Kindergarten Round-up!

I can hardly even believe that we're already talking about Kindergarten!!!  Tonight, we visited Emilia's elementary school, Sheridan Hills Elementary, for the Kindergarten Round-up.  We arrived at the school and the she got her name tag.  The person writing out the name tags asked Emilia if she spelt her name like Amelia Bedelia.  Nope.  Next, we turned in her registration paper work and went into the cafeteria for a cookie and a refreshment.  We were welcomed to the school by the principal before breaking out into 3 classrooms - 2 for the kids and 1 for the parents.

Emilia was a little timid as we walked down the hall towards the classroom she be playing in for a while.  When we got to the classroom the teacher could see Emilia's hesitation.  She knelt down to her level and asked her if she wanted to walk in the classroom with her.  Emilia turned and buried her face in my leg.  The teacher said I could walk in with her, so I did.  Then the teach pointed out a "secret door" that Emilia could peek through if she wanted to take a look at where mom and dad were sitting.  This gave her some relief and she agreed to take a seat on the carpet with the other kids.

Jeff and I went into the classroom next door to hear all about what the expect for Emilia in kindergarten.  We were comfortable with the curriculum and the environment and were wowed by the SmartBoard...a less messy and more technological version of the chalkboard from our days in kindergarten.  It was just a glimpse at one of the many things our kids will consider ordinary.  After our info session, we went through the secret door to get Emilia.  She was seated back on the carpet with a couple papers in her hands and quick to smile when she saw us.  She had a good time and is a little disappointed that she'll have to wait 9 months until she becomes an OFFICAL kindergartner on September 4th, 2012.

When we got home she told us she "wanted her ears pierced and a cell phone because she is a for real kindergartner."  Yeah...how about we start with a new backpack?  So it begins...

We're off to see the Wizard!

Emilia and I headed out for a special night, just the two of us, to see the Wizard of Oz at the Children's Theatre.  I was able to get 2 FREE tickets for us by using up some referral dollars I had from the Plum District.  Such a great deal - a fun night out with Emilia to an AMAZING production and it cost nothing! 

To surprise her with our special trip to the theatre, I wrapped up some Ruby slippers I picked up after Halloween along with the tickets for the show.  She was excited about the shoes and even more excited when I told her we were going to SEE the Wizard of Oz!  She had been Dorothy for Halloween when she was 2, so we found the basket and the puppy we named Toto for her to bring along to the show.  She wanted to wear her Dorothy costume and insisted on trying it on, but it was just a little too short two years later...  Her ruby slippers got a lot of attention at the theatre but she was pretty bashful by the comments.  She just looked down at her glittery shoes and smiled shyly.

We're off to see the Wizard!

Mommy and Emilia

Emilia and Toto

The play was AMAZING from start to finish - the acting, the costumes, the orchestra...all awesome.  It started out very dull in color and I quickly realized, this was because they were trying to make it appear black and white, just like in the movie.  After the tornado and Dorothy's arrival in the Land of Oz, the colors were incredible!  The costumes on the munchkins were great and we both got a kick out of the adult munchkins that walked on their knees.  Emilia was so shocked that Glinda was a witch that was beautiful.  Then came the Wicked Witch, flying across the stage, with her green face and hands and her long nose.  Emilia hugged my arm pretty tight when she was on the stage or flying through the air.  I had explained to her before the play that the Wicked Witch may be a little scary, but she is just an actress in a costume.  Emilia was also very interested in Toto and asked me every time he left the stage where he was...I would tell her he probably just needed a little water.  The play never lost it's luster, from start to finish.  And at the end, Emilia got to see the Wicked Witch smile and wave at the audience which left her reassured that she wasn't, in fact, wicked.

Such a fun night with my little lady!  I'm already thinking about our next night on the town!

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve was spent close to home this year...just down the block in fact!  We were invited to an impromptu "night in" with the Govenat's where the adults could enjoy some food and drinks and each other's company and the kids could do the same :)  My parents were able to come down and get Olivia and bring her home for bed around 8pm while the older girls, Emilia, Emma and Hadley, got to keep on having fun.  We thought Emilia would be there for another hour or so after Olivia left and then want to head home for bed as well...boy were we wrong!  They were having way to much fun to sleep!

The girls kept busy in Emma's room for the first half of the night..playing with Polly Pockets, dressing up, jumping on and off the bed and posing for a few pictures.  Once they needed a change of scenery, they headed to the basement to cozy up on the couch for a movie.  We all thought they'd fall asleep as it was after 9pm at this point but that didn't happen!  When the movie was over, they came upstairs to see the huge snowflakes that were falling outside and to do a few sparklers.  Then they came back in for a sparkling cider toast and a dance party until MIDNIGHT!!  Yes - these three 4 year olds had the time of their life staying up to celebrate the New Year with their parents!!  I loved every minute of it, knowing that in the blink of an eye, they won't think it's so cool to spend New Year's with their parents.



Cozy Cuties



Emma, Hadley and Emilia

Three little monkeys jumping on the bed!

Big jump!!

Liv - playing with the big girls.

Cheers!

Snowflakes!!

Sparklers!

After it was officially January 1st, we walked down the block back to our house.  Jeff and I wondered what the next day was going to be like for Emilia who was getting to bed 4 hours later than usual.  I think in this case...the year went out like a lion and came in like a BEAR.  Roar!!! 

Cheers!

Happy New Year!!

First Day of Preschool!

Such a big kid already!

Today was Emilia's first day of Preschool at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Preschool.  Up until today, she has been going to Cathy's house all day, every week day since she was 11 weeks old.  She is very comfortable at Cathy's house...it's really like an extension of home to her.  While Emilia has thrived in her 4 years at Cathy's, we felt it was important for her social development to put her a new environment with new friends and new routines.  We decided to enroll her for 2 half days a week to ease the transition before next year when she starts full day kindergarten every day. 

