More Firsts...

This has NOT been a boring month, that's for sure. 

Audrey started preschool last week and is beyond excited to finally have a "cool" of her own.

 Audrey does not pronounce any "S" that is in the beginning of a word.  You have to provide your own.  This has led to a few comical confusing moments over the past few months.  So, in addition to loving her new "precool", she loves to eat "nacks" (snacks), go down the "lide" (slide), get pushed higher and higher on the "wings" (swings), play with "ticks" (sticks), of course, "nuggle" (snuggle) and watch  me "weegee" (squeegee) the shower doors after a shower.  "Don't fowget to weegie, Mommy!" she's always quick to remind me.  Of course, she's right there in the small shower area with me because why on earth would any mother want to shower alone?  I mean it's awesome being a captive audience in a room that echos with a toddler who loves to "thing" (sing) loudly and never "top" (stop) asking questions.... :)

On that note, did I mention Audrey started preschool????  No, actually, as excited as I am for her to have a classroom of her own, I'm going to miss her a few mornings a week!  She's been my ever present companion, well, pretty much ever since the day she was born!  She will go Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 to 12 and I really think it's going to be perfect for both of us.  I love her school.  It reminds me a lot of Natalie's preschool in Phoenix.  Thursday was parent and child day where the kids could get acquainted with the room and teachers and then she starts going on her own on Tuesday.  I'm pretty sure she's just going to wave goodbye to me and not shed a tear.  Not sure I'll hold it together quite that well.

 This is typical of how a picture of the never still Audrey turns out.

 

 

 She's such a delight, this kid. She's challenging, don't get me wrong.  She's stubborn as a mule and loud as a rooster and NEVER stops moving but she is happy and loving and kind to her core.  And I know she's going to make lovely friends at her school. She has started whispering lately but she whispers right in your eye, not your ear.  The nearness of her face to my face makes it impossible for me to focus on her so I instinctively turn my head so she'll get the hint to whisper in my ear.  Nope.  That doesn't appeal to her.  She just keeps rotating around my face until she can whisper at my eye again!  Not sure what that has to do with her starting preschool but just thought I better write that whispering thing down so I never forget it.

 

Princess Pandemonium

We've been invited to a few amazing birthday parties over the years but a few weekends ago we went to one that was over-the-top. 

Piñatas, a bounce house in the shape of a giant princess carriage, face painting, swimming, pizza, cake, cupcakes, and a visit from Rapunzel herself.  Quite the afternoon!  A four hour party...I have not been that exhausted in recent memory!  Oh, and Audrey nearly drowned in the pool.  Luckily the party throwing mother of the birthday girl jumped in the pool fully clothed to rescue her.  Ugh. Yes, that was a lovely proud moment that will haunt me for the rest of my life.  But, back to the party...

Rapunzel was amazing.  She sang with the girls (the "When Will My Life Begin" song that my girls just love...and have memorized. Word. For. Word) and then read them a story before she painted their cheeks and played hide and seek with them in the backyard.  I think our girls would have left in her duffel bag if I wasn't watching them.  Even though they both knew she wasn't the real Rapunzel ("her eyes weren't green, Mommy, so I know she wasn't the real Rapunzel") I'm pretty sure they pictured her riding Maximus home from the party!

 Seriously, I've never seen a bigger bounce house. 

Of course, I thought this party was totally over the top.

But as we got into the car to go home, Natalie said,

"I want my next birthday to be JUST like that, Mom!"

Great.

Firsts...

Last week was Natalie's first day of first grade. At a new school.  This kid's bravery amazes me.  She was so excited even though she really missed seeing her kindergarten friends on the first day.  She's met a few new friends (the first of many, I'm sure) and is loving her classroom and teacher.  She's a little discouraged that the days are so long, though. Kindergarten was just four hours and she's at school for almost seven now so it's been an adjustment.  But she's a trooper and continues to handle change waaaaaayyyyy better than her mother!  I hope this year is as wonderful as the last few!