Tee Hee Hee

You had a Thanksgiving Breakfast last week where you sang songs with your class and shared a little bit of preschool with your sister.  We all had a great time.  By the way, getting 3 kids and a mom ready and out the door by 7:20 is tough!  But we did it!

Dear Penelope,

First, how can you be almost 4 years old?  How is it that nearly 4 years has gone by?  What happened to by itty bitty baby?  Now you're a preschooler whose about to be 4 years old!   Wow!

The other day we just finished playing with legos and your brother started breaking up the structures leaving the pieces on the floor.  You came back from your room or bathroom and stepped on a lego.  OUCH!  Those suckers hurt and you now know it!  Well, you looked at the mess on the floor and said,  "Somebody needs to pick this mess up!  I wouldn't have stepped on it if it was cleaned up!"  Did you just grow up and become the parent instead of the kid? Are you almost 4 going on 34?  Are you projecting what you're going to say when you're a mom?  I don't know, I started laughing and suggested that you clean up the mess.  After all, you were one of the kids playing with the legos!  ;)

You crack me up!

With all my love,

Mommy

Fire Hydrant

Dear Colin,

You and I do a 3 mile loop on preschool days.  Instead of having you sit in the stroller the whole time, I let you get out and walk after both of your sisters are dropped off.  It takes us about 45 minutes to walk 1.5 miles but what are we rushing home for? Laundry?  On our way home, you are a chatter box.  When you ride in the stroller you just go for the ride and don't say too much.  On foot, you are constantly talking about what you see.   Since we have been doing this for weeks now, you have picked up on new vocabulary.  Your favorite, fire hydrant.  We see around 12 fire hydrants on our walk home.  On Friday, you requested that I take your picture next to each one on our side of the street.  You get so excited about fire hydrants that I simply had to take your picture.  This is exactly why Daddy and I agreed that you needed to be a fire fighter for Halloween.  You learned that fire fighters connect their hose to the hydrant and that's that  - fire hydrants are awesome!

You asked for this picture.  I requested that you didn't touch this hydrant.  I guess there's no holding back when a fire hydrant is involved.

With all my love,

Mommy

Potty Party III

Dear Colin,

We had our potty party!  You have been diaper free for 2.5 weeks!  You had 1 accident last week and that's it!  Wahoo!  You will even wake up in the middle of the night to use the potty.  For now, I have the potty in your room during nap and bedtime, just so you don't have to go far if/when the urge hits you.

With your sisters, I planned for a whole weekend to do nothing but be at home with the potty.  Being the 3rd child with sisters in school, you didn't have that luxury.  We have had something planned every weekend and I didn't want to delay potty training any more.  So the first weekend, we went to Michela's monster bash on Saturday.  Then went to a friend's house for a dinner / playdate on Sunday.  I admit that you wore a pull-up during the Monster Bash.  I knew there would be bounce houses and bounce houses and pee just don't mix well.  You went commando during the playdate.  :)

You are happy to wear big boy undies.  That seems to be the biggest, most challenging choice in wardrobe decisions.  You have a bunch of undies but will only wear 3 or 4 pairs.  You only want superman, batman, or the flash undies.  The flash has only been part of your rotation for a day or two.  Prior to that was just superman or batman.

I'm so proud of you Colin!  No more diapers!  Wahoo!  I love not having diaper laundry!

Keep growing strong Mr. Man!

With all my love,

Mommy

Preschool Blues

Dear Penelope,

I am happy to say that we are back on track to enjoying preschool again.  We had a few days when you didn't want me to leave.  Let me tell you, it is incredibly hard to leave your child when they are crying for you.  Luckily, that only happened a few times but man, that was hard.  I questioned if you were ready for school or if the school wasn't a good match for you.  I cried while walking home after dropping you off.  My heart ached.   The only reason I kept taking you was because upon pickup you told me about all the fun you had at school.  If school was so horrible you would have been miserable the whole time.

