Boy, do I love this age. Rylee is the sweetest little girl who has become quite sensitive and cautious compared to how she used to be. Her personality is as big as her heart. She is beautiful on the outside and just as much on the inside. Trying to soak in every special moment with my big girl before she turns five and starts Kindergarten (cue the Mommy tears)! Simply said...to know her is to love her.
I always knew she was a great big sister since the moment she met Rayna but lately she has blossomed into the very BEST big sister and it just melts my heart. She always wants to know where her sister is, wants to play with her, introduces her to everyone (even family) saying "this is my sister Rayon", they laugh together constantly, they are each other's shadows, they hold hands now (!!!), and they are just the best of friends...everything my mommy heart dreamt of when I found out she was having a little sister. I can only imagine how their relationship and love for one another will grow as they get older. I know good and well there will be PLENTY of sister fights but the good moments definitely outweigh the bad moments.
Other than being a wonderful and caring big sister Rylee is also such a smart little girl. She absolutely loves school and loves to learn. Every evening when Rayna goes to bed we have special one on one time with Rylee to practice her writing, letter recognition, numbers, and pronunciation. She looks forward to this time of the day and is always anxious to work on her letters! She has made tremendous progress in the past several weeks we have been working with her and I just love seeing those little 'a ha' moments when she gets it and is so proud of herself. We couldn't be more proud of her and hope she always has a love for learning! This is hard for me to say but....Kindergarten here we come! She has only been asking to turn five since the day she turned four so she can goto the 'big kid' school. I know she is ready but I don't know about me...
Some of her favorite things at 4.5 years old include: horses (still), playing make believe (doctor, cook, vet, teacher, dress up-princesses, etc), practicing her letters/numbers on her easel, playing outside, helping mommy and daddy (cooking, laundry, cleaning, etc), going to the YMCA, TLG/camps, going to school, playing with her friends & cousins, sleepovers at KoKo's house, and swimming (such a little fish)!
Favorite/funny things she says that I do not want to forget:
- Tells Rayna - "I'm the boss"
- "On accidents"
- "I very love you" <3
- Daddy told her that she was his pretty princess and she said, "I am not a princess." LOL...she is so not girly!
- While pointing to her two front teeth..."These are big because they are from Texas!"
- "Duhh!" - all day everyday
- "I just really love you Mommy because I love your heart" <3<3<3
- On pretend phone during December - "Santa is calling! He said I am on the good list. My sister is on the bad list." "Santa, are you coming on a real reindeer to so me??"
- Singing Christmas songs was one of her favorite things to do this past Christmas... One she loved to sing was, "You better watch out, you better not crash or I'm going to tell."
- Rylee -"My 5 is taking FOREVER! I really want to be 5." Me- "why?" "Because I want to goto Kindergarten!"
- Three - "fwee"
- "Come on Rayon....lets go on an adventure!" <3
- At CFA she introduces her sister to every kid in the play place (who she does not know) : "This is my sister, Rayon, she hits everyone...."
- While practicing writing her alphabet she gets to certain 'easy' letters and says, "This is easy peasy!" Then writes is and yells, "boom!"
- Starts most conversations with, "When I was a baby..."
- "Okie dokie artichokie!"
- "Deal!" with a big thumbs up
- Copies everything we say! One night at the dinner table Mike said Rayna was exhausting (which she is most of the time lol) then Rylee pointed to Rayna and said, "You're a sausage!" LOL...she tried saying exhausting but it came out a little different...
- At TLG class Rylee told the everyone when it was dead quiet..."Last night when I was asleep Mr. Grinch knocked on my door and took off my panties..." WHAT?!?! Then later that same morning at Target we were walking pass the bra section (old lady bras to be exact) and Rylee yells as she's pointing to them, "Hey! Look Mommy! That's what you wear!" Needless to say, we had a long talk after this about what covers your private parts and that no one but you should take them off. The things kids say...
Rylee photo dump...
This NEVER happens so I took full advantage of some sweet sleep snuggles with my biggest girl!
Bike babes
White day at school and she was stylin' ;)
Fun at TLG!
These two...never a dull moment!
Walking to school with her mini me in hand :)
Love these little sweethearts!
Making cookies with Granna!
Daddy Daughter beach trip!
My little beach babes
Waiting patiently on our flight that had a two hour delay...
The girls loved visiting the Easter Bunny at the candy store!
Sister snuggles and cartoons :)
The Bean
My beautiful Princess Sophia!
Having fun dying Easter eggs!
