First Day of 4 Year Preschool

It’s hard to believe it’s back-to-school time already!  Evie is attending school at Linworth Children’s Center this again this year.  She moved up to the Tiger Class and will be going 3 days a week.  Not only that, she’ll be there all day on Tuesdays for a Pre-School Plus program.  The school offers this program in afternoon so she’ll be attending her regular class on Tuesday mornings, stay for lunch and then have this extra class in the afternoon.  We hesitated a little because she is only four and we didn’t want it to be too much for her.  But after finding out more information about the program, we decided to go for it.  It’s still strongly play-based, but she’ll have extra time to work on some skills that she’ll need next year for kindergarten. 

Mitch was so sad that Evie went to school without him.  :(

The start of the school year also brought another huge change for our family - Pat started working nights.  He’ll still have Saturdays off so we will still have some all-day family time, but most days, he will be working late afternoon to close at Barcelona.  Obviously this is not the ideal situation, but it’s what will work best for our family right now.  Last year Evie went to school in the afternoons, but that wasn’t an option this year.   Her new school schedule makes it difficult for me to do drop off & pick-up.  With Pat working nights, he’ll be able to get her to and from school most days, it will reduce the number of hours that the kids spend in daycare and help to alleviate the cost of childcare a little bit.  All we can do is try it.  If we decide that it’s not working, we will figure something else out, but for now, this is life.

He felt a little better spending the morning with Mama and Daddy!!

Evie is super enthusiastic about school and we are very excited for her.  Her class is bigger this year (last year she only had 7 kids, this year I think it’s 12) and, from what I can tell, they will expect a little more from them in terms of learning and classroom responsibilities.  Her teachers, Miss Becky and Miss Beth, seem very nice.  It will be hard to top Miss Teri, her teacher from last year, but we’re hopeful that Miss Becky and Miss Beth will be fantastic as well.  Here’s to a fantastic school year!!

Weddings and Flower Girls

Last month, my cousin Morgan got married and Evie was the flower girl.  Evie was pretty excited about the whole thing, but I think her excitement stemmed more from getting to actually go to the wedding than getting to be in it.  I don’t think she quite understood what was going on most of the time.

She got to go to the Bridal Shower with me back in May.  She loved that it was just girls.  And she loved playing the games (thanks to everyone who let her win the bouquet!). 

The night before the wedding, I took Evie over to Xavier for rehearsal and she met Emmett, the ring bearer.  They hit it off right away and marched down the aisle like they’d done it million times before.  They were so good at marching that they passed everyone up and marched right up the steps to where the alter was.  That got a big laugh.  Dinner was at New Riff Distillery in Newport.  It is such a neat venue!! Pat had just driven down from Columbus after work that evening so he met Evie and I there with my parents.  While we waited, Evie and I had a little happy hour, just us girls.  I relished getting to spend this time with her because it doesn’t happen all that often.  It struck me how old she is now as I watched her nibbling her snacks and sipping her drink.   She kept looking up at me and grinning.  I think she liked having me all to herself too.   I was particularly glad to have to this time once my parents got there and she mostly ignored me in favor of Kiki and Pops.  Dinner was fantastic and we all enjoyed turning our tongues blue with the icing from the Xavier cake.  Evie was thrilled when Morgan gave her silver jewelry box and a heart-shaped locket with her name engraved on it.

The next morning, Evie and I headed over to the Dorsey’s house to get her ready for the wedding.  Evie was nervous around so many new people, but everyone treated her like a little princess.  She got a silky, flowered robe to wear and she got her hair done.  She even got to wear a tiny bit of make-up.  She loved getting her picture taken with all of the bridesmaids and Morgan.  They were so sweet to her. 

Evie couldn’t wait to see Morgan in her dress.  She thought it was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen and she’s told me more than once since that day that Morgan was the most beautiful ‘wedding lady’ ever.  I had one moment of panic when Evie decided to get blue crayon on the sash of her dress, but, thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and one of Morgan’s bridesmaids helped me to flip the sash so it didn’t show.  One of the most exciting parts of the wedding for Evie was getting to ride on the party bus to the ceremony.  She was so happy she was bouncing in her seat, and when the music started playing and everyone was singing, she was in heaven.

