Preschool with Daddy

Makenna was WAY excited that Daddy got to go to preschool with her today and be the "Parent Helper." She's been asking all year if he could go with her, and he thought today would be a good day to go. He got off work at noon and spent 2 1/2 hours at her little preschool - and then took Makenna for ice cream afterword. She kept thanking him over and over for being with her today. I was also glad that he had the opportunity to see how the preschool "functions," especially since I'll be teaching soon! Fun, fun!

Random Pics

What a weekend. Kiera had Monday off for a "Quality Teaching Day," I think they call it. Whatever that is. It has been a pretty quiet weekend, but though we didn't have much planned, we found plenty to do. The girls found my old sponge curlers and wanted them in their hair. Quentin (being the awesome daddy he is) put them in their hair and Kiera was thrilled with the results the next morning. Makenna was not so thrilled. She had a hard time sleeping in them and wanted us to take them out just on one side so she could sleep. I guess I can't blame her. I always hated sleeping in those things as a kid. But when she saw her curly hair, she was worried that her straight hair had gone away forever. She braved it for one day but was relieved after her bath that her hair was back to normal.

On Monday my mom had Kiera and Makenna over for a "playdate." They've been planning this for weeks and the girls couldn't wait. There's just something about having Granny to themselves and having snacks and crafts and cartoons. My mom's just way too nice. The girls made "Pom Pom Bugs" and played with them all day yesterday, slept with them last night, and Makenna is still playing with hers. She likes to put them on my plant and let them "hang out."

Hats....

Well, in addition to being many different things and wearing many different hats, I guess it's finally "official" that I will soon be wearing the "hat" of preschool teacher! I have always loved the process of learning and was specifically drawn to child development when I was completing my psychology degree. In junior high, I used to have the neighborhood kids come over in the summer for a little preschool, just for the fun of it. And I guess in the back of my mind, I've always thought that maybe I would do it "for real" someday.

When Kiera started preschool a few years ago, I have to admit that I wasn't sure what to expect. In a lot of ways, I thought preschool was just a glorified playgroup and I was unsure of the benefits. In fact, I was hesitant to even enroll Kiera. But during my first time as a "Parent Helper" at preschool, I was enthralled - I was impressed with how professional it seemed and it's focus on acadmics - and making learning fun. Even though the preschool was just held in our neighbor's home, each month when I went to help, I got more and more excited. I just kept thinking, "I love this" - the cute kids, so intent on learning, the fun environment, etc.

So about 6 months ago, Makenna's preschool teacher (the same one Kiera had 2 years before), mentioned that she is going to be going back to school and wondered if I would be interested in teaching a class just once a week. I jumped at the chance! It's taken a few months to get everything settled (her husband was changing jobs and she needed to make sure they could afford hiring out one of the 3 classes, etc.) but I guess it's official - so starting this Fall I will be teaching the Mozart Math class at the preschool. I went today to observe how the class functions and view the lesson plans - and I'm stoked!!

And what's even more, I guess in a year and a half (so Fall 2011), the one teacher wants to quit teaching so she can focus on going back to school - and she won't be able to continue having it in her home. The other teaching partner doesn't have enough space in her home, so she and I have been chatting over the last few months, and I offered to do it here. Quentin and I discussed it and decided we could finish his shop area (he's so supportive in what I want to do, plus I think he's motivated to finish the space because then it can also be used as a future theater room!). So that's the plan - and our goal is to become a licensed preschool. I'm learning so much and feel this is a good opportunity not only for me, but also my family and those cute little preschool kids!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So it's St. Patrick's Day. Kind of a strange holiday, don't you think? But to kids it's a pretty big deal. Kiera slept in her green clothes "just in case," and she put green stickers on her stuffed animals so they wouldn't get pinched. Makenna was concerned that her eyes are blue, not green, and that her hair isn't green either. This morning we made Shamrock waffles (they're green, but it's hard to tell), but the girls freaked out when I wanted to color their milk green. Oh well. There's not much else I can think of doing!

Reading Corner

Ever since the girls got their bunk beds, we've been doing our nightly bedtime stories on the floor. There's not much room on Makenna's bottom bunk, and it gets crazy if we're all up on Kiera's top bunk. So I've been trying to figure out a little Reading Corner in the girls' room. We bought a bed canopy thing from Ikea about 6 months ago but needed something to sit on underneath.... Then lo and behold, my mom mentioned that she was wanting to get rid of a little rocking bench that she has had for 30-plus years. It's the little bench that I used to take naps on as a baby and the bench that Quentin borrowed from my parents when he proposed to me. So in addition to the sentimental value, it's a perfect little bench for our Reading Corner. I'm still trying to decide how to update it - paint it white? Find new cushions and cute pillows? We'll see - but we're just so happy to have it just the way it is (thanks Mom!)

12 of 12

A few weeks ago on my friend Katie's blog (http://mkgreen.blogspot.com/2009/02/12-of-12-challenge.html), she referenced another blog (http://www.twelve-of-twelve.blogspot.com/) where the challenge is to take 12 random pictures on the 12th day of every month - for, you guessed it, 12 months. It's pictures of everyday life. I like the idea because it makes you notice the "small things," which someday when you look back will be good memories. Okay, so I'm a couple of months late, and I don't know how to do a fancy digital scrapbook page like Katie, but I'm excited for the challenge and invite you to join in too!

Sunlight streaming into my living room...

Enjoying a steaming cup of Stephen's Wassail...

Makenna and Kasidee singing and dancing while I get ready for the day...

Running to the store for bread and milk and coming home $38 poorer...

Listening to Chris Botti and John Mayer (my fave!) on YouTube...

Kiera and Makenna are at school and Kasidee takes a 2-hour nap...

I finally finished reorganizing my scrapbook/craft closet...

Makenna dressed herself...

My little helper...

Saying hi to the horses and donkeys on our way to school...

Picking Kiera up from school...

Going to my yoga class...

Fancy Carriage

So Quentin and I were watching a show together this evening and were relieved that all 3 girls were content, happily playing in the bathroom next to the family room. They were in there a long time and when we checked on them, this is what we found:


They had raided the dress-up box, got into their princess costumes and were pretending that the bathtub was their carriage. So cute! They sure know how to entertain themselves - thank goodness!

Another New Bed

Since we moved into this house 2 years ago, we've had lots of "bed changes." We had our queen-size bed, a bassinet for Kasidee in our room, and Kiera and Makenna each had a toddler bed in their room. Since then, Kiera has traded her toddler bed for the twin bed I used as a kid, and then she and Makenna both graduated to the bunk beds we bought for them. Kasidee's bassinet didn't last too long, but she wasn't keen on the crib we put in her room either. So most nights she would end up spending part of the night in the bed with Quentin and me. Time for a change!! Although we had a white metal toddler bed that Kiera had used and a wooden toddler bed that Quentin's mom let us borrow for Makenna, we couldn't pass up a cute little toddler bed that Mischelle and Eric offered us. So we bought the little bed, brought it home and got Kasidee a new sheet and comforter set. And she loves it! She points to it and says, "Baby Bed." Awww.... The only problem is that Makenna has been crying that she misses her old toddler bed, so we may have to dig that one out again too!