Butterfly Kisses

A child is like a cute little caterpillar. They are small, fuzzy, and people love to help them inch along from place to place.  Then sometime when you are not looking they hide away in a cocoon. Before you know it they emerge as this beautiful butterfly, which will soon fly away to experience life on its own, no longer needing help to "inch" them along.

This evening Matt and I were looking through some photos from our first few months in Japan. It is hard to tell how much a person has changed when you see them everyday. But sometime between March, 2009 and now, our cute little caterpillar changed into a beautiful, amazing butterfly.

Hard to believe only 19 months ago this was our little caterpillar, who had just turned 13 years old.

And here is our beautiful butterfly, who will be 15 years old next month.

I have a love/hate relationship with the song Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carslisle. However when I reflect on some of the lyrics, I can't help but think maybe Bob had the same thought as I, late one night when he thought about his own butterfly. 

**BREAKING NEWS**

Sami has lost her first tooth. Sorry the picture is crappy but all I had with me was my cell phone.

First Day of School

The kids started back to school today... Thank God. Yes I am a bad mom and was actually looking forward to them starting back to school, but after the hectic and busy summer we had I am more than ready to have a few hours a day to myself.

Hard to believe that I have a 1st grader, a 5th grader and an 8th grader. But I do.

Sami posing for Emily. Sadly I was rushing around getting lunch packed and trying to get everyone out the door (and stop fighting!) and this is the only "stand alone" picture that was taken. Once we got to the school they all ran off. I guess I am not cool enough to hang with on the first day.

The three kids before we left for school.

Emily and her good friend Maggie. Emily is so excited to have a neighbor in her grade!

I'm a mom of a teenager

My oldest daughter is turning 13 today. Thirteen –– Yikes! It seems like it was only yesterday that my life changed forever. Life was no longer about me, but about this tiny 6 lb 2 oz baby girl.

Emily is a pretty special girl. She is caring, sensitive, smart, athletic, friendly, always thinking of others rather than herself, and honestly a good kid. (Don't worry, Sam makes up for it and keeps us on our toes)

The past 13 years have been amazing and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead. As a mom of a teenager, anything is possible, right?

Happy 13th birthday Emily. We love you!

Conversations Heard Around the Lunch Table

Emily: Mom, M emailed and asked me send some pictures because kids at school want to see what I look like. (Emily already has two girls from her school in Japan emailing her and they seem to have really hit it off)

Chris: The boys want to see what you look like. He he he he he

Sami: Emily is going to get a boyfriend.

Mom: Ugh... I guess you probably will have your first boyfriend while there considering you are in 7th grade now. (Mom trying to be a realist)

Emily: I don't have time for a boyfriend, but when I do I want him to be from Europe.

Mom: (no words as mouth hanging open)

Chris: he he he he he

Mom: Well I guess that would be pretty cool to say my first boyfriend was European. But what about when you or he leaves, that is a far distance. Maybe you should pick a boy from North America at least. (Again trying to be a realist)

Emily: Nope. Because my boyfriend will fall in madly love with me and follow me to the States.

Mom: (again, speechless)

Chris: My girlfriend will be from Australia. He he he he he he (As he makes some seductive eyebrow raising look)

Sami: My boyfriend will be daddy.

Mom: (leaves the table to find something to drink that will take away the sudden headache this conversation has caused)

Growing Up

Over the past few weeks Samantha has suddenly turned from a "toddler/preschooler" to a "little girl". She is using big words when she talks and her sentences actually make sense most of the time. She came home from preschool with her name written on her paper, in her own handwriting. Sure it says S-A-M-I, but hey I'll take that. She likes to watch infomercials and tell me about them. Her latest was all about a popup blocker . Her playing has become much more complex, both with other kids and when by herself, and she has hit the "must change my clothes every 5 minutes" phase. Even her Christmas list is more grown up: Cookie dough (wth?), music CDs, DVDs, clothes, Polly Pockets, Little Pet Shop, Webkinz and a swing set.

Sami looks older now too. Gone is the "baby/toddler" look. Look at this ponytail!



Where did my baby go?

When Did She Grow Up?