Day 2..in a new shoe!

Day two was a little harder. It was a better morning for us, but on the drive she was a little apprehensive and quiet. And with Gwen Stefani and Pink playing...that's not normal. She told me several times that she thought preschool was toooo long. We get to school, she seems ok, just a little quiet and slow. Take her to her classroom, she kind of lingers holding my hand. I kiss her, tell her I'll be back after lunch and off she runs to play a puzzle. Shortly after, our friend (Charlotte's mommy) comes to me and tells me she was crying and asked her if she'd come and get me :( she diffused the situation by telling her I'd be back soon, after lunch and distracted with dance talk. YAY! When I picked her up she had sooo much to tell me about, so I'm pretty sure she had a great day. She has a new friend named Madison (who has a lunchbox with flowers, butterflies and ladybugs), she danced to Ariel music, did a spiderman puzzle, played on the computer, played outside (the slide was her favorite), wrote her name all by herself, had storytime with a Pooh book, and her favorite part of the day was drawing a heart for mommy and daddy. How sweet does that morning sound?!?

Here's the cutie...in her new Nikes :) She picked the outfit, head to toe. (her Sulley socks, princess crown braids, & even the lunchbox--which we got her on Tuesday while she was at school, it's Wall-E).

I love her face in this pic. She was excited and nervous about her 2nd day.

First Day of Preschool!

Today was THE day. Mabelle was definitely excited about starting school, she got up and had her customary slept-all-night ice cream breakfast, then refused any other food. She usually eats a regular breakfast, but wasn't hungry..maybe she was nervous and just couldn't eat ;) Then we had to get dressed, all of us. There started our downward spiral. She wasn't happy with her clothes (even though she picked them), wasn't happy with her hair (even though she picked the style)...didn't want to brush her hair, her teeth or do anything. It was a whining, screaming, crying battle for about an hour. She finally started to get excited again and forget all the control problems she was having. She helped make her lunch, then Daddy did something to interrupt the excitement (prob just suggested a way to load up the lunchbox), and she started crying again. At this point, Daddy and Mommy were over the tantrums and ready for school. We were really worried how dropoff would go if all these little things were causing tantrums. Loaded up the van with the whole brood and off we went, with a not-so-happy preschooler. It only takes 10mnts to get there, so I had to think fast...Katy Perry & Pink!!! Yup, the answer to our prayers, that pepped her up and gave us our happy, excited little girl back. YAY! Dropoff was great, she kissed us both and eagerly walked in line with the other kids to a classroom and sat on the carpet eager to get started. I yelled that I would pick her up after lunch and she didn't even turn around...she said ok, and waved me off with her back to me. And surprisingly enough, there were no tears. No Mabelle tears and no Mama tears (well 3 or 4 10mnts after I dropped her off, but that really doesn't count, right?? LOL). Jason even commented that he was very proud of me for holding it together (I really give credit to those early morning tantrums for helping out :).

Dressing herself for school...before anything upsetting happened.

Cash trying to steal her new 'spahkly' shoes.

Oh...the look. This was after several fits...you can see a tear on her left cheek and obviously the look she's giving me is not a happy one ;)

My happy girl is back!!! Twirling and showing us how beeeeautiful she is!

Packing her lunch up..notice the spiderman AND princess containers.

Oh yeah, she was happy to pose for me outside.

Even wanted a pic with "all of her family", but that didn't turn out. It's on Daddy's camera and it's just of our heads. LOL!

In front of her school, the sun was too bright and she was ready to go in.

Waiting to line up with her classmates.

And school begins!!!
No tears from Daddy.

No tears from Cashy.

And no tears from Mama..altho I was ready with no makeup and my big sunglasses!!

When we picked her up, she told us about her day (we really expected to get and "eeeeh, I dont' remember" response)...but in a nutshell: she went potty twice, her friend only cried a little bit then had a fun time, she got to play outside, do art projects WITH GLUE (pictured below), her teacher (Ms. Malika) was sooo nice, she sat while the teacher read Bambi, she played on the computer, and she LOVED preschool. She even said "I love preschool, I didn't know it would be so much fun!".

