When are you just too big?

I really have a passionate dislike for these grocery carts...they just spell D-I-R-T-Y to me.  I rarely let the kiddies in them but in the rare instance, I will let them ride in one.  Well, wait...the other reason I don't love them is because inevitably, they will get out after 5 minutes and as any other parent knows, they are a &*%!# to maneuver around the store when it becomes a childless car. Can someone advise me as to when the kids actually physically do not fit?  Because, truly...they are crammed in their like a couple of sardines but somehow the thrill has not died down!

Knowing what you want...or rather, what you don't want

I took Henry to a new school today.  I had signed him up last year so he could hopefully be with his sister at the same school, never truly thinking he would get in.  He did get in and I got the call a few days ago. 

Of course it was the one school that I hadn't visited, only heard great things about.  I asked if we could do a visit before I would commit.  Yes, of course, we could come.

We walk into the school and are waiting in the hall to speak with the staff in the front office.  Across from the office there is an auditorium where a kindergarten class is practicing a performance on stage.  They are singing and dancing and I must say, it was quite impressive!  

Henry is transfixed...just staring at all of these kids singing and dancing.  My inside voice is telling me...'aawww, look at that, we have always thought Henry was a bit musical, he will love this!'.  After about 5 minutes (waiting) and of Henry s-t-a-r-i-n-g at this group of kiddies...

Henry turns around to me...waiving his little finger at me in the air and says, "MOM...do not EVER sign me up for that class"...and promptly walks into the office.

Aside from the woman next to me who is now doubled over laughing, I follow Henry into the office.  He wanted nothing to do with that class who was singing and dancing.  How well do we know our kiddies??  I for sure thought that he was standing their just soaking it all in and loving it!?

The good news was that he at least seemed to like the school overall....minus the singing and dancing in the auditorium. :)

No Cavities!

Random post but I needed to send something to get back into updating our family blog. I will do my best and try to post past days as well.

Visit to the dentist today, no cavities and plenty of giggles. Way to go kiddies!

Construction

After many discussions regarding strangers...I was standing in the kitchen while Henry was out on the patio playing.  I have specifically said that he should NOT talk to strangers.  

In the kitchen, I hear Henry talking to someone outside so I run out to see what is going on.  There Henry is yelling over the fence to a construction worker.  I say to Henry, "Henry, I have told you that you are not to talk to strangers!"  Henry responds, "But mom, he isn't a stranger, he is a construction worker!"

 

Spring is here!

Our first house...I can't believe it!

 

The stars seemed to align, truly.  After 2 years of looking for a house, we found the perfect house for our family.  We love!

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Happy Birthday Sophia!  5???  How did this happen so quickly?  Last year I was saying to Cecil, "Can you believe she will be 5 in a year??"  And here we are, you are now 5!  I wrote a letter to you for your DCP yearbook and I am sharing it here because I think it speaks to you and how you have changed so much, in this special fifth year...

We know you had such a wonderful and special 'princess' 5th birthday with all of your friends!

Dear Sophia,

“Will Sophia ever look that old?”  This is the question I have been asking myself since you started at DCP in the parent tot class back in 2008.  The pre-k kids always looked so much older than the rest of the kids at the school…obvious, right?  But I say this because the pre-k kids had something a bit more...I just hadn't been able to put my finger on what it was except that they would be going to a ‘big kids’ school’.  The funny thing is that even when you started school in the fall this past year, I still didn’t think that you looked like the pre-k’ers that I had always seen.  But oddly, by the holiday season…it changed.  I think I know what the difference is now, what sets you/them apart.  You are losing your ‘toddler-ness’ and it is amazing to experience and see.

