Ellie Goes to Pre-k

I was nervous and enotional packing her first lunch in the little Apple lunch box she picked out. 

She was excited and nervous for her first day. 

Ready to take on the world.  That first day was hard. She lost it when I left. Crying and screaming and throwing herself against the door. I waited in the hallway feeling awful as she screamed for me but staying strong. Eventually her PEPPA blanket helped her calm down and she got through the day taking it everywhere.  She cried all three days that week but after that told me on her own she wasn't going to cry anymore. And she hasn't. Though she still gets nervous. 

First Day

And just like that it was the first day of school again for my now first and second grader.  Abbey was excited and Adam was eh. 

They both seemed nervous and excited while waiting for the bus. 

Ellie was confused and a bit upset. She knows she's starting pre-school.  She wasn't sure when.  And she was having a hard time with them leaving. 

We went to a late breakfast.   I had been nervous all week, too. This mom thing does crazy things to you.  Anxious about them being ready and very anxious about my baby. 

Then baby decides she's ready to say bye to the crib. I was all sorts of emotional until that night. 

When I spent much of it jammed on the bottom of that car bed. 

The kids both came home happy with their new class.  The second day Adam had a kid start on him but he was excited because he stood up to him.  The kid told him he was a nerd and Adam said 'I'm not your nerd'.  Sometimes I love his unique language.  Abbey was happy about recess and unhappy about math drills.  

Leak

Tuesday night I hear Todd yelling as he walked into the library as I brought Adam to bed.  Came down to find torrential rains had turned the ceiling into a crazy leaking mess.  Leaks all over and as we soon figured out...a long-time leak in the corner behind the bookshelf that ruined many of the Stephen King books that had been dad.  They were moldy.  Not much to do but throw them out and feel like I was throwing out a piece of my dad.
The next morning Kevin was here first morning and I had the kids helping me set them all over the patio open to dry out.  Every book I own(Ed) was for a reason.  I realized my collection was like the story of my life.   They are just books but irreplaceable.  Gifts or mementos.... A memory or a friend. I think I will be able to save many that didn't mold.  It looked like a book refuge camp.
Meanwhile, Kevin said is was a gutter problem and cobbled some thing together.  I made him open the ceiling.  My gut told me it was a mess.  I was right.   Saturated insulation and Sheetrock.   And he was right about the point of entry.  I don't get upset when things can't be helped.  But a poor choice of gutter placement caused this mess.  This wreckage.  This money pit. He will be back in a couple of weeks to fix it all.   I think Todd needs to rip the gutter guy a new one.  Oddly, he seems reluctant to do so.  All this while we ripped up Adam's floor the day before in his bathroom from another leak.  The house that always has a water issue.  Sigh.

Father's Day

Just like Mother's Day, the A team was up early 5:30 pacing around to give Daddy the gifts they made him.  I got out of bed at 7 and let them go in and attack him. Then 'we' sent him back to bed so we could make breakfast in bed.  The girls enjoyed arguing over who stirred the waffle batter. 

And Adam insisted Daddy needed scrambled eggs. 

After some debate, Todd decided he wanted to go back to The Wild.  We didn't realize the forecast was 95 degrees😩 but besides Ellie melting we had fun.  Adam was fascinated by watching them feed the alligators.  I couldn't stop thinking of that poor baby in Florida and kept shooing my kids from the railing.  He also loved when they fed the baby tiger with a bottle. It was pretty cute. 

This place is great because the kids can feed so many of the animals. 

And the girls were excited to feed the giraffe.  Adam had been scared last time but did it this time. 

I still don't like his big black tongue, Mom.  I don't blame you kid. 

We didn't spend long in the bouncy area because it was so hot and the kids got sno cones the older two player with and Ellie ATE EVERY BITE.  And then Daddy took them for ice cream for dinner telling me it's his day his choice. True. 

Valentine's Day 2016

 Abbey was SO excited for Valentine's Day.  Well, she gets excited for all holidays.  But I think she likes it because it's right before her birthday. She will tell you February is her favorite season 😊

We made cupcakes for Daddy and I surprised them each with a little gift.

