I took a quick picture of Hannah Kate and her friend Addison as Miss Machita was giving beginning instructions before heading into the studio. Aren't they just the cutest?!?
I took a quick picture of Hannah Kate and her friend Addison as Miss Machita was giving beginning instructions before heading into the studio. Aren't they just the cutest?!?
We spent Wednesday shopping for ballet shoes, tights and a leotard. She was so excited and such the cutest thing modeling the leotards we had narrowed down her choices to. I told her she could only take one home. And I told her which one was my favorite. But, of course, it wasn't her favorite. I was so very tempted to get both of them, but I didn't. I mean, the one she picked out is cute enough. It's very simple. It actually reminds me of one of her swimsuits, and I really think that's why she picked it. But the one I really liked . . . it was so dainty and elegant. But anyway. She's three years old, for goodness sakes! So we got her shoes, her tights, her dancing outfit and a bag . . . oh, and not to mention a big, fat pink bow! So she was ready.


Yes, I'll give you a moment. Because after I gave myself a moment to wrap my groggy mind around what she said, I was really glad it was dark so she couldn't see the big smile across my face. I also have to mention that it was in the midst of the shrieking that Mason woke up and started yelling, "Mom, you forgot to put drops in my ears!" I promise I am not making this stuff up!
Anyway, I held her for several minutes and then explained to her that it was time to go back to sleep. She asked if she could sleep with me, but I told her she needed to sleep in her bed. As I laid her back down, I noticed her Strawberry Shortcake and Plum Pudding figures. I grabbed them and put them by her pillow. I told her they were in her bed, thinking maybe she had rolled over on them and then thought they were "bugs." She carefully inspected them to be sure I was telling the truth and put her head on the pillow.
When I crawled back into my own bed, I started wondering if perhaps there REALLY were bugs in her bed! I really didn't sleep the rest of the night. Because I don't do bugs! I was glad today was Tuesday because Tuesdays are the days that I wash sheets and blankets every week. So after breakfast I took the sheets off the beds and carefully inspected each one. No bugs. I didn't mention anything to Hannah Kate because I wasn't sure if maybe she had a bad dream or perhaps didn't even remember anything about the night before.
After lunch I began the task of putting the sheets back on the bed. Hannah Kate was playing with her doll house while I was making her bed. I heard her say something about "bugs in her bed." The conversation then went a little something like this:
Me: Really, Hannah Kate?
Hannah Kate: Yup.
Me: Well how do you know you had bugs in your bed?
Hannah Kate: I saw them.
Me: You did? What did they look like?
Hannah Kate: One was purple and one was blue.
Me: Do you remember that you slept with Strawberry Shortcake and Plum Pudding last night? Plum Pudding is purple. Maybe that's what you saw?
Hannah Kate: I told you I have bugs in my bed.
Me: Well. What were they doing?
Hannah Kate: They were playing in my bed.
At this point, I didn't say anything, and I was really glad my back was to her because it was all I could do to keep from laughing. And that's when . . .
Hannah Kate (matter-of-fact): Those bugs like my bed because my bed is fun.
At this point, there was nothing else I could do. I was laughing uncontrollably, so much so that I was rolling around on the floor in one of those laughs that only happens every once in awhile. When I finally got control of myself, I took a peek at Hannah Kate. Let's just say she didn't find herself as amusing as I did! I'm quite sure she was mad at me. I desperately wanted to keep the conversation going . . .
Me: Did the bugs talk to you?
Hannah Kate (absolutely outdone and exasperated): Well no, Mama. They are BUGS. Bugs don't talk.
Me (as if it's completely logical for bugs to be having a picnic in Hannah Kate's bed but illogical to think they would be talking): Oh.
So tonight when I tucked her in bed, I DID NOT say, "Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite!"
And then I got a phone call from the school just as I was getting ready to go outside and wait on the bus. They were inquiring if Mason was supposed to ride the bus or be in the carpool line. As it turns out, he somehow ended up in the wrong line. I wasn't there, and the buses had already left! But the Lord always watches out for us. It just so happened that a friend of mine was there and saw the whole thing go down as she was picking up her children, and she was kind enough to offer to let him ride home with them. Let's just say it took me a few hours to calm down after this one, but Mason assured me that he had a great day and was ready to go back. He flashed that big grin at me, and I was reminded even moreso just how proud I am of my big boy.
Having said all of that, I'm so glad the first day of school was on a Friday! There's no way I could've gotten up this morning to do all of that all over again. I think that's best saved for Monday morning!
During the days leading up to his party, Mason was constantly asking how many more days and who's coming. Although we explained it several times . . . and he knows his birthday is July 13 . . . he kept thinking he was actually going to be six on the day of his party.
So on the day of his party, several conversations went as follows:
Mason: So I'm six now?
Me: No. Today is June 25. You'll be six on July 13. That's 18 days from now.
Mason: But my party is today?
Me: Yes, your party is today. And you'll get presents today. But you aren't six yet.
After that, we counted down the days until July 13. And then the conversation went something like this:
Mason: Today is my birthday?
Me: Yes, today is your birthday.
Mason: So I'm six now?
Me: Yes, you're six now.
Mason: What kind of party am I going to have?
Me: We already had your party. It was a waterslide party. Remember?
Mason: But that's when I was still five. I'm six now so when is my party for being six?
Me: That WAS your party for being six. We had your party early since your birthday is during Vacation Bible School.
Mason (very matter-of-fact): So I'm not going to have a party for being six?
Me: You ALREADY had a party for being six!
Mason: Well, I wasn't six. I don't understand why you aren't having me a party for being six.
Although I think he's still convinced that he didn't have a birthday party for being six, he finally let it rest. Note to self: No more birthday parties in June!
When I look at Mason now, I'm just amazed at how much he has grown this summer. It's been nearly two and a half months since the last day of kindergarten. It's been nearly a year since that first day of kindergarten. And now this Friday will be his first day of 1st grade (yeah, why they want to do that to a Friday is beyond me). I'll be honest. I'm nervous about 1st grade!
A couple of weeks ago, Mason asked when he was going to go back to school. We hadn't even brought the subject up because I figured he would say he wasn't ready to go back. So I was a bit surprised when it came up out of the blue. I told him he had just over two weeks to go. He asked if that was a long time, and I told him it wasn't. So then he said, "Good. 'Cause I'm ready to go back to school." That wasn't exactly the answer I was expecting.
We went to orientation last week and met his teacher. This is her 20th year of teaching! He was a little disappointed that he couldn't go back the next day. And he's really looking forward to Friday . . . the first day of 1st grade. I don't think I'll need as many kleenex this year. But I'm more aware than ever that my baby, my little boy is growing up. He's no longer a little boy. He's a big boy and into big boy things now. With each and every passing day, he's letting go of me more and more. While that used to make me sad, I can now look at him and smile because I just can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for him. I often think of Hannah (the Biblical one) and how she gave young Samuel back to the Lord at such a young age. Of course, Mason is still here with me. But I can finally say with certainty that sometime during the past couple of months, I "gave him back to the Lord." I am trusting and resting in such peace and confidence because I already see the Lord doing a mighty work in his young life. And, I don't know about you, but absolutely nothing excites me more than being a part of His work!