Does Vacation have to end????

I think I've been in a bit of a post-vacation funk.  It's been two weeks since we returned home and I really just have not felt quite like myself.  No explanation for it really, but just kind of motoring along and feeling as if I am trudging thru each day.  Quite honestly, I feel as if I am in slow motion but everything around me is speeding by.  The kids are back in school and their assorted activities have us doing something everyday.  Our schedule is anything but slow.  I think I may have a sinus infection or maybe it's just seasonal allergies, but it certainly isn't helping my disposition to wake-up with a headache each day.

G is doing well at her new school and seems to like it.  The program is pretty structured but yet has enough flexibility to offer some "extras".  She has joined the American Heritage Girls troop--similar to the Girl Scout program but more Christ centered--and is also participating in a club.  She was very excited to get her first choice in the club selection--stop motion animation.  I'm feeling very "connected".  The teacher and administration are very good at staying in touch via email and notes coming home.  Grade reports are sent out weekly or you can check them independently thru their online system.

First day of school

G and Lollipop doing some "free reading".

K is settling into preschool.  She likes her new teachers--even though she initially insisted she had to go back to her old classroom.  She has one little girl who was in her class from last year and G's cheer coach's son is in her class.  Not that I should have worried about her knowing anyone--she's my social butterfly!

K practicing her cheer moves!

 M and I are trying to settle into our routine when the big girls are at school.  We go to Toddlin' Time once a week and maybe try to also throw a playdate in there somewhere.  It's amazing how quickly that times goes by when it is just she and I.

Look at that smile!

A little sisterly choke---I mean, sisterly love!

Blog Analytics

Since I had a few moments to myself the other day, I thought I would check my blog analytics just for kicks.  I've noticed that the blogs I follow are usually the ones who "check-in", just as I'm sure I'm a predictable name on their analytics.

I was quite surprised when I saw one on there that I didn't recognize.  (Blogger analytics gives you the capability to click on the referring page links and go to their sites.)  I was even more surprised when I clicked on it, and it went to a very raunchy, porn site :-(  There were pictures on there of things I couldn't quite identify and I really didn't want to spend anytime trying to identify them---ick!!!!! 

What boggles my mind is how anyone who was on that site would have any interest in my little family blog???? and how they would get from that site to my blog????

A mystery for sure........

Trying to settle into the new routine.....

I have so many ideas for blog posts running around in my head these days but can't seem to find the time to actually get any of them down. 

G and K are both now officially back in school and so maybe I'll find a little more "me" time.  Today was K's first day at preschool and she was such a trooper.  She had her little backpack on and went right on into her class without a hitch--I love that girl's fearlessness.  After leaving the preschool, I had Baby M all to myself and it was really nice!  We went to our favorite play place together and had a nice walk downtown--I think I could get used to it :-)

We had a great trip to the Outer Banks last week and I've got lots of pics to post.  If you follow on Facebook then you've probably already seen the great pics taken by my friend and favorite photographer, April Receveur.  We were fortunate to have our best friends and Aunt M accompany us.  Lots of good times, giggles, and DQ ice cream.

For now, I'll leave you with these pics of some backyard fun we had right before our beach vacation.  You might say it was "trip prep".

It never gets old.....and I'm so glad!

The age old game of peek-a-boo never gets old.  Look at these smiles.

Even Lollipop the cat has to get into the action!

Count down to school

It's been too long since my last post.  I realized that I hadn't even posted the girls' July 4th pic---see below.

I now consider my group shots a success if I can get them all three looking forward :-)  All three looking forward with smiles will be my next project.

Hard to believe but school is going to be starting in approx. nine days.  Every year, I feel the same way-I just start to get settled into a summer routine and then BAM! time to get ready to go back to school.  I really don't know why I feel like it sneaks up on me since the stores start putting out school supplies in early July!

This year is a bit different because I'm trying to get myself into the right frame of mind as we embark on our new educational process.  I must admit that I'm a bit nervous.  G is officially enrolled in her new university-model school where she will go to class two days a week and then the other three days we will be working at home, with the guidance and instruction provided by her teacher.  My Type A personality is working in overdrive right now--can I do this?  can I provide her with a well-rounded education? am I going to ruin what she has already learned?  Lots of anxiousness on my part, which I hope I'm not showing to her. 

We've also signed-up for one of the local homeschool coops and she will be taking chorus and theater dance classes and we've signed up to do fall cheerleading.  Then add into that schedule that K will be going to preschool two days a week, Baby M will start having her playdate at Toddlin' Time, and my part-time work schedule.  It's going to be a busy school year!

I love these pics of my girls cuddlin' up together and watchin' a little Sesame Street.  This was one of our quiet moments :-)

How big is big enough????

I took Baby M for her 12 month check-up last month and she is 30" tall and weighs 19.6 lbs.  According to our doc, she is right on "her curve".  Have I mentioned how much I hate those percantile charts?  They are based/calculated on american children so it seems highly unlikely that you could consider them an accurate measurement of a child who is genetically smaller than an american child. 

When K was 12 months old, she was 30 1/2" tall and weighed 22.50 lbs--that's approximately three pounds more than Baby M.  I expressed my concern that Baby M is turning out to be quite the picky eater.  She doesn't like to get her hands messy and  food textures seem to be presenting a challenge.  This sweet girl has the most sensitive gag reflex that I've ever seen.  Anything that goes in that she doesn't like, will immediately come back out along with whatever she already had in there.

I'm feeling very challenged with our current eating situation.  With that being said, I completely bucked the system--you know the one that says your baby should be off of formula and the bottle by 1 year--and will revisit the idea of removing the formula when we go for our 15 month check-up.  That's the one thing that I have learned as an older and now, more experienced parent---there is no one "book" of child-rearing and as the parent, I have the option and the right to do what I feel is best for them, even if it goes against conventional methods.

I have started adding whole milk with her formula and giving her whole milk products--yogurt, cheeses, etc. but definitely don't feel like she is getting the nutrients she needs from the solid food she is consuming.  We're exploring veggie options other than just giving her cut-up veggies.  And did I mention that she doesn't like purees any longer?  Her current list of likes includes:  cheerios, veggie sticks, mac and cheese, cheese, yogurt with fruit, diced carrots, Earth's Best Pop Snax in vegetable and sweet potatos, goldfish, and a few other "dry" snacks.  Notice the lack of green veggies? 

My strategy for this week is to try roasting some veggies for her to try and adding some veggie purees to her yogurt.  Will keep you posted on the progress or lack of.

The following pics are of Baby M trying out her "new ride".  This is the cadillac of tot trikes!  I don't have a complete pic of the bike, but it is a "grow with me" model.  It has a removable handle so that I can "drive" it, a sunshade and removable electronic dashboard for Baby M, and a five point harness to keep her safely strapped in.  As you can see, she gets pretty excited each time we get in it.

"...and she'll have fun, fun, fun until her daddy takes the keys away...."

"Ready, Set, Go!"

"Look, the horn works!"

I love this girl!!!!!!

I Got Your Back.....

On the way to Grammy's house yesterday, R and I in the front seats and the girls are in the back, he reaches over and pats my leg.

Little voice from the back seat:  "Stop"

R thinks she has called out "Dad" and starts asking her what she needs.

Little voice responds, "Don't pinch Mommy!"  and then turns to G and says, "Daddy pinched Mommy"

Love my little security force :-)

G took a cake decorating class and this is the finished product---she did a great job!