An Enchanted Sick Day

Last Thursday, Alyssa spiked a fever.  She had zero energy.  All she wanted to do was lay around all day.  Lay around and watch Enchanted.  In a Princess tent.  While coloring in an Enchanted coloring book.  And eating an Enchanted snack (goldfish, mini marshmallows, sprinkles). 

There's a bear, I mean James, outside that tent!

My sleeping beauty.

Happy Birthday, Granny!

February 28th was my Granny's birthday.  Granny has very advanced Alzheimer's.  Alyssa loves to look at the pictures of Granny and Popa's visit when she was just a few days old.  Granny must live in a facility with around the clock care.  We've taken the kids to visit her many times.  Alyssa never seems to notice anything different or strange about where Granny lives.  Even though neither one of them are aware of it, they share a very special bond.  Alyssa wanted to make sure Granny had a present "just in case she came by" on her birthday.

Okay, she wanted Granny to have a lot of presents!



Every bag had a book and a hand made card.



Sleeping Siblings

K-Pa came into town for a much needed visit last weekend.  Jonny and I have been trying to figure out the best arrangement for kids' rooms once Whoopsie is born.  Should Alyssa and James share a room?  Should we convert our study/playroom into a nursery?  Should we wait and see what Whoopsie is and put genders together?  Alyssa heard us talking (as she always does) and asked if James could sleep in her room.  She wants to have a "sleepover with Bubba" every night.  That seems like a perfect solution!  We are well aware that there will be an adjustment period, but so far it's working out really well.  We decided that since K-Pa was in town and schedules would be different anyway it was the perfect time to stick them together. 

Share a room...

...share sleeping habits.

K-Pa and the kiddos.

My Girlie Girl

"Mama, I want to wear a beautiful dress and high heels."

February Shenanigans

This February has been a rainy one!  Our afternoon walks only occur once a week if we're lucky.  The crummy weather also brought about crummy sickness.  Both babies have had allergies and/or croup.  Needless to say, we've been going a little stir crazy in this house.  However, lots of fun and lots of memories have been made.




Made new color from broken crayons for Valentines.



Heart colors

Too wet to go outside...

...play in the garage.

James rocks the big boy undies.

Alyssa "camping" with her dolls and Barbies.

Making Valentine/Christmas cookies


















Preschool Problems

I have a precious 3 year old girl who has asked to go to school almost daily for a year now.  She loves all things school!  We told her she can go to school when she's 5.  If it were up to her, she'd skip the rest of 3 and all of 4 to be 5 just so she can go to school.  She turns 4 in August.  Let's enroll her in preschool.  Great idea, right?!  Wrong.

Preschool is expensive.  2 days a week 1/2 day preschool is as much as a car payment.  Could we swing it?  Sure, but it'd leave very little, if any, left every month.  What if Whoopsie needs special formula and thickener for reflux like Alyssa?  What if James needs to have his tonsils and adenoids removed?  What if Alyssa needs extensive dental work?  We'd be stretched way too thin.  What about Pre-K through the school district?  I'm all for it.  But, you can't get a spot unless you are homeless (actually said homeless in the application), don't speak English, or are a military family.

Okay, let's say that we decide it's super important to put Alyssa in preschool no matter the cost.  What preschool do we choose?  I'm just going to say it.  My kid is smart.  Maybe even brilliant!  I may be a bit biased.  Do we want a strict school curriculum?  Do we want more learn through play?  Do we like the church preschools or private day care like preschools?  It's incredibly overwhelming.

 My brilliant child is also very curious.  She has a thirst for learning.  I'm not worried about how she'll fare academically.  I'd put her in kindergarten today and I believe she'd be just fine.  In fact, I know she'd be just fine.  I would like to expose her to a class room set up.  You know, put your backpack in your cubby.  Find your seat.  Raise your hand to go to the bathroom.  One thing we are considering is signing her up for an additional activity.  Right now she is in dance class at the YMCA.  She loves it!   Dance class has rules.  She must listen to her teacher and follow instructions.  Another activity would further expose her that sort of authority and teamwork.

The best solution isn't always the one that is possible.  Now we have to figure out what is right for us and our family and how we're going to make that happen.

Rainy Day Indoor Golf