Christmas with Kendra

So this is the first year ever... I haven't had Kendra for Christmas. Lame, unfair, all around awful. I have gone through all of the stages of grief- crying, anger, silence, over sleeping, and now I will spend Christmas morning blogging. I think this should be added to the stages!

Monday night Kendra had her pajamas Christmas party at ballet. She was wonderful! Tuesday night was Zoo Lights downtown. We made the mistake of renting the jeep wagon to pull Kendra and Aunt Abby (7) along. They were too big and it forced one of them to sit backwards on the ride. As Kendra says, "That side is STUPID!" We enjoyed going through the reptile exhibit and drinking hot chocolate.

This year we rearranged our Christmas traditions, nicely I think, to help all of us enjoy the Christmas season a bit more. So Wednesday night we were off to my parents for an early Christmas celebration. We ate dinner as Kendra told us many stories of kindergarten and broke into song and dance on a few occasions. Isaiah tells her she really is a Disney princess when she does this, which of course encourages the behavior. She was very excited to open presents and loved all of her new stuff! She spent the rest of the night zooming around on the scooter from Aunt Elaine and Uncle Ryan. Nana and Papa got her a Fancy Nancy doll that she loves and has carted around the house everywhere. Nancy now has a "spot" at our family dinner table. Ryan and Elaine got Nana a baby onsie that says, "I love my NANA". Kendra was not happy about that. She is super excited to get a cousin, but a little confused that the baby has it's own mommy and daddy but the same Nana and Papa as her!

Kendra is so special, Santa Claus came a night early so she could have Christmas at home also. Everyday since I have put gifts under the tree Kendra has woken us up shouting it's CHRISTMAS!!! So yesterday morning she couldn't wait to open presents. We were able to video tape it all with our new Camcorder (thanks mom and dad!)

Car convo's with Kendra

As Isaiah drove Kendra to school Monday she tells Isaiah that Michael Jackson died in a volcano. Isaiah explains that he died from taking bad medicine like poison. She asks what this poison is and explains it's like the stuff locked up under the sink because it can hurt you. She then asks if he went to heaven, and further inquires where people that don't go to heaven go. Isaiah explains there's a bad place with the devil and heaven. Kendra asks where cats go... then asks about babies, who in her opinion, are bad because they poop and cry a lot.

After school Nana picks Kendra up and then sends me this email:
"Nana, you know the cabinet that we're not supposed to touch? You know under the sink in the kitchen there's this stuff there called boisum (poison). That's how Michael Jackson died. He touched that stuff."

"Oh, and Nana, did you know there are two heavens? One's for good people and cats, and the other one is for bad guys. But not Michael Jackson cause he's a really good dancer."

Turkey Tango day!

After weeks of practicing, Kendra had her Thanksgiving program at school. She was absolutely adorable and we really enjoyed her "turkey tango" song and dance!

I'm a FLOWER GIRL!!!!

Following the proposal, I was ecstatic to tell Kendra who was at her dads house all weekend. Isaiah and I tell Kendra we are getting married! YEAH! Kendra looks at me and says, "ok". Then I tell Kendra- this means you get to be a flower girl!- same expression from Kendra, "ok". I tell her we get to go on a plane and stay in a hotel, she says "ok". Isaiah tells her it will be just like when Ariel marries Prince Eric, Kendra says, "I know".

So after a nap from the weekend Kendra woke with a lot more excitement about the engagement. I asked for help and she tells me, "I don't have to do that I am the flower girl!" She is also a little confused and keep telling everyone she's getting a baby brother or sister. I have explained multiple times, maybe when she is 7 or 8... not anytime soon!

She also tells me that she's excited about Vegas, it's just like our world here but different and more lights! She has been browsing through my bridal magazines looking for my dress and her dress- the poofier the better!

Kendra's dinner time prayer

Please bless our food and my mom, my Saiah, my nana and papa, Yankee, Uncle Ryan, Aunt Elaine and Micheal Jackson. Amen!"

