She's in Preschool!

Dear Kaylee,

The day you have long awaited for finally came. You got to go to preschool. All of last year you would get sad when the boys went to school and you had to stay home. Then this summer when we got new school clothes and your Hello Kitty backpack it was almost more than you could handle. You were so ready to go to school.

 This whole school thing has been such a kick for us. Before orientation we got a letter in the mail telling us when your orientation would be. You asked me for the letter and you held onto that letter like it was gold.You carried the letter around with you everywhere telling everyone who would listen that you get to go to preschool now because you have a "map." A few days later Connor spilled his juice on it and you just collapsed on the ground in tears. You were sure that meant you couldn't go to preschool. Daddy took it really fast to the scanner and made a copy. He gave you your new "map" and you were ecstatic. You sat down in your little chair, eating cereal, and staring at your "map" with a look of such satisfaction that you were going to preschool!

Grammy Darrlyn asked if she could go to preschool too and you told her no because she didn't have a map. We got a good chuckle out of that.

Then a few days before your orientation you changed your mind. It was my fault. The conversation went like this...

K- "I go to preschool."
M- "Yes. You go on Friday."
K- "and Mommy watch me through the window."
M- "No, it's not like dance, there isn't a big window that I watch you from, but I will pick you up. "
K- "No window?"
M- "No, I don't get to watch you at preschool, but Mommy picks you up and brings you home."
K- "I'll stay with Mommy."

And that was that. You'd decided you were not going to go to preschool. On orientation day you dug your heels into the carpet, so I had to pick you up and set you in the classroom. You cried your little heart out. They said you cried almost the entire 30 minutes. You would stop crying and smile and laugh at something the teachers did and then you start crying again. When I went to pick you up you were smiling and laughing. I called your name and you turned your head and instantly broke into sobs. Relieved sobs.

The next Friday, the first day of school, was only slightly better. You got dressed slowly, you wouldn't let me take very many pictures because you were already pouting and then you dug your heels into the carpet again. You cried for three minutes they said and then you had a great time. When I picked you up, you ran over and gave me the biggest hug in the world.

This Friday on the way to school you told me that you were not going to cry. We got to your classroom and you walked right in, waving to me as you left. You love school. You love that there is a special snack time and a recess. You really love painting and singing.

I really love you and I'm a bit biased but I think you really love Mommy. You always want to snuggle me, and you get so upset when I leave the house without telling you. You were napping the other day and I had a doctors appointment. When I got home you were awake, and you read me the riot act.

"MOMMY! I woke up, and I look and look and you weren't HERE!"

Now I know, I better run all my plans by you in advance!

I love you little girl. I'm so sad that you're old enough to go to preschool. That just means you are growing up so fast. However, you just keep getting more fun to be around so I guess growing up is a good thing. I love you so much!

Mommy

Back to School

Dear Connor and Hunter,

We went back to school last week. We were all so ready. We had purchased all our new school clothes and backpacks and the anticipation of that first day was a lot for you two to handle. It did eventually arrive and you were thrilled. You have Ms. Amy and Ms. Shelly. Both are fantastic. Ms. Amy was your teacher when you were two so I couldn't have been happier.

Before your actual first day we had an orientation. You got to go see your classroom. The teachers had you play a bingo game and you walked around the room looking for all sorts of things like the bathroom and your cubby. You both have always really liked having a cubby so that was exciting for you, but even more so this year because you had a pencil box with crayons!

Your actual first day of school was pretty event less. We took pictures, I dropped you off. When I picked you up you couldn't stop talking about what a great day you had. Then we got into the car. Hunter cried the whole way home. I made lunch as quick as I could and sent you to bed. You both woke up happy but by bed time Connor was in complete hysterics, literally sobbing because he wanted snuggled.

Every other day has gone like this until today. Today on the way to school you said you were really excited and that you liked school. Nobody cried on the way home, and nobody threw a fit for snuggles.

 Your teachers love you. Ms. Amy was so happy to have you again this year. They always have such good things to say about you. I'm so glad that you do so well in school.

You did so well the pajama fairy came to see you on Friday. She left everyone a new pair of pajamas for doing such a great job at school. Hunter got Spiderman and Connor got Mario. She said she looked in your sock drawer to see what kind of pajamas you would like. That pajama fairy, she's pretty smart! 

During these crazy back to school weeks we've been having a lot of fun. Daddy took you to the Benton City parade! You got tons of candy and Seahawks flags. You loved your flags. They inspired Connor to be a soccer player when he grows up.

We've been doing silly things like celebrating National Chocolate Milkshake Day. Yes, it has its own day. You thought it was fantastic. Hunter didn't drink his though so it was a nice melty mess by the end of the night. I think you liked putting the whip cream and sprinkles on the most.

We also had Grandma Karen and Uncle Wades birthday parties. Uncle Wades was really fun because it was a pirate party. You love pirate parties.

