Southfield Day!

Today was Southfield Day and we all piled into the car this morning, bright and early on a Saturday :) to go see Morgan's classroom! It was so fun - seeing all her artwork all over the place, and she couldn't have been more excited to take us around and show off everything.

In her weekend journal she has 2 entries so far. The first was about going to the zoo (which we really did do - as you may recall) but I completely forgot about the part where "Daddy jumped over the elephant!" I am not quite sure how I could have forgotten that huge moment!! Her second entry was about how we saw a rainbow. She's really into drawing rainbows - so I think it was just an excuse to draw one. Though, I suppose it's not completely impossible. Again...my memory is disappointing me!!!

Maddie particularly enjoyed tearing up the classroom and acted as if she just fit right in. Mrs. McEwen was fabulous, as always, gave us the low-down on Morgan's day and her friends. It was great fun and we could have stayed longer, but it was off to face-painting and playing with her classmates. She had an "SF", a "5" (b/c she was almost 5), and a butterfly painted on her face. Once again, I'm totally slacking in the picture department. I have not on picture of Southfield Day, but it was really great. The girls had a ball.

Though, I must say - Mommy is really looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow! My feet and legs will not stop crying out in pain for me to just put them up! Going back to work is physically exhausting!! I wonder if it will be at all possible....????

Pictures to prove it!

Ok- so here's the pict of Morgan's Halloween 2010 costume. (She does have shorts on and will be wearing pants that day!)
And here's a picture of the letter that got sent home from school...such a sad drawing!!!

Morganisms

Morgan announced to Walgreens this morning that she can't use their bathroom "because she has to poop and their bathroom is too small because Mommy has to check my bum." :)

After more errands this afternoon, we were at an art and crafts store and found a Police Officer costume...hence, Morgan's halloween costume. She's wearing it now, testing it out, going around the house, asking Kevin and I if "there are any problems in here?!" Is it rotten to say, "yes....you!!!!??" Just kidding!!! I would never do that (but in my defense I have run around the house all day, taken Maddie to the doctors to get them to give her some meds, and went to 5 different stores running errands.

Morgan and I are about to make cookies and then (according to Kevin) I have to make dinner because "how am I suppose to watch the Patriots game and cook dinner?!" And we wonder where Morgan gets it from?!!! :)

So, I guess no more blogging!!! :)

To-do lists, Soccer and Things

Well, first I'm going to pat myself on the back for not only surviving the week, but also for blogging about it!! :) Whoo-hoo!!!

Yes, at this point, I will take any small accomplishment! This week I was able to get the girls out the door in the morning - making lunches, getting everyone dressed, remembering lunch boxes, backpacks, hats, coats, diapers and pretty much everything....and out the door on time to school and day care! Quite a task!!! Thanks to Kevin who made it all possible by getting up with Maddie who continues to wake up at 430 am every morning and refuses to just sit and be happy...but who constantly cries and whines until we're actually "bye-bye!"

Not only that but I was able to pick them up at the correct times, get them to where they need to go, making sure they were set for Erin, the sitter, who picked them up and took care of them while we were at Arthur's celebrations, take both of them to Morgan's irish step dancing, et al.

(Just don't ask how many nights this week I cooked, ok!!)

Maddie had a much better week at daycare, especially the past few days. I would pick her up and her teachers would say, "she didn't even cry all day!!" Music to my ears!!! :) And not only that, but she was engaged in play every time I picked her up, happy to see me, and ready to go!!!

I will say the poor thing has been congested now for quite some time and boy is at all trying to exit her nose!! She seems so miserable sometimes, I think I should take her to the doctors to say, this has been 3 weeks of misery, but then she seems to have nothing else wrong with her - or so it seems - so...what to do?

Morgan had a great first week of school! Thursdays are going to be a very exhausting day - a full day of school and then Irish Step Dancing. It was obvious there was exhaustion there - especially when we received "word" from her teacher (through a note that I can't find but will take a picture of and post when I do) that read something like:

"Dear Mom and Dad,

Today I hit Jordan and pushed Esme. I also pulled Esme's hair. I am so sorry. I am sad. I promise I won't do it again. Morgan"

And below the words was the smallest, saddest picture of Morgan I've ever seen. (She drew it herself).

Now, as Mom, in Morgan's defense, she was saying that "Esme was in her face all day!" So, she was just reacting to that. But, as a teacher, I know better and we spoke to her and she was just FULL of tears and so many apologies. So, we'll see!!

So, yes, my hands are full. And full of my own 13 students (I will get one more on Monday) who are full of their own stories, drama, challenges and hilarious idiosencrisies. One teacher (who was just married two months ago) at lunch asked me the other day, "So how is it teaching all day and then going home to your own kids?"

I said, "one word: exhausting!!"

But, it's been great fun - and nice to be busy again! It means I'm not lonely or eating too much which is all a good thing! Just sleeping really easy at night!!

Today was Morgan's first day of soccer and as her friend, Peyton's dad and I noticed, we have much improved since the last time we tried this! The two girls were engaged, listening, following directions, and having a great time!!

