First Day of School

Mimi had her FIRST day back at her old preschool!

She'd been very anxious to get back, but on the day of, I could tell she was having some anxiety (I think I remember that from last year). But also like last year, she marched into the class and was off and playing. It was so fun that she already had some pals from last year in the class.

The first day was an hour with half the class.

Thursday was the real "FIRST" full day.

And to our surprise, the teacher signed us up for snacks so that Mimi could celebrate her usually neglected summer birthday!

When I picked her up with the boys she was wearing a birthday crown and was excited that she got to have birthday cupcakes with her class. (Mimi actually has Julie to thank for the icing on the cupcakes. I was about to bring them naked-because I guess I'm just that kind of mom. But Julie helped me see that Mimi would probably vote icing. So there you have it). 

They made a Spot dog with a tail that wags. So basically it was the best day in the history of the world).

my lil' bakers...

I like family traditions. Even if it means hanging on to them too tightly...(I'm also the same mom who has to fight the urge to keep our family on my scheduled route through Disney World, but that's a whole different story).

Our "first day of school" tradition was to go to Two Dog Diner in cute lil' Prospect. (and by tradition, I mean that we did it last year and I declared we come back every year to get pie on the first day of school).

Last night I was starved for a "home-cooked" type meal that I didn't cook. 

Two Dog is the place...

and we brought Mimi's dog...how fitting!

They bring homemade chips to the table...yum

This is how every meal ends!

Happy FIRST DAY Mims!!!

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All In A Day's Work

One day I was helping Mimi wash her hands. Then before we knew it, Bode was at our side...eye level with the sink. It took me a minute to realize that he'd taken the liberty to use the bathroom stool as well. He cracks me up.

It still tickles me to see him doing stuff like that. He looks so grown up....

But then he has to take it to the next level:

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He also felt pretty proud of this accomplishment:

Silly boy. The world is his mountain.

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Munchies At Menchies

This is how we spent Mimi's birthday night.

Ben has always called Mimi "Munchies." (like a shortened version of Munchkin. We love nicknames apparently). 

We called Gentry and fam to come, but also ran into Mimi's other fave friend Mikaela on accident!!! It was a birthday miracle!!!

We took the place over with chaos and stickiness but it was fun :)

We love ALL the "Munchies" in our lives!

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Riding High On Being Four

This little sweetie is so super glad to be four years old. 

All summer Mimi kept evaluating who of her friends were still three. And as birthdays passed this summer, she was the only one who was left in threesville. It was a lonely place for her with huge tumbleweeds blowing by.
Thank goodness her birthday finally came.

And now, as I kept reminding her, all her friends would start school (today!) as four year olds on equal ground.

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Yesterday we had her four year old appointment. It was so uneventful. When it came time for Dr. Nancy to ask me if I had any questions (I'm used to whipping  out my long list at Bode's appointments) I had none. Not one single one. 

She was so big! She passed her hearing and vision and had to pee in a cup (her stand out moment).

She is solidly in the 75th percentile for everything. Just like she always has been! I'm pretty sure she's scheduled to be taller than me by first grade.

These two boys were in tow:

And they were even good! (as long as I kept the goldfish and fruit snacks coming, no one would get hurt)

Afterwards as a reward (and as a way to ensure a good nap time) we had a picnic at a little splash park nearby:

And it looks like my plan worked brilliantly...muuuahhhaa haa haa! ;)

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Here's also a lil' video of Mimi "riding" her stick horse from the fair earlier this month...

Making His Opinions Known

I think I forgot how fun a one year old is. The trade off for the exhausting, constant supervision that's needed is the budding abilities to begin to express one's self. I love getting to know Bode. I love finding out what he likes to eat (fruit..unfortunately in the diaper department), bananas (I use Gwen Stefani to spell that word in my head) and macaroni and cheese. I love finding out what he likes to do (dig outside in the dirt). I love discovering how much he LOOOOOVES Henry (his face lights up every time he hears him meow..from outside of course;). And he adores our lift-the-flap Elmo books. He especially loves my amazing (not really) impression of Cookie Monster. He kept making a funny, guttural sound when we started reading, and I quickly realized that was his Cookie Monster impression. It's adorable. He whips through all of the pages until he finds his big blue friend. I think that I may go buy a Cookie Monster stuffed animal in celebration of finding out this about our boy.

But Elmo isn't to be outshone by Cookie Monster. The other night as we were reading before bed, Bode leaned his head down and planted a smacker, right on Elmo. It was precious. That was his way of saying "I love you man" to the furry red monster. MELT!

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The other night while Ben was gone for the weekend the kids and I took a very ambitious walk to the Baskin Robbins (and Starbucks of course) about a mile/mile and a half from our house. It was 6pm. The sun was scheduled to set at 7:45 (thanks 9news.com) and Bode had taken a late marathon nap. And Ben was gone. For the weekend. Did I mention that? So I needed anything to break up the evening monotony. So we walked. It was great, but it got to be a loooong trek on the way home. The sun started setting and we had yet to cross a few streets. Bode was OVER IT. As I pushed the double stroller faster I looked down and saw Bode doing the sign for "all done." (Just recently mastered). HILARIOUS! And that right there is why baby sign language was invented. For him to know that's what he was feeling and to communicate it is still amazing to me (although I already was reading his "sign" for all done loud and clear...read: screaming.). But still. And always ready to document, it's caught on tape:

Between the climbing adventures and the newfound ability to communicate more, I think I will have lots to write about ;)

More New

Even though Spring is the season best known for its "newness," lately Fall has seemed more fresh with new things to me. New ages of our kids, new year of preschool, new job, starting ballet...Fall is abuzz with all new things...at least for us. It's just ripe with possibilities...

Mimi had mentioned wanting to take dance for some time, so as birthday present from Nana/Gpa and Oma/BT (all weird names by the way...especially when strung together ;) we signed her up. It's a cute little studio within walking distance from our house. (we still HEART our new neighborhood)

It was so fun shopping for her leotard, tights and ballet slippers. For Mimi, the fun was in the outfit. For me, it was watching her take direction from her teacher and take the whole thing so serious as she twirled and leaped across the dance floor. Even though her expression was muted and intent, I knew that inside she was sparkling and elated.

Dad even got to peek in for the last part, on his way home from a training.

This is how Bode watched for (almost) the whole time. I've never seen him do anything that consistently for that long.

Here's some pictures of the fam at Back to School Night. It was a whole different feeling walking into such a familiar classroom and seeing faces of friends and parents we know, compared to being brand new last year. Mimi, conditioned from the school year prior, walked into the room and washed her hands (that was their morning routine). It was hilarious. Bode was just a new NEWborn last year this time. This time he made a beeline for the blocks and toys and made friends smiling at parents near us.

Mimi also has a NEW haircut! Fresh for the school year and her birthday. We went to a cute kids place at the Orchard Creek shopping center. It was an event for sure. (I think I was filling in days with things I didn't want to do with THREE kids in tow).

Bode was blatantly flirting with an older girl on the other side of the window...

Bode ADORES train tables...Santa, are you listening?! ;)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

(don't you just want to sing, "I feel pretty, oh so pretty!?!"

More flirting by Bode...

Here's to the new season!