First Day of School

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen the girls’ first day of school pictures, but if not – no fear! – I have them right here for you!  We made sure to pack lunches and pick out outfits the night before, just in case we were feeling a little rushed.  That morning was great – everyone got up fairly easy, got dressed, and headed out the door without some bribing (which is what goes on some mornings.)

Hadleigh started Kindergarten and was very adamant about riding the bus.  She did amazing – no tears were shed at all.   We let her ride the bus, but Daniel and I met her up at the school to see her walk in.  If she wanted us to walk her to her class we would have, but she caught up with a friend from preschool and was 100% fine.  I walked away proud, but still shed a few tears. 

Hayden started her 3 year old preschool class.  She will be in there for the next 6 months before they move her to her next class.  She has amazing teachers and it is a familiar place to us, so I wasn’t worried too much.  It was a little bit of an adjustment being in a new class and now going to school every day versus three.  Hayden still gets upset in the morning when I drop her off, but she has great days.  I’m sure she forgets about me 2 minutes after I walk out of the door!

We started Harper in the 18 month classroom 3 days a week.  I was so worried about Hadleighs transition, that it didn’t really give me time to think about Harpers.  Plus, Harper is a social butterfly so I knew she would adjust well.  I was right.  I sat her breakfast down at the table and she immediately walked over to sit at the “big girl” table to eat.  I gave kisses and told her bye and she looked at me and waved!!  Totally different than Hadleigh & Hayden!  She loves it which makes for a happy mama!

Linking up here today!

The end of the "School Year"

I have a pre-school graduate. A pre-school graduate who will be starting Kindergarten in September!

In bloggy mom fashion, I have first & last day side-by-side pictures. Hadleigh’s graduation pictures are so cute, although I hate those darn caps! 

With Hadleigh's favorite teacher - Ms. Casey!

I can’t forget about Hayden who was a Flamingo (2-2.5) & a Lion (2.5-3) this year.   Hayden was not having any part of pictures when I was taking them on their last day.  I was going to take them another day and pretend she smiled, but I decided to use the ones I had on the actual last day of school. Real life people!

Hadleigh 4.5 Update

This girl is 4 ½! What the What?!

    Oh sweet Hadleigh, we love you so so much!  Hadleigh is full of personality and spunk.  She’s becoming a little girl and it makes me so happy yet sad at the same time.  I tell her all the time that she will always be my baby.

Hadleigh is thriving in Pre-school.  She loves learning anything and everything.  She enjoys praise and reassurance that she is doing the right thing or saying the right answer.  She writes her full name very well – for a while there she would get her b,p,g,d’s mixed up, but they all look the same in a way!  They have assessment tests coming up at her school, so I’m looking forward to those results.  Last time, she scored above average in all areas.  We will definitely send her to Kindergarten in the Fall.  Her birthday is so close to the cut off, it was a question last year.  She would get SO bored if we held her back though.  So registration is around the corner and as a parent I’m definitely nervous!  My baby is going to big girl school!  She will rock it though!

Hadleigh is very opinionated (no surprise there!)  She likes pink still, but has branched out on her wardrobe.  I’m safer asking her before I buy anything though, because she has clothes in her closet she won’t wear.  She wears 4/5 (XS) and 5T currently.  I believe she is around 42 pounds and 40-42 inches.  She loves anything girly, dressing up, Barbies, playing school, playing house, and arts and crafts.   Hadleigh still loves a good bag and filling it up to the brim with random stuff.  Oh girls!

She is the best big sister.  She loves Hayden and Harper to the fullest.  Hadleigh is so sweet and gentle with Harper.  Harper is the first person she looks for when she gets home from school.  Hayden and her are best friends.  They fight of course – a lot – but they play together and like to do most anything side by side.  Hadleigh likes to direct Hayden in how to play or what they’re playing, but Hayden is pretty head strong too ;) I love the relationship Hadleigh has with her sisters.

Hadleigh is the funniest.  She thinks her daddy is hilarious as well. She thinks poop and pee and butts are the funniest thing ever right now.  If someone trips, she laughs. But don’t you try laughing if she trips!

Some of the things I have written down she has said:

“I wish Isis and Duke could be people” (Car conversations)

“I don’t want Harper to grow up!” (in a very concerned and sad voice) UGH Hadleigh, I don’t want any of you guys to grow up!!

“Mom, I’m going to have lots of babies when I get older!” (Car conversations)

“My poop is like a hot dog!” (after she pooped)

Hadleigh handed me the atomically correct boy doll we have and told me it was a boy and then pointed at his penis.  I asked her to tell me what it was called. 

