Two Bits, Four Bits….

Bout time I blogged!!  Sorry for the month or two long break, it’s been a busy summer to say the least. 

We are well into our Kindergarten and Pre School year now, so Mom has a moment to gather her thoughts and get them down on paper, well online.  Gracie is enjoying Kindergarten and her teacher, Ms. Rhodes, is wonderful.  She loves P.E. and has taught us all how to do pushups. J  Savannah is still going to Kountry Kids just three days a week; however, Matthew is threatening to start her at five days a week.  I think ol’e Mr. Mom is tired of driving the bus route in the morning to drop the girls off at two different places.  It does get old, but… Grandma Becky isn’t quite ready to give her baby doll up either.  I can’t say that I blame her!!

Gracie is a very busy girl these days!  She’s cheering for Pop Warner football in Chiefland, the Mighty Indians and then dancing, tap and ballet at D&D Studios.  We have activities every night of the week and usually don’t get home until 7:00pm.  It’s hectic and sometimes hard – she complains in the mornings, but come game time, she’s happy to be a cheerleader.  She told me last night that she loves to cheer but wishes she didn’t have to practice.  I mixed it up last night for them at practice - we worked on cart wheels and jumps.  I think they all had a good time.  I’m coaching her squad along with two other great moms. The three of us make quite a team!!  I have had a blast this year and have already dedicated myself as a coach for next year’s squad – all three of us have.  We have watched our girls turn into tiny cheerleaders and not only do we think they’re awesome, we have been told by several others that our group looks GREAT!!!  And we agree!!

Chiefland Indians (ages 4-8)

Mimi getting her pics!

Running to get in place!

Sass-A-Frass!

Opening game!  Who doesn't love to run through the banner!!

Come on girls - let's get fired up!

Half time cheer to the opposing team - Hi, Hello, and How Do You Do!!

Still under the knife, so....

Well, since he's still back there under the knife, here's another one...

First Day!
Wednesday, Savannah Maria started Kountry Kids Pre-School.  Gracie was very excited for her little sister to FINALLY start school.  You know she is a “Big Kid” now and stays on the “Big Kids and Afterschoolers side”, so for her to look over the fence at her little sister was a very big deal to her.  She has longed to be called an official “Afterschooler” and come this August her Kindergarten dreams will come true. 
Savannah had a great first day.  It started off a little rough, but with Gracie’s help she came around and ended playing and pottying like a champ.  I was a little sad that my baby is growing up so fast, but I was very happy for her to have a safe and fun place to go to learn and play with other children.  The teachers are so wonderful and I know she will be loved by all. 
Love you Bizzy!!

Pop Tart in hand and I'm ready to go!!

Ready to go as long as sister is going also!!

To show Gracie how much we appreciate all of her help with Savannah, we have signed her up for Cheerleading in Chiefland.  She has wanted to cheer since we first heard about it last year, but the timing just wasn’t right.  This year we are going to give it a try.  I am very excited for her and so is she!!

Mr. Bastow to the OR please....

While Matthew is back there having his gallbladder taken out, I think this is the perfect time to update my blog with the goings on
of July!  Let's start with... 

Staycation!
It was my first “vacation” in several years that I wasn’t having a baby or having surgery – to say it was “needed” would be an understatement.  Because Matthew was not able to take off from his job, the girls and I decided to take day trips. First let me say that any kind of break from driving from Chiefland to Gainesville and back each day is a vacation in itself, but when you add some great Spring trips or Beach trips on top of that, well you have yourself a day in Paradise!! 
Monday – Happy July 4th.
We spent the day with friends in Cedar Key and then watched a beautiful sunset followed by an awesome display of fireworks.  I was truly impressed and surprised by the awesome show that the town of Cedar Key put on this year.  We have enjoyed Cedar Key fireworks for years now, and to hear that this years show was possibly going to be canceled due to economic times, was a real downer for the Bastow crew. However, the fireworks did go on and we really enjoyed them.   I really hope this is a tradition that will keep going for many years to come. 

Tuesday – We’re whipped, so let’s clean!
As a child, many a Saturday morning I was awoken by a strange sound knocking on my door at ohhhh about 7am.  This sound being made by my Mom was no accident – it was the GET YOUR BUTT OUT OF BED AND HELP ME SOUND which was being made by her slamming the vaccum cleaner against my bedroom door.  For years that sound haunted me, but WOW do I ever understand her reasoning behind it.  Gracie and Savannah have not quite grasped what Clean Your Room means.  Gracie has mastered the art of hiding that in which you have no idea what to do with under her bed, and Savannah’s trait is bring everything you can out of the room and act like you have no idea what is going on.  Nonetheless, it was fun and we accomplished some great things – I cleaned out the girls drawers, the normal house cleaning done and even cleaned our bedroom.  You can see our floor!!!
Ok, enough with the chores Mom, let’s have some fun!!
Wednesday and Thursday were spent at Otter Spring and the Beach.  Who loves to swim??? WE DO!!!  Gracie swam so much she got her first case of Swimmers Ear.  I told her Congratulations – you are officially a member of the aquatic species, better known as a FISH!!! 

