Ready or Not...

Today I began the registration process for my firstborn to attend kindergarten. As unreal as that sounds, it's totally true. Our elementary school is overflowing so getting Emily a slot involved standing in line for an hour... in the wind. The whole time I was standing there I was thinking, "Is this really what I want? For her to go to school and be a big kid and to learn swear words from the kids of some of the 'higher quality' parents in line with me?"

Then I realized I didn't have a choice. Because, believe it or not, this kid is ready to go to kindergarten.

Whether or not I'm ready to send her is a different (and unfortunately irrelevant) matter. All I can hope for is that she remains the independent girl I know. I don't ever want her to fit in. She's too good for that.

Reading into it

Two weeks with no preschool can be an eternity for a kid like Emily. She loves learning, she loves interacting with friends and she loves snack time. So when Christmas break rolled around a few months ago, we decided that we needed to come up with a way to keep her busy. We pulled out the treasury of Dick and Jane our neighbors had donated to us  - just to see if Emily was interested. She was.

Since then, she's started trying to read everything - street signs, food labels, error messages on the DVD player. She's even beginning to figure out our not-so-clever code of spelling words in front of her.

Despite the few drawbacks, I love having a reading kid. I love that she read her talk in Primary last month. I love the confidence that is coming with understanding so much more of the world. Here is what I love most about having a reading kid:

I can't express how amazing it is for Jane to trundle up to Emily and demand, "Emily! Read it!", and to see Emily actually sit down and read it.

Next stop: teaching Jane that hands are not for hitting. This could be awhile.

Putting it on Ice

As you know, I promised Emily a trip to Princesses on Ice. I bought the tickets a month ago, before I realized that A) it was conference weekend and, B) the show was playing 50 miles closer the week before. The DVR saved the day on the first difficulty (along with a text my sister sent while I was in a concession line that a temple would be built in Fort Collins) and the second difficulty wasn't that much of a hardship since we had beautiful summer-like weather.

Anyway, Emily had a great time. The excitement began to build as she joined scores of other girls changing into princess dresses in the parking lot.

But then, when the princesses took the ice, it was almost too much. She enjoyed every second.

The halftime show? Sublime. Almost as good as the princesses.

And then, more princesses.

Followed by a spectacular grand finale.

Normally, I wouldn't be thrilled to spend the day watching ice skating princesses, but the company I kept made it a great day.

My Passport to Adventure

This week, for the very first time in my life, I became a passported individual. See? Here it is:

I know for most people this wouldn't be a big deal, but for me it's news.

Where are we going that I need a passport? Well, here are some hints:

1) It is the fourth largest country in the world.
2) We will be visiting a city which hosted the Olympics.
3) In this country, the deadliest animal to humankind is the moose.
4) Our trip will include visits to a strait, a sound and an ocean.
5) Although this country can claim pristine natural beauty, it can also be blamed for Pamela Anderson, Nickelback and Brokeback Mountain.

No fair looking on Wikipedia.
For those of you who have figured out my impossible pop quiz, you may be wondering if a passport is even necessary for travel to this land of wonders. As of very recently, it is. And it still counts as out of country. And, as a bonus, we didn't get the kids passports because they won't be coming with.

Eat your hearts out, hosers.

No Going Back

Even if I wanted to I couldn't go back.

The sticker chart has been filled. I should've gone for 15 instead of 10.

A Big Step

Today, for the first time since the new library was built I was able to visit the first floor, take 5 minutes to look and check out two books!

I am beginning to feel my life creeping back. I still can't eat in a restaurant as a with the kids without multiple meltdowns or shop without a military-like plan and a purse full of dum-dums but today was a big step.

A Laundry Basket for all Seasons

I have two laundry baskets. I acquired them for the purpose of carrying laundry from the laundry room to the bedrooms. That's all. I'm narrow minded like that. I didn't realize that I was missing out on so much.

They can be used as a personal island for those who can't afford one in the Caribbean.

They are a boat to carry small people over rough waters.

They are a death defying roller-coaster. (This one involved Emily putting Jane in one and sending her down the stairs. I was too mad to get a picture).

Today I learned that a laundry basket is a great place when you just want to be alone to take a short nap.

If my children can make so much out of a simple laundry basket, I may just have them fooled into thinking I'm a perfect mother. Thank goodness they have so much imagination.