Sydney Lee's 5th Birthday!

I can not believe it has been 5 years already.....the time has flown by in a blink of an eye....you entered this world at 12:28 in the morning....after 14 hours of labor....we were thinking we weren't going to see you until much later on March 10th.....but you had different plans and decided it was time to come into this world on your own terms and time.....

As I was looking back on your pictures from the last 5 years....its crazy to see how much you have grown and changed....I have been here for all of it....but it amazes me how much you went from this tiny squishy baby to my five year old little lady.....and that you will be going off to kindergarden next year.....something I am not 100% ready for......

You are our baby....our last child....when you were born you completed our family.....we have you and your brother...and that is enough for this mommy.....I am happy that you will always be my baby.....and you like to live up to that at times.....there are times you demand that you do it yourself....but then there are times that you are too tired and want to be carried......

You my little lady are a very caring, loving, independent, sassy and sometimes drama filled daughter....you are wanting to learn more things every day......you want to be like your brother and try to stay up later at night because its light out now......you love school and can not wait to go.....you love dance and are doing very well in it.....and have made a good friend in there as well.....you are doing awesome at swimming....you went from not wanting to put your face under water or jumping in.....to full on swimming without assistance.....we are so proud of you......each day I look at you I see my little baby I held in my arms 5 years ago....but I also see the woman you are growing into....and never loose your determination to do what you want......we are so proud of you........

5 years have come and gone in a blink of an eye

We had your friend birthday party and are so grateful for the friends you have in your life now.....they are like family to us

Sunday we went and got our nails done just you and me

Then we were actually able to go outside and play because it was nice and warm!!!

We love you......no matter how old you get you will always be my little lady....Happy 5th Birthday Sydney Lee!!

Love Mommy and Daddy!

December and Christmas

I love Christmas time...I love having a tree up in the house....or two as we did this year....the holidays are all about family time for us....as much as we can sit down and enjoy atleast!!!

The kids made cookies with their daddy.....which they loved doing.....

There were many times were we just hung out as a family on the weekend....and didn't do much....this winter once it started it truly has not stopped....it has either been so cold that school has been cancelled or its been snowing.....so we have for the most part just hung out at home.....

Christmas this year did not go as planned...I was fortunate enough to be able to take 10 days off from work....while the kids were on break....Andrew was able to work from home during that time.....which thankfully he was home to help....Syd ended up getting sick on Christmas Eve and sick enough that we had to take her to the ER at 7pm on Christmas Eve in a snow storm....thankfully she had something that could be cleared up with antibiotics.....it took her the rest of the time we were off to get better....it was a long week....we didn't get home from our ER trip until 12:15am on Christmas Day....the kids were worried that Santa wouldn't come because they were not asleep.....thankfully they went straight to bed....and even more thankful is that my family was able to just come to us on Christmas Day....so we didn't have to move Syd again and she was able to just stay at home....and sleep as she needed......the rest of our time off was pretty much dedicated to her....and trying to get her better....

We did get one night out without the kids....but it ended up being a early night....so we could just hangout.....and New Year's Eve we went to our neighbors....it was a lot of fun....since most of us have been cooped up with this nasty winter.....

Overall December was relaxing....which is good....since we had no idea what was in store for us in January....

Halloween

So the past few months....I have not been that great at keeping up with this....life has just gotten busy.....

In october we did a few things....we went a apple orchard with the neighborhood....the kids saw some farm animals...we went on a hay ride....

We also did football sundays....the kids had fun playing together while the adults got to hangout and watch the game.....

Halloween was a cold night....as per usual in MN....Syd was Minnie Mouse and Breyden was Patriot Ironman....this was the first year that both kids had fun....Breyden has had fun prior but this was the first real year that Syd did....we walked the neighborhood with the neighbor kids....Breyden was a lot quicker than everyone else....but he did stop to wait when asked....Syd was in her element with Mia and Ella....all three walking holding hands....it was a site to see!!!

My Tiny Dancer

This year Syd is back in dance....this is technically her third year....last year she only did it for a few  months until "shit hit the fan" with Andrew getting laid off and honestly the place she was at was not a great fit for her....it was too large....she was just another number in the class and I don't even know if her teachers knew who she was even after a couple months...so unlike our experience at our first studio in Isanti....but thanks to a referral we are at a much better place....

