Happy Birthday to My Kasi Girl

Kassia Rachel turned 5 today...and I can't quite believe it. For some reason 5 sounds so much older than 4. :( Makes me rather sad, actually. Perhaps it's the knowledge that Kasi is my baby...and I know that all too soon I'll be waving good-bye as she gets on the school bus. Thankfully I have her for one more year as she ventures off to pre-k for 3 mornings a week in the fall. For now, I'll focus on today...

I made her this ladybug cake, with lots of love:

She had a wonderful day with lots of friends, and ended it with cupcakes at her family party...where she made another wish...

Today was Kasi's day and as I pause to reflect on it, these things I know: This little girl lights up my world. :) She is so full of joy and happiness. Her giggles are infectious. She stops me several times a day just to say, "Mommy, I love you SO much." She gives me hugs when I need them (and often senses when that is). I so cherish my walks with her lately, we just stroll along looking for cardinals and chipmunks. We stop to smell the flowers and sometimes she rides her bike. She's such a bright girl, wise beyond her years. I love the conversations we have. She loves hippos, ladybugs, zebras and clown fish. She can give a bear hug like no-other and is such an immense blessing to me. Kassia was a surprise baby, God sure knew that I needed her. I just could NOT even begin to imagine my life without her.

Happy, Happy Birthday sweet Kassia Rachel :) Mommy loves you more than words could ever say. :)

Father's Day

"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Dad."

I read this quote years ago, but never did I fully understand it's meaning until Steve. He is a Dad in every sense of the word. Biology be damned, Sierra and Jared are as much his children as Shawn, Malia and Kassia are. He's made a point of making them feel that way. The card the kids got him today said, "Big Shoes, Big Heart, Big Hero" on the front. That is so true in so very many ways. I find myself more and more in love with him everyday. I watch him help Sierra navigate the social waters of high school, play ball with the boys, dolls with the girls...he is just amazing and everything every child deserves in a Dad. I'm so glad he's ours. :)

Headache

Shawn had a migraine last night. He's had one before, but this is the first time it made him throw-up. :( He's perfectly fine today and THRILLED to be home from school. He and Kasi are hanging out on the couch watching cartoons until gymnastics starts.

Guess I need to try to figure out what his "trigger" is. We know Jared's was initially grape soda. After that, it became exhaustion. I'm thinking Shawn's may be dehydration, he doesn't drink enough for being such an active boy.

Hmm...all this thinking about headaches is giving me one...

Cat for Sale...

Wow, my little girls are SO upset. They just watched in horror as the cat killed a baby chipmunk. :( Last week Malia SAVED a little chipmunk from Holly's claws (literally). Sierra brought it across the street and tried to protect it, but we think it died. This time, we got out of the car just in time to see the chipmunk RUN past us with Holly in hot pursuit. We tried to yell and scare the cat away...but she came back and slaughtered the chipmunk. Malia went out and saw it covered in blood. The girls now want to "sell the cat at a yard sale". oy. Between the chipmunk torturing and peeing on the boys bedroom carpet...I agree.

"CAT FOR SALE".

I never like cats anyway, now I know why. Murderer.