Drawing, Sawing, Pounding, Carving!

Pumpkins, that is!

We haven't seemed to carve pumpkins in a few years with the girls so little, but we got back to it this year as a part of our pre-Halloween festivities last night. Apart from munching on Halloween fare here and there, we were all very hard at work on our creations!

From Daddy needing more power for his, Mommy not even being able to carve a straight line, Kylie pounding light pegs into hers with a mallet, Paige most interested in the yummy seeds around the corner and Grandma providing us with the laughs, we were QUITE the group!

Here we are in all of our carving glory!

Operation P.T.P!

Today marked another exciting milestone for our not so little Peyton anymore. As I have recently started thinking about her 2nd birthday plans for next month, I also started mentally going down "the list" of what we should be working on with her at this stage. With Kylie it was a whole different ballgame because she was at daycare all day every day during the week. I'm fortunate now with Peyton to be able to play a more active part in things that we're home ALL day, EVERY day, ALONE, TOGETHER :)!

Today was the official launch of Operation P.T.P aka Potty Training Peyton! At the end of last month I put the little potty out after noticing that Peyton was very "present" when each of us were in the restroom. She really seemed to get it. Hadn't done much with her for a week or so- until today. She jumped off our bed while I was trying to get her dressed this morning and was wandering around in our bathroom without a diaper. She sat on her potty a few times, flushed it to hear the song it plays and I didn't really notice much of anything else after that. Until later in the afternoon. I saw Peyton peeking in her potty and then I noticed a bit of a smell. Sure enough- there it was- she had used her potty in the morning for the very 1st time!

YAY PEYTON! You're a bright little girl that we know will get the hang of this potty thing in no time! It'll just take a little bit of extra patience, a few extra rolls of tp, some extra time hanging out in a place not so great to hang out in and lots of applause! We're excited to teach you just another important piece of this journey called life :)!

Photos taken 9/25/09:

The Wigglettes!

Go Team Go!

When Kylie is at school, Peyton & I form quite the team to get stuff done around the house!

Kylie's 1st bus ride & full day of Kindergarten!

Today was quite a milestone. It marked Kylie's first full day of Kindergarten (9:05am-3:35pm!) and her first bus ride to school!

It was an exciting morning as Kylie had to be ready at the bus stop to be picked up at 8:45. Peyton & Mommy walked her to the stop at the end of our street and we were happy to find several other friends and their parents there too- we had made it to the right place! A few minutes later the school bus arrived and after letting all of the other friends climb on first & a good luck hug from Peyton, off went our baby to her very 1st day of Kindergarten! I'm not sure if I was just too nervous or just plain excited for Kylie because I managed to hold it together. I surprised myself since I was a blubbering mess just driving by parents with their kids getting on the buses the day before!

As Peyton and I walked home she kept saying "uh-oh" because sissy wasn't with us. We had a good day playing and doing things at home together but my mind was never far from wandering to how our little girl was doing handling such a big girl day! No need to fear Mommy. At 4:00 there was Kylie bounding down the steps of the school bus with a smile from ear to ear! She had had a fantastic 1st day of school and couldn't wait to tell us all about it. So that's just what we did as soon as we got home- over the classic after school snack- milk & cookies :).

Naked Tea Service

Tea anyone?

Kylie's Kindergarten Orientation

Today was the first day of school for the 2009 school year at Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School! But for Kindergarteners this meant their orientation to their new teacher, classroom and getting their things settled a bit.

Kylie enjoyed the hour of meeting Mrs. Porter and exploring her new home away from home for the next 8 months- Room #127! Her favorite part of the classroom was the play kitchen that she and Peyton enjoyed breaking in as the rest of the "Q-Z" last names in her class arrived for the session. Kylie was also a great helper putting all of her school supplies in the right bins and putting the rest of her things where they were to go.

As the kids quietly colored pictures set up for them at the tables, the Mommies & Daddies got a quick review of all of the information we would need to have a smooth start to the school year for our little ones. Lots of final details about what items were needed each day, communication processes, snack, lunch , walking/riding/busing transportation information, the class schedule...good thing Mommy had her listening ears on because we defiintely needed to have this all straight when we got back home!

After listening to Mrs. Porter read "Twas the Night before Kindergarten" and not wanting to leave after our session was over, I think it's safe to say that Kylie is just a little bit excited for her 1st full day of school tomorrow :)!