I fell asleep with you last night and woke up at 2am. I went to my room to lay down but Daddy was snoring loud, so I grabbed my pillow and headed back to your room. I got up early and just laid next to you while you were still sleeping really hard. You finally woke up around 9a. I wanted to let Daddy sleep in so we stayed in your room and read about a thousand books. You curled up in my arms as I read. I could have stayed there for a year!
You started to get hungry, so we went out to cook breakfast. By that time, Daddy was up so he ate with us and you guys played Rudolph. After breakfast, you were working on your workbooks with Daddy and then playing outside. I wanted to run and drop off some soup to Grandma Weezie & you decided to come with me. You played with all of her Kaleidoscopes and hit her up for snacks! You “washed” her dishes in the sink even though they were clean because you were helping! Of course, you were all over Cowboy as well.
We went home to have lunch because you were STARVING. But when you went upstairs to say hi to Daddy, you found him assembling a desk and decided you would rather help him than eat. You picked up his drill and suggested that he “screw it in using this machine!” I ran to work for a little bit while you guys worked on the furniture. When I got home, I changed and got ready for our FUPPA girls Christmas dinner. You asked to go because you are a FUPPA too, but you stayed and had a home date with Daddy. I got home too late and you were already sleeping!
This morning was your first day in the 5-8 year old class at gymnastics. Coach Nickie kept checking on you and said you did really great! Coach Tammy welcomed you into class and you fit right in like you had always been there. You listened and stayed with the group great!
You & Veda before class
We were planning to go to fancy breakfast to celebrate, but you asked to go home for breakfast. While I was cooking, you and Daddy started putting together your growing Christmas tree that Ms. Sandy got you. You put it together with Daddy and then put the water on it. After just a few minutes it was already sprouting. It takes 24 hours to be finished.
After that, you started working on the Paw Patrol gingerbread house. I’m fairly certain you ate more candy than you decorated with but you had a fantastic time. You and Daddy made a great team! You took a quick break to eat breakfast and came back to decorating several times throughout the day.
We cleaned up, changed & headed to a park to meet Katrina & Chrissy to take pictures with the Hot Cocoa Vignette Katrina put together. She had a jug of chocolate drink she put in the pitcher and it’s ALLLLLLL you wanted lol! As we were getting close to wrapping up, you wanted a cup of the drink to go. I told you no, that we would get some chocolate milk at the grocery store when we left. You weren’t having that so you went over to the spout, put your mouth under it and tried to drink right from it! Needless to say, I put a stop to that and we got in the car and left. At first you were upset, but we talked about it and you recovered nicely. We went to the grocery store and to Jo Ann Fabrics to get gift bags for Daddy’s work Christmas party tonight.
When we got home, some of his co-workers were already at the house. Katie, one of his employees, brought you a necklace with an Italian Lira coin on it because you just got your passport. It was such a nice gesture. You showed everyone there your growing Christmas tree and we sent some pictures to Ms. Sandy to say thank you!
Emily Brophy came to stay with you while we went to the party. You asked me to send you pictures from the party so you could see what it looked like. As expected you were still up, but very tired, when we got home. The report was excellent and you were a great listener! We went to potty then headed to your room straight away as it was almost 10:30p! You snuggled up with me and I fell asleep with you! I woke up at 2am to and went to my room but Daddy was snoring so loud that I grabbed my pillow and went back to your room and slept with you!
Today was your last Spanish class. Ms. Ida said you did so great.
FT w Deb & Fed in the car and the met Aunt Deb for dinner at Andrea’s
Shopping after at HomeGoods. Really wanted a giant giraffe. You carried him all over the store. I tied to tell you we couldn’t buy him but you weren’t hearing it. Aunt Deb went up to tell the cashier to tell you that it belongs to the manager and it’s not for sale.
