last days

Preschool wrapped up for the summer with a bang. First, the girls celebrated their birthday with the class. I made angel food cupcakes and we served them up with whipped cream and strawberries Em and Roo picked themselves the day before.

There were birthday crowns to be worn and they got to be the line leaders all day long. However, Roo usually chose to be the caboose instead.

The next week they had Hawaiian day complete with a luau. Plus, Ms. Melissa stocked the sensory table with an ocean scene. Lots of pebbles, water, play fish, etc. Roo was thrilled!

Then, that was followed up by messy art day. A fantastic extravaganza of paint coated balls to chunk at a paper covered wall; fly swatters dipped in paint; shaving cream and Plexiglas easels; floam; and a myriad of other things. It was a preschoolers dream come true.

The final week of preschool was celebrated with pizza and a bouncy house and a whole lot of sugar love for the teachers. We made dipped cupcakes, cake balls and chocolate coated cookies for Ms. Melissa and all the specials teachers.

It sure is going to be a long summer without them. But, man, have those sweet teachers earned a rest!

Novembering

This month has come and gone. While a lot has happened, not a lot has made it onto the blog.
Mostly thanks to a wicked run of migraines that made looking at a computer screen challenging. To say the least.

We had some fun playgroups with our twin and triplet buddies. None so eventful as the last one I documented. That's a good thing.

Em and Roo attended their first sit-down-in-a-theater play. The Little Mermaid performed at the Scottish Rite Theatre. It was a terrific hit thanks to a talented cast, lots of required audience participation, and a couple of lollipops found down in the bottom of my handbag.


Roo restarted occupational therapy with the divine Ms. D and is thriving under her attentive care. While Roo gets to swing and bounce and, just, play, Em and I have a coffee date at Starbucks. Em loves chalocolate milk and girl talk at a cozy table for two.

Em and Daddy took a road trip together to attend Aunt Gail's wedding. Roo and I stayed home to recover from our respective sickies. Em had an outstanding time being an only child. She slept in the big bed with Daddy, got to see Mammaw and Pappaw before the rest of us, drove a tractor, played football with all the boy cousins, and grabbed a fast visit with Nana. She's still talking about the tractor.


Preschool is rocking along and the girls have bonded nicely with Ms. Melissa. Em has a special affinity for a little boy named Jackson. She holds his hand during story time. Roo adores Wade's daddy, who is present a lot as he's on the board for the school. They've participated in safety week and had visits from police, doctors, nurses and firefighters complete with their truck. The highlight this month was the school-wide Pow Wow with a shared snack feast and joyful noise instruments.

Aunt Kaki had a birthday and Em and Roo threw a surprise party for her with balloons and cupcakes. Additionally, they had several friends' birthday parties to attend. As a result, they are still wishing everyone and anyone a happy birthday and asking to help you blow out your candles.

We were blessed to host Mammaw and Pappaw for Thanksgiving. The meal itself was delicious and just about the fanciest thing the girls have ever experienced in our home. Roo said the table was beautiful and Em was so proud to participate in the cooking.

They chatted everyone up throughout the entire eating experience. Roo asked everyone what they were thankful for and thoughtfully recited her prayers to name each person.
So, for those of you that we were not able to be with, know that you were prayed for, remembered and are loved.

Hip Hop. They Don't Stop. First a Parade. Then a Photo Op.

Today was the preschool fall festival. Which commenced with the classes marching in a costume parade.
(We opted for tights with the bunny suit today, as panties peeking out seemed a smidge inappropriate at a Lutheran preschool.)

All was going well until Em spotted us standing along the parade route. After breaking out of line and running to her Daddy, she agreed to finish the parade if he went along.



Once the parade was over, we helped Em and Roo change into their play clothes and said goodbye. They had a full agenda of fun and games planned... pumpkin patch, rotating rooms for carnival games, crafts, stories, snacks, and then, early release at noon.
Because, who wants a class full of hyped up, carnival crazed 3 year olds after 12pm?

photo-op after the parade
once again... Em spotted us in the crowd and abandoned ship...
... much to the bafflement of the rest of her class.

happy as a dog, quiet as a pumpkin

The girls are coming home with some adorable art work from school.

And lots of it is on their person. Today, Em had a big blob of dried Elmer's glue right between her eyebrows and a huge red painted thumb print on her forehead.

Em's Monkey Report said that she was quiet during rest time! Also, that she had a wonderful time playing in the gym, since outside time was curtailed by the rain.

Roo's Monkey Report said that her favorite thing today was playing in art class with purple floam. And that she called it 'dirty grapes'. Also, Ms. Melissa is now a believer. She was told that Roo reads. Well. And I think we got a bit of the nod and smile treatment from her. But today's report says 'She read to me. WOW!'

Monkey Report

good news: They were smiley and glad to see me but not ready to head out the door.

bad news: The girls were not resting, when I picked them up from their first day of preschool.

good news: Em and Roo both had notes on their reports that they were cheerful, energetic and imaginative. Bonus, Em's said she followed directions and was attentive.

bad news: Em's report said talkative and had a special note to 'please remind her to stay quiet so our friends can sleep'. Apparently, the silence was too much, so she punctuated it with VERY LOUD CAPITAL LETTER TALKING.

good news: Roo made it through the entire day with no clothing or underwear changes

bad news: Em had an accident, plus another while I was picking her up and just had on a pair of panties by the time we got home. She even peed in her shoe.

good news: Both girls seemed really happy to be at school, wanted to tell me all about Ms. Melissa and when asked if they had a good day, said, "YES!"

interesting news: both had notes circled on their sheets that said I wasn't hungry and I didn't feel like resting. And there was a special shout out to the entire class on the report reminding everyone that they cannot share their food.

Synopsis: Sounds like we have some homework and will be eager to go back on Thursday for more monkey madness.

Ms. Melissa's Monkeys

Last week, the girls had a gentle orientation into preschool life. We had a 30 minute get-to-know-the-teacher meeting one day. And a few days later, a play date for all the 3 year olds at the preschool.

Em was all about the playground time for the play date.
Roo eased in with more caution, but finally warmed up to her new surroundings.
I think she and Lucy will be good friends. Just a feeling.
Ms. Melissa is the very patient and sweet mama teaching their class. She calls her group of 8 her 'monkeys'. It's like she already knows us.

This morning was the official first day of school. The girls seemed excited, but were ready to leave the house about 45 minutes earlier than necessary. By the time we actually left, Roo was frustrated at being held off so long. So, the first day pictures... not so great.



After arriving and handing over the school supplies, they found their table and paints and got right to work.
They gave me kisses and said goodbye and didn't even look up as I stood up and began to walk away.
This is how they looked when I left.