Thursday night

Just a Thursday night at karate.  I thought we would go to the open mat class and then, maybe, Ewan would get to promote to his next belt.  We have been working towards promotions for what seems like forever.  We get there, we just go slower because of other commitments like sports. 

Surprise!  Kella and Kinley got in on the promotions, too.  Pretty cute watching my 5 year old try to do basic series and run a kata.  And, they all did great.  It was tough-Ewan's group had to run the same kata at least 5 times until the Sensei was satisfied with how the kata looked.  Kella and Kinley stayed strong through the 2 hours that included class and promotion.  They worked on kata, basic series a little sparring and self-defense.  The payoff-promotion.

 

The promotion class, before.

Ewan promoted to green belt!  

Kella promoted to full yellow belt!

Kinley promoted to yellow-striped belt!

The promotion class, after.

Our newly promoted.  Look at how excited they are.

a blast from the past-Kinley's preschool Christmas program

Oh, about the 3rd week of December, it was time for Kinley's preschool Christmas program.  Kinley and I went shopping for an outfit for her to wear and she picked out a smashing Elsa number, complete with white tights with silver stars and red, sparkly shoes(ala the ruby slippers).  This girl knows what she wants.  Of course, the program was cute.  Kinley's class was reindeer and sang some cute songs.  From where I sat, it looked like she did a good job singing and doing the little movements.  It was sweet to watch the little ones on stage.

Ugh, blurry photo.  Still haven't mastered this new camera.  See if you can figure out which one Kinley is.  All the photos looked like this, so I stopped trying to take any and just enjoyed the program.

Of course I got a picture with my girl after the program was over.

Time for meeting Santa!  We don't make an effort to take the kids to see Santa anywhere else, so this is all they know.  I don't know if Kinley knew what to think at first, but she warmed up to Santa quickly.

Kella was pumped to sit on Santa's lap.  

Even Ewan took a turn. Pretty sure he still believes in the magic.

The real Santa was thankful that what the kids asked for while sitting on Santa's lap were things that were already coming to them for Christmas.  Some punch and cookies rounded out this last preschool Christmas program for our family.

more time with Kinley

Kinley get a fair amount of 1 on 1 time.  She also is pretty good about letting me take her picture.  

Of course, we jump on our beds.  It's so much fun.

And, we have tea parties with the dolls.  

Oh, the apple orchard, again

Kinley's last preschool field trip to the apple orchard was while ago.  I think I (along with any of the teachers, I'm sure) know the entire tour by heart.  The biggest reason I like going is to get some delicious Honeycrisp apples and homemade apple cider.  The kids all get to go on a tractor ride and pick an apple from the trees.  Super fun for the littles.  And, the local paper was out photographing the visit.  If you scroll down to the photo gallery in the article, you will see that Kinley was included.

http://www.kokomotribune.com/news/family-trees-farlow-s-has-borne-fruit-at-howard-county/article_a288ce6c-a899-11e7-8bdc-0b10419ce99c.html

Last year of preschool

This is it for Kinley-her last year of preschool.  She stared back at the end of August with much excitement.  She is in the "Pickles" class this year and loves it.  Preschool is 3 mornings a week, which keeps us busy.  If I drive Kinley up, I spend her class time going to the YMCA or running errands-or trying to squeeze in both.  If Andy drives Kinley, that's because I worked the night before and am getting a nap in before I have to come pick Kinley up.  It's a good arrangement, either way. You know, this is the 13th year we have sent a child to this preschool.  That's a lot of preschool.

Looking cute and ready to go!

Sporting her "pickles" shirt-the pre-Ks are the green class.

Here's to a great year for Kinley and her teachers!

Let's hear from 4 year old Kinley!

Here's our Q&A session with Kinley.  These answers are her own.

Kinley, what is your...

favorite color?...blue

favorite toy?...kitty

favorite stuffed animal?...cat

favorite thing to sleep with?...blankie

favorite fruit?...cake

favorite cereal? marshmallow cereal

favorite thing to eat for breakfast?...cereal

favorite thing to eat for lunch?...yogurt

favorite dessert?...chicken

favorite drink?...water

favorite birthday dinner?...McDonalds

favorite animal?...lion

favorite book?...(no answer-she likes to be read to at bedtime)

favorite song?...Let It Go

favorite game?...cupcake game

favorite TV show?...Paw Patrol

favorite movie?...Teen Titans

favorite thing to do outside?...play with my best buddy

Who is your best friend?  my best buddy Ewan

What do you want to be when you grow up?  tallest

Here are previous years' answers (3yrs old and 2 yrs old) that were filled in by myself and some of the sibs.

Happy birthday Kinley! 4 years old!

We celebrated Kinley's birthday on Kella's birthday.  Let's face it-almost 4 year old Kinley was not going to wait till her actual birthday to open her presents.  I'm sure there will be some point in the future where we won't have the girls' birthdays together, but I have a feeling it will not be anytime soon.  2 extra days is a long time in to wait in a little person's life.  

Here's  my littlest birthday girl-ready to have some fun.

Also, for her birthday week, Kinley ended up on breathing treatments again.  Our very favorite doctor is keeping track of these events. Totaling them up for some time in the future when we may have to do more.  But, not today.  And, when we went to see out doctor at the end of the week for a check-up, turns out that Kinley had an ear infection, too.  Kinley took her antibiotic like a champ after a heart-to-heart with our favorite doctor.

Birthday party day.

Opening presents.  Kinley is still at that age where she will open one presents and want to play with it before considering opening up another presents.  Definitely makes that special, fun time last longer.

And, the cake.

Kinley and her Mickey Mouse cake decorated by Grammy Pammy.  First, Kinley wanted a unicorn cake.  Pinterest and I had some great ideas for the design until we went to the craft store and saw this cake pan.  Change of plans.  And, the cake looks amazing.

The aftermath.

The birthday girl, snuggling with some of her presents.  

The real birthday.

And, a picture on her actual birthday.  

Kinley's pics with her Mommy and Daddy are to be continued....sixth kid, you know.

a little bit of Christmas program fun

Smack dab in the middle of December was Kinley's preschool Christmas program.  I forced everyone to come.  The promise of cookies afterward sweetened the deal.  Kinley did great.  It's always funny to hear her teachers talk about how much Kinley has improved through the year.  They have a great perspective, because they have known Kinley and her personality since she was born.  

Kinley's class dressed up like eskimos.  

The preschool sings. Kinley is in white, in front.

A close-up.  Kinley had her hair up in a bun for dance that morning, and she wanted it that way for the program. So cute!

more cute!

And, even more cute!

Santa came and just a couple of the kids wanted to see him.  Kella was excited to tell Santa she wanted a dog, a cat and a bunny for Christmas.  (pretend of course)

Liam wanted to smell test this Santa, ala the movie Elf.  I don't think this one smelled like beef and cheese.

Kinley's favorites

Swinging, playing outside, her bumblebee outfit, wearing her hair in a bun for dance class.  It's all here in these pictures that show us a slightly warmer day that the freezing temps of December.  

the cutest bumblebee...

Little Miss wears this costume at least once every week-it's what she wore to her Miss 

Spider's Tea Party at preschool way back in October.  I try and string out the days by leaving it hanging up to "to dry" in the laundry room for a few days.  I actually just took it off the hanger in the laundry room to put back into circulation.  I wouldn't be surprised if she's wearing it by tomorrow.

Sweet Bumblebee.

Kinley was so happy to go and pick out her costume.