Super powers

"Mama- I have super powers!"- Kendra

"How do you get super powers?"-Mom

"I eat LOTS of snow at recess!!!"- Kendra

"That's gross..."- Mom

"Not the yellow snow mom, just the white snow!" -Kendra

Fall Break and more!

Kendra had Humpty Dumpty day at school- they drop eggs packaged by the kids off the top of the school. Of course it was the windy and cold, but that didn't hold these kids back. So Kendra has a slight advantage seeing that her papa is in the moving business. Papa came over with all sorts of packing supplies, bubble wrap in every variety. Kendra, Papa and later Isaiah all contributed to the most decorated box in the place... with a safely packed egg. Well after watching a grand total of 90 "eggciting" eggs drop Kendra's egg survived. Well until she took it out of the box then dropped the bag it was in... but it made it off the roof!

They also had the fall carnival, the same day as GHS homecoming. Kendra had fun bouncing around and playing games in the classrooms. The highlight of the day was the parade! Kendra was living it up- I convinced her to let me put her in a stroller because it was a long walk and I knew a piggy back ride would happen halfway through. She sat and waved with her pom pon the entire parade! Towards the end she said her arm was too tired to keep waving.... so I told her switch hands and she was good to go!

The next week she had the pumpkin patch fundraiser, all the kids are supposed to bring money (there are like 2 fundraisers every week- I'm exhausted trying to keep up!) Isaiah didn't have any change or small bills so he gives her a twenty dollar bill and explains she needs to bring change home (haha). So Kendra comes prancing into my classroom at the end of the day all sugared up with another whole bag of candy to go! She also bought a baby pumpkin and a big pumpkin. I asked her if she had change and excited she sings, "penny 1 cent, nickel 5 cent, dime 10 cent and quarter 25 cents!" Then hands me 2 quarters, "Mama you are so proud, I shared my money! My friends didn't have any so I shared! I said who needs MONEY and gave them some!!!" Apparently she learned a great lesson on sharing and Isaiah learned a great lesson on money management! She did bring change! She got 2 quarters for 1 bill! YES!

"Mom, what's gay mean?"..."it means happy Kendra"... "Oh, so Gateraid is a happy drink!"

Kendra asks me if she can use just a bit of tape...I look over to her crafts a few minutes later and she has taped her entire crayon box together. "Mom they kept falling out!!!" She even made a sticky tab for the top so she could keep it closed but still open it when needed. As I type she is reinforcing the center of all of her crayons so they don't break when she colors intently!

We are in full swing with competition season. As Kendra says, we are no longer eagles, now we are WOLVES! So last Saturday we are driving along from varsity practice to the JV breakfast, Kendra in her GHS warm-ups and tee shirt with her competition bow in place. She says, "mom I have something to tell you... blue is my new favorite color and wolf is my new favorite animal!" I will attach a few pics from Kendra's pre competition practice. She knows the routines as well as all of us!

During the competition I look up and Kendra has talked Nana into stunting with her... oh man! Her cradles and arabesque are really very good! She also spells Grandview, Wolves and Wolfpack perfectly everytime!

So Monday we have a coaches meeting, and since we are on fall break, the worlds youngest cheerleading coach came along. Not only is she practicing drawing formations, she also provided valuable input at the meeting. Suggesting we yell not only blue, but also GOOOO BIG BLACK and GOOOOO BIG WHITE!

So we have always told Kendra she was found in a monkey cage at the zoo... and that's how she became a family member. It's been a long running joke with her. My friend told us she is pregnant and Kendra had many questions about how the baby gets out, how it gets in there, etc. Feeling as though she's a little too young to hear about all the birds and the bees... we stuck with the zoo story. Kendra decided she remembers she was found in the flamingo cage, so we said no, the shark tank at the aquarium. She says- tell me the really really truth! I came from mama's tummy. I asked her why she was such a good swimmer if she really wasn't a shark... I practiced being a swimmer mom- that's why I am so good! I know I came from your tummy! Her favorite line to the prego moms is... "I will love the baby- even if it comes out a boy!"

