Rock-a-by-baby

Today as I was getting everyone ready for preschool drop off, the twins started crying.  Larissa quickly went over and started singing to them and rocking them.  It was so cute. 

got clothes???

So tonight I got ambitious.  John is out of town and I never sleep well when he's not here, so I decided to go through the girls clothes.  I emptied their closets and dressers and separated everything into 3T, 4T and then 5 and above.  Larissa is pretty much in 3T now, but can wear some 4T.  Skylar is pretty much in 5T or above, but can wear some 4T also (in shorts, shirts or dresses, not in pants) I now know what the girls need in terms of fall clothes.  I thought Larissa would be set with Skylar's old clothes as well as clothes my mom has gotten from day care kids.  I also thought she'd be able to wear 4T pants by this winter, but unless she has a major growth spurt before winter gets here, she's still in 3T pants, of which we really don't have much of.  Skylar is also lacking in the pants department.  She has plenty of jeans (thanks mom) but not much in the way of knit pants, which is what she prefers to wear.  She also needs leggings in all colors.  It turns out almost all of the leggings we have are in 4T, which Larissa will be able to wear. 

3T summer, what Larissa is currently wearing

3T winter

4T summer, Skylar is wearing some of this, but not all

4T winter, both girls will be able to wear some shirts, and hopefully Larissa will be able to wear some of the pants at some point. 

5 and up summer, what Skylar is currently wearing

5 and up Winter, what Skylar will be wearing this fall/winter

It looks like a lot, but most of it is in 4T, unfortunately.  I will still need to get Skylar some new fall/winter clothes, and Larissa will need some pants to go with her many, many shirts.  Both girls will also need sweaters and sweatshirts.  I think new winter jackets are in order too.  Both girls have worn the same jackets for the last 2 years and they are finally showing their wear.  Now that I have my list, it's time to go shopping!!  I do love shopping for their clothes. 

train table

It was fate today.  I have been looking at train tables for the girls for a while now, but they're so expensive.  Even just a wooden table with no tracks in it can go for $60-$80 dollars.  The tables with the tracks (either molded in or just sitting on the table) can go from $120-$300.  So I usually have to take the twins and Dexter with me to drop the girls off at school on Friday's.  Well, this morning Dexters moms alarm didn't go off so I didn't get him until after we got back.  On the way to school I saw a train table sitting by the curb, with a FREE sign on it.  I dropped the girls off at school and went back to look at the table.  It is in great condition, just a wooden table with trees and water painted on it, but it was free!!  Since I didn't have Dexter with me, I was able to take the car seat out of the way back, put the seats down and put the table in.  So I got it home ok (had to bungie the door down since the table stuck out just a bit, but it was just about 15 houses down the street), got it downstairs and now Dexter is playing cars on it.  The girls will like it.  They can either play blocks or puzzles on it, they can drive cars.  I will now look for a train track set to put on it for christmas.  That shouldn't be too expensive at all.  The girls love playing with the Thomas Train set that is set up at Barnes & Noble so maybe I'll look into buying parts of that set.  I'm so happy I got this table. It's exactly what I was looking for. 

Well, we went out to day and found two small sets for the table.  The girls happily played with it all afternoon.  They just love it. 

Goofy McGooferson

This is my new nickname for Skylar.  She comes up with some goofy stuff lately.  Today she came out of the room and set her chick down, dressed in a skirt, flip flops and a back pack. 

Then she came out with her dog in a skirt, and herself in a hat and said she was going to the beach. 

she sure does keep me entertained. 

