Park

The weather was so nice here today. To pretty to be inside. Addison has been wanting to feed the ducks, so we took the kid's to the park today. They had a lot of fun and didn't want to leave. Addison even slid down the big slide by herself for the first time today. Only she goes down backwards. Regan.... who never met a camera that she didn't like... posed everytime she saw the camera pointed her way.

Addison Funnies

Addison is a very funny little girl and has been extra funny lately... so I thought I would share..

1. The other day I was taking the girl's through the McDonald's drive through. I payed at the first window and proceeded to drive to the second window.... Addison says... We forgot!... So, I say... What did we forget?... She says... Our food! Mommy, we forgot our food!

2. Last night as I was moisturizing and diapering Addison she put her hands in my hair and said... You're beautiful. (She actually tells me this a lot. She's a very loving child... except when her sister taunts her... and then she has been known to hit her sister, but immediately hug her as soon as she realizes that I saw said offense) So, I said... Thank you. You're beautiful, too. She said... I not beautiful. I not dressed.

3. Tonight I was reading Duck and Goose to Addison and Regan. It's about a duck and a goose who think that a ball is an egg and at first they fight over who is going to protect the egg and then they decide to take care of it together. While they are caring for the "egg" and discussing what they will teach their baby... a blue bird kicks the "egg" and they discover that their egg is actually a ball. So, in the beginning of the book (that we have read several times before) Addison points to the egg/ball and says... What's this?... I say.. I don't know.... She say's... It's a ball.... in a voice that clearly says... you should know this.

Addison now recognizes the letters A - D. At least she does in the Alphabet Book. She is not quite the puzzle mastermind that her sister was at this age, but I think that has more to do with her being the second child and I don't have the time to work with her like I did with Regan. She does like peg puzzle's and we are working on jigsaw puzzles. She especially likes to pretend like she can't put pieces in the right way. I will tell her to turn it around and she will say... like this? With it upside down. I can tell she is taunting me because of the smile on her face. I may have a class clown on my hands.

Overscheduled Child

Well, we have officially overscheduled Regan. She has swimming two days a week and dancing one day a week. And now she is in Soccer for the Spring... which means practice one day a week (right after dancing) and games on the weekend. Matt wanted her to try soccer, because he really likes the game. So, we decided to start her in the Spring because it is a much shorter season than the fall (half). She had practice last night and we were amazed that she knew what to do with the ball. They must play at school. If she ends up liking soccer, she will have to make choices as to what she wants to do. Neither one of us can keep up with this schedule for long.

Aquarium

We went to New Orleans this weekend so that Matt and I could run in the Mardi Gras Half Marathon Sunday morning. My friend and running partner also came to run and we met up with our families on Saturday morning at the Aquarium. It was a fun weekend, but Matt and I are both hurting (as I am sure everyone who ran the race is) now. But we are both proud of our accomplishment.

Would You Like Fries with That?

Regan's Parent/Teacher Conference

It went really well. We went a day early, so we had a lot more time. I am usually at the school early on Thursday, so the teacher asked me if I wanted to come while they were at library. It works out better for me, because Addison is at school and we have more time. Her teacher said that we could do it that way again for the next one.

She got the highest marks on everything. She is doing well academically and socially. Their one concern is that she doesn't transition well. To the point where the teacher asked us if we thought she might have a hearing problem. I had to laugh at that. I am positive that her only hearing problem is what my parent's always called selective hearing. To this day if I am focused on something I literally cannot hear you if you start talking to me. Sometimes I can think for a minute and recall what it was you said... I guess it is in my sub conscience. The teacher said that there was one time that Regan was the last one in the sandbox. She said they would have never left her, because they count the kids before going in (thank goodness). But she said they ring the bell and call for the kids... and there was Regan with no one around her doing whatever she was doing. Unfortunately, I don't think anything will ever change it. I think it is just something that she got from me that can be good and bad.

Her comments for her conference were:

With a curious nature and spirit of cooperation, Regan is making steady progress. She takes pride in her art work and her daily projects. I admire her responsible attitude and pleasant disposition as she meets the challenges of Pre-K4.

Regan is to be commended on her ability to interact with her peers in a positive manner. She has a pleasant disposition and she is a pleasure to teach.

Regan's evaluation is a reflection of her consistent effort and hard work.

Regan is having problems with transitions and we are working to improve this area.

Zoo

We met some friend's at the zoo today and the kids had fun until it started raining. They mostly played on the new playground that was recently built. We did see a few animal's... mostly while we were riding the train. It's not often that we don't have a million things to do on the weekend, so it was nice to be able to go to the zoo today.

Fun at the Park

We met some of our friend's that we don't see very often at the park today. It was a beautiful day... to pretty to be inside. Regan didn't have school, because it was parent/teacher conference day (more on that later). Matt and I did our's yesterday, so the girls and I had the whole day free. The girl's were so excited to see their friends. We used to see them at least once a week and now that Regan is in school every day we don't see them very much at all.

While we were there we ran into some friend's with their grandparents. Their parents (some good friends of ours) are on vacation. The youngest had had a hard day and was missing her mommy. So, I was really glad that we ran into them. The little girl loves Regan and perked up a lot once Regan sat down with her. I can definitely relate to kid's missing their mommy, so I was glad we were able to help out.

It's Official

Addison loves school. The last couple of times I have dropped her off her teacher has been coming down the hall and took her from me. Addison goes willingly. Today, we weren't as early as we usually are and so I walked her all the way to her classroom. As soon as we walked through the door she was taking her backpack off and running for the table (they had peg puzzles layed out). It does a mother's heart good.

