Iphone Photo Dump

The ultimate puppet show!

Nice Shades!

You are so proud swinging on your own.

Library fun!

This makes me think of a hamster wheel.

Exploring the tractors at Emma Prusch Farms

"Look no hands!"

There are no words.

All you need is a simple box and your day is complete.

Playing with the pots and pans at preschool.

Hanging out in Uncle Kyle's new truck.

"Beep, Beep!  I have places to go!"

You may not walk independently but you can sure ride a bike!

I thought walking came before climbing.  I found you on top of Penelope's bed this morning.  You put yourself there.  Trouble!

"May as well check out the view while I'm up here!"

Prima Ballerinas

Sadly, we had to miss today since you're still getting over Hand Foot & Mouth but you loved your first class last week!  I'm not allowed in the classroom but I love watching you through the windows!  :) 

Michela, you always find someone to befriend.  This is Stella, your Tap/Ballet BFF.  :)  Last week, I was allowed to sit in and watch your class but that was a one time deal.  Now I'll be banished to the lobby.  I don't think you care very much.  hehe.

Vocabulary / sounds

Dear Colin,

Here is the ever growing list of the "words" I have heard you say.  Some of them are sounds for objects / animals but I'm counting them as words.  :)

Hi
Cheese
Shoe
Choo (as in Choo choo train)
Mama
Daddy
Vroom (vvvvvvvv)
Shh  (as in "shhh goodnight" from the book Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site)
ssssss (snake sound when you see a snake)

I love seeing the list grow.  Keep it up baby boy!

With all my love,

Mommy

Bedtime Sticks

Dear Penelope,

We have been needing to revamp bedtime for a while.  You are the ultimate bedtime procrastinator.  As soon as we closed the door it was a matter of minutes before you started yelling for us or knocking.  "I need more water!  I need to go pee!  I need my blankets!  I want you to snuggle with me!  I dropped my book!  My baby fell down!"  And it continued for an hour.  It didn't matter what time you went to bed.  You were in a poor routine.  Since you share a room with Michela, she started encouraging you to yell or knock.  She didn't need anything from us but knew that you would be all to eager to get out of bed.  Not helpful.

So we introduced bedtime sticks.  After dinner one night you were each given two craft sticks to decorate.  Once they were decorated, I wrote your names on each stick.  We then put them on your dresser next to your bed.  If you knocked or called for us you had to give us a stick.  So you have two opportunities to go to the bathroom, get more water, or ask for a snuggle.  For the first week I encouraged you to keep your sticks so you could earn a giant cookie at the end of the week.  It worked!!!  Now you call for us once - ONCE!  That's a huge improvement from fifteen or so requests / delays!  Way to go!  You usually use your freebee to get me to snuggle with you.  I have no problem snuggling.  :)

I love you baby girl!

With all my love,

Mommy  

Little Ham

Dear Colin,

This morning I pulled out the camera to take pictures of Michela's first day of school.  As soon as you saw the camera you started smiling and saying, "cheese".  Once you thought I had enough pictures of you sitting you crawled over to me to get a better look at the camera.  Future photographer?  Who knows.  For now I can't get enough of your cuteness.  

With all my love,

Mommy

Height vs Age

Dear Penelope,

Today we took Michela to preschool for her first day.  Paige, Michela's friend, was there and was excited about her birthday and first day of school.  She proudly stated that she was 4.  You spoke up and said that you were 2.  She looked at you and said that you are just a little girl while she was a big girl.  You looked at her and said that you're a big girl too.  I have news for you Penny - you are only an inch shorter than Paige and 1.5 years younger.  She's the "little" girl.  ;)

You may only be 2.5 but you could fit in with the "big kids" better than some of the "big kids".

With all my love,

Mommy

First Day of Pre-K

Dear Michela,

Today was your first day of Pre-K.  Your teacher's name is Tanya (she is automatically awesome merely based on her name).  You woke up excited and ready to go.  You are at Bright Beginnings one more year and in room 4c.  Your favorite part of the day was playing with Paige and Eva.  Everyone else is new to Bright Beginnings so you'll have to show them the ropes.

I'm glad you love preschool so much.  It should be a fun year!

With all my love,

Mommy

September 2, 2014 - First Day of Pre-K with Teacher Tanya

I failed to take a picture in the morning so these pictures were taken after school - hence no shoes.  :)

For comparison: September 5, 2013
What a difference a year makes.