Sydneyism

S: I'm having a hard time going to sleep.

(This is at least her fourth time out of bed)

M: Go lay in bed, close your eyes, count to 200. If you are still having a hard time, come see me.


(Less than a minute later and she is back)
M: There is no way you had time to count to 200.

S: Yes I did. I counted by 10's.

First Day of Kindergarten

So, I thought Sydney had a good two weeks left until school started. I was trying to come up with some really fun, exciting things to do to make her last days of summer extra special. She and I had already had a mommy/daughter date to buy her school supplies - she was pretty excited. I was pretty much dreading that day - sending my oldest off to complete strangers five days a week didn't sound so appealing.

Then we got a phone message at 4 p.m. on Wednesday the first week of August, and there was an opening in the school I'd really hoped she we get to go to, but was told that it was full. Everyone else had started on Monday. So, we asked her what she wanted to do - turns out maybe she was a little more nervous about starting school than she had let on earlier. Bring on the melt down. We were debating what to do and still hadn't decided when we put her to bed (she had dance class at 8 the next morning.) Finally, at 7:40 the next morning with the kids loaded in the car for dance and David ready for work, we decided that we wanted her at the year-round school.

I called that morning to tell them we were interested and asked when should she start. (I'm thinking at least Friday...we are on the way to dance class) and they asked if she could start that day, and if not, at the latest, Friday. So, I let her make the decision - I was worried about her making friends and missing out on all of the fun stuff happening the first week of school. Well, of course she says, "Today - if we can go get a new dress like you promised first." So, I pull off at the next interstate exit, call David and book it on over to Target (where else do you get a first day of school dress at 8 in the morning!)

 

She got there around 9:30, new dress, but minus a lunch (we didn't have the time or supplies to make one that quick!)

She was glad to go. Daddy was already inside starting the mountain of paperwork to get her enrolled. I'm not going to lie, 7 months pregnant and sending your oldest to school is not the best combination, especially when you have less than two hours to prepare yourself. I cried like a baby and she smiled bigger than anything when we left her at her classroom. She was excited to be "the new student" and was happy to see a friend from church in her class as well.

She is the only non-Spanish speaker at her table, but she says they are teaching her. She loves her current teacher, Mrs. Fields, but is having a little trouble with remembering not to talk during class...can you imagine that? Her regular teacher is on maternity leave, but will be back after their two week break in October. I can't believe she is growing up so fast!

I

Miss Ava

Round two with a new cousin! The girls finally got to meet her in late July. Elle decided that just maybe Ava was more fun than a baby doll. Now, every time we see anything baby and pink in a store Elle says, "That for baby Ava."

Just maybe they are related...

What a sweet girl, we love her!

I feel pretty

Sometimes a girl just needs to feel pretty.

And sometimes a little silly.

What one does, the other must, too.

And, we can't leave Daddy out.

Kansas City

Our mini-vacation this June was to Kansas City. David had to count Chapstick (seriously, we counted thousands of tubes) so we got to go too. While the last day of our trip seemed like a very long trip to Wal-Mart (I think we visited 9 when all was said and done) we did do some fun stuff before. 

The first night we went and watched our very favorite baseball player. This is Ryan Fox, Sydney's dance teacher's husband. Sydney was thrilled to get to see him, and I think he might have felt the same. So, we had dinner watching the Kansas City T-Bones play - the all-American baseball meal of hotdogs and Coca-Cola, of course.  I came very close to crying when they closed down the funnel cake stand in the fifth inning- we were saving that for when the kids needed a good distraction. Because of all the rain delays, we left early so we could get the kids to bed - 10:30 or 11 I think. Sydney told Mrs. Britney she could text her to let her know if Ryan won or not. We then drove to our hotel. Just an afterthought, if you can get a room for $42 dollars with tax, you should probably look elsewhere. That might have been the scariest night of my life. 

The next day, we had breakfast at McDonald's, which had a huge playground and Wi-Fi.  This was a work trip for David, so he spent several hours doing what he does best. Thankfully this McDonalds had lots to do, including computer stations with games for the kids.

Then we were off to Great Wolf Lodge. (David always poses like that by wolves.) After a long day of swimming the kids got to go to story time that night, and then we went to the room for television and dessert - hot chocolate and cookies. Yum! 