Preschool update

So far so good.  I was a little nervousas to how preschool would go with Skylar going every day and Larissa only going every other day.  I think we made the right decision though.  Monday when I picked them up, Larissa was very happy to see me.  She had a great time, but I think she missed me also.  Tuesday when we dropped off Skylar she said, bye sissy, I'll see you later, I'm going home with momma.  She had a good morning with me, Dexter and the twins.  She did start to miss Skylar though and by 10:30 she was asking if it was time to go get sissy yet.  Then as we were picking up Skylar she went up to Miss Katie, her teacher and said, hi, I will see you tomorrow, right?  This morning she was ready to go to school.  I had a nice quiet morning while the twins napped and Dexter and I played.  Rissy was again very happy to see me, but then ran back to give her teachers a hug.  I had to laugh when I got her daily report.  On the bottom it said, Larissa enjoyed dipping her feet in orange paint to make her footprint painting.  She also HAD to have a purse on her shoulder during dress up play.  lol.  MY daughter insisting on a purse???  Yep thats right.  I told John when he got home and he laughed and said, was there a baby in that purse??  I love how the teacher put the word HAD in bold.  So yes, Larissa got to paint with her feet, which she thought was cool.  Skylar got to go to the library today.  That is one of her favorite places to go.  Today they colored a picture of a donut.  What ever story they read must have had to do with donuts. 

Here are the first two things Skylar brought home this year.  Larissa has some paintings still at school.  One is on the wall, and the other was still drying.  I will probably get those at the end of the week. 

donut

not sure!!  lol. 

Another night at the park

Tonight after dinner I decided to take the girls for a walk.  We ended up at the small park down the street.  I told the girls before we got there, we only had 20 minutes and no swings.  I wanted them to run off some energy, not just sit in the swing and make me push them.  Larissa, of course, didn't believe me and threw a fit when I wouldn't push her on the swings.  She did have fun on the slides when she was done crying.  Skylar ended up with a "slide burn" on her upper thigh.  Her shorts rode up and she has a nice red mark.  On the way home Larissa fell down and skinned her knee.  All in all we were happy we went though.  The girls are already fast asleep and it's only 8:30pm. 

our snazzy ride

upset because I still said no swings

first day of preschool

It's official, both girls are in preschool now.  I was a little leary of drop off today for several reasons.  First off, Larissa is really shy and attached to me.  When we went for orientation it took a lot to get her to leave my side.  Secondly, I had to take my two girls, along with 2 four month old infants and a 19 month old with me.  I spent an hour Sunday trying to figure out just how I was going to get them all in the car the easiest.  I ended up putting a car seat in the middle of the way back, and then a backless booster on either side.  Larissa should be in a highback booster or a harness still, but I couldn't fit her seat back there, so for the 3 blocks to preschool, I decided a backless booster was better than putting her in the front seat (in her car seat with the air bag off) Then the twins go in the captains chairs in the middle.  Their seats can be used without a base, just secured with the seat belt, so before I put them in, I flip the seat down, get the kids buckled in the way back, then flip the seat back up and put the twins in.  Same thing with taking them out.  The twins come out first and the I flip the seat down to get Dexter out.  Skylar can get herself and Larissa out.  It's not fun, but it's doable. 

So last night I didn't sleep well.  I actually had a nightmare and woke up sweating and shaking around 12:30.  It took me until almost 2 to get back to sleep.  Then the girls were up at 7 jumping with excitement.  This morning they got dressed in their nice outfits.  I had a skirt picked out for both girls, but Larissa insisted on her fishy shorts.  She absolutely loves these shorts and wants to wear them every day.  Skylar wore the outfit I picked out and then wore her new flip flops.  (sketchers light up flip flops!!) Larissa wore her sketchers croc-like sandals.  Drop off went well.  John came with me for Rissy's first day.  We were expecting some drama, but instead she ran right in, found a baby doll and never looked back.  Skylar also ran in, found some friends from last year and that was it. 

When I went to pick them up, Larissa came running right to me saying, momma, momma, we went outside!!!!  I asked her what else she did and she said, they let me paint!!  I paint you a pretty picture momma.  She didn't bring it home yet, but I can't wait to see it.  It was still drying and then sometimes they hang the artwork up for a week or so before letting them bring it home.  Skylar was still with her group in the back so Larissa went to get her.  She also said she had a great time.  She also got to play outside in the sand (her favorite) and she got to practice cutting. 

