Nine in Niagara!

Savannah turned 9 last month!  I am still digesting the fact that we are less than a year away from double digits.  I am absolutely amazed and proud of my big girl.  She brings us joy everyday and has been delightful to raise.  Staff at her school continue to seek me out and tell me what an amazing daughter I have.  I know this is true and only wish I could freeze her just the way she is.  However, I am starting to learn that I have to celebrate who she is turning into instead of mourning the little girl she is leaving behind. 

This year for Savannah's birthday, we chose to go to Niagara Falls.  Savannah came up with the idea and I am so glad she did.  It was a magical trip.  LONG drive, but magical once we got there.  Here are some of the highlights. . .

We thought we were well prepared for the Maid of Mist boat tour.  Boy were we wrong.  Our family was front and center and we got soaked.  The spray from the falls was so intense we couldn't even open our eyes.  Our shoes were waterlogged, pants soaked and hair looking as if we stepped out of the shower.  Lila loved it.  I probably don't even need to say that. 

SOAKED!!

We hiked around the falls little more and then headed to the hotel.  The twins were ready for a much needed nap after all the excitement.  I enjoyed my book and the view while Alex took Savannah to the Cave of the Winds. 

The Cave of the Winds was pretty intense.  Savannah loved it but they were soaked from head to toe.  They hiked up to the falls and were only 20 feet away from one section.  The spray was intense!

The next day we went to Marineland.  As far as I can tell, it is Canada's smaller version of Sea World.  We were sitting in a small group of 30 people for the show which was amazing!  I guess September is the time to visit.  The girls got to see their beloved dolphins up close and personal.  Beluga wells greeted them and Lila's favorite killer whales were on display. 

 We fed bears!  How may times do you see signs that say you can actually feed a bear?  It was rather interesting. 

The day ended with rides.  Savannah went on her first upside down roller coaster.  She and daddy got the front seat. 

The trip wouldn't have been complete without an official 9th birthday celebration!  The party favors were very entertaining.

Our trip ended with a trip to the Niagara Butterfly House.  It was very impressive.  Butterflies were everywhere!

Amost 9!

Savannah has always loved the look of pierced ears but never asked to have her own pierced.  She doesn't like pain.  The twins are the same way.  I assume when they are ready, they will let me know.

Right before her ninth birthday, Savannah asked how bad ear piercing hurts.  I told her it hurts.  Daddy said it doesn't really hurt for more than a few seconds.  (He has four holes in his ears!)  Savannah thought about it and in the same night announced that she was ready.  She had a half day of school the next day so Alex and I had the opportunity to just take her to and get her ears pierced.  It was really nice to be alone with our big girl.

She was mighty brave and looks super cute!  Savannah also pointed out that Daddy was right and it only hurts for a few seconds.

Astronaut Training Party

When you have twins, one must use finesse when planning their birthday party.  More than likely, they will not agree on a destination or theme.  We experienced this for the first time this year.  But like my last post indicated, the girls are old enough to argue their points and come to an agreement.  Adeline wanted an outside the home party and Lila wanted their first in the home party.  (So much more work for me!)  I let them work it out.  They went back and forth in the discussion and then a light bulb went off in Lila's head.  "Hey Adeline, since you like space and I want to have a party at home, let's have a SPACE party!"  That was it.  The deal was sealed and off to work I went.  Thank goodness a former co-worker of mine posted a similar party on her blog.  I used many of her ideas. 

Here are the birthday girls!

 This little girl had a hard time smiling because she was too busy playing with her first loose tooth.

Here is how the party played out.

First each child was sent the proper attire for Astronaut training.  Each child had their name on the back. 

There were five levels of training that each astronaut had to complete in order to be prepared for their mission to outer space.

Level 0

First, the boys and girls learned about space shuttles and how they launch.

 Level 1

Rocket Launch - a big hit

 Level 2

They had to practice making repairs with clunky space gloves and doing it in water is always more fun. 

 Level 3

Looking for moon rocks.  Possibly the best part of the party favors.  The kids were so excited that they got to keep them.  

Level 4

Poisoning the aliens by throwing poisonous balloons into their mouths. 

Level 5

Walking on the moon without gravity while holding tight to their specimens.  Another big hit!

We celebrated our success!!

Food time!

There was a lot of food so we took a break before cake and checked out the goody bags.  Since all the children were real astronauts, I thought it would be nice to treat them to a real rocket launch.  They were extremely impressed.

