For the love of...

...BAND-AIDS! If you can't guess from the pictures, band-aids are Peyton's phase of the month!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We hope you enjoyed your birthday with us and without us - you deserve it! Wishes not only for a Happy Birthday but for a fantastic year ahead!

Calling all Super Readers!

Baby Peyton

That's what I've called her all along- I guess because she was our second born and will always be the baby in my eyes.

In the recent weeks, I've noticed the "Baby" part is slowly but surely slipping away. I'm sure having a sister 3 years older doesn't hurt, but regardless, Peyton is well on her way now at 2 1/2 with her own words, thoughts and actions (some good & some we're working on :))!

Here are 10 things that come to mind that I'd like to share and remember about Peyton from the here and now...

• Peyton has 2 new tricks up her sleeve- 1. When asked a question, any question, she throws a shoulder shrug in your general direction and continues on her way. 2. When told something she isn't particularly fond of, she does this hissing sound with both arms thrown in your direction as if putting a spell on you. Both of these things would be maddening if Peyton were 13, but at this point I just have to stifle my laughter!
  
• Peyton has just started to sit down and be able to watch a long length show or movie on tv- Dora dvds are her pick of the week. I remember Kylie at this age loving those same exact movies!


• Peyton's pretty agreeable and "gives up"much easier than big sis- this is refreshing. Not to say she is not still in her terrible twos, because believe you me she is, but the moments tend to be more like moments than weeks!


• Peyton is now able to say full sentences and tell us exactly what she means! She's listening even when I don't know she is and makes her point known if she disagrees with what she heard! There's not much hesitation anymore as if she needs to think of the words. When we pulled up the driveway tonight, Peyton just casually said "Is Daddy home?".
  
• Peyton's favorite tv program is "Gabba Gabba Gabba Gabba" better known as Yo Gabba Gabba. I don't mind because it's messages are good and the music isn't bad either!
  
• Peyton loves to sing and dance- even to things a 2 1/2 yr old would never know of at this stage- unless they have an older sibling....Justin Bieber, Ludicrous, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Pink, need I list more :)?!


• Peyton's favorite stuffed animal continues to be Monkey, who has been with her through thick and thin. Barney, Brobee & Gary (from Spongebob) are also part of her current crew that are never far from her side!


• Peyton doesn't like baths right now but that seems to change every few months. Right now it's BAD. Should you pass by our house around 7:00pm or so you might wonder just what we're doing to her inside. Have no fear- it's just bathtime. Next month it will be back to pouring her tea and playing in the bubbles- I hope!


• Peyton sleeps best with no covers on. If I put them on they will be kicked off immediately- this must run in the family too as Daddy and Kylie are not big fans of sleeping tucked in either! But the most important thing here is that she's sleeping all through the night- a good 8 hours. Now if Mommy could just start going to bed earlier to truly get a good night's sleep too!


• Peyton's favorite books are "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?", "Elmo Loves You" & Yo Gabba Gabba's "There's a Party In My Tummy". If these are nearby at bedtime it's pretty smooth sailing!

Mommy loves you Baby Peyton!

Our graduate!

As hard as it is to believe, Kylie wrapped up her last day of Kindergarten yesterday. She had such a great year, learned so much and made so many great friends and memories! We're so proud of our little graduate- bring on 1st Grade!

Last week!

Today kicks off Kylie's last week of Kindergarten! As much as she has grown and learned over the past 9 months, some things are too good to change- like her signature picture pose & her pink tennis shoes :)!

1st day of Kindergarten!

Monday of last week of Kindergarten!

Yay for May...

that brings warm, sunny days to play at the park!

A store full of daisies

It wasn't any old meeting last Friday for Daisy Troop 526- they were treated to a Build A Bear party at the mall due to how well they did in cookie sales this year! Each Daisy got to play games, build their very own animal and received not only a participation patch for their own vest but a patch for their animal's vest too! So cute! Needless to say, Kylie and her new puppy "Cinnamon" had a great time! Peyton also attended and left with a new friend "Bunny"- thanks Grandma!

Brooks Family Fun Night!

Hard to believe, but this month wraps up the school year for Kylie. That means lots of end of year events and activities! Last Thursday was Brooks Family Fun Night at the school. It was a night of cake walks, craft centers, face paintings, pizza, dancing, and raffles! It was a nice social event to see other families and friends and it gave Grandma and Papa the chance to attend an event at Kylie's school too! Although we weren't the big winners of one of the prizes in the basket raffle, the one I created with the donations for Kylie's class was well received and was filled with fantastic treats for whoever the lucky winner was!

It certainly was a family fun night for all!

Kylie showing us her rock climbing skills on the rock wall in her gym!

Our future Brooks Tiger!

My creation of donations!

Daddy, Grandma and crazy Papa enjoying the night!

A Feature in the Fine Arts Festival

Kylie was 1 of only 7 artists featured from the 5 kindergarten classes in her school in the Indian Prairie School District's Fine Art Festival yesterday! Her featured project was a set of mittens she created and decorated back in December. Ms. Gregus her art teacher had kept the project aside at school for months to display at this event!

Congratulations Kylie we're so proud of you- what a special honor!

Pretty Peyton

March 29, 2010

PJ Day- Take 2

Since PJ Day (round 1) at Brooks was cut short for Kylie as it was the day she was sick and had to be picked up from school a few weeks ago, she was very excited to be able to participate in PJ Day last Monday at Adventures in Learning. Since it was Spring Break and a lot of kids needed to spend the week at the daycare, the teachers were so great in planning a different theme or activity for each day. Kylie had a lot of fun being able to wear her pj's to school, bring "whale" (who is really a dolphin :)!) as her stuffed animal and enjoy popcorn and a movie to kick off Spring Break week on Monday!

Although Kylie was able to not have to go to the center on Wed and Fri, she begged us to go on Thursday for the Easter party. She was very excited to bring the Easter plates, napkins & cups we signed up to bring, have an Easter egg hunt and enjoy lots of tasty goodies with her friends. So adding in a fun day on Tuesday doing exactly what at the center I can't recall :0, a day home with Daddy on Wednesday and heading off for our weekend family getaway on Friday, I think Kylie would give a thumbs up to her 1st "official" Spring Break!

Happy Easter!

Fun with hats!

You too can find these super fun & silly hats at your local IKEA!

It strikes again!

Poor Kylie had to be picked up from school on Friday with a fever. After not seeming herself all week this didn't come as too much of a surprise to me. But what came next certainly did! The doctor sent Kylie and Daddy off to the ER to be evaluated further for what was thought to possibly be apendicitis. I rushed over to the hospital to meet them there and after a very scary evening of yet another strep test, an iv, blood work and a cat scan, we were sent home with a double dose of antibiotic for another pesky case of strep throat. We were very relieved that there wasn't an emergency surgery in Kylie's immediate future but it was also a bit frustrating to learn that step throat was her diagnosis for the third time in recent months.

Kylie was such a trooper and even wanted to pose for pictures on our way out of the ER?! She must want to add those to the scrapbook of "Things I did to scare my Mommy half to death" :). Hopefully we're out of the woods a bit from this awful bug, but only time will tell. At least we'll keep our fingers crossed for several months of healthy times before something strikes again!

A run for his "bunny"

I think this little cutie is giving Mr. Easter Bunny a run for his "bunny" this year!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

35 has arrived

Today, on my 35th birthday, I really couldn't be happier. I had a great 3 day weekend filled with sunshine! A little bit of me time mixed with a lot of family time brought 35 in with a sense of peace and hope for a great year to come! Here are some picures of my favorite birthday buddies during a trip to IKEA today...