Jentry Jaree Is Three!

I can hardly believe that three years have past so quickly.  This morning I started singing Happy Birthday to Jentry, but she immediately stopped me.  "No, no, no, it's not my birthday."  I told her that it indeed was her birthday.  "Today is the day, June 30th, and now you are three."  She looked at me, still a bit confused, and said, "It came up? It came up in the sky?"

When I asked her where she wanted Mommy and Daddy to take her for her special birthday supper, she said Pizza Hut, so Pizza Hut here we come.  I have also been busy planning her birthday party, which will be at Grandma and Papa's house in Orleans this Saturday.   I planned a lovely 4th of July theme, however Jentry quickly protested that Red, White and Blue was not her favorite color.  She wanted an Orange birthday party.  I hope she is not too disappointed. 

Happy 3rd Birthday to my very special little firecracker!

Princess Party

Last Saturday Jentry was invited to her very first birthday party by someone other than a family member.  Her friend Kennedy from daycare turned three and had a princess party to celebrate.  Kennedy's mother e-mailed me in advance to see if Jentry would be available.  Kennedy was allowed to choose three friends to invite to her princess party and Jentry made the cut along with her other girlfriends from daycare, Sophie and Gretchen.  It is hard to believe Jentry is old enough to have friends, but these girls are definitely BFFs and give each other hugs every morning.

I took Jentry shopping for a gift.  I explained that she needed to pick something that she thought Kennedy would like to have.  She carefully perused the toy isle and finally chose a Dora Doodle Pad, a Barbie (dressed in an orange swimming suit of course) and a princess folding, lawn chair.  I thought she did a great job and believed that she really understood the gifts were for Kennedy until we got home and Jentry asked me open the Barbie.  I again explained that we bought them as gifts for Kennedy to open at her party.  She just didn't understand.  Luckily Jentry's birthday is just a few weeks away and I could promise that she would be able to open her own birthday gifts very soon.  She clearly stated that she wanted and orange Barbie "just like this one! OK, Mom?"

Jentry had a great time and Kennedy's mom even drove her home.  I got to spend a wonderful Saturday morning without child and Jentry had a blast with her princess friends. 

Watch the hair!!!

ALL the Princesses

My Little Shopper

Last night I just needed a few things from the grocery store, so I let Jentry push the little green cart.  Side Note: Thank you Hy-Vee for providing these little green carts and the racecar carts for your little shoppers.  They truly are life savers.  I regress.  Jentry is usually excited to go shopping and was particularly excited this trip, as I had just purchased her a little purse of her very own.  Before we could leave the house she insisted that we put something in her new purse.  I suggested toys, but she chose a pen and notepad.  How practical!  She told me that she needed to make her list.  Too funny.  We also had to put in my old camera to make the purse "heavy."  OK, now not so practical!

Jentry thought she was pretty big stuff and needless to say got a little attention from the other shoppers at the store.  She just loves to act grown up and to be able to "do it herself!"  Actually, it was kind of nice to have a personal shopper.

Why Did God Make Mosquitoes?

Jentry and I had a ton of fun on our beautiful, long walk last night.  That is until the mosquitoes started eating us!  I swatted one away and said "Those darn mosquitoes!"  To this Jentry asked, "What's a skeeto?" 

Later that night, as I was putting her to bed, our conversation went a little something like this:

Jentry: The skeetoes won't get us inside will they?
Me: No, they live outside. We are safe in here.
Jentry: Are they in other people's houses?
Me: No, they are just outside.
Jentry: Why are they outside?
Me: I don't know honey, because God put them there.
Jentry: Why did he do that?
Me: I don't know. (but that is a good question!)
Jentry: God isn't going to come to our house is he?
Me: He is already here...he is everywhere...we just can't see him.
Jentry: I can't hear him.
Me: No, we can't hear him either ,but he is always with us.
Jentry: I like God, but I like Santa too!

After that statement, it seemed as if she had said it all.  Without another word she gave me a hug and a kiss goodnight.  It is amazing to me how deep a conversation about mosquitoes with a two-year-old can become.

Pool Time Out

On June 5th, the temperature in Lincoln was 100 degrees, hello summer!  So, Jentry and I decided it was a fabulous day for the pool.  I called my sister to see if Isaac wanted to come with us, but he was napping.  Kelly eventually met us at the pool but much to my surprise she had brought Anna with her and no Isaac!  Kelly said that Isaac was very excited to come and was all "suited" up and ready to go when out of nowhere came the three-year-old, abrupt attitude 180.  He no longer wanted to go.  Kelly said she was so annoyed with him that she decided to just leave him...with his father of course.  None the less we girls had a great time splashing in the water and catching some rays.