On the way home, you had to pee so bad. I was racing to the neighborhood and as soon as we turned the corner, we saw Ms. Moe, Jack Daniels, Franklin & the gang walking. You jumped out of your car seat and put the window down to talk to Ms. Moe. You got out of the car and raced her home. Then, forgetting completely about needed to pee so badly, we walked the block with her. When we got back, you went inside and brought out the Santa mailbox full of Polar Express bells.
We went in & you wanted Harry to sleep with you. Squirmed a little and then drifted off to sleep. I love you so much.
Slept until 730 came out of your room crying while I was making your lunch. You came up to me, grabbed my hands and walked me to the couch to sit and hold you. You stopped crying and started chatting quickly. I was able to get you moving quickly bc we agreed if we are on time to school every day this week you can get your nails done. As soon as I would remind you you would get back to work. good day at school. When I picked you up from Spanish Daddy called on FaceTime. You stole a chocolate covered pretzel from my Whole Foods bag. You asked for chicken wings for breakfast and he promised you he would make them for dinner.
you ate 5 wings & they were huge! we FaceTimed ms Sandy then watched frosty
took forever to settle down even after we read books. I finally left tour room at 930. By 10 you were in my
room. And I told you to go back to your room. But I want to sleep w you mon. I said I know me too. But the time has passed. You were supposed to go to your room but you went outside. Daddy was mad and went to get you.
You slept in until I woke you up at 8am. You started to cry when you realized it was a school day because you don’t want to nap. Once you were a little more awake, you were happy quickly. You got dressed, brushed your teeth & brushed your hair. I promised you if we make it to school on time everyday this week, you could earn a trip to my nail salon to get your nails done. You love that my polish “doesn’t come off” like your does because it is cured by a UV light. You serenaded me with Christmas carols on wat to school. Then you told me to look at you “but don’t take your eyes off the road and drive all crazy!” You also told me “you have to have to have two hands on your steering wheel in case you need to turn this way or that way. Your car could get uncontrolled and crash into a car.”
The Most Beautiful Sound
I toured ODA today and loved the campus. Carter Micale, who used to be in your class at Discovery Days is in pre-K there and his Mom loves it. I know a lot of people who have chosen ODA for their kids and love it. The campus is beautiful & very serene. It seems a lot like Discovery Days in the approach to learning. The kids are at tables, not desks, which is really great. This has been the toughest decision yet to make for you. There was no question about Discovery Days. All of the schools we have considered have pros and cons. It feels like such an enormous decision. Wherever you go will impact your friends circle and social experience for years to come. I want to make the perfect choice for you and that is so important to me. I hope you continue to love learning like you do know and I know the environment will affect that.
When I picked you up from Spanish, you jumped in the car, found your Polar Express book & bell and rang it saying “the most beautiful sound!” You read the book on the drive home and I took a video. Now, when you realize I’m doing that, you tell me to turn it off! We headed to the rainbow car wash (I really can’t skip it or you make me u-turn and go back!) then home to play and have dinner.
You got naked in the garage (I simply can’t keep clothes on you!) & we went inside to eat. After dinner, we took Harry for a walk and you wanted to ride your bike. Daddy told you to go get dressed & you came back out in a leotard and light up rainboots lol! We saw Ms. Moe and the gang and you were singing Rudolph while riding, then put your bike down to really belt it out. I ended up having to carry your bike home.
We headed to bed and after two books you were still squirming. Daddy came in to check on us & sat on the floor holding your hand. You finally felly asleep just before 10p. I really want to keep you on a good sleep schedule through the break so that you are well rested, happy and healthy. We got so off course before Thanksgiving!
You slept in until 8:45a and came out to the living room to snuggle with me. We watched a little TV, then you wanted to hang the Christmas ornament that Ms. Sandy gave you. We ate breakfast and got ready to go to Fed’s performance of James & The Giant Peach. At first, you just wanted to wear your puffy vest and be naked lol, but you ultimately settled for a very fancy dress and your fancy dress up shoes. I told you we were going to a park and you really should wear play clothes and sneakers, but of course you knew better lol!
