Santa came!

The chaos and excitement that comes with Christmas morning. 
I thought as a child there would never be anything better. 
Now as a mom I realize all the fun comes as the parent.

I'd say the Ariel doll was a success 

Ballerina Barbie from Ash

Bridal Barbie from Natty

About 20 minutes after Ash and Natty woke up, Keely joined the party

I'd say she likes her new ride

No Christmas morning is complete without leopard print!

Found herself a new seat to open her gifts from

New (matching!) bedspreads 

Nana's turn

A unique and one-of-a-kind flag

Happy to say I had the help of 2 very willing mini-crafters to create this swag

Time to attack those stockings

Natty posing with her new ballet bag

The aftermath 

Getting ready for Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's 

What a beautiful family I have
PS That is one smoking hot sweater Jake is rocking!

Sluggers

Please be warned....if you can't handle extreme baseball cuteness, then do NOT continue. If your heart can handle over-the-top, in-your-face, out-of-this-world adorableness, then proceed. 

But please do so with caution. 

I now present you with Ashley and Natalie's 2014 Tball pictures....

Fierce #3

Super #6

Goll dang I can't handle it!

The graduate

On Thursday June 12 Ashley graduated from kindergarten.

Class of 2026.

Now that just makes me feel old.
Today graduation. 
Tomorrow world domination.
If anyone has it in her, it's you my loving Ash-a-Roo.

My beautiful, smart, freckled face graduate off on her very last day of kindergarten 

'Last day of kinder! When I grow up I want to be a VET'

 

A look back to the first day

HI MOMMY!

Star performer 

I would give just about anything to see this smile

A handshake from the principal in exchange for...

...a diploma! 

She's all grown up

Hard to believe she's matured this much in just 9 months

A bit of chaos in the classroom

One last time at her color team table 

A very special, very talented and very wonderful kindergarten teacher. Thank you Mrs. Laugle for being the *exact* teacher Ashley needed.

Another fantastical teacher, Mrs. Green. She loved Natalie just as much as she did Ashley. Feeling so blessed that Ash was surrounded by such support and kindness. 

Cheese!

Wyatt wanted a pic, too

We're all so proud of you, Ashley

Grandma and Grandpa pose with the graduate 

Thanks for coming today, Amberger 

Natty Kat wanted her own picture with her big sister

Sex Ed

Ash, Natty and Keely have about a bagillion toy horses to play with. The last few days Ash and Natty Kat have become increasingly concerned with whether the horse is a mare or stud.

Stud or mare?

Mare or stud?

STUD OR MARE?

WHICH IS IT, MOMMY?!

Tonight Ash brought me a horse and said "Mommy is this a stud or a mare?"

A quick glance revealed that particular equine companion was a gelding. 

Not wishing to open another can of worms (to be exact "What's the different between a gelding and a stud?"), I took the easy road and answered "Stud."

Upon hearing my answer Ash quickly responded, "Well Mommy I thought it needed 2 bumps AND a poker to be a stud?"

.

.

.

.

.

And there you have it.

KP duty

Because how else are you supposed to dress to empty the dishwasher?

