Kaylyn is 10!

Kaylyn's 10th birthday is today!  I am amazed at the young lady she's becoming and our love for her grows every day.



10 Years ago this morning we received the call that our baby girl had been born.  Adam left work and I loaded up the car and we were off.  We arrived the next evening in Salt Lake City to pick her up at the hospital.  Before we saw her, the nurses and social worker were quick to tell us she was beautiful, and that she was born beautiful - none of the normal newborn not so pretty-ness.  That night we arrived at our friends' home and got our first family picture with the new addition (so this is also Kaylyn's first picture).


Kaylyn - 1 day old

Kaylyn - 3 days old

Kaylyn with Poppa (Eden's Dad) at her 1st Birthday
 



1st Trip to Florida - age 15 months with Eden's grandmother Nana

Kaylyn's 2nd Birthday Party

 

Feb 2006 - age 3

 

4th Birthday

 

Becoming a big Sister - February 2007

 

Taking her sister to the Temple - now sisters forever

March 2008

Preschool Graduation

May 2008

6th Birthday

 

7th Birthday Party - Hello Kitty theme

 

8th Birthday = Baptism

 

Having fallen in love with riding horses, Kaylyn became a cowgirl at age 9

January 2012

10th Birthday Party

January 2013

 

 

Kaylyn and Hannah

I've been browsing pictures today in honor of Kaylyn's birthday and I'm also working on a couple photo books.  And I couldn't resist writing this post of Kaylyn with her oldest friend - Hannah.  Hannah was born 7 weeks before Kaylyn so her mom and I decided they would be best friends.  And that quickly became true.  Once they both started Kindergarten, at different schools, it's been harder for them to hang out but they are still good friends.

Christmas 2003

The first picture I could find of them was at Christmas 2003 - they both had the same opinion about Santa.



June 2004

Best friends hang out a lot - and when you're little that can mean playing in a bubble bath.

And fighting over who gets to sit in the rocking chair



Kaylyn's 2nd Birthday

Sharing a Daddy for some snuggle time

August 2005

Bring a Friend Day at Gymnastics

February 2006

Playing dress up at the Kenning's

March 2007

Dance Recital June 2008

 

At a Springfield Cardinals game (with Kennedy too)

 

7th Birthday Party

 

9th Birthday Party

 

10th Birthday Party (wish I'd gotten a better picture of them together)

January 2013

 

Riding a Bike

Kaylyn has tried a couple times over the years to ride a bike without training wheels. One of her best friends learned how to ride at least a year ago but even with encouragement from her, Kaylyn wasn't able to get her balance.

But this Spring, we determined this was the year!  Morgan wanted to try too.  So in April, we removed Kaylyn's training wheels and gave it a try.  Morgan wanted to ride too so she rode the same hill as Kaylyn, taking turns.

Some success was made as Kaylyn worked to balance herself down the hill beside our house.

And sometimes, she had to let Daddy catch her.

I love taking pictures, and I take a ton, just to get that ONE shot.  I didn't realize it at the time but this next shot I absolutely LOVE!

April 2012

The first week of summer break was also a week of vacation for Adam. I immediately announced that we had a goal - Kaylyn was going to learn to ride her bike.   She was not so confident.  We had Bike Rodeo for the cub scouts in just over a week and Kaylyn didn't believe it was possible for her to ride her bike.  Right after prayer for dinner, Kaylyn announced that during prayer she'd had a vision of herself riding her bike to Oklahoma, with Adam and I running behind her. 

So immediately after dinner, off we went to help her with her bike riding. 

 All it took was seeing herself ride her bike (in her mind) and then she was able to do it!

Sadly, this was not immediate.  First we had to go down the hill on the sidewalk practicing.  Somehow I missed those pictures - I was cheering.  And then when she got it, she forgot to use her foot brakes and the hand brake didn't work.  So being Mom, I "saved" her.  In the process, I flipped over her bike, crashing on the sidewalk.  It is now July and although I'm no longer in pain, my knee still shows my injury.  Kaylyn, though, landed in the grass without a scratch.

 After tending my wounds, I made her go back out and "get back on that horse".  And these last 4 pictures were the result - she can RIDE!

Swimming

It's been a while but here's what we've been up to the past 2 weeks....