Your teacher and I hatched a plan to help you with your separation anxiety.  Instead of hanging out with you until it was time for circle (9am), I sign you in, give you a big hug and kiss and leave.  Your teacher was in the front the first week of our new routine.  She took your hand when I left and together you waved to me through the glass door as I walked away.  On the 3rd day you were smiling and waving.  

Now you look forward to school.  You ask me if it's a school day and are happy when I say, yes!  I drop you off and you walk to your cubby with your head held high and ready for the day.   I am so happy that you enjoy school again.

With all my love,

Mommy

Halloween

Dear Quillinan Trio,

I have so much to say since I haven't written in a while.  For now, however, I will leave you with Halloween fun.  I don't have pictures from trick or treating at Papa's office but I'll be sure to hound your uncles for photos.  ;)

We started the month with a Kindergarten Pumpkin Parade.

Then we enjoyed the Sartorette Monster Bash where we jumped in bounces houses, played games, visited with friends, ate pizza, and redeemed game prizes.

Penelope's preschool Halloween party included, face painting, games, prizes, and another bounce house. 

Our Alice in Wonderland is enjoying her spider cookie.

Kindergarten spider party where Michela also made a spider cookie.

Look at the spooky black widow!

Queen of Hearts, Firefighter, and Alice in Wonderland a Fairy.

With all my love,

Mom

Preschool lunch

Dear Penelope,

One awesome thing about your preschool is that they feed you lunch!  You told me today that you sing a song before you eat.  Considering you attend a preschool at the Community Church of God, I assume the song you sing is a prayer.  This is what you sing...

(To the tune of Are you Sleeping)

"Butter Father, Butter Father
Once again, Once again
We bow our hands and thank you
We bow our hands and thank you
A May, A May."

You sing thanks to the "butter father".  I assume the song is supposed to say, "Love our Father..." but I kind of love your version.

Thanks for the giggles P-pie!  Innocence the best!

With all my love,

Mommy

Conversation with Penelope

Penelope: I am going to be a super hero when I grow up.  But I'll need a new cape.  I can't wear the one you knitted for me.  (I didn't knit a cape, I used a sewing machine)

Mom: Why not?

Penelope: It doesn't help me fly!

Mom:  Oh!  Where do you get a flying cape?

Penelope: I don't know.  I'll get it when I'm older.

...pause in conversation...

Penelope:  I'm going to miss you mom.

Mom: Why are you going to miss me?

Penelope: Because I'm going to be a super hero!

Mom: Why can't you visit me when you're a super hero?  Are you going to be too busy?

Penelope:  Maybe

Mom: Well I hope you find time to see me when you're a super hero.

Penelope:  I could fly lower.

Mom: Wont you come to the ground to help people?

Penelope:  No!  I'm going to be a flying super hero!


In that case, I'm going to miss you too Penelope!  Know that where ever you're flying, you are loved.

With all my love,

Mommy

First Day of Preschool

Dear Penelope,

The day has arrived!  It's your first day of Preschool!!!  I am so excited for you.  When I dropped you off you took your teacher's (Ms. Vita) hand and let her guide you to your new cubby.  Once you found your cubby you hung up your backpack and went to play.  There was no clinging to mom.  No fear.  Just an interest in playing and meeting new kids.  I'm so proud.

All the kids were eating lunch when I picked you up from school.  You told me that you ate a chicken salad sandwich and oranges for lunch.  I wasn't sure about the school providing lunch but I think it'll be good for you.  You will be exposed to different foods and be more likely to at least try it since everyone has the same lunch.

Your teacher told me that you made a new friend with a younger student.  She told me that you took on more of a caregiver roll rather than a friend.  Always wanting to help the little girl complete something or holding hands when moving from one place to another.  Of course you befriend someone you can take care of and act "motherly".  That's so you!  Ms. Vita wants to work on you being more of a friend than a caregiver.

Overall, I think you had a fantastic first day of preschool.  

Mom: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
Penelope: "A super hero!"

I think you are going to make a fine super hero one day.

