Tooth Fairy Time!

My 5-yr-old lost her first tooth last night! She was sooooo excited! She's been working on that sucker for weeks now. She really wanted to show-and-tell that tooth at school today, so she dictated a letter to the tooth fairy asking if she could keep her tooth to show her friends. She also requested some Littlest Pet Shop stuff (ha!).

I was really worried she'd wake up when the "tooth fairy" arrived...she's a light sleeper. Luckily the "tooth fairy" made it in and out without incident. She DID leave fairy dust (silver glitter) next to the pillow and in a trail from the door to the bed. (bad idea in hind-sight...now I have to vacuum).

Here we go...down the fast road to growing up. =-( Here's a picture of the proud missing-tooth girl.

I have no idea why it looks nothing like her...maybe a weird angle..who knows.

A post about our late family Christmas 24-hr crazy getaway coming soon!

God Bless America and Preschoolers!
(we'll work on where the heart is...oops...but still cute as heck)

No School and a Trip to the Zoo

Lauren had a no-school day earlier this week, so we took full advantage of the perfect Fall weather and our free pass she earned from the library this summer and headed to the zoo!

Our zoo is small...dinky, really...but perfect for preschoolers. Just enough wild animals to keep their interest. And best of all...you can be done with it all in 3 hours or less. They LOVED the parakeet feeding exhibit and the giraffes! Luckily they came out unscathed from the x-rated giant tortoises (ick). I guess I'd never thought of HOW the giant tortoise breeding process worked...and I can honestly say I'd love to never think of it again. So. Gross.

Here are a few pics from our no-school day adventure:

Lauren - 2010

3rd year of dance

Tap/Ballet Combo Class

Today is school picture day for my pre-K girl. We laid out her outfit last night and talked about smiling pretty (not fake). This morning she was slooooooow-moving! Finally she got dressed. I sent her upstairs to brush her teeth (why didn't I do this BEFORE she put her clothes on?!). She came downstairs not only with a big glop of toothpaste on her shirt, but she smelled to high-heaven of my perfume (and not the better smelling one). After scolding her for not asking permission to touch my things, she told me she wanted to be "fancy" for school pictures. God bless teachers!

So I'm hoping she ends up with her hair fairly in-place, that the water I used to scrub off the toothpaste dries before her picture and doesn't show the toothpaste, and that we don't end up school pictures fit for Ellen's bad school photo segment.

My 2-yr-old started his "school" today too, so the morning was a bit chaotic. It's a twice-a-week playschool and we love it. The challenge is going to be getting Lauren home from her school and racing over to G's school which lets out 15 minutes later. We WILL be late...no doubts.

So, here I am this morning....no kids for 2 1/2 hours! You'd think I'd be doing something amazing with that time, but I'll be delivering Bailey's cookie dough orders because a) she's too busy; and b) she can't drive. Joy, joy.

Since I hate a post without a picture...here's one for you. It's my new window covering in the kitchen over the sink. For over 2 years I've had just a valance over this window and every afternoon when the sun is in the West, it BLAZES through this window, blinding me and heating up that end of the house. FINALLY I took action and we bought a simple bamboo shade last weekend. It's plain..it's simple...but I love it. And finally no blinding sun when I'm trying to cook dinner!

Happy Birthday to my FIVE-YEAR-OLD!!!

My second-born, my tender-hearted, sensitive, funny, social, intelligent, charismatic, independent-thinker, music-loving, good-time-loving, drama-queen sweetheart is FIVE today! F-I-V-E! I just can't believe it! I love this little girl. She does everything big. When she's happy...she's HAPPY! When she's sad, she's SAD! When she's mad...LOOK OUT! When she's excited...she's EXCITED! You get the picture here. But that's who she is...and it is what makes her so wonderful (and challenging).

Five years ago tonight, after laboring all the ding-dong day and into the night, she was born via c-section. She even arrived on this earth in a BIG and DRAMATIC way (go figure). My first thought when I saw her was - She looks JUST like Mark's baby picture! And she still looks like her Daddy! I also remember how her first cries sounded exactly like a bleating baby lamb. Her Dad actually used to call her Lambie-Pie (and Knuckles...because before she found her thumb she used to suck her knuckles - ha).

She was born Labor Day weekend 2005. It was Hurrican Katrina week and the news was more than depressing for anyone, let alone a post-pardem viewer. I remember looking at her sweet, innocent newborn face and wondering what kind of world I had brought her into. Images of Americans covered in sheets or clothing - left dead on the side of a flooded street. Images of dehydrated babies, mothers begging for someone - anyone to help. An entire city in THIS COUNTRY abandoned..or so it seemed. It was a scary time to be holding a newborn.

I remember gas prices were over $3/gallon on the way home from the hospital (is my memory right?!). It was the beginning of a long list of uncertainties to come.

But now that she's five, and I have a better glimpse of the person she is becoming, I can say that this troubled world needs her! She is just the compassionate firecracker that may one day solve a big problem! She's the loving intelligent faith-filled girl that may one day comfort someone in need. She's the happy fun-lover that may turn someone's day around.

So although I may still be concerned for our world, I don't question bringing my girl into it. She's exactly what this world needs. My prayer is that she continues to be such a bright and shining star in this often dark and depressing time and that she never lose that spirit because I know with certainty...she will make a positive difference. Our little "Lambie-Pie" may be the girl to show others to the lamb of God!

I love you so much, pumpkin! Happy, Happy Birthday, big girl! I'm so blessed to be your Mommy!

BACK TO SCHOOL!

August 17th sounds EARLY, doesn't it? I mean...WHERE did summer go?! But ready or not...today was the day for Lauren. She started "Optional Kindergarten." This is a program designed for kids who might be OLD enough to start Kindergarten but maybe they have late summer birthdays (Lauren's case), or maybe they need a little more social/emotional development time (Lauren's case on the emotional front). We struggled with this decision for MONTHS! It's a hard decision when you have a 4-yr-old who reads, yet has a meltdown over something ridiculous. Ultimately we decided it would be best for her to wait, understanding that if we feel we've made the wrong choice, we can always move her to Kindergarten at semester.

Last year Lauren attended preschool three days a week. This is a step-up from that stamina-wise. This program is every day, half-days. So although this wasn't her FIRST first day of "school," it was still a first.....a first day at a new school, a first day with a new teacher, a first day of a new class.

Leading up to today, I'd say Lauren was pretty excited and unapprehensive about school. (She's not afraid of much..and LOVES school and social opportunities). HOWEVER, Grant decided last night would be a wonderful time to sneek into Lauren's room and sleep with her. BAD IDEA! The result was one tired and MOODY girl this morning. She was still excited though...so after the required pictures, we set out.




Grant wanted to go to school in the WORST way! "Don't leave me, Lauren!"

Lauren READING on the way to school...sharpening up her skills before school. ha.

Daddy's girl


Apprehension sets in

But with a kiss from Daddy, it's going to be alright.