Picnic at Costco

Today we made a stop at Costco to pick up our staples: aka diapers. On the way out we picked up our other one: churros. We also grabbed a drink and one slice of pizza. Total price for lunch: $3. Since it was lunch time the tables were totally full so we drove around the back of the store and found a fun little place to eat lunch. It was perfect to split between the three of us and the kids even got some time to play.
(I keep those green trays in our car for random impromptu ideas like this or eating on long trips. They're SO handy!)

A few stories

Our neighbors started a babysitting co-op. There are four families so we each take one Friday night of the month to watch all the kids and we get the other three nights to go out on date nights! There are 13 kids in total (counting ours) if they all come but when we had our night only 10 were there because a few of the kids were sick. We get 3 hours and it really wasn't that bad. We played outside for a while and then brought the kids in to play and later watch a movie. Last week we had date night. It's so fun to get a solid few hours to play (and not worry about paying a babysitter).

I set up a lunch with my friends (I used this picture to represent us all on my other blog because I forgot to snap a photo) at the Olive Garden. Heidi (and Ruth), Olivia, Cory, Jill, Brodi, Brie, and Me. I thought it'd be fun to get some people together to just enjoy being out and make new friends. It was a great lunch!

I got home and found Kaly and Makayla trying to sell juice. They really really want to sell lemonade and I haven't gotten it set up for them (I told them I had to buy cups, lemonade, etc) so they just keep doing it themselves without asking. This time they made up all my little cranberry drinks. Oy kids.

The kids always love making crafts. We gotta be careful when we do it though because Tyce is more at the stage of throwing things in the air and spreading them across the room then really exploring the craft idea. Today the girls made paper bag puppets. It's fun to see them using their imaginations with who they create and what they use.

Clogging or Jumping Around

I signed Kalyana up for clogging. It's fun because it's an after school program offered right at her school one day a week. She's in the beginner level with about 8 other kids and they have class for about 30 minutes. At the end of the year they're going to perform a few times and even compete at Lagoon.

She really loves it and Makayla and Tyce usually get in on the action too! This was the third week of class. i'll have to get another video later and post it to show you how the kids are doing!





So we went on a little search to find her clogging shoes. Her teacher said you can get regular clogging shoes (about $40 and up) or lace up shoes (at DI) and put clogs on them ($20). I went to a few stores to find the lace up shoes but couldn't find anything under $21. So after school I took Kaly to the DI and we looked for lace up shoes but again, couldn't find any. However we found actual tap shoes for $4!! This is crazy because about 3 weeks ago we went looking for tennis shoes and sunday shoes for her and the three stores we went to had NO shoes in her size. None! So to find tap shoes in her size at DI was like striking gold. (She wanted to feel like she had the real shoes). So we went and put clogs on those and for $24 total we had actual shoes!

First Day of Preschool

Makayla has wanted to go to preschool ever since she saw her older sister go, though when it was her turn, she was very shy about the whole thing. She'd play with the kids just fine but when the adults talked to her she'd usually just look at the floor and not respond. She has three great teachers, Miss Colleen, Miss Lindsay and Miss Kim for the nine kids in their class, pretty great odds!

This preschool is awesome. For this age group (3 y/o) they go to school once a week and have a teacher come by 3x a month (so almost once a week). Miss Lindsay is the one that gets to come to our house (she's the teacher in the brown shirt above).

They start the day with play time and a few minutes of circle time, then have lunch (I've had it a few times and it's pretty good). Afterwards they brush their teeth, and have station time. Then it's outside for recess then back in for circle time and snack time. Their program is so great and I really see a huge progress in my kids. From normal school things like letter recognition to good things like manners, sharing.

Plus, they test the kids at the beginning, middle and end of the school year so all through out the year they're working on the skills they need to pass the tests. Things like putting on socks and shoes, folding a paper, drawing a straight line, writing X, O, T H, drawing a cross and box. Also grouping things like here is a shirt, pants and a hat what is this? 'clothes' or here are four sticks order them from shortest to tallest. And of course, their full name, address, phone number.

Lost Tooth

(Another one from 2009) Kalyana lost another tooth! Man I just rewatched this video. My kids crack me up. I'm so glad I'm there mom. Kaly told me she has to be careful eating apples now.





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