Hello ER

As if things aren't busy enough, Wednesday afternoon Ash started complaining of a sore throat. She's had seasonal allergies off and on, so I hoped any pain was just post-nasal drip. But when she willingly laid down on the coach, snuggled under a blanket and a pillow, I had a feeling something wasn't right. I checked her throat and her tonsils looked a bit big, but they weren't red or "angry" looking so I dosed her with Advil and prayed it would pass (this was about 5 pm). She ate a few bites of dinner, but again excused herself to go and lay down. She had a small fever and it was becoming apparent to me it wasn't allergies. She was complaining of neck pain but also that her throat hurt.  At 7:45 she marched off to bed without argument, and during the next 2 hours got up twice to the use the restroom. She never attempted to come downstairs or try to get out of going to bed. At 10:15 I went to check on her and she was laying awake in her bed, crying. She was burning up and complaining that her neck was really hurting her; she wouldn't let me touch it anywhere. I brought her downstairs and a quick temp check revealed she was frying at 102.5; she even threw up which made the pain even worse. I was reluctant to bother an on-call doc with a fever and neck/throat pain, but I called and she promptly explained that Ash needs to get to the ER to be checked out.
Siiiiiiigh.
Ash was apprehensive to get loaded up in the car. I was both happy and sad when she said "I don't want to go to the hospital because I'm scared because of the last time I was there." Happy because she shared her feelings with me, but sad because it's apparent the accident has traumatized her. But with the promise of her scrub cap, a blanket and a doll to snuggle, she let me buckle her in, tears flowing. She threw up a second time in the car just .25 mile from the hospital entrance. She was a sobbing mess by the time we got to the admitting office. I had her in a wheelchair, which made her feel like a princess. At one point, obviously out of it, she told the triage nurse, who complimented her on her lovely scrub cap "You know my Aunt Shawna is a nurse and she's a liiiiiiiiitle bit better than you."
If you want awkwardness, that's how you get it.
The ER was jam packed, so when we finally got into a room, we were happy. Ash was laying on her bed and said "Mommy, what smells like puke?" I said "I'm not sure Ash?" and quickly examined myself to make sure I didn't have any on me. She paused a second and then said "Oh wait.......It's my breath."
Not sure if it was lack of sleep, high stress levels or just plain humor but I got quite the chuckle out of that.
I let Ash pick the show and boy was I pleased when she stopped on the Canadian Bull Riders Association competition. We snuggled together in her bed and watched the bulls buck. She was roasting hot but freezing cold, so she asked that I hold her and rock her.
For the record, it doesn't matter how old your daughter is, how sick she is or how burning hot she is, when she asks her mama to rock her, this mama MAKES.IT.HAPPEN.
An exam showed tonsils so swollen they were pressing up against each other. They were also completely covered in white puss pockets. That was 1 am; when I checked just 8 hours earlier they were pink and barely puffy. Her glands were massive and she was reluctant to let the doc touch them. The doc said "This is most certainly strep but let's do a throat swab real quick to confirm."
I've never had strep but I'm told it makes you feel pretty miserable. It was clear to me that this is true given how quickly Ash went downhill. She took the throat swab like a champ and it came back positive for strep. Ash was given a dose of steroid to help reduce the swelling of her tonsils and the first dose of her antibiotic. We were discharged at 2 and I had her tucked into her bed by 2:30. 
Today she's obviously tired but feeling better. It's amazing how quickly the meds go to work to fight infection. She was bummed to have missed out on the Nursery Rhyme Olympics today at school, but when she realized I'd have time to make her pancakes for breakfast, she said "I guess missing school won't be so bad after all!"

 Finally in her room and changed into her rocking hospital gown

Poor baby girl is burning up

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was spent at Mom and Dad's this year. 5 days out from the accident and everyone seemed in good spirits. Even though it was 6 months ago, I still remember looking at Ashley, Natalie and Keely and feeling the the ache in my heart of love, respect, happiness and gratitude. It was an emotional time for me and I'm thankful I had family surrounding me, day and night, to carry me through.

First things first...where's the pickle? Even with her broken arm, Ash was all up in there searching it out!

Princesses AND horses combined into one sweet toy? Count Natty HAPPY!

Getting an assist from Daddy

Meanwhile Keely will find just about anything to climb on

My very own handmade (by Mom!) pink flamingo apron. Every cook needs one of these!

Dinnertime!

Reindeer Nutter Butters - cute but not too cute to eat

Bakerella giving Nana a hand with the biscuits 

Quick pic before prayer 

Princess Ash-a-Roo

Natty spent pretty much the entire night playing with her princess horse castle

She's never looked better

Think Keely Q is trying to tell us something?

Anxious to open stockings 

Mom and Dad have 2 Christmas trees; this one is the kiddo tree and is decorated with all of the cute decorations Sissie and I made growing up

Mom also has added pictures of the minis....

....to help complete....

...the ensemble 

Shoulder-deep in stocking goodness!

Our littlest cutie double-fisting a few cuties of her own

Ladybug apron!

Looking adorable in her flashy red sweater 

Daddy with his girls 

Feeling blessed to take such a beautiful family picture 

Happy Christmas Eve from the Nana and Papa

Snuggled under the tree in their new PJs, sewn with love by Nana

They were originally supposed to wear these during our Polar Express train ride on the 21st, but that didn't happen given our little slip on the ice. I doubt they'll fit them next year (well Keely probably will.....) when we go, so I guess that means Mom better start sewing!

That thumb-sucking smile can only mean 1 thing: it's been a great Christmas Eve for this beautiful midget 

Later that evening.....The children were nestled all snug in their beds while Daddy and Papa went to work, instead

Who knew it'd take 2 grown men to assemble Keely's bike?

Five little stockings ready for some fun

When the last gift was all wrapped and the tree all staged, I finally got to step back and enjoy all our hard work. I wish there were words to make people explain just how incredible it felt knowing my daughters, my flesh and blood, were alive and safe and would be tearing through those packages and making a huge mess in a few short hours. Standing there, looking at my tree, I never felt more grateful for all I have. All I can think to say is God is good.