A Whole New World

Stop singing (because I know you have the urg) and think with me for a minute. I am in a different world of kids who have big personalities, ideas, and character, but are still sooo immature.
1st grade.
The grade of picking noses and having kids make fun of them for doing so. The grade of gaining and losing a friendship in one day. The grade of boys and girls picking on each other just because of their gender. The age of kids not knowing personal boundaries. The grade of accelerated knowledge of reading and math. When you begin to notice groups and social networks. Big kids are no longer scary, but idols.

But do they know better? Do they say things to be mean or is it still a game of cause and effect? Do we punish behavior that is wrong the first time or do we give them the benefit of the doubt that they didn't know right from wrong??

Making Stuff

Today was a CRAZY day and just when I knew I might just have a meltdown (at 10am mind you) a little girl brightens my day and makes everything alright.

Me: (talking about bugs) Beetles, ants, blah blah, ladybugs are cool, grasshoppers, blah blah - (I actually don't remember exactly what I was saying before she spoke up, but I know I was deep in conversation ALL ABOUT BUGS and why they are so cool.)
Celeste: My mom can make anything.
Me: Awesome! Like.... bugs?? (It just seemed so out of context and I didn't know where her connection was at this point...)
Celeste: Well, she can make BABIES, and....

I really didn't listen to anything else because I was choking on my spit when I gasped when she yelled 'babies.' Some days I am so ready for those kind of comments. Today wasn't that day, but BAM she got me. I was jolted back to my lovely life of being a mom of three great kids living an overseas adventure with people who like me... I think... and laughed to myself. (An art that I feel I have mastered as a preschool teacher because if you laugh out loud, they tend to crumble.) It's amazing what a little laughter can do.

Disclaimer: Celeste comes from a family of 5 siblings and I actually do remember saying that bees make honey. Very lagit statement in retrospect.

And just so you know, the rest of the day was mah-velous. Pics of Maleia's birthday party that afternoon to come and possibly a discussion on sexual harassment vs. practical jokes at a 1st grade level. Will boys just be boys? And when do teachers need to call parents to let them in on these sorts of situations at school?... Yea, that is what I was dealing with this morning.

Bite a man in Dulane

Dylan, aka Mr. Man, is in that cute stage of talking and singing. You know, the stage where only YOU can totally understand him, but you want everyone to understand him as well.

For 'Spiderman' and 'Vitamin'- he says "bite a man."

So in the morning when he eats his vitamin, Dylan goes around singing, "Bite a man, Bite a man, does what a bidaman can." In the tune of the old Spiderman theme song only he just repeats that same line over and over since I didn't know the words very well when I taught him.
Need a refresher course?
Here it is:

Maleia is slipping ever so quickly out of that stage, much to my chagrin. It is sad to see words like 'Hocapontas' and 'howdacopper' actually be said the right way. But then there are those blessed times when she reminds me of how little she really is. Tonight she started singing, "Baa Baa Black Sheep" and sang it like this:

Bwa bwa bwack sheep
Have you any war?
Yes so Yes so
3 bags four.

1 for the Mister
And one for the game
One for the little boy
Who lives down in Dulane.

Bwa bwa bwack sheep
Have you any war?
Yes so Yes so
3 bags four.

I have no idea where Dulane is, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

Oh, and Haley still says "Imbatation" for "Invitation."

Stay little forever!

Magnet for Crazy!

Maleia had chicken pox this week AND Haley has had strep this week too. (The 5th time this year, but who's counting?) ENT here we come! ug. So not fun. Maleia spent her birthday at the med unit, though she is now excited since she gets to have 2 birthday parties since we had to change the date of her party to next Friday. A family party AND a friend party? No way! Today I was so stir crazy I went for a 45 min run and I am beat up from the feet up.

On a cute note, Dylan has been calling me 'Miss Mommy' this week which I totally respond to because I love it.

(How's that for a short post?)

And since I can't post without pictures...
3 funny pics. I need to laugh today.

At Szamos where there is some yummy homemade ice cream and where we go after school many times a week with a group of moms and kids. Devious Maleia. What are you up to chica?

And who wouldn't want to blow bubbles at 8pm? Does your mother know what you are doing? No?!? Oh she is at a birthday movie with friends? Silly Daddy taking pics.