Regan is doing really well with swimming. She has made a lot of progress in a very short amount of time. Monday and Wednesday she stayed for class. Monday was after a lesson, so she was in for a long time. Yesterday we were late, so she wasn't able to have her lesson. Yesterday she swam the entire length of an olympic size pool holding on to bar bells. Which I was really impressed with. The teacher also had them swim with just their fins, which Regan didn't really do. I think she was intimidated, which I can understand. She is doing much better on her back. She's not afraid anymore, but she still needs to work on getting her tummy up when she is on her back. The teacher is still going to work with her one on one. Which is fine with me. She said that she has a beautiful kick and she listens well. I, of course, am just glad that she listens. Everything else will come. Now if she would only listen to me....

Ready for School

While I was getting ready for school this morning I hear Addison say that she's ready for school. I turn around and this is what I see...

Of course, I had to take a picture of such cuteness. Then we are about to walk out the door and I turn around and see this...

Both of my kid's put sunglasses on their heads. I'm pretty sure it's because they see me do it. But it's so much cuter on them.

No Love for Mommy

I was on the phone with Matt today and Addison wanted to know who I was on the phone with (as she always does). When I told her it was Matt she said... I love Daddy. And then... I love Daddy best. Regan immediately piped in with ... I love Granny, Elmo and Christmas best. So glad I rank. : )

In other news... Regan is doing really well with swimming. She is in the process of taking swim lessons from the Lafayette Swim Team coach with the purpose of being on the swim team. She wouldn't compete at meets for another year or two, but she would be on the "team." She has had a little trouble with being afraid of being on her back, which is the main thing that was holding her back. To the point where I was starting to question whether I was doing the right thing or not. I can remember not liking being on my back and I was much older than her when I learned. Anyway, today we had a break through. She did much better today and the coach let her stay for "practice" which is really a class. She told me to bring her 15 minutes later next time and that she will now do lessons and then class. She said it won't be long before she is just doing class.

Weekend

Matt took the girl's to Granny's for the weekend, so that I could get some stuff done around the house. I got a lot done and finally feel somewhat ready to face 2009. After two plus years (I got a little... okay a lot behind after Addison was born) my office is finally organized. Closets are next on my agenda.

Anyway, I think the girl's had fun at their Granny's. It is funny to me how excited they get to go. You would think that it was a rare occassion that we are there (sometimes I think we are there as much as we are here). Matt said that when he got Addison out of bed this morning she said "I love Granny's." That's her new thing to say... I love (insert something).

Matt and Regan went to get their hair cut while they were there. Apparently the hair people kept telling her that she looked like a model. She didn't know what a model was and now wants Matt to show her one.

Today

Today Addison and I met Matt for lunch after a morning playdate. Even though Addison has her own drink, she won't leave mine alone. Especially if I have water. She always wants my ice. To the point where I have considered having her tested for an iron deficiency. The only thing that stops me is that I really like ice, too. However, I do not like her sticking her fingers in my water and I especially don't like her spitting her ice back in my water because it's "cold." Today she said "you have a sour, not me." I didn't know what she was talking about until Matt explained and then I realized she was talking about my lemon.

In other BIG news. Regan ate a whole stalk of asparagus tonight. I made her eat a bite and she liked it and requested more.

Addison's latest funny

Everytime I open the refrigerator Addison wants two grapes (one for each hand). Right now there are some green onions in the same drawer as the grapes. Everytime Addison sees them she says " I don't like those onions, Mommy. They make me eat."

Show and Tell

In Regan's class they have to put their show and tell in a bag and come up with three clues for their classmates to guess what their show and tell is. I was just telling Matt how my friend, who's little boy is in our class, was telling me how she helped her son come up with good clues for his show and tell. After school she said to him... Weren't they really good clues? And he said... no mom, they weren't. No one could guess what it was. So I was impressed this morning when I was helping Regan with her clues. I said how about... She's a princess. Regan told me in a very concerned voice... No! Then they will know what it is. So here are the clues that she came up with... Her name starts with J. Her prince is Aladin. They rode on a magic carpet.

Addison

Every year Addison's friend Emory's grandfather draws something for he and his brother. He tries to make it something that they like or that is relatable to them. For example, their mom told me that last year he drew Emory's finger because Emory pointed all of the time. Well, this year he decided to draw Addison and I couldn't be more thrilled. I just love the picture and I think it looks just like her! And Addison loves Emory! Which is a good thing, because they spend a lot of time together. They are in school together, they go to kindermusic together and a lot of times we play on the days in between and sometimes on the weekend. I think they think they are cousins. She ALWAYS wants to know where he is. And when she has her noonies.... she has two... one that is her's and one that she says is Emory's even though it was never Emory's, it just looks like one's that Emory has. They fight like siblings sometimes and Emory has even stood up for Addison. One time a little boy in kindermusic took Addison's ball and Emory said "That our's."

Bowling

We went bowling with some friends tonight. I really don't know why we don't do it more often. We always have a lot of fun. After bowling, we went to dinner and I have to say... the kids did extremely well. Although... next time we are not getting them a lane for bowling. We are just going to bring balloons for them. They swiped some from the birthday party next to us, and had much more fun playing with the balloons than they did bowling.

Makeup

Addison already wants to wear makeup. Whenever I am getting ready she always wants me to put some on her. I usually just pretend. And she always plays in my makeup bag, because up until now she couldn't open anything. So, when I got in the shower the other day and she was playing in my make up bag I wasn't to concerned. Well, as I was showering Regan started telling on her (while, as I found out later, fully participating). I got out of the shower to find half of my foundation on the floor and on Addison. And both of the girls with mascara on. I think I did a pretty good job of keeping my cool. And next time I will make sure my makeup bag is out of reach.