The ceremony itself went off without a hitch.  Evie and Emmett did great and everyone in the wedding party looked wonderful.  Unfortunately Mitchell decided to freak out as soon as he saw me so I didn’t get to see Evie walk down the aisle because I was too busy grabbing him from Pat and trying to calm him down.  Pat ended up taking him out of the church for the rest of mass to prevent any more incidents. 

After the ceremony was over, we had a few hours to kill before the reception started so we went to Arthur’s in Hyde Park for some food. 

Then we headed over to The Monastery in Mt. Adams to party the night away.   The kids stressed me out a little during the speeches and dinner because they didn’t want to sit still.  Regardless, the food was really good and, once the dancing started, I didn’t worry as much about them being disruptive.  We’ve never taken the kids to a wedding and it was a little nerve-racking for me.  I was very, very grateful for the help my family gave to us.  They were seriously wonderful and I can’t thank them enough.  We all had a blast dancing.  The kids were hilarious.  Mitch was break dancing and Evie joined in the Cupid Shuffle.  Pat and Evie even shared a Daddy Daughter Dance.  So cute!

It was a great day.  The wedding was beautiful.  The reception was fun.  And a wonderful time was had by all!

Family Vacation 2016 - Longboat Key

This year, we were fortunate to be able to take a family vacation with my entire family to Longboat Key, Florida.  My amazingly generous aunt and uncle recently bought a place in Longboat Key and graciously allowed us all to stay there.  The last time we all went on vacation as a family, I think I was in college so this was pretty exciting – although I have to admit that I had a little bit of trepidation about living with my siblings for a week after not living with them in over 15 years. 

We hopped in the car after work on a Friday afternoon and hit the road. 

And we're off!

I did my best to prepare to be in the car with a two and four year old for 16 hours.  I had games, snacks, crayons, books, movies and even little wrapped gifts to give sporadically to help pass the time.  Even so, it was not the easiest drive and I think we will fly if we ever go that far again.  However, we made it and the reward of spending the day on the gorgeous beach made the drive well worth it.  It was amazing!! 

We stayed right on the beach.  There was one huge balcony the overlooked the water, but almost every window had spectacular views of the ocean and beach. One of the things that I’ve always looked forward to when going on a beach vacation is being able to sit outside in the morning and have my coffee while watching and listening to the ocean.  Sounds silly, but to me it is the perfect way to center myself and start the day.  Not only did I get to do that each morning,  I was able to sit and watch the sunset each night, glass of wine in hand.  Perfection!!

The week was in a word – Wonderful!  We spent the days schedule free, alternating from the pool to the beach and back again.  The kids were little water babies and would stay in the pool each day until their fingers pruned.  We took walks down the beach and found some pretty amazing sea shells.  We built sandcastles and Evie buried herself in the sand.  Although we did go out to eat a few times, Pat and I decided ahead of time that we were going to try and stay in for dinner most nights in order to save ourselves some stress. 

 

Although no one expected him to cook, Pat whipped up some amazing meals and everyone was so appreciative!!  We bought a cake one night and celebrated Mitch’s 2^nd Birthday.  One afternoon, everyone, but my mom, Holly, me and the kids went deep sea finishing.  We took the kids to St. Armand’s Circle for some shopping instead.  Overall, it was a wonderful vacation and exactly what my entire family needed after a rough few months.  When we got in the car to leave a week later, Pat and I both teared up that it was actually over.  Hopefully we can look forward to having a lot more vacations like that in the future!

Happy 2nd Birthday Mitch!

I cannot believe it’s taken me almost two months to write this, but…Happy 2^nd Birthday Mitchell!

 

Buddy Boy – I can’t believe you are already two!  I can remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.  You took us by surprise that day in more ways than one.  You came 10 days early, were born two hours after we checked into the hospital and, since we didn’t know, hearing ‘It’s a Boy” was a little bit of shock.   I wasn’t sure what it would be like to have a son, but I honestly cannot imagine my life without you now.  You keep us on our toes with your boundless energy.  You, my son, do not walk anywhere.  You run full speed ahead into life.  You almost always wake up happy, gifting us immediately with your sweet smile each day.  You give the best kisses and tightest hugs, and when you come up to me and say “Me wuv you Mama” it makes my heart feel like it could burst.  You are loved so deeply by your Daddy and I, and your sister Evie absolutely adores you.  You two can fight like nothing else, but if anyone else tries to mess you with  - look out!  Big sister will swoop in to protect you. 

