Happy Birthday Jane!

Happy 7th birthday to the sweetest, funniest, kindest first grader we know!

We love you so much, and we're tremendously proud of you Janey!!!

Love,

Mom, Dad, Charlotte & Sam

A to the K
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All she wants for Christmas, folks

First Grade Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

We had absoluetly GORGEOUS weather at the pumpkin patch today!  Schilter Family Farm never fails to show the first graders a good time with a hay ride, pumpkin picking, hay maze and baby farm animals to pet and cuddle. 

I'll be doing a repeat performance with Sam's preschool class next week - can we bet on the same weather?  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...stay tuned.

Here are some fun pictures from today!

Jane with her friend Berkley and sporting a new hillbilly grin.

Jane and Mrs. Bacon

Me and my girl

My darling friend McKenna (known around the first grade as "Berkley's mom")

Berkley, Jane & Clare

I think this was her favorite part

Having a ball!

Sister Swap Sleepover

Our girls are besties with these awesome sister chicks named, Kira & Elke (and their mom is one of MY besties).  So we often do play date swaps.  Twice this summer, they've all been delighted when we've done SLEEPOVER SWAPS.  Super fun!  Last time, we had Charlotte & Kira at our house. But yesterday, we had "the twins". 

Jane & Elke used to have matching blond bobs.  They've always gone to the same school/preschool and often get mistaken for each other, even though Elke is one grade ahead of Jane.  Now that they have "grown up girl hair"...well...not much has changed. :)

They had a ball last night swimming, eating dinner, having a movie night (Enchanted) and even let Sam tag along a bit. Right now, (1:18 pm the next day) they're in dress up riding scooters in the driveway.

The twins.  Elke 7, Jane 6.5

Not my shining mommy moment...

Here's the story...

I was getting out the mixer on Monday to make cookies with Jane for her birthday.  Inside the bowl, was a ziploc bag of powdered sugar (for another project).  I knew it was there.  I was going to remove it once the mixer was on the counter.  Somehow, while carrying it over, I must have bumped the switch.  So when I plugged in the mixer...yep...you can imagine the white cloud that engulfed me and a good 25% of the kitchen.  After I turned it off, and got over the initial shock, I began cleaning up.  I apologized to Jane for making such a mess and delaying our project.  She replied, "That's okay, Mom!  Do you need my help?  Anytime you need my help you just say, 'Gob dammit' and I'll come help you right away."

Ooopies.

Who said you could be 6?

Really Jane.  I mean, I planned on you being our "Baby Jane" forever, but I guess we can't stop you from growing up. 
I wish.

2 weeks old

On Monday, our sweet Baby Jane turned 6.  And under severe weather conditions to boot!  We were supposed to have her "Spa Party" Sunday afternoon, however our hill had just enough snow that we couldn't drive our cars up.  Since we didn't want anyone else to get stuck on Curran Lane, we decided to postpone it until next weekend.  Jane took it all in stride, and we all went over to the orchard and built the biggest dirty and maybe slightly drunk snowman ever.  On Monday, the snow was slushy enough we were able to get an early dinner at the Ram (Jane's choice) and had a great time.  She's really excited about her new Hello Kitty electric toothbrush (the only Hello Kitty crap Mom will allow), and her new Razor scooter with pink wheels (it's not even a hand-me-down!!!!).  We'll just have to wait for the snow to melt so she can try it out.

Charlotte 3 years, Jane 3 weeks (this was my FAVORITE sweater for her)

Charlotte (faking), Jane (not); 4 weeks old - Valentines Day

Jane - we think you're growing into such an amazing girl.  You're sweet, caring, smart, funny and you make friends where ever we go.  You're a kisser and hugger and a cuddle bunny too.  Thank you for enriching our lives as a loving daughter and an encouraging big/little sister.  We love you so much and pray for you everyday.  We can't wait to see what the future holds for your life.

At her family donut party Saturday.  I think she'll need a bigger donut next year!

Love those dimples.

Great job ladies!!!!!

After attending two wonderful conferences for the girls yesterday, we decided to celebrate with sparkling apple cider in champagne glasses.  The girls thought this was so grown up!