We carved pumpkins last night. Isaiah was a little discouraged seeing how the GIANT pumpkin she picked is also slightly disformed. So he cuts the top off and asks Kendra to dive in and pull out the pumpkin seeds. She decides to get a spoon and scoops about 3...sometimes 4 seeds out at a time!

This morning we wake up and Kendra has camped out in her sleeping bag on the floor in our room. (I am beginning to understand why my parents call her payback). She had wiggled from the foot of the bed to the side of the bed and woke up to Isaiah's stinky foot about an inch from her head. I do have to say I enjoy waking up to her popping up in front of my face screaming MAMA as compared to the alarm I use for workdays. How much longer until Thanksgiving break?

"Cougar of the Week"

This Thursday was a BIG DAY! Kendra earned, "Cougar of the Week" at her school. (Titled after the mascot, not the moms that volunteer there.... thank you Steve for the much needed clarification.) She earned this for being nice to other students, always trying her best at her school work and following directions. Kendra had her picture taken for the school and earned a pin to wear for the day! Way to go Kendra! She even told me President Obama would be proud, he encouraged her Tuesday with his speech to kids =)

Kendra also had her miny cheer clinic at my high school on Saturday. She was the envy of many little kids with her REAL wolves cheerleader uniform, just like the Varsity girls.

Today while doing laundry I noticed a number of small pj's in the pile and realized that Kendra continues to dress her favorite bear from Ms. Jenn for bed. The bears pj's are adding to the laundry... everyday!

Oh Kendra....

Driving home from school Kendra asks me why the flags are all stuck lower. I explained that one of our senators passed away and that it showed respect for his life. The next day Kendra's kitten at her dad's house, Bouncer passed away from a virus. The flags were still at half mast, so Kendra told me, it must be out of respect for Bouncer. =(

"When do I get to have a BIG brother or sister?"- I had to explain that she will always be the oldest, so she will be the big sister... she was bummed!

At the end of the school day we get home and I say, "Kendra you need to follow directions!"
"But mom! I already did that ALL day at school!"

Quotes from Kindergarten

So in great teacher fashion, I ask Kendra everyday what she learned at school and her favorite part of the day... so far so good, here are the latest.

8/20/09 "Mom! I learned the Pledge of Allegiance ... whose Justice? Was he a president?" (I love that there is a Social Studies focus in her class!)

8/21/09- I am dropping Kendra off at school and walk her down to the playground where the kids run around like wild animals until the whistle blows to line up and go to class. We walk down and set her backpack and lunchbox down in her class line. Kendra looks up at me, hands on hips and says, "okay MOM!" Confused I ask her what she means. "My friends are all here, you can go to work now!" and then starts to trot away. She's still young enough I was able to get a hug and kiss before she darted to a sea of pink little girls to play with. I'm glad she is adjusting well and loves school! Little Miss Confident Kendra!

Aquarium and Gymnastics

Kendra and I went to the Aquarium downtown last week. It was a fun time as always with Kendra's commentary.
-As the fish swim by Kendra looks and waves, "look mom they all wave and say hi as they go by!"
-"Look MOM!!! A school of fish! Which one is the teacher?"

Kendra comes to cheer practice with me sometimes and loves to hang out with the girls. Last year was a bit of a struggle with her wanting to crawl on the mats and pretend to be a cat or dog... barking or meowing. This year so far she has been much better. As we are driving home she asks why they call me Coach Vaughn. I explain it's respectful and polite to call coaches and teachers by their last name. So a few days later I pick her up from gymnastics and her coaches tell me she asked them to call her Kendra Vaughn please. =) She's a quick one!

Kindergarten... oh my!

"Mama- when I grow up I want to be a teacher and have a classroom right next to you!"

