23/52

I am a little late posting these, because, well, life. But here they are…from last week when every day was triple digits and I thought I might melt like a popsicle. Speaking of popsicles, I ate a lot of them last week. 

Connor: Playing in the backyard. I helped him turn our slide into a waterside and it was pretty dang entertaining watching him go down it.

Isla: While I was cutting up watermelon (cold, cubed watermelon is about my favorite), she asked me to keep one piece big for her. Watching the watermelon juice run down her face just seemed so cliche of childhood, but also so fun.

Callum: He doesn't have any teeth yet, but I discovered that the toothbrush someone gave him will entertain him for long enough for me to get things done. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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Blueberry Picking

We went blueberry picking this past weekend and I am glad we did because we are so busy the next few weeks that I fear it may be the only time we were able to go. I just love blueberry picking (and any type of fruit picking for that matter) so much. It inspires to be be a better gardener...and that never really happens. But, back to blueberry picking. 

Everything was fine until Isla took about her first three steps and started complaining of getting dirt in her shoes. After dealing with that for five minutes, I offered to get her sandals out of the car. We changed her shoes and, of course, that did nothing to help the situation. And she couldn't sit on the ground because it was hot and blah, blah, blah. After so much complaining in such a small time period and her begging to be in the stroller, I finally obliged and put Callum in a carrier. Thankfully that quelched most of the drama. I say most because then, of course, Isla needed me to push the stroller from bush to bush, at her demand, so she too could pick blueberries. Next time I may just have her wear her rain boots and sweat it out! 

The place we go blueberry picking really is a destination, with plenty of other things to do. Isla happened upon a bunch of rolly pollies that kept her entertained for a while. And we managed to find a bush covered in butterflies. It was so cool. We got to see so many different ones. And Connor managed to touch one, which was hysterical because I don't know if I've ever seen him move so fast in his life. All in all, once we got past the first 10 minutes of drama, it was a pretty dang good time. 

And, just in case you are like me, here are some of our blueberry picking adventures from years past - 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012...and some strawberry picking in 2010 in Scotland. 

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Brotherly Love

I don't know if it is because Connor and Isla fought nonstop for their first three years together or because Connor has never really been into babies, but the brotherly relationship between Connor and Callum has been a pleasant surprise from the moment Callum was born. Connor loves him so much…maybe sometimes a little (or a lot) rough, but the love is still definitely there. I see it when Callum is crying in the car and I turn around at a red light to find Connor holding Callum's hand and stroking his cheek. I see it when Connor jumps on the floor and excitedly gets all up in Callum's face. I see it when Connor wants to see Callum as soon as he wakes every morning. I don't know how this relationship between the two of them will play out, but so far it is so precious that it constantly has me all mushy with emotion.

 A little side note, Connor did say that Callum can't share a room with him until he is three and able to properly play with legos…so there is that. But, the room sharing will come way before that, so yeah.

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Connor's Kindergarten Graduation

You guys, I am over here all "How is Connor done with kindergarten?! Didn't he just start yesterday?" Seriously, this year has flown by. It doesn't feel like a whole school year ago that I was dropping him off for his first day. I'm going to miss all the adorableness and innocence that came with kindergarten. It truly was a special, special year.

^^ Literally running to line up after getting his diploma from his teacher…which, it was a fake diploma (just a white piece of paper rolled up and tied with a string). Connor couldn't get over the fact that they would give him a fake diploma during the ceremony and his real one after it.

^^ Connor and his amazing teacher. Connor loves her oh so much and I definitely feel the same. Connor actually said about this picture in a sad, sad voice, "This is the last known photo of me and Mrs. Pippin." Oh, that kid. 

They did the kindergarten graduation ceremony on the last day of school, during school hours. It was outside on the front lawn. One of my favorite parts may have been when all the kids came marching out of their classroom to pomp and circumstance. The kids then sung a few songs before getting their (fake) diplomas. After the ceremony was a little reception. All the kids got yearbooks (the school gave them out for free). I tried getting Connor to get some of his classmates to sign it, but he refused…in fact said in a voice that I wish I could bottle it up because I hear it from him far too often, "Do I have to?"

And just like that, kindergarten is behind us. I am excited for first grade for Connor. But I will definitely miss the adorableness of kindergarten. The colorful rugs, the tables down the center of the room, parents coming in to help with "centers", the kids having their own playground, study buddies. It really was a good year.

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22/52

Connor: It was a big week for him. He had his end of year tball celebration and he graduated from kindergarten. And I look at pictures like this and am blown away by how grown up Connor is getting.

Isla: Oh this sparky girl. She keeps me on my toes. She is sassy, opinionated and loves wholeheartedly. 

Callum: Always has something in his mouth these days. And he has started to "talk" back in conversation to people. It's pretty cute. 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2016."

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Last Day of School

It has felt a bit like the end of the school year is like running a race. You can see the finish line, but have to put in so much effort to get there. The last week has been filled with tons of fun things, but also tons of things that require a lot of work, planning and executing. And, now I can breathe a little bit easier with it all behind me. 

I will share later some about Connor's graduation, but wanted to show the kids on the last day of school. And, since I went back and looked at them on the first day of school (my how they have grown and changed in such a short time period…why does it go so freaking fast?!), I thought you would like to see it too. So, here is them at the beginning of the year. 

^^ It's funny how Connor wanted to wear his school shirt on the first day of school. He also wanted to wear it on his last, but I wouldn't let him because they asked the kids to dress up for graduation.

And now, here they are on the last day of school...

^^ After saying he wanted to be a police officer for the past couple years, that has changed to a firefighter. And for some reason it sounds so grown up to me that he says firefighter instead of fireman. I guess my little man is growing up. Thankfully he still grabs for my hand and makes my heart beat a little faster every time he does.

^^ Given that the last thing Isla wanted to be was a snail, I was pleasantly surprised that she has changed to a hair styler. I wish I could bottle up how she says hair styler because it sounds so freaking cute. She made the decision to change her snail ambitions after career month at her preschool and a hair stylist came in and spoke to the class. 

It's been an incredibly good school year for both kids (and for me!). They lucked out with amazing teachers. I am sad to think about them being apart from some of their friends in new classes next year. But I guess that is the beast of school…things change every single stinking year. But, I'm not ready to focus on next year. I am currently excited for summer, lazy mornings, beach days, travel, the sun staying out late, blueberry picking and more.

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Callum Got Shoes

Somehow I made it this far in my parenting journey without ever having a baby get their feet measured. This past week, my mother in law and I took the kids to get new shoes. I wasn't planning on Callum getting any. After all, he doesn't walk and they are overpriced anyway. Then I sat there in the store, staring at the adorable pint sized sandals and I totally caved. So, I asked the shoe lady to measure Callum's feet…of course, at the same time I asked how one measures baby feet. I am pretty sure the lady thought I was crazy. But, I certainly can't be the only person on the planet that didn't know they use the exact same metal shoe measurer for everyone…please tell me I am not the only one! Someone? Anyone? Moving on.

They put Callum's tiny little foot up to the shoe measurer and determined that a size 2 should give him more than enough growing room to get him through the summer. Then I made the hard choice of what color…I went with navy. I figure it not only is a good boy color, but it's also a good neutral color. And, I must have been right because I have put them on his feet pretty much every day since.

I feel like I should mention that my other kids have had their feet measured many times, just not as babies. They were already walking when I had that done. So, I guess I thought for sure there must be a special little measuring device for babies. Obviously I was wrong.

Now I am questioning everything I thought I once knew in life. I mean, if I didn't know how they measured babies feet, what else am I missing out on?!

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