We went back in for cake and then it was time for everyone to go home.  And for mommy to take a rest!!

Peace on the First Day of School

I have never had such peace before on the first day of school.  The first day usually has me wrapped up in knots with fear that my girls aren't going to hang, will fall back and show that long awaited "other shoe dropping."  This year is different.  I feel that West Chester Friends is exactly where my girls belong.  It is kind, nurturing and works hard to let every child shine their light.  My girls certainly have a light.  Sometimes, it just takes a little digging to let it shine at full capacity.  I am confident that they will be a beacon of light before the end of the year. 

Kindergarten typically is surrounded with the stresses of,

Is my child going to learn to read?
Will she learn to talk in front of a group?
Will she be well received by the others in the class?
Math and numbers. . . SO SCARY!

This Kindergarten year is different.  My girls can read!  They really read.  It is amazing.  They write too.  Oddly enough, Lila is more reluctant than Adeline with her writing but they both write independently.  Both girls hold their own in front of the class.  Again, Adeline is more comfortable with this than Lila.  And, they both can work with numbers, counting, addition, and patterns.  For this, my heart rests easy.  Maybe, I won't have to reinforce everything that is going on in the classroom on a daily basis.  That is what I did last year while Lila attended public school Kindergarten.  Maybe, this year will be EASY!

Because I have tremendous faith in the girls' teacher and the format of the school day/curriculum, I have confidence that my girls will soar this year.  This is the first time I have ever felt this way.  The years and years of therapy, worry and painfully hard work is paying off.  The girls are mainstreaming nicely.  In fact, their teacher is mighty impressed by their writing and willingness to help others with their writing.  I find it shocking that Adeline is moving around the classroom helping her peers spell "the."  The visual brings tears to my eyes.

Today, my heart rests.  Today I am at peace.  Today, I cry tears of joys.  When I look back over this blog, I see a desperate and broken mommy trying very hard to give her girls the chance of normal.  With the help of so many and hard work from my girls, they are normal and I am finally healing.  I am finally finding some peace.  As I told another preemie mom, "I am at peace for the first time in six years.  I am okay with who we are and where are."  This peace feels so good.  Maybe, just maybe the peace was there the entire time but I wasn't ready to accept it, let it in.  Who knows.  Maybe it is a process. 

Somebody Lost a Tooth

I will just state for the record. . . I very much DISLIKE wiggly-loose teeth.  Savannah is finally done losing her front teeth which was a process that began around age 7.  I have been under the assumption that the next year would be "tooth-free."  Leave it to Miss Lila to blow my theory out of the water.  She chomped down on a lollipop and gave her bottom front tooth quite a jolt.  Within a week, it was out.  During that week, the other bottom tooth became loose.  This is too soon and too fast.  I am not ready for the big teeth to pop up in that tiny little mouth!!

After losing her tooth, Lila immediately came up to me and said, "It's okay Mommy,  I am still your baby."  Phew!

I should mention that my sometimes off the chart, weird daughter, decided to keep her tooth and was horrified at that thought of giving a piece of herself away to the tooth fairy.  This is the same child who wants to keep her fingernail clippings and sleeps with an old chip bag.  She is an odd duck!

See that tongue working on that other tooth?!

Classroom Visit

The day before school started, the twins went into their school for a classroom visit.  They were very excited.  The all school unit this year is bees and T. Michelle asked that all the students bring in their bees that they made over the summer. 

Here are some pics.

6. . .Impossible!

It really seems impossible.  Not so long ago I was willing Adeline and Lila to sit up or hold their bottles.  Now I am having real conversations, enjoying their endless outpouring of love and, in general, delighting in their success.

Six means so many things. . .  

The NICU is really a distant past, although never far from a mother's heart.
The girls are real people, with valid opinions and thought out reasons.
Kindergarten!!!
They will spend more time outside the home than at home.  (A big tearjerker for me!)
They are capable, helpful and full participants in our family.  (Now that's not so bad.)

I could list many more but all of the changes point to. . . growing up. . . big girls.  As much as I try to keep my kids in the nest, sheltered, and innocent, I must let them take flight this year.

Spread your wings baby girls.  The world is watching you gracefully become more than anyone thought you could be.

Gosh darn it, I can't type this without crying.  It's just such a miracle.  Truly a miracle.  I love them so.  They love each other so.  It just couldn't be better.

Happy 6th Birthday Adeline and Lila Grace!!!!