This Week

And the one before... and the one before that...

1) Big Sister finished her last week of Pre-K on the 28th, culminating in a graduation ceremony. She looked so sweet, wearing a cap and gown, and accepting her 'diploma.' Afterward, there was a dessert reception for all the graduates, their siblings, and teary eyed parents.

The graduate and her friends!

The very proud parents...

2) Little Sister turned 3 yrs. old on May 30!

Little Sis was too scared (? or nervous?) to blow out her candles without help.

We planned to celebrate with a little tea party with two friends from the neighborhood and Grandma and Grandpa. But then, our girls ended up with a lingering stomach bug that week. And with Hubby just returning home from a work trip, only to leave for another trip four days later, and the extra bodily fluids moving around the house... we canceled it the evening before and opted for a small, exclusive 'family only' affair. I hadn't made Little Sister's cake yet, with the cake pan I hadn't borrowed yet, so I had to send Hubby out for a store-bought birthday cake. Which is against my beliefs, but alas. Little Sister loved her few presents, her cake, and the attention lavished upon her for turning three entire years old!

Can hardly believe our littlest girl is three already! On her birth date, she opened her bedroom door and ran out at 8:31am, exactly the time she was born!! Made me cry into my cup of coffee!)

The birthday girl and her sister got pedicures from Mommy--special treat! (I still don't have it in me to paint their finger nails. It just seems too big. But then, I never paint mine either).

3) The work related trip Hubby left for on June 2 was a job interview for the full time graphic designer/publicist at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was a permanent duty station, which are rare in the military and highly coveted. (For those unfamiliar with military lingo, that means we would not have had to move again. Ever. As opposed to moving every 2-3 years, which is the average). Hubby was not offered the job, in the end, which was disappointing. But out of dozens of applicants, he was one of three candidates interviewing for the actual position. Other than a few one-day workshops, this is a skill Hubby has learned through dedicated practice and self-guided learning! And it's only one half of his 'day job!' We are very proud of his talent, hard work, the effort he put into preparing for the interview, as well the effort he's put into the graphic designing gig for the last 5 years. "It's an honor to be nominated...," right?

4) Big Sister is home full time for her very first summer vacation! We are stocked up on craft supplies, sidewalk chalk, sun screen, library books and workbooks, and are looking forward to her weekly gymnastics and yoga class!



5) On Labor day, Big Sister lost her second bottom tooth!! That girl just keeps getting older on me! She better knock that off... Unfortunately, she lost it while eating some lunch at a MOM'S Group BBQ, so once again we had nothing to present the creepy winged hag who sneaks into your house stealing discarded teeth Tooth Fairy. Big Sis didn't mind so much, as we celebrated the event with ice cream.

6) As if life could get any more exciting for this girl, Big Sister ended last week with an ear infection and a 104.1 degree fever. It came on rather suddenly, and wouldn't go down. Luckily, we were able to get her a doctor's appointment at the very last second, as there is no urgent care center on post, and we wished to avoid being 'those parents' sitting in the E.R. for 6 hours for something as simple as a high fever. Once in the doctor's office, and without any prompting, the doc took notice of and examined Big Sister's back. She recommended we get her an appointment with a Pediatric Orthopedic specialist as soon as possible, because she was fairly certain Big Sis has scoliosis. Sis has her appointment set for Tuesday, June 15; we are thankful we were able to book something so quickly. However, and no offense to the good doctor, we are hoping she was quite mistaken with her diagnosis.
7) Little Sister gave up napping two weeks ago, leaving me with a much more abbreviated "quiet time." She's gotten better at staying on her bed with 2 loveys and 2 books. But, for instance, about 15 minutes ago I entered her room due to some loud thumps, only to discover her sitting on her little table, attempting to wear her soft-soled baby shoes that are displayed on her dresser, with the little chair pulled up next to said dresser, and her beginning to cry because she can't get the shoes on her feet. I explained to her that they were her shoes as a baby, she's too big for them now, definitely needs to stop pulling stuff off her dresser top, and that "quiet time" is to be spent laying on her bed. Something tells me it didn't get through, because all she replied was, "Mommy, they're too big! I can't get them to fit yet!"
8) I'm getting active in a local chapter of MOMS Group Int'l. The ladies are all very nice, and there are at least 3 get-togethers a week, be they at the park, pool, lunch out, for crafting or book club, etc. Being the homebody'd introvert I am, I think we'll aim for one a week. We have a large park right across the street from us where we spend a chunk of time each day, and we're hoping to add family bike rides to the summer agenda. A bike with child seat attached for me and Lil Sis is numero uno on my Craigslist registry this summer.

9) Little Sis is officially, officially potty training! She's got the potty 'learning' part down, and now is practicing getting to the toilet in time. And consistency with going #2 in the toilet. She was averaging 1 accident a day, now per 2 days, and of course still wears a diaper at night (which is typically when she drops #2--five minutes after we put her to bed). However, we're so tickled that her enthusiasm has transcended the potty candies (M&M's) and is now all about being a 'big girl' and earning the right to wear her 'big girl Princess underpants.' Little Sis got to pick them out all by herself at Target, after being steered clear of the trashy, too much make-up, stripper heels Barbie underpants, of course. Mommy doesn't buy Barbie.

10) And... I guess that's about up to speed. Except I still need to finish posting pictures from our trip to Flagstaff. And some photos of the girls with their "new" dolls from GrandMia. And a tribute to Sampson. The girls and I are just too eager to be out of doors, and we want to be as unplugged as possible during the daytime hours, and with the very abbreviated quiet time schedule and the girls up at daybreak, I have to sneak in 5 minutes at a time, which is never long enough.... blah, blah, blah.

Hope your summer break is off to a good start!!