Katelyn is FIVE!

Katelyn turned FIVE! 

For her birthday on Friday, she got the traditional Eggo waffle with icing and sprinkles for breakfast. She requested "smiley face" macaroni for dinner, which is a box of Kraft mac 'n cheese. Win for Mom! I also made her a pink cake with pink icing and pink ice cream. We got her a "K" initial necklace, bubble gum (her favorite snack), and a mermaid tail costume, which she has been begging for for months. 

The next day, on Saturday, we had an ocean-themed birthday party for her at the neighborhood pool. She invited about ten kids, five boy and five girls, and they could all come! She wore her new mermaid swimsuit, and we blew up whale and sea turtle floats. Everyone got a water gun to take home. We served fruit kabobs, gold fish, and cupcakes with ocean toppers. We gave out little goodie bags with tropical Swedish fish, goldfish, stickers and add-water-to-grow ocean animals.  The big brothers were a huge help. 

Kate got a ton of presents, literally more than she usually gets for Christmas. It was totally crazy, in my opinion. We've never hosted a birthday party with so many guests, so I guess that's why it surprised me so much. She got Barbies and other dolls, necklaces and crafts, paints, slime, play dough, a beach towel, scrunchies, etc. She loved it, and everyone seemed to have fun, so I think it was a success.

Katelyn started kindergarten more than two weeks before she turned five, but it was the right choice for her 'teen attitude.' Despite getting tired and having at-home tantrums (evidence of her true age), she is our best picker-upper, nagger and rule-follower. She keeps her brothers in line, much to their chagrin. She is Miss Social and has already made some friends on the bus and in her class. She loves riding the bus with the big kids, doing crafts, riding her two-wheel bike (a full year before her brothers ever learned how), and learning to read. I can hardly get her to shut-up about her day after school to let her brothers get a word in. She's quite the chatterbox! She is really spoiled and certainly knows how to throw a fit. I try so hard to be firm, but she is super persistent. She is by-far my hardest child right now. She is a daddy's girl through and through. She loves soccer (but we had to take off Spring because of Covid and Fall to adjust to the new school schedule), biking, scooter-ing and running. She does a weekly music class, where she'll start to learn to play the piano soon. She's the best helper, unloading the silverware from the dishwasher each morning, emptying trash cans and bringing down the laundry. She likes to wear a mask to school each day and loves to try to make it match her outfit. 

She's our princess and our caboose, and I wouldn't have it any other way! 

First Day of School - COVID style

 It was definitely one for the record books, but they are officially back into school! Wahoo!

And they are for the first time all in school - all day, every day. I thought I'd cry and be sad a lot more - the end to being a stay at home mom to babies - but I only teared up a bit. I think the five months of "bonding time" made it a little easier to say goodbye.

Collin started middle school. He's in 6th grade. He'd never set foot in the school or parking lot - I still haven't - and he also had to navigate switching classes and A-day and B-day. He has handled the first week like a champ! He is taking Gifted & Talented Math & Science, and he's thrilled to have two male teachers (English & Choir). Go Collin!

Brennan is at the elementary school, without Collin, which is a huge step for him. He started 4th grade (DeGuzman). He struggles with comfort and itchiness, and the mask was an unhill battle most of the summer. Blessedly, he has worn it with no problems - except for some ear soreness - all week. I even just got a text from his teacher saying he was extra friendly and volunteered to take the assigned cafeteria seat next to a new boy who doesn't speak English. Go Brennan! 

Ethan started 1st grade (Veazey). He is so excited to be out of the house and with real people again, he can't contain himself. And he has come home "fresh and dry" all week, so another major celebration. Go Ethan!

And this little 4yo started kindergarten this week! Katelyn has Mrs Lisle, Ethan's teacher from last year. She is so thrilled to ride the school bus, and she insists on getting out there extra early so she can wait at the bus stop. Today she asked if she could ride the bus and not go to school, but I said that wasn't how it worked. Fingers crossed this little princess can have the stamina to do this. Her birthday is in a couple weeks. Go Katelyn! 

South Padre Island

View from our balcony at sunrise 

We just got back from a wonderful beach vacation! This time we headed to South Padre Island, about 5 hours away. 

World's most ginormous vehicle, and we still need additional space

THURS

Ryan worked Thursday morning, and we left about 12 noon. We stopped in Port Isabel and ate at this fun pirate restaurant on the bay. We ate outside where it was super humid and windy, but I thought the view made it worth it. 

Dinner at Pirate's Landing, Port Isabel

We checked into our condo, hauled all our stuff upstairs and put the kids to bed. Ryan and I went for a walk on the beach at sunset.