With all my love,

Mommy

Summer Fun

 Dear Q Trio,

We had a busy summer filled with fun activities.  Now that school has begun it is time we remember our summer fun.

Summer started when Michela graduated from Preschool!

Michela Preschool Graduation Video

Then Michela turned FIVE!  We didn't have a big party this year due to scheduling problems but you had many mini celebrations.  We love you Michela Grace!

We went camping in Big Basin with the Sacchi family!

Big Basin Camping Video

The tooth fairy came to our house twice!

Colin now sleeps in a big boy bed!

We went Ollaberry picking and found shells on the beach for Father's Day.

Castle Rock Video

We went on a short hike to Castle Rock.

San Francisco with Olivia Video

We met Olivia, Auntie Phea, and Uncle Mike in San Francisco.  We swam in the pool, ate yummy pizza, and tried to see the Pride Parade.

We had six weeks of swim lessons! (5 days a week)

Swimming in Ventura Video

Spent the weekend enjoying the Ventura sun with Nana, Papi, & Uncle Kyle.

Colin's 2nd Birthday Party Video

Colin turned TWO!  We celebrated with a Transportation party!

On Colin's actual birthday we enjoyed the SF zoo.

Q15 South Lake Tahoe Video

The whole Q family under one roof for a long weekend?  Why, yes! 

Grammy and Papa with all (but one) grandchildren.

We stayed the night in Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay Video

We had other adventures that were not photographed.  We went to the beach a few times; rode bikes to the park; went to Golfland; went bowling; went to Happy Hollow; and went to Aqua Adventure.  Aqua Adventure is a city owned water park with a few slides, lazy river, and splash pad.  All five of us had a blast.  I look forward to taking you back next summer. 

   

Backyard Silliness

School is back in session now so our crazy adventures will have to be limited to the weekend.  We had a lot of fun this summer.  Now we're onto new adventures of kindergarten and preschool.  

Love you three!

With all my love,

Mommy

First Day of Kindergarten

Dear Michela,

The day has come for you to go to Kindergarten!  This morning, you were completely beside yourself with the excitement and walked on campus radiating confidence.  Other students held on to their parents and looked nervous.  Not you.  You were ready to go!

You are in room KB with Ms. Matveief.  You sit at a table with 3 other students; Trey, Aaron, and Liat.   You had no problem going to a new school with a new teacher and new students.  I admit to not wanting to let you go.  I'm going to miss you during the day but you're going to have a blast in school.  I can't wait to hear all about it when I pick you up!  You better talk girl!  I don't want one word responses!  Give me the gossip!

First day of school obligatory picture.
Kindergarten with Ms. Matveief
"I want to be a Veterinarian when I grow up."  

Another obligatory first day of school picture.  :)

Arrived in class and got right to work.

Here's a picture of Ms. Matveief talking to the parents while you started working.

You're a kindergartener!!!  Eek!  So excited for you!

With all my love,

Mommy

Birthday Boy

Dear Colin,

Yesterday was your 2nd birthday!  Happy Birthday!   Sunday was your transportation party and you seemed to hit the jackpot of vehicles!  We had a "flight school" where you threw airplanes through hoops.  There were also balloon rockets and a hot wheel speedway.  We enjoyed snickerdoodle cupcakes with our friends and family.

We spent the morning of your birthday at the San Francisco Zoo where you wrestled your first alligator!

Remember the time you went to the zoo and wrestled the Alligator? You can do anything when you're two!

There is a new "water" maze in the zoo and you couldn't get enough of this section.  

Maybe you'll grow up to be zoo keepers?

It's fun watching you explore animals at the zoo.  You wanted to kiss almost all animals.  Then we went into the bug exhibit and you said, "EW!  Yuck!"

I still can't believe you're two years old.  Where did my little squish go?  You're now in the world of "NO!  MINES!"  As well as the world of singing, dancing, silliness, and just plain cuteness.

I love you Mr. Man!

With all my love,

Mommy

Colin's 2nd Birthday Video