A Busy Weekend As Always

Another busy fun-filled weekend! Jordan had her first ballet/tap/jazz class at her new dance school on Saturday. She is taking dance with her friends, Alyssa and Sarah. She loved the class.

After dance class, Jordan went to Alyssa's house to play for the day. It was Mommy and Katelyn fun time together after that.

I bought Katelyn a 24 piece floor puzzle last week at the children's learning store. Katelyn loved the puzzle so much that I went back Saturday and bought her two more.

After puzzles and a brief nap, it was off to Pump It Up for a birthday party for a little girl in Katelyn's class. Katelyn had a great time. She ran all over the place, climbed walls, and went down the huge slides. She was fearless; she did great; and she had a wonderful time!

Saturday night, Grandpa babysat the girls so CHH and I could go out to dinner. We had a great time eating at CHH's favorite restaurant, Roy's. He was so happy! It was fun. Thanks again to Grandpa for watching the girls! They loved being with him.

Sunday, it was breakfast with Aunt Julie, Aunt Jill, Uncle Marty, and Grandpa. Lots of fun. After a stop over at Grandpa's house and Costco grocery shopping, Katelyn took a nap and Jordan and I went to American Girl.

Jordan told me several times this weekend that her doll, Julie, needed to get her hair done. Since she said it so many times, I knew she really wanted to do so. Mommy and Jordan headed for American Girl and we had a great time.

Julie got her hair done (It looked like a bird's nest before hand! That store can work miracles.) and a new dress. Jordan told me that Julie wanted a new dress and had to wear it out of the store. We looked on both floors before Jordan finally decided on a cute light blue with colored polka dots sundress for Julie. Yes, we did put Julie in the dress before leaving!

Sunday we went out to dinner with Grandpa at Red Lobster. My husband heard it was "All You Can Eat Shrimp" so wanted to go. It was yummy. The girls had so much fun viewing the lobsters in the tank and naming them with Grandpa.

After dinner, it was our usual bath, stories, and bedtime. Jordan has been fantastic the last two weeks going to bed at 8:30 PM. She has been exhausted and it always sound asleep when I check on her later.

Both girls melted my heart (as usual) this weekend. After breakfast on Sunday, they were in the back seat and I heard Katelyn, out of the blue, say "I love you Jordan." I saw in the rear view mirror Jordan reach out to hold her hand and I heard her say "I love you too." They sat there holding hands looking out the window. I loved it and I was so proud!

Jordan at dance on Saturday. She loves ballet the best.

Katelyn with her classmates at Pump It Up on Saturday. She is becoming such a big girl.

Climbing the stairs to go down the huge slide at Pump It Up...

Katelyn was amazing climbing these walls. She did it all on her own!

My baby going head first down the slide.

Having fun with the birthday girl.

Katelyn singing Happy Birthday.

Katelyn and a little friend after the party. I love their brown eyes and brown hair! Both so cute.

Jordan fell asleep on Grandpa Saturday night. The girls love their Grandpa!

Julie getting her hair done at American Girl while Jordan and her other doll, Samantha, watch.

Jordan loved watching.

All done. Now it was time to find Julie an outfit!

Julie in her new outfit.

On our way out... Jordan and I had a wonderful Mommy/Daughter time at the store!

Katelyn's First Day in Gard 3

Someone appropriately called these three the "Three Amigos". They love each other and torment each other. Just last week, the little boy pulled Katelyn's hair so she bit him! We are constantly warning these three to not bite each other and to be kind. Basically, they hug and bite! Us Moms will be thrilled when the biting phase is over. Not good!

Katelyn moved up to the 3 year old class with her friends. She will not be 3 until December but they moved the whole class together. I was glad because they have been together their whole time basically. This was their first week in Gard 3 and their first full day.

Katelyn too seems to be growing and changing so much lately. She talks really clear most of the time now and is interested in so many things. I, personally, think she cannot get any more beautiful. I love her brown eyes and brown hair. The best part about Katelyn's features is her smile. That smile melts Mommy's heart!

Both my girls started new grades this week!!

Jordan's First Full Day at Her New School

CHH and I are working out a schedule for taking the girls and picking them up from their schools. Right now since I go in early in the mornings, I'm going to drop Jordan off at school and then go on to work.