Kendra has been very excited about starting Kindergarten, very very excited! She was a little nervous last Friday at registration, seeing all the kids that will go to her school. We were able to meet Mrs. Hall, her teacher, and Kendra could not wait to get there. As we waited in line to meet her it reminded me of waiting in line to meet the Princesses or Mickey at Disney World. Every kid could barely hold still waiting for their turn. Kendra walked up and shook her hand and said, "Hi Mrs. Hall, I am SOOOOOO excited for Kindergarten. I am excited to read, my mommy reads to me everyday and night and I can read some too! My favorites are about Princesses and stuff." I am sure Mrs. Hall quickly realized Kendra is quite the talker and not very shy. After we met her purchased our new Cougar Wear and headed back to the playground. Kendra then introduced herself to the principal and assistant principal and thanked them for her ice cream bar.

Sunday night as Kendra was heading to bed I told her she was going to get to see Mrs. Hall again Monday for her assessment. I explained that she will get to practice her letters, counting, shapes and write her name.
Kendra- "Mama, how you know so much about sessments?"
Mama- "I'm a teacher honey, I give assessments."
Kendra- "Oh yeah..."
So on Monday, she finishes up and shouts to me, "Mama- I did my little 'a' perfect in my name!! and I counted as high as I can!!"

Tuesday night I head to the grocery store to find some lunch box items for the little one. Since she is one of few kids I know that won't eat anything peanut butter, this is a challenge. As I walk through the aisles I continue to tear up... by the time I was home to pack the lunch I was sobbing. Isaiah was very helpful as he laughed at me packing her lunch box as full as possible.(Kid can't go hungry!) I also felt much better once Isaiah tells me he thought people only cried about their kids going away in movies. We head to bed and I toss and turn all night waiting for the big day. Kendra on the other hand was asleep by about 7:30.

We get up and Kendra gets dressed and says, "WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE!" I tell her we still have a good hour before leaving and to enjoy her breakfast. She picks up her lunch box and says, "Mom this is WAY to heavy"... Isaiah again laughs at me and continues to laugh through the photo session for Kendra before we leave the house. We head to school and she can hardly wait! Once we get there and hike to the school through the chaos of morning elementary traffic we head into the gym. The kids line up and I chuckle to myself as I see Isaiah tearing up and getting out his own camera to take more pictures of Kendra. We march right out to the playground and all of a sudden it's, "1...2....3- BYE MOMS!!!!" and they march into the classrooms. I successfully marched around the corner before crying uncontrollably about my baby being all grown up. After 3 more tearful sessions of me crying at work, I head back to pick her up. There is not a better feeling then seeing your child run to you open arms shouting MAMA!!!! I asked her what her favorite part of the day was... "when you picked me up!" Other than that, reading, new friends, getting to eat a snack outside, music class and playing were runner up. She was a little concerned the "capateria" is crowded, but all around she had a great day! She did bring some left overs from the lunch box also =)

On that note- I am hoping that she will chose an in state college.

Boys! Not already!!!

We saw Ice Age earlier today and as we walk out Kendra always asks what my favorite part of the movie was. I tell her I liked when Peaches the Mammoth is born. She tells me her favorite part was the squirells that fell in love and kissed. EEK!

So later we are busy writing out invitations for Kendra's 5th brithday bash! So of course Kendra wants her knight in shining armor (literally, she has dreams about him rescuing her on a white horse) Jack to attend. So we have to call to get the address to send the invitation.

I call and am talking to Jack's mom and Kendra says, "I really want to talk to my Jack on the phone!" So we finish discussing the details of the party and Kendra gets to talk to him. Here's the conversation (she's young enough that I got to hear on speaker phone, I somehow doubt in high school she will let me know she has a boyfriend much less listen to their conversations about party plans):
Kendra-"Hi, is this Jack?"
Jack- "hi"
Kendra- "Want to come to my birthday party?"
Jack- "huh"
Kendra- "Want to come to my birthday party?" (repeat like 4 times)
Jack- "YES"
Kendra- "It's not today, it's another day, ok, I will see you there!"
Jack- "Okay"
Kendra- "My mom will send you a card and you will come!"
Jack- "Okay"
Kendra- "I WILL SEE YOU AT MY BIRTHDAY!!!!"
Jack- "Okay!"
Kendra- "Bye Jack, see you at my birthday!"
Jack- "bye"

So then she gets off the phone... ecstatic!
"Mama, Mama, Mama- that is the first time I got to talk to Jack on the phone...He talks kinda weird on the phone...He's coming to my party... I get to see him soon... Can he come to our house sometime soon too? Woohoo mama... This is AWESOME!!!!"

