Catching Up!

SURPRISE!

Yes, a new post.

You were probably just waiting for this. The big moment. Checking everyday with bated breath, right?

HA!

You do know I want to be a writer, don't you? I actually want a following. After all, a writer needs readers. So, thank you for sticking around, boosting my morale. Yes, you. And you. Two or more qualifies as an audience, doesn't it? Or maybe even just one?

So I missed blogging. I missed taking time out to reflect. To vent. To share. To... well, whatever. My aunt came out to stay with us so I could have more time. She's awesome. I couldn't ask for any more help. But now, two people do the job one did before. We're a team, and that means no sneaking off to the office to vigorously type behind closed doors. At least, not until now, but I want to change that, which is why I had to do it. It was necessary, really! Had to upgrade my office to this: Nice, huh? Think a writer could get motivated in here?

See, ideally, my plan was to devote time to writing first thing in the morning. I like to think of myself as something of a writer and I want to see where that might take me. Maybe a pipe dream, maybe not. But I'll never know unless I start writing!!! :) And now that I admitted it, guess I'm setting myself up for some accountability. Some follow through. But the closest I've gotten to writing lately was signing my name to all the receipts for office visit co-pays and school paperwork - which seems endless, doesn't it?

Anyways, I have some catching up to do, and lots of pictures to include.

So, the girls have both started school - yay! Jenna is now attending her home school, which is much closer than the school they bussed her to last year, and I am very, very happy with it so far!

Still pitch black outside and waiting for the bus.

Hey, that's not the way to the bus! STOP!

Where Jenna spends seven hours, five days a week. That's a lot of time for mommy to write! :)

The view outside (from my car window). Her school sits back in the trees all by itself, and it's only a few minutes from our house! YAY!

Jenna is doing well, but she is still adapting, which means sleep issues - again! This drives me bonkers! I just got her fairly regular with her bed time for the FIRST TIME since she was BORN - that's eight and a half years of fitful/irregular sleep! And now that she's back in school, we're starting all over again. She does not like change.

Hannah just started part-time preschool and she absolutely LOVES it! She is very social and really intelligent, and I think she was ready for the challenge. The one challenge we're still struggling with, however, is potty training! UGGGHHH! I think it might have something to do with having a sibling with special needs who is not yet regular? But when she's at school, she's happy as can be. She waves goodbye when I drop her off, but leaves with a smile when I pick her up. 

I love her school, too!! Mommy and auntie get some down time a few days a week. It's also very secure. You have to have a key card to even get into the door. 

First day and ready to go.

Greeting teacher :)

Sitting on the green, ready to start the first day!

(And waiting impatiently for mom to snap the picture already!)

Can you believe this? How adorable? It's like an indoor village with a town square in the middle.


This is the kitchen where they learn to make food (and eat it, too!), and upstairs there is an actual little lounge/cafe. The place even has its own full-size gym (minus bleachers, of course!)

Prior to school starting, Hubby and I took Cohen and Hannah for their first haircuts. Yes, Hannah is three and probably should have had a haircut before now, but I love her hair and didn't want to cut off one measly inch! Cohen is little still, I know, but he had hair growing over his ears already - definitely needed a trim!

The salon we went to was amazing! They had special "stools" for the kids, bright colors and cool gift stuff everywhere, movies for distraction, and they even film your child's first haircut if you want. They also have a party room with dress up stuff, little makeup/hair stations where girls can get glammed up, and even an area for mini manicures for those little fingernails! I really enjoyed taking them there and I'm thinking about trying Jenna. So far, I've been cutting her hair because she HATES when someone even approaches with a brush in hand. Good luck getting her to sit still for a haircut. Although this place did have movies...

Pre-cut, comfy with Daddy. Poor lady's trying to butter him up, but he's not won over that easily!

Do you SEE that hair hanging over his ears?!

Scissors: Snip, snip!

Mommy: Sniff, sniff

On the road to a great haircut. Oh, man. I'm so corny.

Goldilocks. Or mini-rapunzel? Definitely time for a trim (at least!) Poor girl could almost sit on that hair! ;)

Where Cohen would have sat, if he were just a tad bit bigger... maybe next time?

So, anyways, I just wanted to post the latest. My kids have been sick off and on the past month. Who hasn't been sick? In our family, it started with a cold/ear infection Jenna and Hannah caught. Then Cohen. Then my aunt. Now, it's back to the girls again!!!

AAARRRGGGHHH!

Two sickies, bundled up on the floor.

SLEEP? Right!

Jenna loving teddy in her cool pink and purple camo pjs (can you see her, Chriss? hehe)

Here are the beginnings of some promised pictures from our trip to Cali:

Grandma and Papa with Cohen, who's smirking cuz he knows he's got the "it" factor already! ;)

The kids were so happy to visit with two of their favorite people in the world!

And below, a picture Hannah drew while we were at my brother's house. Can you tell which one was done by a child and which by an adult??? I won't tell you who drew the picture on the left, which was drawn AFTER the picture on the right, at the hand of my brilliant just-turned-three-year-old.