OVERVIEW

Each day we headed to the beach either in the morning until lunch time or in the afternoon until dinner time. We played in the sand, boogie boarded, skim boarded, body surfed, flew kites, wave jumped and read in the camping chairs.

Ethan the Octopus

Kate the Sea Turtle

Our last day, a world of seaweed washed ashore, and Ethan had to make himself some more hair

Collin kite-flying

Usually about halfway through our time each day at the beach, either Ryan or I would take the kids to the condo's pool while the other enjoyed some alone time. Then the kids would all come back for some more salt and sand before quitting for the day with a second trip to the pool. It was the perfect schedule for us! 

Beach Life for Me - Reading & boogie boarding

The other half of each day that wasn't at the beach & pool we did a special activity. Here's the rundown:

FRI

View from above the bay 

Our big event on our first day was an Eco Boat Tour. We saw lots of dolphins and touched some sea animals as well. The kids all wanted to go again, so I'd say that was a success! 

Ethan with a butterfly ray

Katelyn with a star fish

We also went to my favorite restaurant this night (LongBoard). It was on the island-side of the bay, and later in the evening they have live music and fireworks, which Ryan and I want to head to another year. 

SAT

Our main activity on Saturday was heading to Sea Turtle, Inc. It is both a sea turtle hospital and museum. We were able to hear a 30-minute presentation about sea turtles and their rescue efforts too. I loved this place! 

For dinner, we picked up Gabriella's pizza, which was wood-fired and delicious, and watched Pirates of the Caribbean I. 

SUN

Sunday morning we thought it'd be nice to go for a little beach walk down to the jetty. (Last fall we visited the jetty on the north end of Padre Island, so we wanted to see the south one too.) Unfortunately, the parking lot nearest the jetty was closed, so the closest we could get was about 1-1/2 miles. We hadn't prepared the kids for a "hike," and it was insanely hot. Playing at the jetty was fun, since Ryan had brought the kite and drone, but the walk was all whining. 

When we started heading back towards the car, Ryan suggested he run ahead, and I get the kids to the nearest open road. As soon as we left the safety of the ocean, though, we were attacked by "fliders," some kind of creepy mosquito that resembled a spider. They came at us in packs, and we still have the itchy welts to prove it! All in all, the kids and I still had to walk a mile, and we probably would have been better off sticking to the beach and going all the way to the parked car that way. This day was a rough one with lots of quarreling and crying from all the kids. The hit of the day was grilling hamburgers for lunch by the pool while the kids swam. Dinner was leftover pizza and Pirates of the Caribbean II.

MON

First, we headed to a souvenir shop. The kids each got $10 to spend. Collin got a pirate t-shirt and shark tooth hemp bracelet, Brennan got a stuffed sea turtle, Ethan got a sea turtle hatch-able egg and Paw Patrol stuffed dog, and Katelyn got a seashell necklace and stuffed fish. They really enjoyed the chance to pick something out and stay within their budget. 

Then, we headed to the Nature and Birding Museum to see the alligators and tortoises. It was also a museum and gator rehabilitation facility. There are a bunch of boardwalks out into the bay, but it's next door to the water treatment plant and the stench was unbearable. The "fliders" were at us again, and it was swelteringly hot too. I'd go earlier in the day next time, but we waited until later because there was supposed to be an 11 am Gator Talk, but it got canceled because other visitors weren't social distancing. Sometimes our best laid plans just fall flat.

As we came inside to see the museum portion, an employee asked if we had jumper cables because another employee's car wouldn't start. Ryan volunteered, to which Brennan said, "Dad is helping someone, like always." (I've decided there is no better compliment!) Anyway, we did the air-conditioned museum portion while Ryan jumped her car. As a thank-you, they gave him tortoise and alligator food. So we headed back outside to feed the tortoises (Bubbles was Katelyn's favorite) and the baby alligators (which far too much resembled dinosaurs for my taste). 

After a taco dinner at the condo and a Rook game with Collin & Brennan, Ryan and I took a 3-mile walk along the beach at sunset on our last night. I sure do love the ocean and waves. We got to talk to the builders of this castle compound, who had hired a sand-castle maker to teach them (Dennis). I had thought about doing this activity, and it is now definitely on our list for next time! 

TUES

We basically just cleaned up and loaded the car. When we got home, I immediately started looking at condos to book for the first weekend in August next year. I like the idea of hitting the beach for a few days before the start of each school year, with one activity per day and plenty of pool and ocean time. Until next year... 

And now we have one week until school starts!