ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER CANDLE

Remi:

Sassy.

Beautiful.

Cheeky.

Loud.

Loving.

Indepenent.

Bossy.

Naked.

Funny.

Three!

We could not love you more Remington Barclay Payne!

Remi's birthday at gymnastics:

Remi's birthday at Grandma's (and Grandma's b-day fun too!):

Remi's birthday morning at home:

(click each picture for a slideshow of all the birthday excitement)

PINK PLAYDOH...

All morning...the big question..."is it time for school yet?"

"No Remi"

"Not yet Remi"

"Pretty soon Remington!"

Finally, it was time.

She could barely contain herself.

Holding my finger, she stood as still as could be beside me.

Waiting in the lobby.

Like a big girl.

She tapped her little feet back and forth with excitement.

The doors opened.

On we went...to the classroom.

She remembered where to go from Open House.

She ran up to both teachers and melted their hearts with gi-normous hugs.

(forget the kiss-up cookies we bought)

She spotted her name on one of the name tags.

She found her name on a chair.

And then she spotted it:

Pink play-doh.

She rolled it.

She mushed it.

She cut it.

I sat and watched.

I begged a kiss.

I re-addressed the important rules.

I left.

And there she sat, playing with her play-doh.

As I walked through the door, over the crying kiddies, I hear in a big voice:

"BYE MOMMY, HAVE A GOOD DAY!"

I looked back and saw a kiss blown my way.

I smiled.

The teachers smiled.

It's official.

I've been replaced.

By pink play-doh.

LOVIES

Remi picked out her lovey for nap time at preschool. She picked a cuddly, floppy eared puppy she (aptly) named "Sandy" (have I mentioned we own a total of 3 Annie movies...yes...the same version, 3 times).

We found one of mommy's old "brooches" (from Susu) and pinned it on his ear.

So she can see it and think of me.

And maybe miss me.

Maybe.

PRESCHOOL PREVIEW

Sunday we had a meet 'n' greet at Remi's preschool.

She loved it.

This is her cubby:

This is what she looked like in chapel during prayer.

She was actually chanting "I wish...I wish..." (uh-oh!)

Here are her soon-to-be teachers:

Ms. Donna:

and Ms. Debbie:

I will pray for them.

I should start now:

I wish...

I wish...

THE ROUTINE

So The State of Texas and CFISD have forced us back in to the routine.

I awoke to the alarm at 5:50 this morning. From upstairs I heard the tell-tale sounds that Emma was already up and movin. She must have been excited. To say that Emma moves in slow motion in the a.m. is an understatement. But she was ready to go by 6:45...breakfast in hand to eat in the car....picture time!:

We dropped Emma off at 6:55 and headed out for breakfast.

...Panera...

...where we enjoyed Asiago Cheese Bagels...

...and Chocolate Chip Muffies...

...and fruits.

Charlee got some Panera Chocolate-Chip Cookies for her teacher...for brownie points!

Here's to a great 4th grade year!

And here's to a great 7th grade year!

But, mostly, here's to a great Summer 2010...may she come quickly!

TESTOSTERONE

Grampy and Uncle Chris took Emma at lunch time to buy her bearded dragon.

Uncle Chris said there was not enough Testosterone in the house, so she should get a boy.

girls:

Mommy.

Emma.

Charlee.

Remi.

Ava.

Miss Guinea.

Cupid.

boys:

Daddy.

Okay. Maybe he has a point.

We welcome Mushu; named after the little dragon on Mulan.

MONSTERS

This morning...

I'm getting dressed and hear from way of the stairs...

"Ewwww!"

Followed by...

"Oh...."

Of course I had to enquire...

...Apparently...

Emma was pretending to be a monster.

The monster pretended to "get" Remi.

Remi spit at the monster (raspberry style).

Monster says: "Ewwww! Remi, don't spit at me."

Remi says: "I spit at scary monsters."

Monster says: "Well that's not nice, and I don't like it. Don't do that."

Remi: "Or I can slap them."

Monster: "Oh..."

No, I don't condone it. Yes, I did laugh at it. Yes, it will probably happen again.

THE SLALOM...

Don't be fooled...Emma can make anything look easy.

And graceful.

She's good at everything she does.

Which is mostly due to her undying perseverance.

Pride.

That's what I feel.

While looking at her.

Waving at me.

Pride in My Emma.

Way to go!

XXXOOO

This morning while getting dressed I heard a strange noise coming from the kitchen.

I knew it was Remi.

But I didn't know what she was doing.

As I came around the corner, I saw her standing there in the middle of the kitchen. With her back to me she was straining her neck back to stare straight at the ceiling. Steadily she placed gentle kisses in her palm and threw them up to the ceiling. Over and over.

"Remi...what are you doing?"

"Sending kisses to my girls."

Of course.

OUR GIRLS LEFT

Emma and Charlee have abandoned us for a week of vacation-fun with Meme and Grampy.

Which is why

...today...

we are sad.

DAYS GO BY

As summer wraps us, Emma, Charlee and Remi enjoy the day water-coloring:

Lucy just enjoys the day:

Thanks to Emma.

ANATOMY OF A PAYNE GIRL

Being a pink baby in our house guarantees you a few physical attributes:

You are welcome.

Or, I'm sorry.

Whichever.

SECRETS

Landon: "Hey Emma, you wanna know a secret?"

Emma: "Yah!"

Landon: "Okay, but you can't tell anybody...it's a secret!"

Emma: "Okay."

Landon (in hushed voice): "I'm really a dragon!"

Fire breathing baby boys...gotta love em!

MY VIEW

The view from my bed around 12:30 last was a sweet one...with Scott doing inventory and Emma hunkered down at The Mann Residence, I cuddled the night away with My Remi and My Charlee...As I lay reading...out of the corner of my eye...I was distracted...by this:

I watched them.

And I smiled.

I studied.

And I compared.

They are definitely sisters.

Angelic.

Then I photographed.

Which woke Remi.

Then I had to take her potty.

Then we talked.

About school.

About my book.

About Charlee.

About Emma.

We talked a long time.

I realize that it was totally my fault she was awake in the first place:

The picture.

Also...I realize it was totally worth it.

Because right now, nearing the end of our 4 hour stand-off over 3 chicken nuggets, I can look at these pictures and take a deep breath. Because I know that's what she'll look like again in another 4 hours or so.