“No, you” – Hadleigh

“It’s called a penis” – Me

Hadleigh laughed. “oh! That rhymes with nut!”

Close Hadleigh. Close.

Valentine's Day Crayons

I did cute little Valentine’s crayons again this year.  I did it a few years back, but this year I got more help!  The girls helped a lot in unwrapping the crayons and then breaking them.  Daniel came in and got smart with the razor blade to take the wrap off of the crayons, so from there it went a lot faster!

They came out really cute and the girls loved them!

Step 1: Take the paper wrapping off all of the crayons.  Again, you can use a razor blade once the kids get tired of helping {which honestly, is after about 10}

Step 2: Break the crayons into small pieces

Step 3: Fill your mold with crayon pieces. I didn't strategically place the crayons for most. 

But I did make some of them color coordinating.

Step 4: Place in the oven at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes {or until all melted}

Step 5: After cooled, the crayons should pop right out.  I did have to bang on the back a little for a few.

Super Easy!

Threenagers

I just came across this article. So, I wanted to comment and elaborate a bit more on this.  I'm not entirely sure I would only include three year olds - can we add the age range 2.5-4?! Who's with me?! 

Here are some of the crazy things Daniel and I deal with {on the regular}:

• Putting on socks the wrong way. "Mooommmm! It's tickling me!" (the seam, oh the seam) AND for the record - seamless socks are SO damn expensive!
• Tags. "Daddy! It's scratching me!" "Take the tag out" Then we are followed into the kitchen, so she makes sure we cut it out.  She's not into the "faking out" thing.
• Going limp while trying to get her dressed. A whole new level of frustrating.
• Some days Hayden will cry/whine/refuse to get dressed unless it has a picture of Elsa on it
• Hayden wanted pizza the other night for dinner.  I made the pizza and then she decided she didn't want it.  She heads to the fridge only to pick out a pizza lunchable --- it's the same thing just not melted cheese! 
• Wanting a drink, but not picking the right cup(she wanted one with, no without the top)
• Hadleigh ate turkey lunch meat and pineapples all the time and then overnight (literally) she decided she didn't like these anymore. So for the next 2 weeks, on our way to school, she asked me what was in her lunch to make sure I didn't pack those 2 things.  Some days even checking behind me to make sure.
• Hadleigh had a friend in class whose parent got them Chick-Fil-A one morning.  The next morning she wanted it and when we told her we would go over the weekend instead - she cried. ..the entire way to school.
• If you have more than one kid, one of them will want EVERYTHING the other has. EVERYTHING - drinks, underwear, gloves, shoes, shirts, hair clip...everything.

Please share your crazy stories to make this mama feel sane! 

Hadleigh & Hayden's Christmas Wish List {Pre-school & Toddler Age}

I’ve asked Hadleigh & Hayden several times what they want Santa to bring them for Christmas and each time I get a different answer from Hadleigh.  Hayden is pretty consistent on her answers!

Here are a few I’ve heard from Hadleigh:

-          EVERYTHING!

-          A doctor kit so I can fix all the people and animals

-          iPad just like mommy’s

Here is what Hayden says every time:

-          LET IT GOOOOO! (this is what she calls ‘Frozen’ and she’s obsessed)

-          A baby doll

Both of them have circled everything in the toy catalog from Toys R Us & Target; even though they already have half of the things they circled.  Hopefully the girls are excited with the things Santa has planned.  Here are a few items we know Santa has in his little bag this year.

1-       iPad // Yes, this might be a crazy gift for a 4 year old. Her and Hayden fight over mine constantly.  They love watching Netflix and play educational games.  They've never taken to their LeapPads, so we’re selling those and just upgrading to the iPad. It’s truly a win-win.  There have been several moments since we bought it Daniel and I have said “we cannot wait for Christmas!”

2-      Lite Brite // I loved this growing up, so this is something I’m excited to see them open and play with!  This mama is excited to play with it too ;)

3-      Elsa dress // They will both be very excited for this.  They love Frozen, but they love dressing up. I’m expecting this is what they will want to wear Christmas Day.

4-      Shoes // We picked up these cute Nike tennis shoes the other night.  Hayden grew out of her New Balances, so she needed them.

5-      Books // Definitely needed some reading material for these girls! You can never go wrong with books.  We got both of them a mixture of fun and educational type books.

What does Santa have planned for your kids?
Linking up with September Farm today too!