So needless to say, we will need to have a serious discussion about playing hard to get, but she surely is assertive!

Wii night tonight

So, with our new healthy eating and exercise, Isaiah decides to get us a Wii Action Sport game. Of course he's the first to try it and Kendra is right along side him. Running, jumping, boxing, then she starts alternating the Wii sports with grabbing her pom pons and cheering for him. Next I start exercising and Kendra is now in full personal trainer mode, "Mama- push yourself, go Mama go, excellent work!"

So we get done and she wants to practice her driving skills- on Wii Mario Kart. She takes off the start line and shouts at the t.v., "Yeah- that's right... you want a PIECE OF MEEEE!"

The end of the preschool year!

"Mama, I have gold hair because I spend so much time in the sun... You have dark hair because you spend a lot of time in the dark."

In Colorado we are in tornado season. Last Sunday we saw a funnel cloud about 5 miles from our house. Kendra found some creative place to hide, including under her blanket on the couch... under a window. So we continue watching the news, and she starts saying, "The tomatoes are coming the tomatoes are coming!" Then she comes up and asks if I know what a tornado feels like and starts thumping me on the head. I had to correct her and explain that's hail!

Kendra was playing after school and her friend Jack came up to her and asked her if he could have a kiss. She says yes and he puckers up and kisses her right on the lips. Kendra runs away to her friend Hannah to tell her, "Jack kissed me!" (We had a nice long conversation about how boys have cooties afterwards.)

I woke Kendra up for school and she was slow waking up. As I am going through the closet with my back to her I hear, "Mama... why so serioussss?" -Thanks Uncle Ryan for teaching her to quote the dark night.

We were at cheerleading practice and the gym was quiet for a moment. We hear, "THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME" from Kendra across the gym then look over just in time to see her fly off of a bunch of mats and crash and burn into the floor. It was pretty awesome.

She's a reader!

Kendra read her first book to us last night! "What is a princess"- it was fantastic from start to finish. I really enjoyed the part where she said a "shunken sip". I can't wait until she's old enough to read the Berenstein Bears books. Those were always my favorite!

4 and Funny 12/15/08

Kendra says, "Mama we live in the Avalon and Nana lives in Porcupine Creek" (Piney Creek).

Mom-"Kendra what do you want for Christmas?", Kendra- "A tinkerbelle dress", Mom- "you already have one", Kendra-"It's too late, that's what I told Santa!"

Kendra also told me for Christmas she wants a backyard with a trampoline, a playground and a pool.

Kendra asked where she came from and I told her we got her at the zoo from the monkey cage. She says, "no you didn't, I was in the penguin cage!"

As a government teacher I have not told my students who I voted for. Kendra comes walking in my classroom, says hi to the kids and looks around at the political posters and says, "Look OBAMA sign- just like at home!"

And... the teenage years start a decade early.... I say, "Kendra which headband so you want to wear?" Kendra says, "You are ruining my life! I don't want a headband."

We are watching the National College Cheerleading competition. Kendra is amazed and excited, and I explain to her, one day she can become a University of Kentucky cheerleader (17 time National Champs). She looks up at me and seriously says, "Mama, I don't want to cheer at Tucky, I want to be on your team!"

Birthday 4 and Fabulous 7/11/08

So Kendra just turned 4, and I told her after her party that we needed to pick some of her old toys to give away to poor kids that don't have any toys. Out of the blue yesterday she tells me her solution... Kendra, "Mama, we need to buy a new house." Me, "Why?" Kendra, "We need a house with a basement so that we can keep all of my toys and don't have to give them away to the poor kids."

My mom asks Kendra what she wants for her 4th birthday. "I want a baby, not the kind I get play with and hold, but a REAL baby." -I told her to negotiate this one with Isaiah... =)

Isaiah's birthday is right before Kendra's so I asked her what she thought we should get him. Her response, "a spiderman costume!"

