first morning all alone with Mommy.

This morning I woke Anni, and she crawled into bed with me to wake up the rest of the way. I had the sudden realization that we may not have left as much time as we needed for everything we wanted to fit in that morning to get her off on her way, but part of me desperately wanted to keep her sleepy self all curled up right next to me.

After rousing ourselves, she munched on her breakfast, but was so excited that she was "full" just a few bites in... a big deal for my little girl with the big appetite. By the time we got on the road, she was brushed, braided, and uniformed as sweetly as can be.

Of course, then the 10 minute drive turned into a 30 minute drive when we got stuck behind a four-car accident, and my brain just kept repeating, "Not on her FIRST day of school... are we really going to be those parents?!" I was in the car with the girls, so outwardly I stayed calm so Anni wouldn't realize things weren't going according to plan. I don't need to pass on any more anxiety to her... let her stick with excitement for her very first day! Of course, all was fine, because everything that I freak out usually does turn out fine (life lesson here, all!) There were plenty of parents still herding their littles (and not so littles!) into the front door when we got there.

They let the kindergarten parents walk their little ones in for their first day; and because we were a little late, our urgency and Anni's pure excitement kept my tears at bay. When you walk through the classroom door, there's an itty bitty hallway before it opens up, and as we snuck Anni in, a mama stood there, hidden from the class, with tears dripping down her face. After settling Anni in, as we watched our girl's little braids swinging at her desk for a few moments, the other mama whispered, "Is this your first?" I nodded, feeling the tears start to prick, and she smiled a little and said, "This is my last. It's hard no matter what."

As we walked out of the classroom,  I let a few tears trickle out, and then remembered we were meeting in the office with other kindergarten parents, and tried to pull myself together. (I'm pretty sure I still looked like I'd been crying, as another mom's first question when I walked in was, "Are you doing okay?")  

It's amazing all the emotions this first day brings. I'm so excited for her and so proud of the sweet, smart, and caring little girl we've raised. I'm also a worrier, so I worry that she won't be happy, or it won't be the right place for her, or or or...

Happy first day, my Antonia, there's so many beautiful, hard, and amazing things ahead of you. I can't wait to see where else you're going to go in this sweet life of yours!