When we got to the park we played and you got to swing for a few minutes before the show started. You loved the show so much you asked to stay for the second show. You were having so much fun playing at the park that I decided to let you stay even though I knew you should go home because you were going to fade fast tonight. When it was time to leave you didn’t want to get off the playground equipment. We had a little upset and had to talk about it in the car. We agreed that TV and the gingerbread man song would be closed tonight. We started over and had a great rest of the night.
When we got home, we jumped in the bathtub, had a pizza picnic outside by the fire and snap chatted for a bit. We headed to your room at 7:30p and read two Advent Calendar books. When we finished, you curled up in my arms and were snoring before 8p.
When you woke up this morning, you were back and forth trying to decide if you were going to go to gymnastics. When I reminded you that Baby Olivia would be there you decided to go! I was so excited that you finally went back to gymnastics!! I spoke with Coach Nickie about what you have been saying about not wanting to go to gymnastics and she thinks it is because you are bored, but don’t know how to say that. She was thinking to move you up to the 5-8 year old class after the new year, but she thinks we need to do it sooner. So, you will do a trial of that class next week. Her only concern was that you run off from the group at times, but she thinks that by you being the youngest, you will follow the example of the older girls. Now, you are the oldest in your class and you are the leader.
So excited to see Olivia!
After class we went to fancy breakfast with baby Olivia & Chrissy. You were so good and loved playing with Olivia. When we finished, we went home to play & on the way you put make up on in my car. You were so proud of yourself. At home, you ran upstairs to play & race trains with Daddy. When you finished, we took a bath, snuggled with me on the couch & watched some avengers. I was kind of hoping you would doze off for a cat nap, but no luck!
We got dressed in our jammies to go ride the Polar Express. We picked up Ms. Sandy & Dean. You loved checking out her decorations and telling her all about moving up to pre-k, moving up in gymnastics and Spanish class! You miss her so much!!!! She gave you a Christmas ornament with our picture on it and you were so excited!!!!
When we got to the train, you were so excited. You couldn’t believe we had to wait until we got to the North Pole to get hot cocoa because they serve it on the train in the movie. You were telling everyone on the train “Santa’s working a hundred hard to make toys for the kids! He’s working so hard. So So Hard. So hard he can’t even stop!” When we got there we saw Santa first. You were so happy to see him and ran right up and sat down in front of him. He was behind plexiglass, but it didn’t bother you one bit. He complimented your Santa hat and you were happy to tell him it’s just like yours! You told him “I want a rainbow big girl helmet. I will wear it all day & night!” As we were getting ready to leave, you put your hand on the glass and said “I love you Santa!” On the way out, you got your bell from Santa’s sleigh and you were so delighted!
We played in the snow, played trains, made reindeer food & made s’mores. The weather was perfect and we had so much fun. This is my favorite Christmas activity & I was joking that we will still be going when you are 20!
We were on the 7p train for the first time ever. We didn’t get home until after 11:30p. You weren’t tired (you said) and wanted to play your Christmas Naughty or Nice game on Directv. I couldn’t believe you were sitting up and playing. I let you unwind for a few minutes, then took you directly to my bed. You were not happy I wouldn’t put the TV on in my room, but you were snoring in 2 minutes!! I think I was more tired than you!!!
In the car on the way to school, you were singing crazy songs and telling funning stories. When I giggled, you asked me “Am I just cracking you up?” Yes, G, you are always cracking me up.
I got this message in the school Sandbox App:
“We pretended to be in the North Pole this week as we “baked” cookies with our ginger bread play dough and strengthened our fine motor and problem solving in our wrapping station. The children also enjoyed playing gingerbread roll, where they rolled a dice and decorated a gingerbread person.”
I picked you up from school & you were so happy to see me. You were starving when we got home so I made you some mac & cheese before I had leave for a charcuterie class with Marina & Lisa. Daddy played trains with you upstairs then you read him a book in bed. He put you to bed and fell asleep with you. When I got home, I found the two of you sleeping so sweet.