Of course, after all the accolades, toasts, etc., Janey went to clear her plate and plowed her 1/4 full champagne glass right over and it shattered into a gagillion sticky pieces. 

The dinner time clean up took a few extra minutes, needless to say. 

Good thing my wine glass was empty.  :)

Last night we were very thankful for 2 happy girls, 4 wonderful teachers and our fantastic school!!

Jane-isms

I have to write these down before I forget.  Jane just recently learned about "porta-potties" while were were playing at a park  We've never really used the word "potty" so I see how she got a bit confused when a couple weeks later we were at another park with a porta-potty.  She told me she needed to go to the bathroom,  and while pointing she said, "See Mom!  They have a "teeter-tottie"!"

The kids love hand sanitizer and each have a little bottle clipped to their backpacks.  I also keep a pump bottle in the car because we never know where we may find ourselves.  Any how, Jane must be like me and have no patience for inefficient use of time or energy. 

That is why I LOVE that Jane calls it -- "hanitizer". 

I hope she never stops.

PSE 9 - actions

So I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring out how to download and install actions for Photoshop Elements.  What's an action?  Well it's sort of like a recipe someone has already put together with various Photoshop tools, adjustments, etc., put in one handy-dandy "action".  You download actions from the web (various photography sites have actions for purchase and lots for FREE), then install them in your PSE program.  You open up your picture, click on the thumbnail of a particular action (or 2 or 3), and PSE applies the "recipe" to your photo.  It's pretty simple, and you don't have to waste a jillion hours adjusting every little, blessed, tweakable thing in PSE.  So below are two pictures from the first day of school that I played around with.  You've seen them before, but not with these fun actions applied.

For Charlotte's photo, I ran Coffee Shops "Define", "Eye Bright" and "Polaroid Effect".

For Jane's I applied Coffee Shop's "Perfect Portrait" & "Rounded Corners for Web".  I really like how it warmed up her already tanned skin and darkened the red in the brick.

It's fun playing around with this stuff, but I need my guru, Rachel, to give me a workflow tutorial.  Guess we need yet another meeting for "BWB" (Broads Who Blog). 

It doesn't take much of an excuse - especially if Rachel brings Pao's donuts.

First Day of School 2011!!

(Sung to "Another One Bites The Dust") 

"Uh, uh, uh...another one rides the bus. 
And another one rides, and another one rides...another one rides the bus."

Of course my attempt at the above humor is only to mask my inner sorrow at sending yet another sweet girl off to kindergarten and in realizing I'm the mom of a 4' 6" 3rd grader.  (Yes, that's only one foot shorter than I.)  Stop the madness!!! 

The girls BOUNDED onto Bus 5 this morning, with Gina our must drink lots of wine when she gets home beloved bus driver.  Then they asked if I'd meet them up at school to take pictures of them in their classrooms.  Of course I said yes, because someday they WON'T want me to come take pictures of them in their classrooms.  As you can see above, even Super Sam blended in well in kindergarten. He finished that puzzle in about 3 min. and was off to find another when I pried his Kryptonite averse arms away from the puzzle rack.  He'll get his chance in 3 years, and not a SECOND before!

Both girls are super excited about their new teachers and the friends in their classes.  I can't wait to pick them up at the bus stop in about 15min. and hear how everything went!

Jane's 5 (plus)

Jane just might be the easiest kid to photograph, like, ever.  Plus, she's DAMN cute.

(I am Jane's mother, and I approve this message.)

I wasn't joking, right?

What? Playing outside?

Sam and Jane commissioned this chalk art by Mom today. It's so nice for them to run around a bit in the yard and ride bikes.

Black & White Conversion



After

 

Before







So it's slight, but I used a "healing brush tool" to essentially airbrush the ketchup/chappedness off Jane's lower lip, cropped it so it was just her, then did a B&W conversion. I dialed up/down the different B&W effects because I wanted to created enough shadow to notice her 3 dimples and her big eyes.  Then I dialed down the opacity to allow a little color back into the photo, so you can see the pink/yellow/purple stripes of her jammies - barely.

Thanks for the nice comments I've been getting.  Be sure to "follow" me, k?  (Click on the Follow box next to the thumbnails of all my followers, I mean, friends.)

Janey turns 5!