After lunch and rest time, (Larissa did NOT nap, and Skylar just colored with Alexia) I asked them if they made any friends today.  Skylar made friends with Maya, Jack, Olivia and Brayden (I think, she also called him Aiden) Larissa made friends with Banana.  Yep, I kept asking her and she kept telling me Banana, finally she said, no momma, beanna.  I'm thinking she means Brianna or something similar.  I'll look tomorrow at the sign in sheet and see if there is a Brianna there. 

So there you have it.  The loved their first day and can't wait to go back.  Skylar goes tomorrow but Larissa said it's ok that she isn't going.  She wants to stay home with me.  She does want to go back the next day though. 

Here are their first day of school pictures. 

looking so very tall and grown up!!

she is excited about school, but didn't want her picture taken. 

A day at the park

It was a beautiful morning and I decided to take the girls to the park today.  They had a great time. 

she was mimicking a sloth

After the park and some time at home we took the girl to lunch and then to the shoe store.  The girls needed some new school shoes and since school starts tomorroww, we thought we'd get them some.  We first went to Shoe Carnival, but then remembered that our outlet mall has a sketchers outlet.  We went out there and got a better deal.  The girls each picked out a pair of twinkle toe light up shoes, and Skylar also got a pair of flip flops that light up (they didn't have Larissa's size) I then went through all their shoes in the closet and I think they are set until winter.  For right now they each have some sandals, black mary janes and canvas gym shoes.  We have slowly started building their fall and winter wardrobes.  A few outfits at a time.  They should be pretty set for the fall, and I'm sure between Skylar's birthday and christmas, they will get what they need to take them through the winter. 

puzzle time

Skylar has always been very interested in puzzles.  Larissa?  Not so much.  Lately though, she has been trying them more and more.  A month ago she could not do a full 24 piece puzzle by herself, now she can.  Once in a while she needs help, but for the most part she can do any of the 24 piece puzzles we have now (they are labeled for ages 3-7, so she's right on the money) 

And the two of them working together on a puzzle

yummy pickled beets

We decided since it was such a lovely day today that we would head to the Amana Colonies.  Its this little German town, or group of towns, near by with lovely restaurants, shops and overall ambiance.  One of the girls favorite restaurants is there, the Ox Yoke Inn.  Why do they like it you ask?  They serve pickled beets.  Yes my girls are weird and LOVE picked beets. 

After lunch we took a nice stroll around town.  It turns out it was Model A Day and there were probably 50 Model A's lined up down one of the roads.  The girls thought the cars were weird looking. 

Preschool Meet and Greet

tonight we had the girls preschool meet and greet.  When we got there Skylar was so excited to see all her teachers from last year.  Ms. Geraldine is her absolute favorite and she will have her as a main teacher this year.  (she only had her for song time last year)  Ms. Geraldine's daughter Jordyn is returning again until she goes back to school in January.  Jordyn will be teaching Larissa's class.  Skylar absolutely raved about Jordyn last year and I hope Larissa likes her as well.  Miss Katie will be teaching Larissa also, and Ms. Deanna will be teaching Skylar.  Skylar ran up to all 4 of them and gave them big hugs.  Larissa hung onto my side.  After a brief introduction the kids went into the classroom to play while the parents had another presentation.  Larissa did NOT want to leave me.  I finally got her to go with Miss Katie to play with the baby dolls.  Skylar went right to the art table.  After we got our picture taken to put on their cubbies, and then we had snack. 

This was the best picture I could get of them. 

Da Bears

John got tickets to a pre-season Bears game so we went last night along with Allison, Hunter, Shelby and Shelby's boyfriend, Julian.  We had a horrible bus ride there, but had fun at the game.  The bus ride took almost 3 hours (should have been no more than 1) we missed kickoff and the first quarter.  By the time we got to our seats, the second quarter was half over.  At least the rain held off though.