Ready to head inside!

In the couple activities we have gotten Emilia involved in, she has shown us a very shy, hesitant, anxious side.  While we are sympathetic to her insecurities, we don't want them to hold her back from experiencing new things or from having fun!  Well - at the preschool orientation, Emilia showed us some serious separation anxiety.  We got into the classroom and she insisted I stay close by while she checked things out.  When it was time for the parents to go into the gym for the orientation, Emilia clung to me for dear life.  I, literally, could not get her grip off from around my neck.  One of the teachers had to pry her tearful little self off of me.  I felt terrible walking out of the classroom but it reassured the decision we made it getting her signed up for preschool.  She was fine when we got back to the classroom, but standing close by the teacher whom she "shadowed" for most of the time.

After her first experience at preschool, I knew it was important to try to get her a little more comfortable before her first real day.  So we picked up the supplies on her list and brought them to the school together when there weren't any other kids there.  She was able to see her teacher, Miss Marisa and walk into the classroom with a little less chaos around her.  She was still very shy with Miss Marisa and didn't offer a lot of answers to the questions she was asked, but it was progress from the last time.

Emilia's Locker!

Today, was the official first day of school.  She was feeling good in her new outfit, sparkly shoes and polka dot backpack, complete with a folder that had her name on it tucked inside.  She cheerfully smiled for the photos I took to capture the big day and off she went with Daddy to her first day of preschool.  Jeff reported her needing several hugs and kisses before he left, but she did it.  We decided to both be there at 11:30am to pick her up today and hear how her first day went.  She was all smiles coming out of the classroom and getting her backpack from her locker.  When we got in the car, I started asking all kinds of questions but she didn't have a ton to share.  The poor thing was probably still processing everything!  I was just so anxious to hear if she liked it and if she had made any friends...I wanted all the details!  I vowed to be less inquisitive and to just let her share the details at her own pace. 

Cuddling up to Mommy at pick up :)

A great smile with Miss Marisa after her first day!

We are so proud of our preschooler!!

Liv and Emilia were all smiles on the big day!

Check ups - 4 year and 15 months

We brought the girls for their wellness checks with the doctor today.  They are both doing extremely well :)

First up was Emilia.  She is growing beautifully and is smart as can be.  She is a little shy to answer questions quickly, but it's not because she doesn't know the answer :)  When doing the hearing test, she was asked to raise her hand when she heard the beep.  She just sat there and smiled...  The nurse had to ask, "Do you hear that?"  With a little encouragement, she got into it and started shooting her hand up when she heard the beeps.  I have a feeling preschool is going to help her comfort level quite a bit.  We talked with the doctor about Emilia's anxiety surrounding bedtime.  This is something that has had some serious highs and lows over the last year.  

35lbs = 54th percentile


Olivia is doing very well too :)  When we were filling out the chart and marking yes or no on her milestones, we came across the one that says, "Scribbles with a crayon on paper" and realized, we haven't even given her the chance to try that!!  What is wrong with us!?!?  So I quickly handed over the pen and paper I was writting up and she showed us that, despite our short fall here, she knew just what to do :)  Olivia has been becoming more verbal lately too, which we LOVE.  Her most used words - mama, dada, all done, I did it, down, tickle-tickle-tickle, hi.  She also loves to make monkey sounds for all the animals she sees.

25.4lbs = 84th percentile

Waiting for the doctor and practicing saying "ahhhhh."

Emilia is all smiles after finding out she didn't need ANY shots this time!

Juicy Summer Fruit

Both Emilia and Olivia are great eaters who thoroughly enjoy their meals and snacks.  The reports from daycare usually describe the girls eating as great or stellar.  We are SO thankful that they love to eat and that what they eat is well balanced because this makes for healthy, happy kids.  The food battle is one we rarely have to fight as parents.  Don't get me wrong...every so often, Emilia needs some gentle encouragement to take a few more bites of this or that, but for the most part, she happily gobbles up whatever we have prepared for the family meal. 

Over Christmas, Emilia saw part of the movie, The Santa Clause.  In it, an elf comments that the reason his ears are pointy is because he doesn't eat his vegetables.  Well, this little scene has been imprinted in Emilia's little memory.  All we need to do is ask to see her ears when she has veggies on her plate left to eat and before you know it, she has spooned each bite into her mouth and is asking us to check to see if her ears still look "sharp".  Whatever it takes!  Ha ha!

When the girls get home from daycare, they are pretty much ready to eat the minute they walk in the door.  Unfortunately, we don't have a personal chef at home preparing our meals for our arrival.  So on most nights, we let the girls have a healthy snack while we work to get dinner ready.  One of their favorites is a full piece of fruit ALL TO THEMSELVES.  Given the sticky, staining mess potential of the nectarines I had in the fruit bowl last week, I decided it was best to strip the girls down and let them enjoy their fruit outside.  And enjoy it they did!!

Splash Pad

We made our first visit this summer to the Splash Pad with Kate, Tommy and Charlie.  Kate and I agreed that with 2 kids each, it would be easiest to manage them here versus a swimming pool.  Emilia and Tommy entertained each other the entire time and needed us only for the ride there.  Olivia and Charlie did their cute baby thing and enjoyed the many spouts and sprinkles with curiosity.

It's hard to believe that the last time we visited the Splash Pad, Emilia was 1 and had just started walking!  WOW, lots has changed since then!  Olivia had a blast in true 2nd child fashion.  She kept busy stepping on the bubbling hoses, walking under the sprinkler arches and being soaked from head to toe.  No fear, all fun!