Maddie enjoyed the field herself, running everywhere...mostly with Daddy!
Peyton is in blue...shin guards on and ready to roll! Serious players only!!!
Listening to "Coach Mike"

And her own serious ball-handling skills.

Congratulations Bishop Kennedy!!

CONGRATULATIONS UNCLE ARTHUR!!!

Kindergarten One!!!

How is it possible that Morgan is beginning Southfield?!! It is truly amazing and she had an "AWESOME" first day!!! When did she get so big? And so ready to be off at school? Time flies!!!

She was great at the bus stop in the morning and got right on, sitting next to McKenna, her friend in K2 that she knows from camp. On her first day she said that she "played with her friends, rode the bikes at recess, drew a picture of herself, and played." Her classroom is "awesome!" Mrs. McEwen called me to fill me in on the day also (thank you, Mrs. McEwen!!!) and said that she was really great...no tears getting off the bus (even during the LOUD thunderstorm we had), listened at meeting, and shared toys with her friends. I said, "no way that's my Morgan!!!"

2nd day was today - also good, though, according to Morgan, "not as good as the first day." She said, "her friends were in her face, and she slipped and fell in the bathroom at lunch, and bumped her forehead and her elbows." They are toughening her up already!!!

Morgan's first day in Kindergarten One at Southfield!!
...without her backpack.
...with her backpack and hat!!!

...Maddie really didn't want any photos taken of her that early in the morning!!!

McKenna and Morgan wait for the bus!

All the kids at the bus stop tell Morgan how they wish they had the "new" hat like she does!!

Bye Morgan!!!!

Yup...there she goes. I told myself I wasn't going to cry - she is more than ready for this, but I most definitely shed more than a few tears!!! How could you not?!!

Just another day...

Today we went to the zoo and Auntie Annie joined us last minute! It was a great time...so great, in fact, Maddie was fast asleep as soon as we got in the car to go home. Poor thing is miserable - runny nose, teething, and a bad tummy to boot. Here's hoping she's better by Tuesday for the first week of school officially starting!!!

Here's some picts from the day:

Morgan was sure to hold Maddie's hand the whole time (well, when Maddie wasn't in the stroller or holding onto to Kevin and I for dear life in fear of the gorillas).
See the zebra in the background?!!
Maddie and Daddy...Molars hurting Maddie. Maddie hurting Daddy!!
Hip, Hip, Hooray for Auntie Annie!!
Yes - we have lots of these pictures!!! :)

And now for "Star Gazing"...

Speechless....

School is Starting!!!

I can't believe the week has gone by!! And what a crazy one it was....

Maddie has started day care. She did 4.5 days this week...I picked her up early on Friday because she was so exhausted, I was out early, and I figured we'd all get comfy cozy and hunker down for Hurricane Earl. It's been a very tough week for her...she's going from me all the time, to everyone but me all the time, plus she's moving from two naps to one. And throw molars coming in on top of all the changes, she's one exhausted little girl!! But, like Morgan, she's a trooper. Every day I went to go pick her up, her teachers said it was "better than yesterday." Of course, today -her home day - she's back to a 9am nap time, catching up, I'm guessing from the week plus her early morning wake ups - at 5am.

So, it's been a bit of shock and change for Maddie...but know she'll do great there once she gets the hang of it, and her molars come in. This has been about a month long process right now - and I think we might just be over halfway there!!! She's doing great otherwise, though - happy as a clam at home most of the time. And she's added the word, "more" to her vocab!!

Morgan is doing great. She spent Monday and Tuesday with me in my classroom, and Wednesday at home - we cleaned up, organized clothes, she had an impromptu play date with Peyton, and then Thursday and Friday she spend with Gamma...doing errands, eating lots of junk food, and talking, talking, talking!!!

One of the great "Morgan stories" from the week was when Gamma was taking Morgan home, and Morgan asked (in her true whiney voice) how long of a ride it was from Milton to Dedham...was it going to be long? Gamma said, "no it's not but it can be shorter if you move closer to Milton!" "Morgan said, "no, I can't do that." And Gamma asked, "Why not?" Morgan replied, "Because then I won't be near my best friend." Gamma asked, "who is that?" And Morgan said, "UNCLE BRIAN!!!"

So Kevin and I have officially started at work this week. I have such mixed emotions about everything, I am kind of all over the place - but mostly exhausted! Kevin started on Wednesday and myself on Thursday. It was probably one of the most productive teacher meetings I have been to....really inspiring and incredible. And the nicest people...it's going to be a great year!!! School for me, grades 1-8 start on Tuesday (though prek and k students don't start until the 13th), and Morgan and Kevin officially start on Wednesday. We'll be using this week to work out a few kinks in the morning routine, I'm sure, as I figure out how I'm going to get everyone out the door -where they need to be - and on time!! It's been hitting me a lot of harder that Morgan will be off to Southfield and like I had always thought in the past that I would be there...so it's a bit sad, but I know she'll do great and I am so proud of her. She is really becoming such a big girl!!!

Big game day today - Coach Kelly's first game with ND!! Very exciting!! We'll be game watching today, and possibly zoo-hopping tomorrow!! Happy Labor Day weekend to all!!