This morning was my first drop-off. We did great. However the actual drop-off turned out to be more difficult for me that I thought.

The school warned us that it is chaos in the morning. We pull up in our car, someone gets your child out of their car seat, and you drive off. No hugs or kisses good-bye. It is quick.

Jordan and I pulled into the parking lot this morning and I told Jordan to unhook her seat belt. We pulled up in the carpool lane and Jordan's car door opened. We were pleasantly surprised to see the Headmistress of the whole school was our door opener. She greeted Jordan by her name (yet another surprise), grabbed Jordan's book bag, and got her out of the car. The door shut and I was off.

I was great until I looked in my rear view mirror. I could see another person leading Jordan into the school. Jordan had a smile on her face and I could tell she was chatting away. Her pony tail was swinging as she was walking and talking.

Emotions suddenly hit me and tears were pouring down my face before I was even out of the parking lot. Jordan looked so little compared to all the big kids arriving at school (middle school girls, high schools girls) and at the same time seemed so grown-up to me. I can't believe my baby is going to big girl school now!!

Yes, I thought about Katelyn and Jordan all day long! I couldn't wait to see them tonight and find out how their days went. I love my girls so much!!

Jordan's First Day at Her New School!

Today was Jordan's First Day at her new school. She was so excited to be there. She is 4 years old and going into pre-k. She will be 5 in September!

Jordan with a couple of her new classmates.

Jordan in uniform for her first day of school.

The head of the lower school gathered all the pre-k girls together and talked to them before they went on to their classrooms. Seeing all the girls together was really neat. In this picture, Jordan is in the middle of the group in front of the girl with a partial braid.

The parents went through an orientation while the girls went to their classrooms. While gone, they got their class pictures taken and individual pictures. They also sang songs in a music class I think.

In the above picture, Jordan is returning to her classroom. It made me smile to see her so happy.

Today was great and I'm so thankful I was there. Other Moms and Dads had expressed how important it was to attend this first day and they were right. Family first!

Swimming Classes for the Fall

Both girls have swimming classes this Fall on Monday nights. They were so excited to go to their swimming classes tonight. CHH watched Jordan in her pool and I watched Katelyn in the other pool. Both girls did really well.

Katelyn's class this time consists of three boys and her! She looked so pretty sitting there tonight. She is getting so tall!

CHH'S 47th Birthday and New School Fun

Jordan is in the pink dress with the braid with her back to me. For her new school, there were many various events to attend to meet the other girls and their parents. This event was a Popsicle party. Jordan was thrilled to be able to color a picture at the party. She loves to color.

My girl with a Popsicle.

OK, Jordan had one of those moments at this party! My sweet, well-mannered child who is normally good 95% of the time did the unthinkable. Mind you this was the first time for the girls to meet the other girls with their parents.

Jordan ate at the party Popsicles, pretzels, a miniature candy bar and some chips. I was speaking with another Mom and she interrupted me to ask if she could have some goldfish. I replied to her "no" because we were going out to dinner for her Daddy's birthday. I continued to talk to the Mom and then glance around the room looking for Jordan.

Low and behold, my dear child is sitting on the kitchen counter in this really nice home scooping out her own goldfish crackers. I about died!! Yes, I quickly got her off the kitchen counter, apologized to the hostess and gave her "the talk" on the way home. I was so upset that I couldn't remember the word "grounded".

Jill finally reminded me of the word and I grounded Jordan from watching any TV that night. Jordan started crying and asked "Does this mean Daddy can't read me 'Heidi' tonight?"

She really is a good kid and yes, CHH did read her another chapter of "Heidi" that night!

Katelyn and Jordan celebrating their Daddy's birthday. Yes, they are on the island counter. What is so funny is we were adamant when we moved in our home about not sitting on this island. I guess getting lax in the process allowed Jordan to think it is OK to sit on stranger's kitchen counters - huh! I'm always learning. Side note: Katelyn looks so cute in this picture. She seems to be so grown up lately. I keep cradling her in my arms like a baby when I hold her because I know it won't be much longer that I will be able to do so.

The girls are so excited to be singing "Happy Birthday" to their Daddy. CHH got a new IPhone for his birthday. He has had the same cell phone for the last 5 years. Who can do that? Seriously same phone for 5 years! Anyhow he is in love with his IPhone. I now have phone envy.