I think I need to taste some more, mommy. I'm not sure if it's good or not.
Those lines of brownie goo on his face are from the beater.

2 FOUR 6, 8 ... Maleia you are really great!

When I see you smile. I can face the world.

She cracks me up! We are playing photo tag and I finally caught her on camera. She won. You should see the other 20 pictures!

On a train together. Dylan was nervous and she took out suckers for everyone. Calmed him right down.

Boy does this girl LOVE to dress up! She wants to wear a skirt every day and sulks when it's too cold outside. I'm with ya sista!

Just a sweet shot at the Zoo.

We finally caught her with her sweet smile during our family photo shoot.

She is also into posing and believe it or not, this is how she posed for me. I didn't catch her in the middle of saying something. Overlooking Budapest on Gellert Hill.

She still loves to wear this Apple Pie shirt whenever possible. I love those baby blues!!

Little poser a week after she cut her own bangs. grrr.

1st day of school. I don't think she has ever been nervous.

Another sweet pose.

The day after the "bang incident." Why do bangs grow so slow??? ;)

We 3 girls. Do we remind you of Rainbow Brite? This was the day of Haley's Rainbow Birthday Party.

My how she's grown!! She is FOUR today. Four real? Four the love, when has the time gone? Four her birthday, she got lots of presents. Chicken pox for one. The good thing is that she doesn't even notice the pox. She is just bummed to miss out on so much this week, but so am I. We sulked together.

She is a brilliant little girl who loves to draw, play dress up, make people laugh, accessorize, write letters, and help others believe anything she says becuase she says it so cute you just have to agree with her. Did I mention she has stretched out so tall and the last bit of baby chub she has are in her cheeks? I love those cheeks! Her dimples on both sides have always been a favorite feature of mine.

She's quite the crack up. Her connections kill me over some days, and just when I thought she couldn't get any funnier, she comes up with a doozie! She lives in a childhood world of make believe and fairy tales. She can make friends with anyone and everyone, but has a few special friends who she can play with for HOURS and not even have ONE issue.

If you heard her giggle lately? It's enough to melt me into one big squishy mess. And when we are having a deliberate conversation about traffic in the car or food at the dinner table or what she did today, she stops. Asks, "Do you know what else mommy?!" And before I can say 'what,' she says, "I love you mommy." Several times a day. If that isn't a good kid, I don't know what is.

Okay, enough bragging, (and I saw that eye roll!) She really is a wonderful child and I wish I could clone her for you. (Not literally since that is controversial, but you know what I mean!)

She is still Maleia My Love!
aka. Yuh-Yuh or Mia (nicknames from Dylan)

Choo Choo! Dylan is 2! Party

If I knew how to write on pictures, I would write, "Don't be afraid to stand alone, because really, you are never alone." I don't know why, I just thought it would be cute. Anyone? Harmony? Amanda?

Reading his choo-choo books that grandma and grandpa gave him before the big party.

Since Dylan's favorite food is anything that you can dip, that's just what we ate. This is our back patio with some of the parents.

You can barely see it, but the red swing is FINALLY put in. I had to jump through MANY hoops to get that thing up!

And who doesn't like a good ole pinata!!


That pinata was supposed to be a train. It took a while to break, sturdy little sucker. The kids had a blast, but the broom stick broke before the pinata did, so B got out his hockey stick and went to town hacking it to pieces.

I thought it was cool that B caught the candles right before they went out. The chair was a little wobbly, and I had visions of him going head first into the flaming cake, so that is why I was holding him.

I'm sorta embarrassed showing the cake. I didn't have much to go on except that it was baked in a train-shaped pan. I know the back wheel is huge and should be the same size as the next one. I think without the thing that connects the wheels together, you wouldn't even know that it is a train. oh well!

B was VERY happy that Dylan got Legos. B's favorite toy growing up! I am also excited for Dylan's basketball hoop and his tennis ball on a rope toy. 8 and up? Really?? Naaaaah.

Dylan saw this picture and said, "Cawett pitty, hu mom? Where Reecie go?" His two little girlfriends are so precious and sweet. Reece was sitting and playing with them right before I took the picture, but while I was looking for the camera, Reece left. I wish I would have gotten all three.

Gotta give the party some face time. Dylan had a little shin dig in his honor and had very little idea that it was actually for him until he got to blow out candles and open presents. It must be a guy thing, because I remember my 2 girls were all into it.