She is doing so well...her first year she was only 2 and she did awesome for a 2 year old...last year she refused to really even participate....mostly because the teachers never got to even know her name....this year she is coming out of her shell....which I love watching....

Most people don't know how extremely shy she can be when put in a new situation or around people she doesn't know....she is just like me....being shy is hard....taking the first step to just say "hi" are hard....even as an adult....for a 4 yr old....its just easier to not do anything or hide behind mommy's leg....but once the teacher makes a connection with her.....she's golden....this is why I love where we are now....for one the class is small....which is perfect...and the teachers the first day made it fun and got to know her.....ever since then she has participated and loves going to dance

Yesterday I was able to watch her for a bit from the hallway and I was so surprised at how far she has come....I know I have told her daddy I keep thinking she is younger than she actually is....I just have this mindset that she is my baby....which she is....but I sometime forget that she is closer to 5 now and that she is growing up every day...and wanting to do more things on her own and is becoming more independent.....seeing her dance and becoming a flower and grow up was so precious....I am glad I was able to take a video of it....she is coming into her own....and I am so thankful that I get to witness it every day!

First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Sydney's first day of preschool.....we had orientation last week and I was little nervous about this year....she has developed a bad case of being shy around people she doesn't know....mostly adults....which is a good thing....but also a hindrance....especially for dance or possibly school....when she is in her super shy mode she will not say a word, nor will she do anything but sit and pick at her nails....because she is so nervous....but thankfully orientation went well....once she got there and saw some of her friends....and the teachers made it a point of getting to know her and talk with her.....they were able to break the shell and she was her normal self.....this is one reason why I love her school....we had a great experience with them last year....her teachers actually liked being there.....and really loved teaching and playing with the kids....and the director made you feel at home!  Even though its a drive for me since we moved....I am glad we made the decision to stay there.....

So this year Syd I hope you enjoy your school as much as you did last year....I hope you make new friends and keep building on the existing friends you had from last year.....I love hearing your stories when I pick you up about all the things you learned, played and of course ate!  I hope you learn as much as you can this year.....cuz next year is going to be a big year for both of us.....this is our last year of preschool and next year you will be off on the big yellow bus with your brother....I also hope you grow socially and learn about taking turns and sharing.....both of which you are mostly okay with....you are the second child for sure.....but you are also stubborn....which we will blame on your daddy......




Syd you are our last baby and you are growing up way too quickly at times.....I can not wait to hear and see all the new things you get to do this year.....you are making leaps and bounds in your learning....and I am just thankful I get to be here to watch you take each step along your journey!

Time alone with my daughter

Since Breyden is now in school once again every day all day....its just Syd and I running this joint....well mostly her running it.....I forgot how quiet it is to only have one kid in the house.....these past three months have been filled with lots of noise and battles....both big and small....mostly small ones all day long.....but it also has been filled with their laughter and chaos of running around the house like crazy people.....one things for certain it has not been quiet.....not like it is now

But now that he is gone and its just Syd and I....it's eerily quiet....she's not a loud kid to begin with....thank god or I might lose my mind having two loud/outspoken kids....the first few days of school you could tell she was sad and lonely that he was not here with her.....her playmate was gone....and so was the person she could annoy the hell out of.....cuz let's be honest the younger sibling is really good at pushing the older sibling's buttons all the damn time.....and she is a professional....I think her record for pissing him off is 10 minutes from getting up and out of bed.....but now she is left to her own devices.....which I think is good for her.....I want her to learn to be independent from her brother.....to be her own person.....to not always follow his lead.....but to take charge and make her own path in life.....

I am glad that I get some alone time with her....Breyden had his alone time prior to her being born....granted he probably doesn't remember any of it.....but it happened nonetheless.....so it is now Syd's turn to have mom all to herself.....this is our 3rd and last year of alone time.....as of next year I will be a mom of two kids in school full time....one in kindergarden and the other in 3rd grade.....for now I will savor the time I have with my last baby......since she still likes to be referred as that.....because I know all too well how quickly they grow in a blink of an eye!