You were born into this world with the same personality you have today.  You are true to yourself, you are silly and fun, you are wise beyond your years, you are determined.   You have always needed to be comfortable with new people and new surroundings before you allow your true self to shine.  You needed time to warm up.  I have thought a lot about the transition to kindergarten which will happen this fall.  In fact, I can tell you that I have been teary at both your 2/3 and 3/4 parent conferences.  Why?  I just wanted to know that you would make that transition from DCP to kindergarten and be "ok"…new surroundings, new people…

But here is the wonderful thing, I have no worries today.  (Well, that isn’t entirely true ;)

I have seen you change.  You remain the caring, curious, funny, silly, comfortable and yet still confident little girl…but you are no longer a toddler.  There is a difference and I see it now. 

DCP has been an amazing place for you, for us.  We have both spent wonderful years at this school.  You have laughed, played, explored, painted, dressed up… every activity under the sun.  You have also made so many wonderful and special friends…friendships that I have no doubt will continue even when you go your separate ways with schools.  I have seen you do and experience all of those things with my own eyes which makes it even more special.  I have those memories because I have seen it all first hand at school and I will never forget watching you grow from my little Bopher to big girl! 

You have shined in the past 4 years at DCP and I can only imagine what the world has to offer you, and you to the world, in all of your years to come.

With all our love,

Mom and Dad

Having fun with friends in Beaver Creek

What a fun weekend!  We were invited by our good friends Jen and Denny Fish to stay at their condo at the Westin in Beaver Creek.  The weekend was loaded with firsts and a few almost firsts...

Sophia had her 1st lesson of the 2012 season but she also had one last year.  This one was a bit different, she wasn't with anyone she knew for her lesson, including Henry.  She was (and is!) such a strong girl.  When we said good-bye, her lip was trembling...she was trying so hard to hold back the 'I-am-scared-tears' but she did it. Any if you are reading this post, you know me well enough that seeing her hold back her tears made me cry...  Only a couple though, no water works :)  Her lesson went from 9 until 3...long day!  At the end her instructor said that Sophia did a great job.  She accomplished almost everything for that level, she said she listened very well, followed instruction and was very engaged.  Way to go Sophia!

Henry had his first ski lesson ever and he did great too.  I was a bit worried as I would imagine that an all day ski lesson in all of that gear would tire a just-turned 3 year old out.  He too though was great.  His instructor said that he was a bit sad in the beginning but after a bit he found his way and also tried hard and was very engaged in the lesson, very impressive for his first time at such a young age.  Apparently he was hot though as when we went to spy on him, he was without his jacket. Way to go Henry!

First time for them both in a hot tub too which they l-o-v-e-d.  Who wouldn't?  

First time sleeping over with friends.  Sophia and her good friend Reiney were so excited to show each other their pj's and when they came running out of their rooms to show each, they were quite surprised to find that they were wearing the same hello kitty jammies!  Too funny.

Sophia ALMOST had her first sleep on a sofa.  The plan was that Reiney and Sophia were going to have a sleepover on the sofas one night.  Sophia nestled in, as did Reiney.  That lasted about 5 minutes.  Even though it was her idea :), Reiney wanted to go back to her mom and dad.  

It was the first time Cecil and I have been to, and stayed at the Westin in Beaver Creek and it was wonderful!  We had such a great time with our kiddies as well as our friends.  We need to make sure that we go up for family skiing more often.  And we both quickly realized that we cannot WAIT until we can all ski together.  So much fun!

Sophia holding back her tears as we leave her at ski school

 

True friends...they only then realized they had the same pj's!

Loving the long undies!

Happy Birthday Hen Hen...you are 3!

Dear Henry,

Your Dad and I cannot believe you are already 3!  It has been so much fun seeing you go from baby to 3 year old toddler.  

Well, let's just say that it is so much fun when... you are being that cute, fun and adorable little boy.  You have such a lively spirit, you enjoy your days.  You are not shy.  You enjoy people.  You are a ham.  You love to laugh and you love to make others laugh.  You are an incredible share-er for a 'just turned 3 year old'.  You care for other people and their feelings.  You are sensitive.  When you and Sophia are giggling and playing together it warms my heart beyond comprehension.

