School Days!

The girls started preschool this week. A couple years ago, I was totally against preschool. I didn't go to preschool, I didn't even go to kindergarten & I was able to figure out how to go to school when I started grade 1! Who needs preschool really? They're too little to start school, why start early? they'll go to school for 16 years probably, if you add in two years of preschool, they'll be tired of school before they even start! and another biggie: I'm not PAYING for that!!!!

Welllllllll, I started finding it harder & harder to plan and carry out activities. There's enough to do around here through the day that by the time they go to bed, I'm not interested in doing more work & research at night on what to do the next day. So we've done a lot of outdoor walks & playing with Tulip down the road, playdates etc but very few crafts or writing activities.

From talking to other MOMs in this area, I'd heard that the elementary school that the girls will be going to believes in separating all multiples when they start school. Other parents have met with the principal, written letters to the school, the school board etc to ask that the kids be kept together for kindergarten only to have all that ignored & the kids split up anyway. I'm sure they all lived & coped but I thought that this year of preschool would be a good way to work some of the kinks out before this stuff actually counts. They can get used to a changing schedule, multiple activities etc.

I know this probably sounds like we have completely sheltered these kids, but we have never taken them somewhere & left them there. (except grandparents, and if that ain't Coddletown, I don't know what is!). So I had no idea how things would go Monday morning when I announced I was leaving.

They've always done better when we run through what's going to happen, what to expect etc. I started talking about preschool a few weeks ago and they were ok with it. I mentioned that it's for kids and parents don't go. Still ok with it. They knew they'd all be there & that they'd be going with Boo so that was all fine & dandy. I still wasn't 100% sure that I wouldnt' have trouble extracting myself when the time came though. I half expected to have at least one leg clinger screaming their head off. I had geared myself up to be ready to scrape them off & walk out & ignore the brainscalding screaming that was sure to come.


None of this was necessary! I took them in & they started playing with stuff right away. Boo got there a few minutes after we did and they all got to work doing some colouring and not the least bit anxious. After awhile I noticed most of the parents had left & I decided I'd better get out of there or I'd look like one of those over anxious parents who just can't bear to be away from their kids and want to go to preschool with them (*giggle*)

They were all in different parts of the gym so I went over to each one & told them I was going & would pick them up in a little while. Every single one of them kept right on playing and said "ok". No drama, no tears, not even from me! I exited without a scene and had 2 whole hours to myself! Although, I had 18 pages of questionnaires to fill out for the registration so I didn't really get to do anything exciting.

Boo was totally ready for this! They were barely in the gym when she turned to Teena and said "it's ok Mom, you can GO now" Teena told her it was fine, she'd just stay and make sure she was comfortable before she left. Boo told her she was already comfortable and that she could leave. Teena put her foot down & said "well, I'm staying until I'M comfortable!!!" Not even 4 years old and embarrassed to be seen with her mom!

Honey thought I should have my picture taken on the first day of school too. She's getting much better at holding that heavy camera!
I picked them up and all had gone well, no upsets and they had pictures to show me, had learned a new song and everything! So far so good!

Birthday Boys!

It was a busy weekend for birthdays in our family! My nephew, (I don't care if I'm not technically related to him, I'm calling him MINE darnit!) turned one on Sunday and we went to his party on Saturday afternoon. There were lots of other kids & they all helped Mr Bojangles open his presents. Or rather, they completely took over the opening of his presents but did let him play with his stuff, at least briefly I believe!

the coolest candles I've ever seen!

Mr Bojangles in his fancy birthday hat

Mr Bojangles and Nana having a hollering match. He was actually much happier than he looks. He just has to make that face to summon up the volume he needs to impress Nana!

Then on Sunday, we celebrated my Dad's birthday with another bbq birthday dinner and luckily for me, more cake. I can't seem to get enough cake & icing (this could be how that cake decorating hobby got started!)

the girls had a great time at Grandad's party but were a little cranky from the busy weekend and all the travelling in the car so we made a hasty exit before things totally went downhill.

Rides! Rides! Rides!

We took the girls to the fair on Monday and they had a great time. We, on the other hand, found it hot, stressful and tiring! I don't remember that part from when I was a kid. As far as I knew back then, it was all fun fun fun! I was constantly worried that somebody was going to wander off or that someone would get snatched when I wasn't looking. My head was just doing a constant swivel. They tried just about every ride in the kids' section and went back for repeats on a couple. I always forget how much time you lose in the lines! I expected that a couple hours of riding & we'd be out of there. However, 2 hours there didn't really add up to many rides so it was closer to 4 hours before we left. That includes a miscommunication on the meeting spot and waiting around til we found each other again. Next year: designated spot for when we get lost!

