End of the First Year of Preschool

Aren't they cute.  This was the last day of Zackary's first year at Preschool.  I tried to explain what it means to be done with the first year of school and starting summer school and how our schedule will change and eventually school will start back up after a long break!  He was sad I think, to say goodbye to the two teachers he had grown to trust and love, who have been exemplary in his first year ever of school!  Making some friends in his class really helped him to let go of fears and truly enjoy the school experience.  Friends were the key to it all.  Guess that continues throughout life!

His class had a end of year party...apparently more for the kids than parents...I was like, hello what about us?  Where's the chocolate?!  He had fun though eating ice cream and putting all the fun toppings on it...which I think he only put on m&m's. 

Here is his favorite teacher.  He bonded with her the first day and within the comfort he found in her, never let her go all year.  I felt bad for him that this friend he made, he had to say goodbye to. 

Our boy is an innovative kid.  As you can see above his mind is always thinking what fun thing he can do next.  Those squares in the carpet are lined up perfectly!  My mom has been an influence for sure with helping him think outside the box.  He can count up to 100 and out of sequence.  He knows his colors, ABC's, shapes (and the hard shapes).  He has learned about planting different things like grass, strawberries, zucchini, tons of flowers and herbs.  He loves going to Daddy's work so he can play with golf balls and have the whole green to himself.  He is still infatuated by water but through fountains and waterfalls now.  He likes playing with dirt, digging holes, dancing, playing sports, singing and tunnels.  He is really really into drumming.  Everything becomes a drum stick.  And he has a beat and holds it well.  While I sing to him he drums, it's amazing.  He's good at it like his Dad. 

Here is a fort that his Aunt made for him.  I am not kidding at one point there was a Zackary fort upstairs and downstairs.  So funny.  All my chairs were gone...in use for the forts!  He sleeps great still from like 8-6:30am with a 1.5 nap around 1.  I know he still naps...thank gosh!  He did go through a point of not napping at all...so I called it rest time...but I held in there never giving up and after a month or so of no naps he started napping again!  YA! 

We are working on getting him to like going under the water so he can really learn to swim and enjoy the pool and ocean.  He doesn't like to be lifted up in the air-scares him- we are working on that.  He is handling his sisters screams a lot better, phew.  And socially he's come so far and he stands up for himself too!  We love watching you grow and develop into a young boy...finding what interests you!  You are a blessing in our hearts!

Too Cute

Emme Time

I have to admit I take a lot of pictures of my baby girl.  I have about 3 photo albums just of Zackary's birth and first 3 months (you know first child and all).  I have one album just of Emeline's first 8 months.  Now that she is developing and her personality is coming out...I snap shots of her all the time.  There are a lot of kodak moments.

 Our art studio consists of trash cans!  But it makes them prettier to look at! 

Emeline is a dare devil.  She will try anything, and nothing gets her down.  If she falls she rarely cries but gets up and wipes her hands off on her outfit and keeps going.  She eggs her brother on.  He doesn't like her touching some of his stuff or what I like to call his "projects."  She is a great eater and tells you when she is hungry, done eating, wants more to eat, or needs water...all with noises and hand jesters cause she isn't really talking yet.  When she wants her pacifier for nap and bedtime she wants 3..one for her mouth, and each hand.  It's funny.  She wakes at night crying because one of her 3 pacifiers is missing...and as soon as she finds it or you go in and give her one back, she's okay and back to sleep!  She sleeps approx from 5pm-5:30am and doesn't really ever wake up unless she's sick or like I said a paci is missing!  She takes 1 nap during the day from roughly about 10:30-12. 

I walk everywhere all over the neighborhood!

 The park is of course one of her favorites!  She loves the slide, the swings, watching the other kids and walking around.

She loves anything and everything from animals, music to Mickey and drawing.  She'll play with playdough, or Zackary's trains, she'll read 20 books and pick her favorite.  Every helicopter, plane, dog barking she wants to look at and see what is going on.  She is very social and likes to watch strangers and shows off her smiles to little kids.  She's happy, sweet and sassy!  I love just watching her explore and realize.  Not to much bugs her...well maybe the vacuum! 

Emme watches Zackary and I smell flowers so now she does it.  She'll walk right up to our roses in the back and just grab them and shove them into her nose.  

In the morning after we have put on our cute outfit for the day, done our hair and drank our milk she has to have another snack.  She got into this gluten free gorilla cereal from TJ's and now I am trying to get her onto a more healthy cereal snack like kashi.  She didn't like cheerios even honey-nut cheerios.  The above picture cracks me up.  She just sat and ate.  I usually put some in a snack trap but this day she got a hold of the box. Never the less she LOVES to eat!

She also LOVES her "GG."  She runs up to Great Grandma and gives her a hug and kiss each morning.  And sometimes in the afternoon she hangs out with her upstairs, drawing her pictures and looking at books.  My mom left a book of cats up there and it's a favorite!
Every time I put her down to sleep we read a book or two and I sing her this song..."Baby don't cry, gonna make pie, gonna make pie with a heart in the middle.* repeat* Gonna make pie from heaven above, gonna make pie with strawberry love.  Baby don't cry, gonna make pie, hold you forever in the middle of my heart!"  She loves it.
You are growing up so fast honey...slow down!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was nice.  My sister visited and we also had lunch at the beach with some friends.  Emme does not want the sand to touch her feet but if she could she would run out into the ocean and swim with the fish.  I remember Zackary being like that but now he's the opposite.

The kids love Auntie!  They can't wait for her to come visit.  Zackary thinks she is there to play with him not to see me too.  Too cute.

I love my kids so much.  They are my world...my greatest accomplishments.  I cross my fingers I do right by them.

My First Pair of Shoes

Aren't they cute.  Her first pair...I had to take a picture! 

Happy 15th Birthday Bentley

I wanted you kids to remember the dog that was there in your first years of life.  Bentley was always calm and careful with you guys and even though you entered his world during his later years and he wasn't as energetic he was an amazing dog that loved you a lot.  He gets us out walking as a family and keeps us united.  He is old now and moving slow but he is apart of our family and always will be. 

Shaving Creme Art

One of the last days of Zackary's first year of preschool was Mother's Day.  We all got to stay in and watch what our kids do and hang out.  One creative way they clean their boards that the kids play on is with shaving creme.  It takes the paint right off.  Zackary loved this...he got every last drop of paint off of this board and kept him so calm.  He has had a rough time his first year transitioning from an only child to a baby sister and then starting the first year of school.  He has made such improvements socially and emotionally this year and it's so reassuring for me.  I need to buy one of these easel's for his birthday so we can have paint and shaving creme days.