Sweet bunny kisses <3
Mani/Pedi time with Mommy & Granny!
Quick trip to the Golden Nugget Resort!
My little helper! Making breakfast...
Birthday party fun! Rylee had a blast at Altitude jumping with her friends!
Rylee & Liam... Rayna LOL!
Because turning 4 1/2 is a really big deal! :) Rylee got to celebrate her special day at school today with cupcakes, singing Happy Birthday, being the line leader, choosing the snack prayer, and a special birthday gift (book, bubbles, sucker, and a pencil) from her sweet teachers. After school I took her to her favorite, CFA, to continue the clebration and she told everyone she saw that she was 4 1/2! It's the little things <3 Love this sweet growing girl of mine and cannot believe she is halfway to turning five! Time needs to slow down!
Happy February <3
Pink day at school <3
Rylee had so much fun at her sweet friend's Super Hero party!
My beautiful big girl ready for school! Growing up too fast for me!!!
Surprised Kynlee with lunch at school! Rylee was so excited to go and see her new school that she will attend in the fall! :)
Making heart shaped pizzas with Daddy! <3
Happy Valentine's Day!
Valentine morning surprises for my two best girls! <3
Beautiful fay at the park!
Rylee got to spend the day with her favorite horse in the world, Sunny! She got to pet, ride, and feed him. Needless to say, she was in Heaven! My little horse lover <3
Enjoyed a special morning with my biggest girl getting pedicures, lunch at CFA, & a trip to Target! Rylee had the best time getting her nails done with her besties/cousins!
Rylee and her Cowgirl she made for school!
Fun weekend at Granna & Pop's house to celebrate their birthday!
Wagon wide to get Mommy flowers with Pops!
Rodeo day at Preschool! Rylee's favorite day! :)
Ready to meet a miniature pony at school! She insisted on wearing her horse outfit to match him! :)
Spring Break Fun!
Ear infections & Target...Happy St. Patrick's Day! :)
Playdate with Harper!
Rylee's first rodeo! She was in HEAVEN with all the horses!!! :)
Ready for school! Love this pretty girl of mine!
Kindergarten Orientation with my big girl and she was super excited!
School days are her favorite!
Fun trip to Chicago to visit MeeMe & Poppy!
We love MeeMe & Poppy!
Shedd Aquarium
Happy (early) Birthday to Poppy, Rylee, & Rayna!
This girl LOVES Moana and was so excited for her new barbie doll and nightgown!
Cannot believe my baby is registered for Kindergarten!!!
Fun morning surprising the girls with a trip to Disney on Ice! :)
Ready for her first soccer game of the season! This is Rylee's third season to play with her same little friends and Coaches. So fun!!
Happy Easter!
Last preschool party for my big girl!
Easter egg hunt with their big cousins! :)
Happy Easter!
School days are her fav!
Spring Program
Sister Sister <3
First (unfortunate) trip to the ER... I heard a terrible scream/cry (the kind that sends chills down your spine) from upstairs and sprinted to the playroom to find Rylee COVERED in blood. She somehow managed to gash the bridge of her nose open. I scooped her up and ran to to the bathroom leaving a trial of blood behind us. Mike was working so I called Kristin and she came over in just a few minutes. After about 15-20 minutes the blood finally stopped gushing out and Kristin drove us (plus all the kids) to the ER. They quickly took us back, examined her, cleaned her up, and prepared her for stitches. She (and I) were both terrified but she was extremely brave. Mike arrived right before the stitches. Thank goodness, because they had to wrap her up in a sheet (like a straight jacket) to inject her with numbing medicine then do three stitches. It felt like a lifetime. Poor thing was a sweaty mess from crying and screaming. It broke my heart to see her in pain and hear her yelling, "let me out....stop....it hurts!" Once they were complete she somehow managed to smile and be her normal happy self. Lots of blood, stress, crying, stickers, and ice cream later we finally went back home. I gave her a quick bath to get her clean then put her to bed where she fell fast asleep. This was by far the scariest moment in my parenting life. Such a traumatic experience for the both of us that still (one week later) keeps me from falling asleep, makes me a nervous wreck when they are playing, and causes me to replay the awful night over & over in my head. If I could, I would put my babies in a bubble so I don't ever have to worry about them or see them in pain but this is unfortunately part of having kids... Praying that was our one and only trip to the ER!!!
Stitches are out! It was quick and tear free! So proud of my big girl!
Mother's Day with my favorite girls <3
Last day of Preschool for my big girl and I cannot believe how much she has grown in just one year! Kindergarten, here we come!!!