Teena & Dale were coming over with Boo for supper but by the time we got home it was a bit of a late meal. I'd prepped just about everything in the morning just in case of such an event so that saved my butt!
When we walked in, we were ready to start cooking! They arrived awhile after we did & brought along some wine to share with Murray (even good wine still tastes like alcohol to me!) and a yummy salad that had Sweetie back for THREE helpings, with LEAVES and all. The four of us were amazed. She especially liked the Havarti cheese but I refused to cherry pick through it & gave her the baby spinach and everything. She cleaned her plate every time. It was quite a sight to watch, especially considering the other 3 kids were long gone, having barely touched their steak & bacon cheesy potatoes. Even though numbers aren't normally my thing, statistically, I believe that makes Sweetie a bit of an anomaly!
I sooooo enjoyed having company for supper, I only regret that our snafu at the exhibition made things so late that we didn't have as much time to visit as I would have liked. But then, who ever gets enough of Teena??? She could be there all day & I'd still be disappointed when it was time for her to go.

I was tired out from the long day in the hot sun & didn't get a single picture of the kids playing or the adults hanging out or anything! The girls got the guys playing Santa Claus and fishing though, that was pretty entertaining!

GG's in da house!

Well, not my house actually! GG & Aunt Cathy came for Sunday dinner at M&D's and the kids had fun running around on the lawn & visiting with GG.

Target Practice

Have I ever mentioned that I get a little bored driving in the car??? I had my camera with me (shocker!) so decided to play around, work on some focussing etc. This proved hard to do when the car causes a bit of vibration! I got a lot of blur but some interesting scenes on the way to M&D's for Sunday dinner!I have no idea what this game was all about but it had these two in hysterics! The giggling going on back there was wild. Anything beats the screaming travels though so we don't say too much about happy mayhem until the shrieks get to a certain piercing pitch.
I looked back again to check on the latest round of laughter only to see this looking back at me. It was so unexpected, so bizarre that I wasn't able to keep a straight face as I told them to GET THOSE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH" and that only made them laugh harder. I'm not sure what made them think this was a good idea but it took awhile for the novelty to wear off.
and then there was Bunny/Sarah/Tricia....

Saturday Night's Alright for Bikin'!

We decided to go out for a bike ride after supper on Saturday night! They were keen and geared up to go without much hassle. Sweetie was off like a shot and she just flies along. If she runs into trouble, she can leap from the bike to land on her feet instead of tipping over with the bike. Lovey & Hannah are still a bit nervous of going too fast and even pushing Lovey at your own walking pace makes her quite anxious. She likes to go sloooooooooooooooooooow. Speedy Gonzales had gotten all the way to the farm, turned around and passed the other two coming back. The difference in ability didn't seem to phase anybody so I was glad about that. I was a bit nervous that the other two would get really frustrated at being left behind but they seem content to watch her go.

Hair Envy

Sweetie has long coveted Honey's locks, but the sleek beauty of the straight hair still eludes her. The fact that she has gorgeous curls that are the envy of many, means little to this girl. Ever since Honey got her new look, Sweetie has been considering taking the plunge. She has mentioned a haircut several times but never got very serious about it. On Friday she decided she was ready. She wanted her hair just like Koas. Great. no pressure, just IMPOSSIBLE.

I was terrified of what might happen after the fact if she decided she didn't like shorter hair afterall. The fits this girl can pitch are UNbelievable. I thoroughly explained that her hair, even if I cut it, would NOT look like her sister or her idol. Their hair was just different from hers and could not be copied. She decided that was ok, she just wanted a haircut. I was way more nervous doing hers than Honey's even though everyone else says cutting straight hair is much harder than curly hair. I took off hardly anything, just enough for her to be able to say she'd gotten it cut.

I think in the end, she wasn't as envious of the hairstyle as the experience. Everyone comments on Honey's hair, how different it looks, how nice it is, how much they like her new style etc. This was new for Sweetie, normally everone oohs and ahhs over the curls but suddenly Honey's getting the attention.

We got through it, with much wiggling, head turning and shifting in the seat. Cutting hair on a moving target is pretty darn tricky! I did manage to get it pretty much even all the way around and she's pleased with it so it turned out ok in the end!