I'm sure there's going to be a lot more fun to be had in the coming weeks. Its the best time of the year, the holidays are coming!


I love you!
Mommy

Date Night

Dear Connor and Hunter,

We went on a date last night. We went to see the NEW SPIDERMAN! Daddy and I went on a date last week and saw it and both agreed that it would be ok for you to see. It's actually my favorite Spiderman movie out of all them.

You knew we were going to go, which was my mistake. I probably should have just surprised you at the very last minute because as it was the two of you asked if it was time to go yet every ten minutes for 12 hours! I finally just took you to the mall two hours early to calm you down.

We had dinner at the food court, which you barely ate because you were concerned you were going to miss the movie. We went to Bath and Body Works and smelled all the lotions. We went to the play area and played. We went to Barnes and Noble to go to the restroom before the movie and read some books. Then finally, it was time.

I tried to talk you into getting candy bars at a grocery store to take with us, but you had your hearts set on popcorn boxes. We stood in line for the popcorn and discussed what soda pop you would have. I kept telling you the flavors and you kept telling me you wanted soda pop. To this day I have no idea why you say soda pop instead of just pop. It makes me laugh though.

You were very eager to pick out your seats at the theater. You chose the back row. I sat in the middle of you. Connor is still a little too light and the seat tries to pop up on him every now and then.

The movie was great. You two giggled through the whole thing. You loved the part where Peter Parker was playing keep away with the basketball and Flash couldn't get it. You thought it was hilarious when Peter Parker was thrown by the giant lizard into the closet and then jumped out a minute later as Spider Man.

You were still excited when you got home and told Daddy all about it. However, it was ten thirty before we got home and Connor was beat. He was starting to melt down and that woke up Kaylee. So there was a brief moment when everyone was melting down, but since we were up so late anyways Daddy put on Curious George. Connor snuggled with Daddy and watched Curious George and Hunter and Kaylee chose to come upstairs and snuggle with Mommy to sleep.

It was a fantastic night. A much needed night. Lately we've been butting heads and it was nice to just have a night out on the town with my two favorite little boys. I love you so much!

XOXO
Mommy

Reasoning...

Dear Hunter,

You have been making me laugh so much lately. You have been working on your "reasoning" skills. I call it that because truthfully, I have no idea how else to say it. You believe that there is an in-depth reason for everything! Literally, everything. Some of the conversations we've had lately....

"Mom, why did you make hotdogs for lunch?"
"I just thought they sounded good."
"Because you knew I love them and that they would be good for me to eat?"
"Yes."

"Mom, guess what?"
"what?"
"I can only sleep good with my Spiderman because he snores and sleeps too, so I should sleep with him huh?"
"Yes."
"Because you want me to sleep good?"

and my favorite....

"Mom why did they put the (blockbuster) receipt in my movie box?"
"They put it in the box so we don't lose it. You got lucky, it's in your box today!"
"I think she did that because she could see that I was the tallest."
"Well, they didn't know it was your movie, they just put it in a box and it turned out it was your movie."
"Because I'm the tallest."
"yup."

You and Kaylee are so much alike that you've been driving each other crazy lately. I have to break you two up constantly. She wins almost every time because you end up running to me in tears over some injustice. I try and try to tell you that you're older and bigger and you shouldn't let her push you around, but you are just such a teddy bear. I love that about you, such a gentle giant.

Monkeys are your favorite thing in the world right now. You just got a pair of Monkey pajamas that you are pretty excited about. You love that there is a monkey on them that has his mouth in an "o" shape because he's talking.

One of my favorite things that you do right now is the way you watch yourself in mirrors. Whenever you walk by the tv, or a mirror, or anything reflective you stop and start dancing in the mirror, practicing your strut, or fixing your hair. It just makes me laugh when I walk around the corner and you're busting a move in front of the tv watching yourself in the screen. You even told Daddy the other day that you wanted him to come see how your sunglasses looked on you in the mirror. Daddy said, "I can see how they look right now, I'm looking at you." That wasn't good enough. You drug him upstairs and he had to get appropriately excited about seeing what you looked like in the mirror.

I love you buddy! You are the sweetest, kindest, cutest boy!
XOXO
Mommy

Connor Bug

Dear Connor, 

You are a kid that knows what he likes. You like your hair "short and flat" and pajamas. You like plain milk, and sucking candy (you refuse to say Jolly Rancher). You like to snuggle when it's on your terms. I love all these things about you.

We went to the kidz biz salon yesterday and you got your hair cut short. You let me grow it out over the summer and I really enjoyed seeing your full head of red hair again. However, after she cut it this time, I immediately loved it. It's just so you. 

