My Current Favorite Photo

Just one of the reasons you shouldn't buy matching pajamas for your sons who are three years apart.  Would you believe me if I told you he didn't even notice ? Neither did I (that's how observant I am at bedtime)...Ryan had to point it out to both of us.

From the Mouth of My Babe

The other day Isaac wanted a toy that Maddie was playing with. "Hey Mads?" he  asked, "Wanna play Care Bears with me?...You can be Share Bear..."

Maddie's First Day

 Today was Maddie's first official day of preschool. She and two other little girlfriends get together once a week for a couple of hours. As mothers we rotate teaching the class each week.

Maddie has gotten to know Samantha and Emery quite well over the summer so she was thrilled to find out they would be in her school class.

We put puzzles together...

played dress-up while simultaneously reading stories...

and even did a little bit of finger-painting.

Davis spent more time than usual in his high chair for being mommy's little monster. I think he is at this moment yelling
"Bajo (down)!!!"

I asked Isaac before preschool if he would be my big helper and I must say it was the greatest idea I've come up with in weeks! He really took to the idea and was a great assistant. I hope his enthusiasm carries throughout the school year.  

 I am really looking forward to letting Maddie have something that is all about her. I think this is going to be a great year for our little girl.

Back to School

Although I haven't been teaching in the public education system for over 4 years, I still get a excited this time of year when I see all the school supplies go on sale and all the preparations happening for back-to-school time. This fall I get the chance to alternate teaching both Isaac's as well as Maddie's preschool class with some other moms in our preschool co-op. It will be a lot of work but a lot of fun and I am looking forward to taking on a formal teaching role again.

Monday was Ike's first day of preschool and we kicked it off with a field trip to a nearby fruit farm. There are 8 four-year-old children in our preschool group. We combine our field trips but the students are split up into two different groups for "classroom" days. 

We got to take a wagon ride around the orchard to learn all the work that goes into growing apples and preparing them to be sold.

Davis and I.

Did you know there are more than 3,000 different types of apples in the world? This farm grows 34 varieties.

He couldn't get enough of the tractors. 

After the tractor ride  we sipped cider and ate donuts and then headed out to the orchard to pick our own apples. Maddie and Davis seemed to love the Honeycrisp as much as I do.

I taught Ike's preschool class today for their first "real" day of school. Maddie, of course, gets to participate in his class when I am the teacher, but she will do school with girls her age later on this week. As can be noted in her above expression, she was not too happy with me this morning when I wouldn't let her bring every single toy she owns for show-and-tell. I made her narrow it down to one. She ended up sneaking in two. 

Isaac put his backpack on 2 hours before school began this morning. He couldn't wait.

We learned about the letter A among other things.

Here is the class. Don't they look excited? They all seem so grown up to me in this picture, but come next spring I'm certain they will have changed so much. We are looking forward to a great year!

9.10.11

Ryan had to attend a meeting the morning of my birthday, so I convinced a friend to wake up with me before the sun and start the day with a run. It was her b-day gift to me and it was awesome.

When the kids woke up we headed to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast. Davis seemed to enjoy the caramel apple variety.

After breakfast we came home and opened a couple of presents from far away family. Maddie was gifted this coin purse by her namesake and she loved it. It came with a $1 inside so we jetted over to the DollarTree (my kids love them dollar stores) to spend her loot. Ike and D were each given some money to spend as well.

Shortly after we got home, so did Ryan. My cute hubby took the kids upstairs and wrapped my presents in shirts because there was no wrapping paper to be found in the house. Innovative, right? Isaac made sure before I opened the gifts that I knew that I shouldn't "tear the shirts, because they aren't paper, mom!"

After lunch we celebrated with cheesecake (my favorite!).

A couple of days ago Isaac told me, "I'm so excited for your birthday I can't even stand it!"

That night, Ryan and I got to venture out on our own to dinner and a movie. It did not disappoint. I heart Aibileen!
 I had a wonderful day and I "can't even stand it" til I get to celebrate 34 years. Thanks so much for all the phone calls, emails, text messages, cards, and packages!