1st Day of School - Maleia & Dylan*

I wrote this a week ago, but didn't post without pics...

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME PRESCHOOL!!!

I have had the privilege of teaching preschool in my home for the last 4 years. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way. I am just so grateful for a dear friend, Emily, becuase she got me motivated and planted the idea of teaching in my home. We did a co-op that first year with 4 moms and all our 1st kids who were 2 years old. I just couldn't stop teaching after that and has fulfilled me in so many ways...

Off to school!!! (home)

Backpack ready

I don't think he had a clue what he was getting himself into... he just wanted to wear his backpack like his sister.

My Motle Crew after their first day! I now have 7 kids. They are all so happy and ready for school.
___________________________________

Just some 1st day pics that showed how excited we were to wait for our friends to come to our house to have preschool:

They have become great friends, though I do have to say that they know how to pester each other. I love that they make each other laugh, help each other, and play with each other. It's fun having both in my class this year.

1st Day of School - Haley*

**Actually written a few weeks ago, but I didn't post without pics..


Haley basking in the newness of it all!

Haley is even relaxed and having fun!

I woke up to my alarm at a SCREAMING 7 am. I get ready in 30 min and go to wake up Haley dreading the task before me. I remember the gut wrenching days back in May when I had to draaaag Haley out of bed and literally put on her clothes while she was still in her bed half-asleep. I was not excited to start that up again.

Not today.

This morning she dressed herself, got her backpack ready, laid out all the hair stuff for me to do her hair (matching with her outfit), MADE her OWN lunch and put in her lunch bag, made her own breakfast, ate it, and then made breakfast for the rest of us. The unfortunate thing was that it was a half day today, so she didn't need to make her lunch, but she had it all ready for tomorrow.

Are we turning over a new leaf? Or are we just high on the excitement that a new school year brings? We'll see after a few weeks.

I can't lie, I was a little sad when the bus came and took her away. Maleia cried. Dylan kept asking at 15 min. intervals during the day, "Where did Hay-yee go?" And I would have to choke back the tears when I responded, "She's at school now." When will this change? When will I be totally excited for them to move on to the next thing and grow up?
I think I'm more nostalgic than I think I am.

Did you know that I used to LAUGH at mom's like me when I was a teacher? "Those parents" would follow the bus to school, watch them get off the bus clicking away on their camera, follow them into the school, cry at my door not wanting to let go of their child, get a few pictures with me and their child, then come back to the school to watch them leave on the bus and race home to meet them at the doorstep... and NOW... I would have TOTALLY done it the last two years for Haley if A. I didn't just have a baby the night before Pre-K and B. If I actually had a car last year at this time. The only thing holding me back this year was that I KNEW I was being silly.
(No offense to those who did this. Remember. I'm with you.)

I need a pep talk:
Toughen up girlie wussy mom!

Confession:
Okay, so I did go to school, but for a PSA thing. I met Haley there. Promise.

At school with her friend Sophie

Haley in front of the back of the school.

Walking down to the red top (sport court field) to get to her door she enters for her 1st grade hallway.

In her classroom. Haley's 1st grade teacher is Ian Connell. He is British and says funny things like "cue" and "rubbish" and "spot on" and "penmanship" and "wahteh." He also says "dinner" for "lunch." Out of 16 students, 11 are from different nationalities. Cool no?

Fire Hazard!!!

It's been 30 good years.

Look at that glow from the fire!

Lookin good in Prague. Model-esque even. Just ignore the man behind him. It looks like he is yelling, "ahoy!"

Paris sparkles! Even in fuzzy pictures.

Prague again. The 2 boys I love the most.

My Paris babe.

Venice. We actually smiled that trip??

Gellert Hill with Brooke and Kerry.
He was actually really good at this.
I keep discovering these hidden talents in him.

My hero at Hero's Square

This boy loves his papi

These girls have Daddy wrapped around their little fingers

B is 30!!! Wow he is ooooold! I really do think he is getting wiser and hotter with his old age. What do you think?

minus the scruff... :)

He still loves him some lemony and limey junk... I mean desserts, so I made him lemon bars for our NFL draft party/b-day party with friends and then a lime pie for his actual birthday. It's got to be rough liking a dessert that nobody around you likes because then you don't get to share. Actually, it's not a bad deal at all.