Today we went to Costco with Grammy. She bought you guys pajamas. You were so excited. It's actually a little ridiculous how excited you get over pajamas. You rushed in the door when we got home and you wouldn't let Daddy see what you had. You wanted to "surprise him." He acted appropriately surprised to please you and you were thrilled! You picked out doggy pajamas. You told me tonight, "Mom, can I wear my new pajamas to grammas house and then her dogs can see my pajamas and they'll think 'look those are dogs.'"

You have a little of your Uncle Wade in you. Uncle Wade was always about making a deal. Kaylee wanted to wear your Star Wars tank top today. You let her, but then you informed her that she should probably buy that tank top from you for $2. She looked at you like you were crazy, which is about how I looked at Uncle Wade and his deals. It made me laugh so hard.

You're a saver. We've started a new money system to teach you how to tithe, save, and spend. You love to give money to God and into your savings. You always put the least amount into your spending jar. It's fun to see the things you want to spend your money on. You really wanted an ice cream at the park today but the booth was closed. I told you I would take you to Dairy Queen but you said you wanted to save your money so next time you could have ice cream in the park. Hunter talked you into going to Dairy Queen and just spending $1. So we did. You were happy with that decision in the end.

I've had so much fun with you this week. I love that I get to stay home with you.
xoxo,
Mommy

Blackberry Pie

Dear Kaylee,
This morning Grammy and I went to Sunnyside and picked blackberries. It was really fun. On the way home we were talking and decided that making a pie with you would be the perfect opportunity for some one on one time. So after your nap I took you over to Grammy's to make a pie.
As we were leaving our house Daddy was playing super strawberry with the boys and they were all giggling pretty hard. Daddy wanted to make sure the boys had a good time too, guy time. You love the game super strawberry. It's a plastic strawberry that Daddy pretends has super powers and you all try to keep it away from Daddy. I could tell you wanted to play but you went to the van. When I had you all buckled in and we driving down the road you asked "Why we leave Connor and Hunter?" I told you that I wanted to spend time with "just Kaylee because Kaylee is so much fun." I looked in the rear view mirror and you had the cutest little smirk on your face and then in your very best teenager voice you said, "Fine." Totally made me giggle.
You had a blast making the pie. You wanted to do it all yourself. We bought an extra pie crust so you could cut out some decorative shapes with cookie cutters and you loved that. We stayed at Grammy's until the pie was done cooking but it had to cool off and we weren't going to have time to eat it before bed time so we decided to have it in the morning for breakfast. You thought that was a great idea! I can't wait to see if you actually like pie. I have a pretty good feeling you will.
Thanks for a great afternoon kiddo!
Mommy

Oh. Yeah.

Dear Kaylee, 

You are such a funny little girl these days. You have so many phrases that you use a thousand times a day and each time those same phrases make me smile. My favorite one right now is you say "oh." 

"oh. yeah." 

"oh. I have an idea." 

"oh. I know." 

"oh. oh!"

My second favorite phrase is anything that you say with the word "remember." 

"Remember Mommy, no pooping your pants." 

"Remember Mommy, eating at the table." 

"Oh yeah. Remember Mommy, toys go downstairs." 

You always say the word "remember" like you are actually reminding me of this new rule we learned together. It's pretty adorable! 

Something that is a little less adorable is the setback we've had potty training. Before we moved you were done. We didn't have accidents anymore and the only time you needed a pull up was when you were sleeping. Then all chaos broke loose and you started having accidents like crazy. We're getting better and better each day but it's been a lot of work. We just started a new sticker chart. If you get ten stickers you get a new book. Every time you go potty or poop on the toilet you get to put a sticker on your chart. It's taken you two days to get five stickers but we'll get there. You're pretty excited about the book and day two was a lot easier than day one so I think it's just going to get better and better. 

The other set back we've had lately has been at bed time. This is extremely frustrating for me because at bedtime I have no energy left whatsoever. You have taken it upon  yourself to refuse to go to sleep. You won't sleep in any bed and you cry as loud as you can until someone comes to snuggle you, which in the past has been a long time. Finally, Daddy last night reminded the both of us that you are only two and the boys were WAY worse at bed time routine than you ever have been, so Daddy made a deal with you. He said as long as you go to sleep at nap time with no crying and no snuggling, he'll snuggle you to sleep at bedtime. That seemed like a pretty good deal to you last night around 10 pm. 

You are so full of personality! You make the funniest faces, and you giggle all day long. It's pretty contagious. You also are a Mommy's girl. You love to follow me around the house helping me do every little thing. You get so sad when you can't help make dinner. I think next week I'm going to have some one on one time with you and make a Hello Kitty cake just for fun. You've been really clingy lately and in the past that has meant you need Mommy to yourself. I love one on one time with you. Sometimes we go get a pedicure and sometimes we just go get groceries but it's always fun with you around. 

I love you Kaylee girl. I know that being two can't be easy. There's been lots of changes this summer in our family, but life is calming down and you're going to be three before you know it! 

XOXO, 

Mommy