Jane Elizabeth Kiehl
Born January 16th, 2006

This is "Baby Jane".  Jane, you're 5 years old today which means Mommy and Daddy can reminisce at the risk of totally embarrassing you - all. we. want.  We must have called you Baby Jane for at LEAST the first year of your life.  In the picture above, you're 3 days old.  You're in an outfit that your Godparents, Ian & Anna-sara, got you, and you're laying on a blanket from Auntie, Uncle Kirk and Luke (Maria Grace wasn't born yet, remember?).  You were a precious 9lb. 6oz. 21.5in. bundle of pure joy, and you continue to brighten EVERY day with your sweet disposition.  Janey - we never want you to change that.



Janey at 1 year old.  Yeah...she OOOOZED personality even back then!

Seriously.  What was in those cheeks?!  So if you know Jane, you know she is the most expressive child ever created.  I mean, God didn't give her 3 (yes seriously, THREE) dimples for nothing.  Since she was 6 months old, she's been making friends of all ages.  Five minutes after meeting you, you'll be BFFs.  She has a wonderful way of making you feel like you're the most important person in the world.  This is a gift we know she'll use for life.





Jane @ 2 years, 3 months

"Wait.  What was that you said about personality?"

You didn't believe me?  I bet you do now.  She did that goofy pose all. on. her. own.  I thought Crystal, our amazing photographer, was going to pee her pants.  (Me too, but I was also 6 months pregnant with Sam.)  Well, we've had a lot of those moments with Jane.  She has the BEST sense of humor. 







Jane 3 years old



Jane on her 3rd birthday at Red Robin.



So 3 was the year of growing hair.  Thank the Lord.  Being a child of a Hughes/Kiehl means you're a cupie doll the first 2.5 years of your life.  But how cute were those curls?  And where did they go?  They just up and disappeared one day.  Thankfully the dimple trifecta remains.





The bob



Janey, you're still just as sweet and loving as the day you were born.  No.  More!  You're our cuddler, lover, kisser and hugger.  You never miss an opportunity to help your brother or sister when the need arises and you make friends wherever we go.  You make your mom and dad so proud of you.  We love you and wish you the happiest 5th birthday.  Ever.

Shhh! Don't tell Kristine at Wild Child!

So I've been buzzing Sam's hair for awhile now. Last night I gave him my best haircut yet. That made me brave enough to cut Jane's hair today. It looks pretty good, though I definitely need salon grade scissors and those thinning/layering shears. She's pretty forgiving since she's so damn cute on her own.

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Today I was fortunate enough to go on Jane's field trip to the pumpkin patch.  Luckily, it did NOT rain, which was awesome - it was cold enough without it.  :)

 

Jane's First Day of School

Got pink?

Jane had her first day in Miss Debra and Miss Nicky's 4's class.  This year she's attending Mon.-Thurs., and she was SO excited to get her backpack on this morning and go to school.  When I picked her up she gave me a huge hug and said, "Mom!  This was the BEST DAY EVER!!!!"  She already had a job - weather person (see below).  This is her 2nd year at Sunset Christian Preschool at our church, UPPC.  Jane loved seeing her friends from last year as well as making new friends.  She's such a cheerful girl and I'll miss her when she gets on the bus next year and heads off to kindergarten.  Way to go Janey!!

Jane posing in front of the weather chart.

Who doesn't LOVE this face?

Apple Pie - yum!

Cell phone photo.  Just sayin'.

Jane & I just made an apple pie with apples from our tree in the orchard across the street from our house.  It's baking right now, and our house smells SOOOOOOO good!!  I used Jane's little thumb to make the decorative edge around the pie.
Good thing we had Dad pick up some vanilla ice cream this morning!

Kiehl Quote of the Day

So this is Jane, our 4 1/2 year old. To say she can be hysterical, is an understatement. If you spend any time at all with her, you can attest to that. She's also such a sweetie and is always trying to help others. The other day in the car I asked her, "Jane, when you grow up, can I live with you?" She replied, in a nice voice, "No." "No?" I said. "I can't live with you when you grow up?" In the sweetest, most matter-of-fact voice she said, "No. But you can still be my mother!"


Okay Jane. I will be.