Jentry and I enjoyed nearly three hours of wonderful water entertainment and then it was closing time.  I began packing up our things and asked Jentry to put on her flip-flops.  She was busy putting on more sunscreen.  I explained that we did not need more sunscreen and that it was time to go.  She looked right at me and said shouted "Five more minutes!"  I took the sunscreen away and she immediately began screaming very loudly and... may I mention... in the middle of a very crowed, public place.  I was extremely embarrassed and quickly realized my only saving grace would be to exit the pool as quickly as possible.  I scooped her up like a rag doll, grabbed the shoes and pretended to walk as if I had everything completely under control.  Ha!

By the time we made it to the car Jentry was hysterical.  She wanted to go back into the pool and put on her flip-flops.  No way were we going back in there!  I threw her shoes on the ground by the car and said "there, put them on."  No, that was not at all what she wanted.  I wrestled her into her car seat and listened to her sob all the way home.  Finally after a few minutes of holding her tightly at home, Jentry finally stopped crying long enough for me to get a few words in that she might actually hear.

We were supposed to go to Kelly's for supper and I asked her if she still wanted to go.  Of course, she wanted to see Isaac so we quickly changed clothes.  I asked her to put on her shoes, but we could not find them in the house.  We went out to look in the car, but when we were still not able to find them Jentry looked a me with a very shocked expression and said, "You left them at the pool!"  As if I didn't feel bad enough already, I realized she was right.  In her fit of rage, I was completely distracted and left her flip-flops lying in the parking lot.  Fortunately,  they we still there when we drove back to look.  Definitely not one of my proudest moments as a parent and looking back I definitely could have handled the situation differently.  Maybe Mom was in need of a time out?  However, Jentry is now fearful that if she does not listen her crazy mother will leave her shoes in the parking lot.  She keeps telling the story..."Remember, that one time, I was naughty and you left my flop-flops at the pool?"

Everything Orange

For the last year Jentry has been very consistent about her favorite color.  When asked Jentry will say, "Orange is my favorite....and pink and blue."  Whenever she is given a choice of color she always picks orange.  My refrigerator is 90% orange with her artwork.  Not really sure what started this orange craze, but it is definitely her beloved color.

This week Jentry is moving up at daycare.  She is no longer a Big Turtle at Noah's Ark but a Koala Bear.  As a parting gift, her teacher Miss Lauren gave her a beach bucket full of goodies.  The bucket and everything in it was.....you guessed it, ORANGE!  Bubbles, clothes, sunglasses, swimming suit, and cover-up.  Jentry was super excited and insisted on wearing her new orange swimming suit immediately.

Miss Lauren was absolutely wonderful and Jentry is going to miss her dearly.  She always goes above and beyond and has been a huge impact in Jentry's life to which I am very thankful.  It comforts me to know Miss Lauren will only be a few rooms away.  It is definitely a bitter sweet feeling watching my little girl grow so quickly.

Finnally...One Year Later....

Last year Jentry got a pink and purple Farmall pedal tractor for her 2nd birthday from Grandma and Papa Bose.  At first, I thought it was a pretty cool present until I realized that Jentry was not big enough to pedal it herself.  I mean honestly, what were they thinking?  Couldn't they have just waited to give it to her when she was older?  This must be in the Grandparent handbook of how to pay back your children.

Every day for the last year we would pull into the garage and Jentry would see her tractor and say "Push me mommy!"  The first few trips up and down the sidewalk were all fun and games and then reality set in.  This mommy is not as limber as she used to be and I could not tolerate bending over and pushing her for very long.  Of course, Jentry just did not understand my weak excuse.  A few months ago I realized that I could adjust the seat on the tractor, so I moved it all the way forward, but Jentry was still not quite tall enough to reach the pedals.  Finally after a year of practice, eating her vegetables and patiently waiting for her legs to grow.......

Jentry can finally pedal her tractor all by herself!  I am not sure who was more excited Jentry or her wimpy mother.

Mother's Day and Machinery at the McKenzie's

This Mother's Day Jentry and I were invited to Nathan's parents' (John & Jan McKenzie) house for supper.  They have a beautiful home just west of Sutton.  We had a wonderful time!  Jan, as always, went out her way to make us feel welcome.  She had purchased special plates, cups, straws, silverware, books and toys for Jentry.  Talk about one spoiled little girl!

Jentry got to meet Nathan's family including his cousin Andy and his wife Becky's two little ones.  Isaiah, who turned three in March and Claire, who turned one in April.  I think Jentry felt right at home, because Isaiah and Claire are so similar to her cousins Isaac and Anna.  I have to admit that even I struggle with the similarities. 

We all enjoyed a fabulous meal and after supper John let Jentry and Isaiah each have a turn driving the fork-lift.  Of course with Jentry's brainwashed love for machinery and all (thanks Papa Bose), she thought this was great fun.  I have to say she took her task of driving quite seriously.  She also became best friends with John and wouldn't let him out of her sight the rest of the day.

Nathan even let Jentry push the buttons and treat some beans.  She thought the GREEN beans were pretty cool.  Personally I think he has it pretty easy if even a two-year-old can do his job.  Ha!

To top it all off we also got to ride along for a couple holes of golf.  Even though I was not with my very special mother on Mother's Day, I certainly had a special day.