Morgan practicing her back float - Day 1, with our friend Matthias watching

When Kaylyn was younger, we tried group swimming lessons a couple times.  The first time, Morgan was a baby and I sat on the side of the pool holding Morgan while Kaylyn had her lesson.  Then when Morgan was old enough for the Parent/Child class, we did it again.  Both of these times, Kaylyn was still in major sensory issue mode.  I know that she will have sensory issues for the rest of her life.  I know this because as we've helped Kaylyn, I've realized that some of my quirks are sensory issues.  I just assumed EVERYONE couldn't stand the feel of chalk and pushed through it - apparently that's not true.

Kaylyn on Day 1 with a kickboard

This year, we decided to try again.  I was a bit hopeful because of all that Kaylyn has accomplished this summer already - riding a bike being a big one.  Oh, have I not posted about that?  Guess that will be next.

As the class progressed, I got discouraged because neither girl was doing as well as I had hoped.  On the 5th of 6 classes, Kaylyn proved herself with the backstroke.  Yes!  I talked to her teacher asking if Kaylyn was going to pass Level 1.  The teacher said if she can put her face in the water for the freestyle.  If not, then no.  Kaylyn was discouraged.

Kaylyn - Day 2 - learning to Bob

Immediately after her bob - she really didn't like it.

Before the last class yesterday, I encouraged Kaylyn that if she wanted to pass Level 1, she HAD to put her face in the water.  She did it!  AND she jumped into the pool!  This is big, because normally she sits on the side and slips in, being careful that her face doesn't go under the water.

Morgan - Day 2 - "Timber" into back float

After class, I went with Kaylyn to get her "report card".  As the teacher handed it to me, she said that she had to write a new one because Kaylyn had accomplished those few things left to pass.  So we waited while a new report card was written.  Kaylyn is now ready for Level 2!

Morgan - Day 6 - jumping into the "deep"-er part

"What about Morgan?" you're asking.  Let me quote her report card "Morgan always listens and is so great to have in class."  Her teachers told me how impressed they were with her.  Why am I not gushing?  Because that's the normal for Morgan.  She is amazing kid.  I'm always commenting to Kaylyn that it's hard to be Morgan's sister, and I understand because it was hard growing up being Aunt Robbie's sister.  Sisters who are great at everything they try and are so popular with friends are not easy to be compared to.  But for both Kaylyn and I, they are our best friends!

Last class - Morgan going under for Ring Around the Rosies

Morgan definitely improved her swimming skills.  She can front float, and swim underwater.  She still needs to work on her freestyle and backstroke - swimming above the water, and treading water.  The teacher recommended that Morgan repeat the Preschool class if she takes the next session.  If we wait until next summer, she recommended signing Morgan up for Level 2 (with her sister).  Morgan is actually asking for Level 1 because she's confused why she doesn't have to take Level 1.

Kaylyn - Last class - freestyle swimming!

Kaylyn - Last Class - Backstroke

Last night, we used some free passes and headed to Chesterfield Family Center so that the girls could show off to Daddy what they had learned in swim lessons.  For the first time, Kaylyn CHOSE to go under the water park features that dump water on you.  What a summer!

Mr. Food's Vacation Giveaway

Earlier this year, Adam and I had a dreaming/goal planning session while driving to the Temple.  My friend Leslie calls this "windshield time", and with a 3 hr drive to the Temple, we can get a lot of dreaming done.  I wrote about it on my I'm THRIVing! blog.  But the biggest thing we walked away with is that we only have limited time with our chickadees at home so we want to make family vacations a priority.

Today, I discovered the Mr. Food Disney Vacation Contest and immediately entered.  I totally want to win this trip!  Go check it out!  But of course, I don't really want anyone else to enter because that will decrease my chances of winning :)

Kaylyn's dance at Texas Roadhouse

Kaylyn's class was asked to perform a line dance at Texas Roadhouse during a school fundraising night.  Of course, by the time we were seated and ordered, it was time for her to go practice and perform.  Adam and Morgan stayed at our table to eat and watch.
Here she is with classmates getting ready for the dance.

And the video of the dance....

After their performance, all the kids headed outside to see the fire truck that came (for a visit not because their services were needed).  Adam went with them so that I could eat my (semi-cold) dinner

Everyone came back in and we finished up our meals.  When we were ready to head home, the firemen were still in the parking lot so Morgan climbed in for a tour.