Rain Rain Go Away…but we need it so badly.
Did it ever rain – we received six inches of rain during my vacation, but we didn’t complain.  We need the rain so desperately, plus we were so whipped that we embraced the opportunity to sit inside, snuggle and watch movies all day. Plus, Grandma and Grandpa were camping all weekend at Otter Springs, so we the girls thought it was really cool to hang out in the camper and even spend the night!

We started our StayCation with a “bang” and a great July 4th weekend, and ended it with a trip to Chucky Cheese on Sunday night for the girls.  We had a blast and I can’t wait to do it again!!

Tiny Dancer

This past weekend Gracie danced in her first ever recital with D&D Studios.  First of all just let me say that I was not at all looking forward to any of this hoopla revolving around this dancing thing.  Let’s jump back a “few” years to my younger days – I danced one recital, The Little Match Girl, and I promptly informed my Mom that I was not a dancer, nor did I intend to continue my dancing career.  Done!!

Dancing to little girls is a BIG deal, especially when most of their friends attend classes at D&D.  So last July I stood in the HOT sun for three hours to get Gracie a spot in the Combo I Ballet, Tap and Jazz class.  I was BOUND and DETERMINED that my little princess was going to dance, by golly!  So after a year of once a week classes, monthly fees and a costume that will forever be labeled “the first” this past weekend was the pinnacle of her first year of dance – The “Just Dance” D&D 2011 Recital. 

Of course we put her hair in an appropriate ballerina bun and slapped on some makeup and sparkle.  We sprinkled her with “fairy dust” and sent her on the stage.  She wiggled those hips like a champ. We just couldn’t be more proud of her.  All of the dancers did an amazing job – Congrats!!

So, here we are 30 years after my ONE dance career and I have a little dancer on my hands.  Every now and again she needs a little push and a little encouragement, but I think she has taken a liking to spinning and jumping; especially the Bunny Hop! 

On to Combo II staring in August! 
When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.  -Wayne Dyer-

Meeting myself coming and going…

Wow, are we busy or what?  Busy in a good way, sure, but will I need a vacation after this, ABSOLUTELY!!

So I am preparing for our VBS that starts Sunday, and as usual I have waited until the last days to prepare.  It’s my style, but I always seem to pull it together.  I am a little disappointed that I don’t think I am going to be able to decorate the crafts area like I had planned.  Time just isn’t on my side. 

And the madness begins…

(1) Friday night our beautiful niece, Beth, graduates from Chiefland High School.  It is such an exciting time in her life right now as not only has she had a very successful High School career, but she has received a $26,000 scholarship through the Global Citizen program.  We are all so proud of her!!

(2) Saturday the girls are going riding with their Aunt Katie and then it is off to the Graduation Bash for Beth.  Sadly I will have to leave the party early to work on VBS.

(3) Then the fun begins…  Sunday the start of VBS!! Am I nervous, OF COURSE!!  This is my first time being Crafts Director.  I am just a little anxious about getting it all done.  This year’s theme is Gold Rush (western, mining theme) which to me is a lot of fun.  Our Joppa VBS runs Sunday through Friday night and we would love for anyone to join us (Pre-K through 8^th grade.) Tonight I was able to get all of the kids shirts printed, which I am super excited about this year.  Each child attending will receive a GoldRush tee shirt that we are going to spray and make awesome using squirt bottles and RIT dye.  I can’t wait for that project.  So fun!! Unfortunately, we will not be able to attend Friday night, Family Night, because we have Gracie’s famous D&D Dance Studio year end recital. 

(4) Yep, Thursday, Friday and Saturday night we will be dancing it up.  I am not exactly sure that Gracie knows the dance, but if nothing else she will stand on that stage and be the prettiest little girl up there.  I am pretty sure we will get a deer in the headlights look from her at least once.  Pictures to come.

(5) Then the next weekend we have a wee little man’s birthday party, Jackson Wyatt.  Birthday number 2 – I have a feeling there is going to be a gigantic slide in the picture for the big day.  I am sure the “big boys” will enjoy some sliding action as well.  I know Matt is looking forward to it.

Whewww, I am exhausted just talking about our whirlwind coming up.  What a great and fun time coming up for us!!  Wish me luck with VBS – I need all the prayers I can get.