My little monkey

When Mabelle was Cash's age, I remember her listening a leeeetle better. Getting her feelings hurt when her butt or hand got spanked...or I raised my voice. Not Mr. Cashy. He giggles. Or responds with a "nooooooo" of his own. His new favorite thing is climbing. He climbs his toy shelves to get her magnetic calendar and throw all the magnets on the floor--that never gets old for him. His new discovery...climbing the kitchen chairs to the kitchen counter...

Got onto the high dining chairs...

Slowly getting on the counter...

How far he'd climbed...he thinks he's being sneaky.

The prize he thinks he should get for all that hard work...the candy jar!

A Dual Time Out

With the kids old enough to entertain themselves, there's bound to be a time when they are both in trouble...at the same time. So one night...home alone...the kids were entertaining themselves by chasing each other around the kitchen island. Screaming. Squealing. The highest pitch you've ever heard. After several "please don't scream", "please turn it down", "kids, please stop screaming"...they both ended up in time out. Together.

They both walked to the step when I told them it was time out time...smiling. So I went to get the camera to sneak a pic of them actually sharing their first time out. I knew it wouldn't last long since they were sitting within inches of each other....but then the goofball started trying to make us laugh.

Laughing and smiling at their discipline. I'm in trouble.

Standing up...so I'd say "sit down"...he'd sit and burst into hysterical laughter.

Mabelle enjoyed his show as well...

It went on for about a minute. Then I let them out of time out, since it was working soooo well ;) But for that minute, my ears recooped and the screaming came to a stop. Mama wins that battle!

Catch up

The past week has been great, just been running around (no swimming, cause of my crazy ezcema). We also had some sweet visitors, they were so easy and just did a quick weekend Vegas trip. Just a laid back week before pre-K! AAAAACKKKK!

A few things from this week...Cash now says "noooooooooooooooooo" while pointing. And while Jason was shaving his arms one morning, Mabelle was watching him and standing on the bathtub edge next to him...rubbed his back and said in the most helpful and sweetest little voice, "don't forget your back, daddy". HAHAHAHA!

Cash enjoying his Max & Ruby stickers...he LOVES Max & Ruby.

Mabelle 'gwuing'.

Her first birthday package!! Thanks Heather, Ryan, Sage and Macy!! Not sure if you can tell...she LOVED IT!!!!!
So excited to play with everything!

Painting a rainbow...her tongue hangs out when she exerts any effort. Adorable!

Cooking for Mama :)

My little chefWrestling! Then she got bit on the forehead!! Zoom in...you can see the red spot on her forehead. There were teeth marks...and she was laughing about it. Eeeekk!

The cute culprit...

Her fancy preschool tennis shoes she picked out...Daddy promised her new shoes. I was not a fan of these at first, because I didn't think she'd like them for the long haul. But she does! YAY!

And our guest Rueben, getting attacked by the kids and Ruby!

Cash is goofy :)

Oh, our Cashy is such a goofball.

Trying to hitch a ride in the mega block wagon.

Mabelle loved shoes, and Cash is carrying on that tradition..

Hitching a ride on Daddy's back.

Swimming :)

Swimming updates...my goal was to have Mabs swimming by the end of August. Well, folks...she swam before the end of JULY! With no push from me, just decided one day she didn't want floaties. CRAZY! So she swims now, and has started jumping off the side, going underwater, then swims to the steps or side. And sweet Cashy, he's becoming a pro at using his floaties. He's not tipping his head into the water now, he's acutally staying afloat! YAY KIDS!

When I asked her to get some shoes on so she wouldn't burn her feet, this is what she showed up with...nice.

After swim we enjoy popsicles...pudding pops for Cashy. He looks pained, but he's saying 'cheeeeeeese'.

Floating and kicking!!

That's how she looks when she swims...doggie paddling, keeping her face out of the water. Such a little fish!

Jumping off of one step the to the next.

Look...no hands!

Having a blast.

CHEEEEEEEEEEEESE

Standing in line to jump in...oi, it's tough being the only adult in the water with two crazy kids!

After his 'jump' in ;)

Mabs (with the bangs she pulled on her forehead...lol) getting mad air :)