But, first we had dinner at some really yummy BBQ place. The nachos were the best (and way more than we could eat) and Sydney managed to fall backwards out of the booth and spill her lemonade everywhere while Elle slept. We'll contribute both things to being tired from all of the swimming that day.

Which was followed by more swimming the next day - 6 or 7 hours I think?

And, what trip to Great Wolf Lodge would be complete with fuzzy critter souvenirs. Meet Ricky Montain (a raccoon) and Hedgehog (who is missing...if you find him, can you please return him??) They have probably been played with more than any toys we've bought in a while.

 Sydney is already asking to go back....water park, anyone?

The Witch

While Sydney was at dance camp they went to a swim party at one of the dancer's houses. As they were having dinner and the mom was helping serve, Sydney looked at her and said, "You don't really look like a witch to me." Everyone was a little puzzled (and probably wondering what I said behind people's backs) - and then she pointed them to a sign by the back door (probably meant for Halloween) that said, "Welcome - The Witch is In". 

Sydneyism

The other day I was being a little harder than normal on Sydney. She had to write a talk for church the next day and had managed to worm her way out of it all week. So, when she got up for the fifth time in five minutes to play piano, I raised my voice a little and told her to come right now or I was done helping her. Her response: "Mom,  when you are pregnant, you sound just like Dad." I was quite glad to know she only considers me grumpy when I'm pregnant. As for David, I'm pretty sure there isn't a baby influencing him. :)

Dancing Queen, the sequel

Elle has started dance - she loves it!

Her teacher is Miss Tracy, who has to be one of the most patient people I know.

She really likes the music loud.

This is her smile now...

News worthy?

Sydney has been almost swimming by herself most of the summer, she just hasn't been very confident about it. She is great and quite the little fish in any water where she can touch, but get where she can't touch and she freaks out a bit. The other day we were swimming and somehow her Daddy managed to talk her into going off of the slide with him standing there, but not catching her. The water at the slide is 5 ft deep, and some days I can't touch there depending on the water level. She did it and swam to the side all by herself. I went over to her and said, "Sydney, I'm so proud of you - you are an official real swimmer now!" She says back, "Yeah, I know. I think I might even be on the news right now."

Elleism

M: Elle, eat your dinner.

E: I a snake.

M: Ok, well, snake, eat your dinner.

E: I a snake. Snakes no eat burritos. Sorry!

The Anatomy of a Bug Fit

First there is the whimper.

Then the flail.

Followed by boneless.

And then for the big finale: the screaming fit.





Gotta love two...

Sydneyism

The other night we were leaving a friend's house and Sydney found a frog. She carried it to the car and I asked her to put him back in the grass.  She did, but not until after giving him a kiss. She looked back at me and said, "Mom, I like to kiss frogs - you know, just in case."

My heart is breaking

Translation: Sydney is gone for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

I dropped Sydney off at dance camp today. Her first overnight camp...two nights away from home. I worry that she'll forget to brush her teeth. Will she eat enough or will she be too excited? What if she doesn't shower the entire two and a half days she is there? Will her hair look like a rats nest when I pick her up on Thursday? What if she gets scared at night? Will she be embarrassed? Will I be driving to the studio at 3 a.m. to pick her up? Maybe even worse - what if she doesn't need me at all?

Two weeks ago, she said she wasn't staying because she was too little. Fine, I said. I'll pick you up at bedtime and bring you in time for breakfast. Then, Miss Jordan said she could sleep with her if she needed to - then she decided maybe she'd stay one night with Miss Jordan and one at home. Then somehow, one with Miss Jordan and one in her own room. Then, two nights in her own room. Something about those triple bunk beds is really enticing. Thankfully, when we got there, all of the top ones in her room were taken - she had to settle for a middle. Making a middle bunk bed with a pregnant belly....let us just call that interesting.   

On the way to camp this morning she said she was nervous - when I got her bed made she said, "Ok, you can leave now." But, thankfully the girls in her room remembered that they didn't have a cd player...I took that as an excuse to take one back.  And, it isn't like we won't see her some during camp. Elle starts dance tonight and then I'm chaperoning for the surprise night out tomorrow. It is just the thought of dropping my baby off at camp. Maybe we could rewind time back to when she was three instead of smiling this big on top of the bunk beds with all of her little buddies.

