Day 47 Swing

This boy loves the swing!  Thank goodness.

Day 46

Day 45

Fresh out of the bath on a Saturday morning 2/5

Day 44

2/4

Lemonade Stand

Allie and one of her bff's Alexa decided on a whim (like most days after school) that they were going to do a bake sale and lemonade stand.  They made "coconutties" and butterscotch candy. 

It was so cold outside too.  Yes, it froze here and our yards looked like it was Fall!  But they just had to get a stand set up anyway.  They called it A&A sweets.

Their activity days leader, Becky happened to be picking up her boy from a playdate at our house - she bought a bunch of it and even gave them a tip.  Then their other friend Macey came by and bought a bunch of it too.  All in all they made $7, and had a big mess to clean up after, that I had to finish cleaning after.  LOL.

Miss Magz wanted a photo with the girls!

P.S. I just noticed Allie is wearing one of my sweaters.  Her wardrobe just expanded to include mine.  I thought this kind of thing stopped when I didn't have sisters in the house!  So yep, if I can't find it, more than likely it is in Allie's room, all bunched up in a ball on the floor in her closet.

Our Girls

Allie looking regal and beautiful in her Renaissance costume.  She dressed up in this beautiful Renaissance gown for her History presentation at school.  She did her report on Queen Elizabeth I.

Pretty Maddie wanted to ride her scooter in her ruffly dress.

These two girls spent today dressed up as twins and made a mess of the kitchen making Blueberry Coconut muffins or cupcakes as Maddie called them.  Allie is growing up too fast -- she is starting to look like a teenager already (yikes!) - & luckily still thinks boys are yuck!  With a slender, tall frame like her Dad, she'll be drop-dead gorgeous. Maddie is also fast outgrowing the toddler stage - both Kevin and I are still enjoying the way she says things: Zame (Zane), feeder room (theater room), beanarito (bean burrito).  I love how she still has to be "kissed better" when she's hurt, and somehow that kiss still magically makes owies go away.  Magz is our cute petite girl with a spunky personality to boot.

Day 43: Baby & Teaching Preschool

"talking" to Kevin after he got home from work

2/3: This week was my first week back in preschool.  This little guy was great on Tuesday and slept thru the first class then woke for a little while to nurse during my break before the afternoon class started.  The preschoolers were happy to see me back and it was good for me to get back to teaching, although I enjoyed my time off very much.  I had serious questions about how the day would go with a new baby, if I should shorten preschool time, etc., etc., but I was pleasantly surprised to have the day go as normal as can be.  Maddie attended morning preschool and and was into "working" and the rest of the kids were calm as well.  Maddie went on a little girls' play date at my friend's house at lunchtime so she was gone for the afternoon preschool.

Today Zane decided he was going to be awake during preschool and fussed for the first few minutes of the first class.  I had him in my bedroom and every time his pacifier fell out of his mouth he cried so we could hear him so loudly we couldn't ignore him.  Especially when I was trying to get a birthday celebration underway! I finally brought him into preschool and he quieted down - he just needed the extra hugs and rocking to help him calm down.  10 minutes of fussing seems like an eternity when you are trying to do circle time with the kids!  After my student's mom left, and the boys and baby Zane finally calming down, we got thru circle and work time in a much more normalized pace.

So, I learned he couldn't be in a different room and just needed to be in class with me (that's what I did on Tuesday).  He stayed awake for the most part of preschool, but just looked around and once in a while would doze off.  For the afternoon class I just had him in his car seat and sat him by me while I taught. He was much calmer, and after 20 minutes of being awake, he fell asleep.  I moved him to my bedroom then.  The kids actually did better with him there - they were more quiet because they didn't want to wake him.  And the music made Zane sleepy. Win-win!

I was expecting the worst coming back to teaching preschool - but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was about the same as before I had the baby.  Only this time there is an extra little person in preschool and in a way it is a bit easier than teaching with a big huge belly...I guess as long as he stays calm :).

Student of the Month

Collin is ALA's 1st Grade Student of the Month, I found out this morning.  He gets to eat lunch with all the other grades' students of the month and their director, Mr. Sinclair.  Too bad he missed the announcement over the intercom since he was at the dentist this morning.  His teacher, Ms. Mitchell emailed me and told me to "Let Collin know that I am proud of his excellent work habits and the character traits he demonstrates in class".  

This of course isn't so much of a surprise - one time I volunteered at the school another parent, a father, approached me and told me that he was just impressed with how well-behaved and responsible Collin was in class.  Good things for me to hear. Keep up the good work Collin!

Day 42: Binky Face

Kaden loves his binky! And we love his hair -- look at it!

Day 41: Camera-shy

 

first morning nap after nursing at 8:30 a.m.