The Kassel Family Project Life 365

Andy returned home from Austin, TX, today.  He flew into Columbia Regional Airport and we picked him up at the airport.  The kids are always so excited when they get to help pick up Daddy from the airport.  They wait with excitement for the plane to land, taxi to the parking spot, the plane door to open, and for Daddy to appear.  After Daddy is off the plane and the kids have said their hellos, they like to watch the baggage be unloaded and help Daddy get his suitcase.  I was excited to see that John is almost tall enough to see out the windows in the baggage claim area now.  It was a fun weekend filled with friends and birthday parties, but we were all happy to see the end of the weekend and the return of Daddy.

Laura got to go to her first birthday party for one of her classmates, Annabelle.  All the girls in their class were invited and Laura was thrilled about that.  She said, “Just the girls were invited, Mommy, so I won’t have to play with the stinky boys.”  The party was at FlipzUSA Gymnastics and Laura had a great time.  The kids basically got the run of the entire gymnastics floor and played for an entire hour.  After that, it was cupcakes and ice cream and presents.  A special thanks to Jenna for watching John for us.  Laura said it was a very special afternoon because she didn’t have to share “my first classmate birthday party with my brother.”

Other random Laura-ism… Jenna and Brent came over for dinner last night.  Both Brent and Laura had wandered upstairs.  Brent noticed the two BB guns sitting by our china cabinet and said, “Oh, BB guns!”  Without missing a beat, Laura said, “You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”  Jenna and I cracked up!  Love that girl!

Laura got to help Andy pack for Austin, TX tonight.  Andy flies out of Columbia Regional Airport at 6:30 am tomorrow morning to attend the semi-annual Sigma Chi Grand Praetor Meeting.  While the kids both said they are sad that Daddy will be gone for two days, they are both overly excited about picking Daddy up at Columbia Regional Airport on Sunday when he returns! 

My Dad made this rocking horse for Laura (and also for John, but I was still pregnant with him when Dad delivered it).

The rocking horse arrived back in May 2008.  Laura was apprehensive at first and could barely reach the foot rests.

It wasn’t long before she loved it.  Laura would really get rocking and it would slide backwards towards the wall, causing Andy to put tread strips on the bottom to prevent it from moving backwards.  John would stare at her with fascination in his eyes when she would ride it.  He was so excited the first time that he got to take a turn.  The rocking horse has seen a lot of use – and abuse – since then.  John even managed to rock so hard that he pulled the horse from the base.  Needless to say, it’s been hours of fun for both kids.  How lucky they are to have a Grandpa who can make such neat toys.

Earlier this month, Jenna babysat for us.  While she was here, she and Laura sewed ribbons on mittens for Jenna’s school kids.  The ribbons spread the length of the child’s coat and go through the arms.  Laura thought these were pretty neat and wanted Jenna to make her pink mittens with a red ribbon.  The next morning, Laura told me all about the mittens and the ribbons and said that she really wanted a set of her own.  She also said, “I don’t lose my mittens much Mom, but I am always so mad when I do.  I can’t lose them with these!”  Sure enough, Jenna gave Laura a set of pink mittens with a pink ribbon (she didn’t have a red ribbon).  Laura loves them!  Today with the frigid cold, I was especially thankful for them.  Laura had them on when I picked her up.  As we walked to the car, Laura said, “I’m so happy Jenna gave me these pink mittens with the pink ribbon.  My hands are warm!  I might have lost my mittens without the ribbon, Mom.”  Thanks Jenna for such a great idea!

Every year on Martin Luther King Day, the Lowerys and the four of us go to China Garden for lunch.  I’m not quite sure how the tradition got started (we missed last year due to sick Kassel kiddos), but it’s what we do.  The adults eat until we want to bust.  The kids want to go mostly for the Koi pond.  Who cares about food when there are live fish to look at, right?  Come rain or shine, it’s China Garden for lunch.  Who am I to argue with tradition?