Oh, and she didn't need my help getting her shoes on today either.

I'm willing to bet that she is worn out come Thursday!

A Bug's world

We love our little Elle. Here are some things we can't get enough of right now. First off, those toes! We get to look at them a lot, because she will barely keep her shoes on - there are usually three pair in the car at any given time.



This is a Wadybug.

And so is this.

About the black kind of wadybug -  she loves to stomp them (or try...seems she can only catch the dead ones.) But, she has to put on Daddy's shoes first. No way is she going to risk getting bug juice on her little feet.


We don't get far without her blanket. And, it has to be THIS blanket, no substitutions allowed. Oh, and her two babies (which are both named Ella.)

And, we've almost gotten rid of that thing in her mouth - which Daddy decided would be a good idea to work on just before he left town for three days. Convenient. Without it, it is amazing what she can say. Some of her favorite phrases:

• Me first.
• I'll race you. 
• My turn.
• I'm angry!
• Pidney (Sydney), you bossy.
• He/she/it being mean.
• Mama, I need help. Come here, I show you.
• You're stinky!
• I poot.
• I don't wike that!
• I need the iphone.

Ask her what her name is and she'll tell you - Pidney. And how old is she?  5.

Cousin Numero Dos

June is the month of babies! Meet cousin #2 - Ava. She was born last night around 6:15 - 7.1 lbs, 19 inches. So, basically my siblings both grown smaller babies than I do. (I also have to say that they should be the ones with the bigger babies...they're taller for Pete's sake!) Sydney said she thinks it is more fun to look at her heartbeat picture (translation, ultrasound) and Elle insists that this is baby Sam. We'll get it all straightened out soon! So, in just a few weeks, the girls have doubled their cousin count and are WAAAY excited.

Bedtime?

The other night David and I were laying in bed talking, just a few minutes after putting the girls in bed. We heard thumping, which we assumed was Syd getting comfortable. (If she isn't tired enough to go right to sleep she spends a good 10 minutes kicking her wall while trying to get comfy.) I commented to David that Elle must be asleep, because we hadn't heard from her (she is a little less than sneaky when she gets out of bed.) Then, we heard some shuffling of feet down the hallway. We looked up, and there stood two giggling girls - in princess gowns. I asked, "Did you miss the memo that it's bedtime?" to which Sydney replied, "No silly, it's not bedtime, it's time for a play date!" And then there were four of us in our bed.

Sydneyism

S: Do I have Dad's hair?

M: Yes.

S: Do I have the same part in my hair as him?

M: Yes.

S: Well, I have his boobies, too - they're small, not like yours.

Dead Bird Story

Ok, here it is. The story with the now dead flying things. From the picture, it is like he already knows his fate.

Once upon a time, a sweet little momma bird built a nest in a tree. As it turns out, sweet little momma bird should really be named stupid little momma bird, because she forgot one important thing - you need to build your nest straight. Sure, while they were just eggs, life was good. But, my dear, eggs don’t have legs. Once they did, that is where the problems began. Sydney and her friends first discovered the nest because there was a baby bird laying on the ground. With some help, he found his way home. But, the next morning guess who had been exploring again? Yep, egg with legs was on the ground. So, back into the nest he went with his little feathered friends. The next morning, Sydney went over to the tree, expecting to find her fine feathered friend, and find him she did. Or at least parts of him...

The moral of this story, folks, is to always build your nest straight.

The end.

Summer Vacation

Very soon, we're taking a little vacation. Sydney is so excited and can't wait for the day to get here. She thinks we should leave tomorrow. This is her "summer vacation" and in her mind, it is going to be something far beyond marvelous. Earlier this week, she decided to take it upon herself to pack her bag. And, as with most of her plans, she enlisted her sister. So, this morning I unpacked their bags (as we aren't really all that close to being ready to leave) and here is what I found.

• Six baby dolls
• Elle's favorite blanket
• Five pairs of pajamas for each of them
• Sunglasses
• One Key

So, if you need help packing for your upcoming trip, just let us know!

We have a cousin!!

This morning at 12:28 a.m. Samuel was born. Sydney tried to wait up, but went to sleep a little earlier. This morning Elle has been carrying my phone around showing dolls and anyone who will listen Baby Sam. Congrats Stacey and David!!