I love this picture ❤️

And this. These are actually on Valentune's.

These are from the 12th

Abbey had her program at school.  She was SO excited.

On Valentine's Day we went to our first movie as a family of 5.  Kung Fu Panda 3.  Family date!

Monday

I feel cranky.  Getting up at around 5 most days doesn't help.  Now I just want to go to bed.  Ellie went to bed late And woke up early and I think I have her sleeping again while I'm on this stupid bike that seems to make me fatter while the bird yells at me and gives me a headache.

Three weeks left of school.  Adam put on a show this morning and Abbey started screaming her head off.  Apparently she was told at school it was a baby show.  She also screamed at me the other day she doesn't want to be different anymore.  And the self awareness and struggle begins.  I teach them all the time to celebrate difference I hope it helps her through this.  Running off to school.

And walking slowly up the stairs so he doesn't fall.  Night and day.  The days can be slow but the years are starting to fly.

The Evil Malficent

 Played dress up one day over the winter.  I couldn't get her to cooperate too much but we had a little fun. I thought she made a great little cute villain.

 Maybe not quite evil.

 Abbey got jealous and wanted to be involved she immediately dressed herself as Sleeping Beauty.

 Act like you're casting an evil spell on Abbey! She was happy to comply with THAT!

 Every evil witch must relax with her blankey when she's done.

Saturday at the Cottage

Memorial Day = cottage time.   Our dock isn't in but the neighbors are nice evough to let us use their beach walk-in. Abbey is a fish. 

We decided it was time to get them comfortable under water.  Once Abbey jumped in, she couldn't get enough. 

Ellie has Daddy pulling her around, spoiled of course.  Then the poor thing was walking at the shore and tripped into the water face first just like when she fell off the dock last year.  Scarred for life.  We also had limited success with getting Adam to jump in. We pushed too hard. We discussed it with him later. 

He said he'd rather try on a pool.  I just want him comfortable so he doesn't panic if he finds himself in water. He actually loves swimming, just not his head under. And then we had a cool out and camp fire and all was fun.  Then night came.  Ellie had a hard time getting to sleep because snd wasn't home. Abbey was hot.  Adam slept like a rock.  Dogs kept pacing and it turns out Elsa didn't feel well.  The only way she would relax was lying on my stomach which is unusual.  So I got zero sleep.  And then the water pipe burst.  It was leaking the night before Todd shut off the water and turned it on to flush the toilet and it burst and flooded. 6am.  He says should we call it and go home? Thunderstorms predicted, too.  So we did.  Cheerfully so the kids would still enjoy the day they had.  Home by 9.  I do love air conditioning. 

Spring Break

 It was the last week of April.  And it was cold.  We started off on Sunday going to Rudy's with Bobby.  We had had plans to go on Monday with Toby and Adam was concerned we wouldn't keep them.  I assured him otherwise.  So on Monday, we drove up to Oswego for my chiropractor and to keep our date.  Decided to take pics of Abbey in her favorite dress.  Turns out it was freezing.

 She was a trooper and tried for a few minutes.

 And as it turns out, Rudy's is closed on Mondays!

 Adam giving my the eyes in the car.

 Ellie upset Abbey got out of the car and she didn't.  So we went to Toby's house and played.

 My tulips started to bloom.

 The kids were reenacting "An Alligator Under My Bed", an older book they love watching the reading of on YouTube.

 Big plans on Tuesday morning to go to Zootopia.  They couldn't wait.

 And it was sold out.  We went to the Jungle Book.  Did not hold Ellie's attention.  Not fun for me.

 Wednesday and Thursday, the older two went to Minion Madness Lego camp in the mornings.  Abbey was so excited to go to Bricks 4 Kidz for the first time.  I picked them up Wednesday and we went to a picnic at a playground.  They were thrilled.

 Friday afternoon we went to Carvel ice cream and play date with Sawyer.  Where it poured.  They still played.  And Abbey modeling her other favorite dress because why not.  I hit everything on our to do list.  A decent week.