She wakes up the morning of her birthday and says, "mama I don't feel 4, I still look just like 3!"

Yesterday we were in a restaurant and a man in boots and a cowboy hat walks by. Kendra points and shouts, "Mama look, it's a cow rider!"

Kendra was coloring in our family room and I had walked around the corner to fold some laundry and hit my head and said ouch. Kendra walks over and puts her hands on her hips, "mama why are you leaving me over there all alone." I tell her I am folding laundry and she says, "well mama you should really stay by me so you don't hurt yourself again."

Kendra was saying goodnight to Brooke the other night and she says, "goodnight, will have some friends for me to play with?"

Kendra was at cheerleading practice with me and the girls came in at the end of practice. Kendra tells them, "one day when I grow up, I will be a cheerleader like all of you!"

Kendra-isms 11/11/07

We are driving to practice I a good song comes on, I tell Kendra, "break it down shorty!" She tells me, "noooo, you break it down mama!"

Tonight we ran an errand and Kendra brought her typical entourage of stuffed animals. As we get out of the car, I told her she could pick one friend to bring in and the rest can wait in the car. She looks up at me, totally serious and says, "but mama, they be sad and cry if they don't go."

We are playing cards and Kendra looks over my shoulder and shouts, "A K for Kendra!" as soon as she sees my collection of kings. So much for having a poker face.

Kendra just started preschool and so I was working with her on introductions. I taught her to say, "Hi, I'm Kendra, what's your name?" So as my mom and Kendra drive to school the next day Kendra keeps repeating this to my mom, who was a bit confused. ("I know you are Kendra and I am Nana...")

Kendra comes home from preschool and tells me that the other kids cry for their mommy's, but, "I not cry because I'm a big girl!" I am beginning to have quite the collection of large poster sized paintings and drawings from preschool. They look abstract to me, but Kendra is very reassuring about all of the great monsters, rainbows and people she paints.

She is 3 and FABULOUS! 7/11/07

So... it's about that time~ Ms. Kendra is 3! (Yes this does make me feel VERY old!)

For the past month Kendra has finally gotten down, "3" and holding up 3 fingers when asked about the birthday. (For some time she was stuck on turning 5, they always want to be older- that is until my age.) This morning she warmed up to the day dancing to techno music while I got ready. Beware she has got some amazing moves, she can even break dance and do a donkey kick!

During the drive Kendra practiced her best Happy Birthday to me song, and tells me when it's over, everyone will clap for her and say YEAH KENDRA!

We head to Friday's restaurant for the birthday lunch with my family. Kendra comes in and sees her "Princess B-day" balloon and gifts and is very excited... "Woohoo!" she yells.
After a great job with the rip and tear of wrapping paper, "Miny-me" eats lunch and then... everyone sings! As the Fridays crew comes out to sing she looks slightly terrified, then quickly realizes it's just like cheer practice with clapping and yells. She was very excited about the attention.

Some funny Kendra stories:
Kendra was playing at Isabelle's house and managed to find scissors... and cut the hair off her Barbie. Oops! Now whenever I have scissors she tells me to be very, very careful because scissors are only for mommy to use.

My cheerleaders had a performance at an elementary school and Kendra came with me. She was very excited to go to school because she was going to meet a REAL teacher. I then explained to her that mommy is a teacher too!

Kendra is now potty trained but during the process, she managed to find a quiet time during our cheerleaders kiddie camp performance (with about 40 some parents watching, and 70 campers) to shout across the gym, "Mommy, I have to go potty", jumping up and down.

We went to PF Chang's for dinner and Kendra tells her aunt and uncle, "I wear big girl underwear now" and quickly pulls her dress up and sticks her bottom out to show off her new undies. During dinner she had to use the potty about 4 times.

Welcome to the world of blogging!

So I have kept some great records of all of Kendra's achievements- and inspired by my sister-in-law, thought I would keep all of you in the loop...

Kendra has the best sense of humor the 4 year old world has ever seen... so this shall be exciting!