Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Last week we celebrated #2's birthday. Although it was a big one, it was requested that it be quiet and relaxing, and so off to the north woods we went (with the Bausch's, of course). Kate spent her nights and naps in a huge bed in the darkest basement that exists in the world and adventures outside with bubbles in the woods. Kate's most exciting adventure was a trip to the hot springs with Daddy - the same hot springs visited a few times last year (and noted in previous posts) while we were renting the cabin. Enjoy photos of Kate's float and Anna's happy face while she observed...

Criss Cross Applesauce

Kate has started saying and singing all sorts of things that I don't understand. I quickly came to understand that school was a) a wonderful thing and b) an introduction into songs and sayings that don't come from me. The mystery of what happens at school is an entertaining one for me. After a week or so I think I finally figured out that "criss cross applesauce" means it is time to cross your legs and sit in a circle. And then there was a little song like chant, "Days of the week!" *clap* *clap* I asked Miss Amy if they were learning the days of the week and she laughed asking if I wanted to hear the song. It is to the theme of the Addams Family... "There's Monday and there's Tuesday, there's Wednesday and there's Thursday, etc... Days of the week!" *clap* *clap*

And FYI - D is for Dinosaur and Duck.

Anna - much to my dismay and Brad's glee - has started doing all sorts of new things as well. When I hold her up to my shoulder she pushes off to look around instead of laying like a lovely sack of potatoes with her arms flung over my shoulders. And when I lay her down, upon my return she is in a totally different position than I left her. That said, it isn't as though she goes very far, just an invisible scoot of sorts. What a drag. My newborn is no longer a newborn, and I'll never have a newborn again. This is a sad moment for me. Don't get me wrong - I don't want to grown another newborn, I just want this one to stay tiny and sweet. It is all I have these days, as the big girl likes to do everything on her own and screams when things don't go well (her way).

I think we've finally settled into life now that the Stanley Cup business is over, fall is supposedly here, and there will be no more surprise weddings to attend in Hawaii. ASIDE from the fact that UB has a birthday this week and we're planning a weekend in McCall for a little treat, we're into a new routine of baby- and preschool-life. As a matter of fact, Kate loves school so much I'm thinking of having her stay for two full days instead of just two mornings.

And for those of you who are wondering, here's what we look like these days...

First Day of Preschool

I couldn't wait to get out here and post these photos, as I wanted to share our family's excitement of the day with all of you. Now that I'm here, my eyes are welling up with tears! I cannot believe that I've been making posts on this blog for over 2 1/2 years, documenting Kate's ups and downs, and now Anna, too. And here she is, meeting all of the requirements of a preschooler (ie, potty trained) and marching off to her first day of preschool. When I woke her this morning and told her it was time to get ready for school she flipped out of bed with a gleeful, "YEAAAAH!" and off to the races we went. When we got there she headed for the first classroom we saw, and she was in heaven. It probably helped that there was a guinea pig that reminded her of a favorite cartoon character and a delightfully pleasant room filled with toys and children. When it came time to go I rubbed her head and said, "Have a great day, honey." Her response was an excited, "Bye Mom!" and much of the same to her daddy. I don't know how or when this happened, but she's a big kid!