Eating some of Daddy's yummy Cold Stone Creamery birthday cake. Please note the position of Katelyn's foot...

and this is why we shouldn't allow our kids on our kitchen island!! It is an adorably cute foot though even with green icing!

Jordan was so tired Friday night that she fell asleep face down. The cat loved it and slept on her for quite a long time.

Saturday, we went to another parent/daughter meet and greet event at Jordan's new school. Katelyn went to this school party as well and had a great time. She really does think she is four instead of two.

Jordan playing ball with one of the new girls in her class.

Katelyn loved this thing. She was going all over the school gym on her tummy.

Sisters having fun!

These things were really cool as well. You would turn the handle bars back and forth and these things would move around on the gym floor - no pedaling. The girls loved them.

Late afternoon... Cuddling on the couch watching "The Lion King."

Jordan' friend, Alyssa, gave Jordan stick-on nail stickers on Alyssa's last day of her current school. Saturday night, Jordan wanted me to paint her nails pink, followed by glittery nail polish, and then the press-on stickers. At Jordan's new school, she is not allowed to wear nail polish and she loves to have her nails painted!

Jordan's nails when we were finished. She loved them!

Sunday, we went back to Jordan's new school to meet her new teacher and see her classroom. This is Jordan's new teacher.

Here Jordan is in front of her very own locker. She loved it.

Katelyn went with us to the school and once again joined in everything. Jordan and Katelyn are playing with some girls from Jordan's new class. They are in the art room at Jordan's new school. Both girls loved this art toy they were playing with.

I will say it has been really nice getting to meet some of the parents and their daughters. I know Jordan will be more comfortable when she actually starts school on Tuesday. She is so excited. I'm anxious for some reason. I guess I can't believe my baby is going to "big girl" school. As always, the time is flying. That's why I'm cuddling Katelyn so much. She will be at "big girl" school someplace before we know it!! I'm cherishing my times right now that is for sure.

Disney World August 2009

We are back from a week long trip to Disney World. We had a fantastic time. The pictures below speak to this!!

While at Disney, we met up with the "girl cousins" as usual. Jordan and Katelyn love seeing Maria, McKenna, and Erika.

Getting ready to go eat breakfast with the Little Einstein characters at a Hollywood Studios Restaurant, Hollywood and Vine.

I loved getting the pictures with the "Up" characters since this is the movie Disney released this year.

The girls loved having a picnic on Jordan's bed.

Jordan was great in the little parade they had at the restaurant. Katelyn was not quite ready to participate just yet.

Mommy's birthday (August 12th)! I felt like it was birthday week because we were having such a great time the whole time. The best birthday present was being able to spend time with my family.

I love this picture of Katelyn. Yes, please note, no shoes! Katelyn continues to take her shoes off constantly. It is a battle to keep them on.

Picture in front of our hotel, The Grand Floridian. The hotel was so awesome.

The grandparents drove up from Tampa for a few days to visit. The girls are with Grinny, their Grandma.

The girls wrestling with Papa.

A bit of Disney trivia -- the new Winnie the Pooh ride at Magic Kingdom replaced the former Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Their is a picture in the new Winnie the Pooh ride on the wall in Owl's room where Mr. Toad is handing over the deed to the property to Owl. I saw the picture and thought that was neat. I remember the former ride, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and loved it.

The girls' favorite ride was It's a Small World. They wanted to go on it again and again. They thought it was pretty neat to eat lunch one day at the restaurant over looking the It's a Small World ride.

Prince Charming picked Jordan first to dance with. I will never forget the look on her face and her smile. She was so excited and she was absolutely adorable.

Dinner again with the cousins. My cousins, Dan and Cynthia, took us to the town of Celebration, FL. for dinner. It is close to Disney and so quaint and unique. We loved it there.

After dinner, the cousins walked over to some fountains to play in.

Having a blast running through the fountains.

These two were so cute together. It was precious to watch them. It was great for Katelyn to have a cousin her age. Erika is 6 months older than Katelyn so they are really close in age.

After the fountains, the girls got ice cream. It was a great night and so much fun.

Erika and Katelyn enjoyed their ice cream as well!

Jordan joined Mickey in another parade at a restaurant. What I loved is Jordan had no inhibitions to do so. The music would start and she would jump up and join right away. I loved it!