Another One Bites the Dust

She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the Kindergarten hall.

And as she took her place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as

She first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed

In learning how to write.

It seems as though she must have grown

To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred by hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar her first big day

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn't understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She's not a baby anymore --

She's in Kindergarten today.

-author unknown

Oh the wonder...

I wonder what she is doing?

I wonder if she is making friends?

I wonder if she remembers her manners?

I wonder if she misses her Momma?
I wonder if she knows I miss her?

I wonder if she will keep her fingers out of her mouth?

I wonder if she will keep her hands to herself?

I wonder if she will have enough lunch to eat?

I wonder who will read to her the note I tucked inside her lunchbox?

I wonder what she will do all day without me?

I wonder what I will do with my little sidekick at kindergarten all day? 

I wonder did I feel this tug when Little Man and Big Sister went to school?
I wonder...

2nd Grade and  Kindergarten

4th Grade 

My Splash of Reality

Summer is upon us and that means swimming, swimming and more swimming for the Parsons Family Five.  If you need us, we are in the pool.

Morning... we are swimming.

Noon... swimming.

Afternoon... yep, swimming again.

After dinner... why not?!  Swimming again!

It was dark-thrity one evening and my kids had convinced me to join them for a late night swim.  We had giggled and splashed and dunked and jumped the night away.  The air was getting a little chilly and I was ready to be done.  Addi begged me to stay just a little longer to watch as she performed various jumps from the side into the pool named after her favorite Marvel Super Heroes and Villains (yeah, we get creative).

My sweet Ella seized the moment and swam over to snuggle in while we watched Big Sister.  The moonlight seemed to just kiss her sweet little nose.  With pool water reflecting that same moonlight, I could barely see the outline of her innocent 5-year old face.  I was in Heaven.  Not in my lap but mere seconds, she dips her head back onto my shoulder and whispered quietly into my ear,

"Is that better, Momma?"  

My heart melted at the sweet concern of my Little Nugget.  

Reality slapped me in the face like Big Sister's splash.  "Uhhh, Ella, did you just pee on me?"

Snowmageddon 2012

 They talked about it for days.  

They waited for it for hours.  
They endlessly begged to go outside.
I relented.

While grabbing the first fall for fresh Snowcream before it could get trampled, I received a wet snowball to the side of the face from a giggly little boy as gratitude.  Clothed in what he quickly found in the basement and snowboots two sizes too small, the snowball fight began.

Little sisters followed suit with what they could quickly find as well. 

An eclectic mix of attire, for sure, but for the fun that was had... who cares!?

As always, our house is full of teenagers on Sunday nights and Snowmageddon 2012 was no different. While crouching, undetected, out of the crossfire of snowballs, Addi cautiously packed her snowball and waited for her moment of glory.  "Hey Jon!," she called out to one of the boys, "this one's yours!" As if pulling the pin from a grenade with her teeth, she takes a bite of the snowball & launches it squarely at her target.  Down came her big Goliath.

A memorable night had by all with pictures to prove it...

As is always the case here in North Carolina, 

if you don't like the weather, 

just wait until tomorrow.

Seven

Another year has come and gone.  

Two more fingers on the second hand are up, thus displaying the 

SEVEN.

She is a first grader.  

She loves Jesus.

She is artistic.  

She is shy.

She is smart.

She is beautiful.
She loves to sing.
She loves to read.

She is mischievous.

She is curious.

She still has no front teeth.

She enjoys her sister (most of the time).

She tolerates her brother (when she has to).

She has Daddy all figured out.

She is a lover of all things "bunny".

She is an excellent mommy to her pet bunny, Snowball. 

She is rarely seen apart from Baby Bunny.

She is the world's best snuggler.

She is fashionable.

She loves to cook.

She worries about leaving for college.

She is our precious Addi.