Graduation!

Well, she’s officially a Kindergartner now and we couldn’t be more thrilled.  We are so proud of what she has accomplished these past three years at Kountry Kids.  Here are some pictures from the big night:

Singing there precious songs about J-E-S-U-S, and Jesus was his name-O!

The 2011 Graduating Class!!!

Her Biggest Fans!! (From top left: My Dad - Mike, Matt's Dad - Den, Matt's Mom - Becky, Bottom Row: My Mom - Janis, me holding Savannah, Matt with Gracie and then Matt's Grandmother

Matt and his Grandmother with Gracie

Gracie and Mimi

The after party at Pizza Hut with the family!  She was so excited about her Graduation Gifts from Mimi and Pop, Grandma and Papa and Uncle Brett, Aunt Lala and Jackson!!! 

So excited about getting MONEY!!  But who isn't a fan of a card containing money?!?!

End of the Year Water Party at Kountry Kids!

Slippin' and a Slidin'

Gracie told one of the teachers, Ms. Linda that "this was the best day ever!!"

Savannah got to join in on the party - CUPCAKES!!

Cake Face!

What a great year Gracie has had thanks to a very special Teacher, Mrs. Katie Dukes!!

So, there you have it - her pre-school years are over and it is on to bigger things next year at "the Big School."  What a great time we have had at Kountry Kids.  I am thrilled that Savannah will start on July 11th and will be able to experience the same love, fun and learning that Gracie did. 

"Pre" Pre-K Graduation!

For the last week I have been struggling to grasp the concept that my baby girl is graduating from Pre-School.  I know to some this is soooo not a big deal, but for some reason it is really affecting me.  I have always been a person that likes a controlled environment where everyone feels safe, warm and fuzzy.  Even though I seem like a tough person on the outside, I had a mean “I want my Mom” streak when I was younger.  I still do, kind of…  Well, thinking about my little daughter Gracie, so fresh and innocent entering the world of the PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM makes me cringe.  I can’t pinpoint my exact hesitation, but in a nut shell it is EVERYTHING.  We toured the school last Wednesday and I walked away even more distressed that before.  The teachers all seemed very pleasant and genuine and the kids looked very happy and relaxed, but I was still freaking.  Gracie is a very smart child (yes, I am her Mom and I will say that no matter what, but I truly think she is smart); however, her attention span is about 1 minute.  She likes to daydream, look around, think about the weekend, the pool, the river, riding horses… oh wait, that’s what I think about – well anyway, you get the picture.  She is a classic daydreamer – she has a carefree, the world is on my doorstep attitude mixed in with a little bit of high maintenance drama queen. I’m just scared that she will become overwhelmed and crumble.  I know that these fears are probably premature and I should just CHILL OUT and go with the flow.  I mean public school can’t be all that bad right – great kids graduate from the system every day?  My niece is graduating this year, she is a great kid that went to Chiefland Elementary, right?? RIGHT??? (Insert slap and a quick “snap out of it”!) 


I don’t want to be the paranoid Mom, but I am having a hard time not being that.  On our walk back to Kountry Kids from touring the elementary school, I confirmed that parents were not allowed to choose teachers with Mrs. Katie.  Ms. Darlene could sense my anxiety and simply just turned to me and said, “Kari, you just have to pray and ask God to provide the best teacher He can for Gracie.”  And she was right, it is all in His hands – the whole world, right?  I couldn’t of asked for better advice.  It’s true, God will provide for Gracie for she is His child.  He will provide as He has for us thus far and continues.  We just have to put our faith and trust in Him.   

But before I send her off to Kindergarten, we have Graduation tomorrow, a fun summer ahead of us, a 5^th Birthday and so many more fun things to share with my “pre-kindergartner.”  I will boo-hoo through the graduation program tomorrow, my mascara will run down my face and I am sure my Dad will laugh at me.  It’s just what proud loving moms do I guess.  She is growing so fast, becoming quite a little girl.  Tonight we painted her toes and nails for tomorrow, oh and her Mimi bought her Tinkerbell perfume to wear to the big event.  How fun is that??  I am looking forward to the event on one hand and dreading it on another.  I can’t stop time, so I might as well embrace that fact that with every tick of the clock a new door is opened for Gracie and Savannah.  A new friend is made, a new word is learned, a new life lesson is taught not only to them but to me.   Congrats to the Kountry Kids Pre-School Class of 2011!! 

P.S. – I will post pics of the Graduate tomorrow.  Fun times at Kountry Kids tomorrow and Friday!!  Graduation and the End of the Year Party and WATER DAY!!!