What backpacks really mean.. and more

We were in Target yesterday morning, and Maddie decided she wanted to try on a Princess backpack. I nearly lost it when I saw her wearing it.

I am keeping this whole kindergarten thing in perspective, and am so grateful that I have my little soon-to-be kindergartener to hug and kiss as she walks through the big school doors come August 30th.

And, yet at the same time, I am already feeling the emotional impact of what it is going to feel like to be without my big girl. It's the weirdest thing to feel tears in my eyes at the mere mention of backpacks and lunchboxes. Stoicism is just not my thing it seems when it comes to these little girls of mine.

Ironically, Maddie has been the one who has warmed up to the idea of school and reassures me all the time that she is going to be "just fine." I jokingly told her that I am going to get her a locket with 4 hearts where she can hold a picture of Dan and I, and her two adoring sisters. She loved the idea.

Am I ready for August 30th and the start of kindergarten? Not one bit. I shall choose to not think about it too much until the big day rolls around at the end of August.

******

Totally unrelated, but Abrielle's extreme diaper rash has turned out to be a yeast infection. Not one of my three girlies has ever had that, so it took me by surprise. Poor little girlfriend. I am hoping it clears up soon.

Aside from that, my littlest lady absolutely LOVES drawing with sidewalk chalk. I remember Maddie and Faith being fascinated by chalk and wanting to hold it, but Abrie loves to DRAW with it. She will sit there with them and draw scribbles and designs; it blows me away how much she loves it. She is always getting into their crayons too and scribbling in their coloring books and notebooks, but her favorite is definitely the chalk. She gets so excited when she sees the bucket of chalk outside. She walks back and forth between the bucket and the sidewalk to get a new color and then come back to crouch down and draw. It's the cutest thing ever. Not to mention, my big girls just love coming up with their 'themes' after every big rain that we have, which presents us with our new 'canvas' each time. Currently we've got a big neighborhood picture going on, and it's so cute seeing what they each think up as an idea to draw. Faith said the neighborhood needed a 'Coney Tony's' (a local hot dog joint) and so there's a little building with a hot dog above it. It's too cute.