Now, to be clear, there are also days that you are not so much fun.  You are mischievous (see previous posts).  You seem to pick 'fights' a lot with your sister...I know you love Sophia and just want her attention :)  You have a lot of passion for how you feel.  And this passion goes both ways.  When you are happy, you are so happy!  But boy when you are mad or upset about something...you are crystal clear about how you feel.  No doubt.  You are an easy read my little man.

One seemingly wise grandmother noticed all of this at the school playground one morning and said something that made me have one of those those 'A-ha!' ...It went something like this, "Boy, if you can harness all of that energy, his passion and feelings, he is going to do great things in the future..."  Wow, what insight!  We believe you will do great things in future Henry.   

We love you little man...you are our dear Hen Hen.  Wishing you a wonderful and special 3rd birthday.  Hope you enjoyed your party at Little Monkey Business!  And we believe that yes, you will do great things in the future.

We found the perfect cake!

And who couldn't use the perfect fireman's costume?

Oh Maggie...the first girl to make Henry blush :)

 

Loved the cake!

Karthy and Sam...our friends.

Karthy is a robot and Sophia's class mascot.  Sam is a dog and Henry's class mascot.  Oh how the kiddies love their turn with Karthy and Sam!

Oh what a night...

Oh today was a tough day.  Well, rather it was a tough afternoon.  I don't have any pictures to share...thankfully...because they wouldn't be pretty.  This is a short take on an email I sent to a friend the evening all of this happened.  Wow is all I can say!

"...this is what happened…Henry drew, with marker, all over the dining room floor (thank goodness they were washable BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW THAT!), he drew all over himself…hands, knees everything.  This is, mind you, while I am making dinner in the kitchen.  Mom could see him but couldn't see WHAT he was doing.  Then he walked all over the marker on the floor so it was then on his foot as he walks through the kitchen leaving marks.  NEXT, while I am making dinner, he goes into my purse and takes out my little ‘toiletry’ bag…he puts ALL of the gum in his mouth and spits it out…next I notice a snake trail on the floor of MY L’OCCITAINE HAND CREAM THAT I LOVE DEARLY THAT COSTS A FORTUNE. Next!  I see him standing next to our beige sofa with my FRESH LIP GLOSS unscrewed, in hand ready to smear it on the sofa.  UGH!  At 8:15 (post dinner which was yes, late) I give Henry half of a cupcake that Sophia got for Henry (at a play date earlier in the day)…he crumbles part of it in his hand and then drops the rest on the floor.  THEN when my kids are still telling me at 8:30 that they are STILL hungry I say NO MORE! …except you can have some jello because it is just sitting there and takes no effort in preparation on my end.  And, for some reason I just can’t say no to "I'm still hungry mom".  That is an entirely different issue.  I think, well Henry is sitting here in his underwear (because he smeared cupcake everywhere and all over his pj’s)…what can go wrong with jello?  Henry takes it in his hands and starts to squeeze…so now there are little jello droppings all over the floor, the table and his booster…mixed in with cupcake crumbs and frosting.  I did cry tonight BUT I having had a glass of wine and some alone time and now I am at peace.  What a day!  This mind you, does not include ANY Of the crying that occurred during this time.  Calgon take me away!  Far away!

Go fish or go home...

I must be honest, I have dreaded Henry giving up his afternoon nap.  BUT, much to my surprise it has been quite nice!  No more racing home to get him down for a nap he didn't want to take...spending much more time upstairs than need to be TRY and get him to take a nap and lastly, spending too much time at bedtime trying to get Henry to sleep because he wasn't tired...because he had taken a nap!   It was time....

We took a leap of faith and just decided to do away with the nap...and it has been great!  We are trying to get into our 'quiet time' routine, followed by some play time. 

This fun day we decided to play some 'Go Fish' for the first time...Sophia loved the game as did I.  Henry liked the game too although he is a bit on the young side to really understand how to play but he did sit through and play nicely.  Henry would say, "Go fish, go home!" and just giggle...it was fun!