Our November Birthdays

We have had the best time celebrating our November birthdays! Each kiddo had their own special celebration at school, and we also took our annual family zoo trip. Friday, November 10th was the Veterans Day Holiday, and there was no school on Emmy's actual birthday. The day before, on the 9th, I coordinated with another mom in Emmy's class, and we brought in cupcakes for the birthday girls. It was a sweet little party for Emmy and Ellie. 

The next day, on Emmy's birthday, we went to the zoo. The weather earlier in the week had been very warm and in the 80s, but on Friday, the fall weather returned, and we were sure to wear our coats as we walked around. There were 11 in our group: the Kennedy 4, the Houston 4, Grammy, Grandpa, and Paw Paw. Unfortunately Boomer's mom was not able to come, as she is still recovering from a surgery to remove a spot of skin cancer on her ankle. Hopefully Granny will be mobile again soon. When we arrived at the zoo, we followed our usual plan of parking at North America and then boarding the tram to Africa. Along the Africa loop, we saw all of the animals being very active in their habitats. Emmy says that the elephants are still her favorite; Eli loved the giraffes (mostly because he was in the Giraffes class last year!)

After completing the Africa loop, we had lunch at the Junction Plaza, with cupcakes to celebrate the birthdays. 

As we were finishing lunch, a light rain shower started. We powered on through North America, and luckily everyone's spirits stayed high. There were several habitats that were indoors, like the desert with the reptiles, the Streamside with the otters and fish, and the Rocky Coast with the polar bears and puffins. 

Before leaving the zoo, the three oldest kids completed the zoo quest. They were very excited to receive special Zoo Trekker pins. All in all, it was a successful birthday zoo trip!

On Sunday, the 12th, both kiddos got to go on stage at KidStreet for their birthdays. Eli's age group now goes to KidStreet for the first few minutes, and soon in another year, he will be in KidStreet the whole time like big sister. He sure is getting big! He was excited to take cookies into his Bluebirds class at school on Friday, the 17th, as a pre-birthday celebration. 

On the 18th for Eli's birthday, the four of us went to Safari Nation. When we arrived at 10AM, it was pretty empty, and Emmy and Eli had full reign of the place. However when we were leaving around noon, it was very full with several birthday parties and other families. Our timing was perfect. On our way home, we met Grammy and Grandpa for a birthday lunch at Cracker Barrel. Eli was very excited to open his presents of a play cell phone, new light-up tennis shoes, a Hot Wheels tower track, Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliot race cars, and batting gloves. Emmy was a little jealous as she watched Eli open gifts; we had to remind her about all the presents she had received just a few days beforehand: a gymnastics mat and leotards, a special jewelry box, and some new clothes. Apparently she is not so thrilled about 'laundry.'  Luckily both kiddos have shared nicely [most of the time]; Eli will let Emmy race cars down his track, and Emmy will let Eli tumble around on her gymnastics mat. 

But wait, there's more! Today, we had one final birthday hurrah for Emmy. In lieu of a party, she and I met five of her girlfriends and their mommies to see the new Trolls movie. Even though I'd say she was well celebrated before our plans of going to the movie, I know she enjoyed the special time just for her. The six girls were so silly running around the lobby and laughing through the previews. I *think* they watched some of the movie! And if she thought Eli got more presents than her, then she was definitely wrong. Her friends gave her a new bookbag, a slime kit, a Squishmellow, nail polish, books, and all sorts of things that every girl loves. 

Peyton, Ellie, Heidi, Avery, Casey, and Emmy

It is hard to put into words the joy but also the sentimental sadness that comes with each birthday. I can't quite believe I have a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old. Emmy will often ask the silly question "Why am I big?" and I don't even know how to answer. I am surprised myself that she is getting so grown! Emmy loves school and has adjusted so well to 1st Grade. She says that her favorite part of the day is recess, although she really loves it all. Her reading skills have especially taken off. She will read new words with ease and even add emphasis and change her tone depending on the story. She recently started working in a 2nd Grade pull-out group for Math on Thursdays, and I am thrilled that her teacher is recognizing Emmy's strengths and challenging her above her current grade level. Emmy has a busy extra-curricular schedule this fall. She loves Christmas choir practice on Wednesdays and gymnastics on Thursdays. Soon she will start basketball too, and it will be her third season playing. We are so proud of her for bravely trying new things and for being a kind, thoughtful sister and friend. We love our sweet girl!

I'm not ready to accept that my little boy isn't so little anymore. He rarely stays still long enough for me to hold him, but he gives the best hugs and cuddles when I manage to catch him. Every night, I sing to him "This Little Light of Mine" and I cherish those last quiet moments of the day. Recently Eli stopped his habit of sucking his fingers, and so it really seems like he is becoming a big boy. As you will see below, he has learned the trick of crossing his eyes. I love his silly nature. He is doing well in school. He can count to 20, and with some prompting, he can continue counting in the 20s and beyond. His class has learned through the letter "I" so far this year, and Eli can recognize the second half of the alphabet too. When Sissy is at gymnastics, Eli loves boys' nights with Daddy, when the two of them come home and eat dinner and play together with sports on the TV in the background. He is excited to start playing sports as well this year. In the new year, we are trying out a Parent-and-Me basketball team and Little League baseball. For three years before Eli came along, I thought I was a 'girl mom'. But I sure love being a 'boy mom' too. Long live boyhood!