 

So what are you like at two?  Well, you love trucks, cars and trains.  Maybe love isn’t the right word…it’s more like seriously obsessed.  I’ve never seen anyone get so much joy out of seeing construction equipment out of a car window.  What’s funny to me is that you know all of the names of the trucks and equipment.  I say “Look Mitch – It’s a digger!” and you’ll respond “No mama.  Excavator!”.  You know all about dump trucks, bull dozers, steam rollers and cement mixers, but your enthusiasm for things-that-go extends beyond construction.  If I let you, I think you’d stand in our front window all day watching the mail truck, garbage truck and school buses go by.  You always get excited to see an airplane in the sky or hear a train whistle in the distance. You’ve gotten to ride on some real trucks, the zoo train and construction equipment this summer and you were thrilled.  You might not know it from the pictures though – you were dead serious about it!

 

What else about you Mitchell-Man?  Let’s see… you love storytime and we have to read you a minimum of 4 books at bedtime.  You like to be rocked at night, but at a certain point, you ask me to put you in your crib.  You’ll look at me and say “Mama – me go in my bed and you stay right here”.  You never want me to leave the room.  You still suck your thumb and I don’t see it stopping any time soon.  And you still have a fascination with your belly button, especially when you are tired.  You want to do most thing yourself now and you are so stubborn.  You like to put on your own shoes, brush your own teeth and do the buckles on your car seat.   You’re a good eater, but somewhat picky.  You will scarf down tofu and black beans with rice, but you won’t touch broccoli (or most other vegetables).  I still give you baby food pouches occasionally so that you get your veggies.  You love popcorn, cereal and lollipops, but most of the time you won’t eat spaghetti or pickles.  You talk so much these days and in paragraphs.  The ‘Ages and Stages’ questionnaire that I filled out at your 2 Year checkup said that you should be able to string around 2-3 words together, but you far exceed that.  You know some shapes and we are working on colors (you like yellow and purple).  You love to sing – ABCs, Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star are current favorites.  You ask ‘Why?’ constantly and about everything.   You’re not crazy about the vacuum cleaner or anything that makes loud noises.  You hate the air vents in the van and we have to keep the ones over your car seat shut.

 

You are a busy boy and you never stop moving.   Pretty much from the time you wake up until your head hits the pillow at night, you are a little Tasmanian devil.  It’s not that you behave badly – although believe me you have your moments.  You are just very curious and you like to make messes.  Big ones.  I can have the whole family room picked up and, in the span of 5 minutes, you will whirlwind your way through, fingerprinting every surface you can reach and getting out all the toys you’ve ever owned.  Another thing that you like to do is follow your sister around.  If Evie does something, you want to do it too, and you two are so competitive.  That’s partially my fault.  I often try to entice you both do stuff by making it into a competition.  Like “Last one upstairs is a rotten egg!” or “Who can put their pajamas on the fastest?’.  Most of the time, it’s all in good fun, but sometimes it turns into a fight, usually over the silliest things.  Like when you argue over who gets to shut the door, turn off the TV or stand on the step stool in the bathroom.  For the most part, however, you and your sister are two peas in pods.   You call her Sissy and she calls you Buddy.  It’s pretty cute!

 

You are definitely a Mama’s boy and I Iove it (although I know it can frustrate your Daddy sometimes).  However, as you get bigger I can see your bond with Daddy getting stronger.  He understands you in ways that I can’t and I look forward to the Father/Son moments that you will share in the future.  You love all of your grandparents so much and have such special bonds with each of them, but you and your Pops are great friends.  You love it when he tosses you up and holds you upside down, and you will follow him anywhere.  You pester him constantly, but I don’t feel sorry for him because he encourages it.  You make us all laugh Mitch and I thank you for that.

  

 

You are loved, Sweet Mitch, absolutely and completely by so many people and you bring us such joy.  Anyone who sees your twinkling eyes and mischievous grin can’t help, but smile too.

 

 

Mitch's First Haircut

Mitchell got his first 'real' hair cut a week ago.  I'd trimmed it here and there, but this time we took him to the Cookie Cutters hair salon.  He did great!! Can't say as much for myself - I got a little emotional. :)

Randoms

Just some random pictures...

 

 

Fire Station Field Trip

I'm so behind on this.  Life has just been busy and it's hard to find time.


Evie went to the fire station with her class back at the very end of April.  They all had a wonderful time and learned a lot about fire safety!!