Preschool Graduation

L had her preschool graduation last night. It was a small affair - more of an end of year program thing since her school is closing. It was fun! They sang a few songs, gave us parents a time capsule full of preschool projects and finished it out with some cake and juice. A very nice time. My girl is growing so quickly :-( We have decided to homeschool her (taking it a year at a time) since most of the schools around here aren't up to our standards, so this may be her only exposure to school. I am glad it was a good one. She truly loves to learn. I hope to keep that fire burning inside of her forever. Learning is something I enjoy. I miss taking classes and being in a classroom (maybe someday again - who knows!). Off to watch a movie with my hubby. So much togetherness - makes me sick :-)

Circus Came To Town!!

The circus is in town! We actually went as a family. Miracle you say? Me too!! And here's proof...

We actually had a pretty nice time together. We spent the ENTIRE day together from 8:30 until 6:30. We don't do this very often (usually for good reason) but it worked out okay today. We went to S's soccer first and then to the boat shop (for $200 worth of boat parts for a boat that sits in the driveway and I can't get a $20 clock,WTF?!?) followed by lunch at Famous Dave's and then a much needed trip to my most hated store, Walmart. Daddy Piper needed supplies for his shop and this is the most economical place to get it.

Back to the highlight of the day. Both kids enjoyed the circus. They sat through the entire 2 1/2 hours and were very entertained with the acrobatics and animals. S went potty 3 times. (He has now gone like 4 days with no accidents). The circus might become an annual thing, if only it didn't come when it's 112 out!!

Preschool Graduation

L had her preschool graduation tonight. Very cute!! More to follow tomorrow when I am in a better frame of mind and can remember the good stuff.

More Potty Training

S is doing wonderfully on the potty training thing. I guess it's true to let the child lead you in the process instead of forcing it (provided they're not 10 I guess!). He had ZERO accidents today. He is still wearing a diaper for naps and bedtime but otherwise, he's in undies. So proud of my big guy!!

Dance, Dance, Dance

L has found a dance studio that she really likes! I really like the teacher she had today. She was so fun and made the hour just fly by for the girls. I switched L's fall class around so she could have Miss Mandy. S was kinda sad though because he wants to do dance class and Daddy Piper isn't so big on that idea. So it'll be soccer now for S. L wants to resume soccer in the fall but frankly being 34 weeks pregnant and sitting out in the sun for practices and games doesn't appeal to me so I am trying to persuade her to wait until winter session to go back. We'll see how that works out in August.

Swim Lessons for the Big Girl

L started swim lessons. She did GREAT!! She was so nervous about starting though and it all worked out. Lessons are about 10 minutes from here so that's nice. I hate driving very far anymore and it doesn't have much to do with gas prices. I am just getting to be a homebody who wants to stick closer to home during this heat. Anyway - lessons went well. And then right after lessons, she had her last day of preschool. The lady that runs the preschool has taken a position at a school and is closing down her own preschool. There will be a graduation/end of year program tomorrow so that will be nice. It's sad though since this is also the place where we took music classes for the kids. I am still feeling great. I did have more bleeding but things look good, so who knows?!?! I love being pregnant. I really can't imagine not having anymore after this one - even though I know it's medically necessary. Only about 15 more weeks and we'll meet the new little one. I am excited and also nervous and mothering 3 young ones. Just want to be a good mom to all of them.

S is Potty Training

S had such a great day today potty training!!! He only had one accident all day long - WOOHOO!! My goal is to have him potty trained before the new baby comes in October and it looks like that might be possible after all. He even went poo in the potty today - big deal around here :-) His only accident occurred while I was gone to Target to get the curtains to replace the closet door in their room. Daddy Piper was removing closet doors and the kids were playing in the playroom. L was wiping him up and S was running around with no undies. L explained he had an accident and she was cleaning him up. She is going to be a big help with the new baby!

Baby #3...

Had another couple appts this week to check out Baby #3. Things are progressing on schedule and even more... NORMAL! I had more bleeding last Saturday before the big party but everything looks fine. The baby is even measuring big. The HB came back in the 160's so who knows if its a boy or a girl :-)

New Baby!

One of my very best friends in the whole world gave birth to a healthy, bouncy Baby Boy today! I can't wait to meet the latest member of the Z Family. Congratulations!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to my Princess Piper

Happy Birthday L!!!! Today was a fun day. We celebrated L's 4th birthday all day long. We started with rainbow pancakes (a special request) complete with candles and the Happy Birthday Song at 8 in the morning. This was followed by her choice of 2 presents to play with from Saturday's party then she had to get ready for school, wearing one of the new outfits bought by Mommy & Daddy but picked out just by her. She got to school and skipped inside singing " I'm 4 - I'm 4". I wished the teacher good luck and left :-) S and I went to the store to get her a balloon bouquet so surprise her when she got home from school later. She loved coming home to the balloons! We had a nice lunch and settled down for naps. When she woke up from her nap, we played some then decorated the rainbow birthday cake that has become synonymous with birthdays around here. That evening when Daddy Piper came home, she was so happy to see him! It is so nice to come home to a happy family (or I think it would be, if I were the one coming home). We had planned to get pizza and wings, per the birthday girl request but our local pizza joint was closed due to a death in the family so we headed to Buffalo Wild Wings. We all enjoy that place. Funny side story: We first took L there when she was 2 weeks old after her dr appt so we could have lunch. If you haven't been there - that place in NOISY and she slept through the whole lunch. So we had a nice dinner and came home to have the birthday cake and open the rest of her gifts. She ended up being able to blow the candles alone this time :- ) She made out with a ton of great gifts and not stuff that won't get played with in a few weeks.

Happy Birthday Sweetie! I have enjoyed this last year with you. You are growing into a spunky kid and I love it!! I see some stubborn years ahead but that will get you far in life, so don't change that trait. You are very smart. You are learning to read and rhyming words is a favorite activity of yours. You enjoy "Guitar Hero" with Daddy. You love the songs "Slow Ride" and "Schools Out". You are also a very compassionate, caring individual... always thinking of others. You truly love your brother. You are the light of our lives. I am excited to see what being 4 brings to our lives!!!

Love,
Mommy

Very Fitting

"*never allow yourself to complain about anything - not even the weather.
*never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
*never compare your lot with an other's
*never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
*never dwell on tomorrow - remember that tomorrow is God's, not ours."

I read this on another blog today and thought it very fitting to my life. I wanted to post it here as a reminder to myself!

Pool Adventure

We made our first trek out to the pool today. Granted the trek wasn't far - about 10 feet from our backdoor but still, first of the season. We got the pool last summer and we played in it from April to September. I look back now and wonder what the heck what we were thinking. It was COLD in April!!! This was the first weekend we really thought it warm enough outside to be flouncing around in the pool (temp was 112 in case you were wondering). Last summer, L was so nervous in the water and S.... just fahgedaboutit. He was scared out of his wits. By the end of summer, L was jumping from the side into the pool and S was comfortable floating around. Within minutes of being in the pool, the vacuum kicked on and scared the daylights out of both kids and I though that was the end of the fun for the season but low and behold, I calmed them down and we went on to have an afternoon full of swimming delight. L was jumping from the side and S soon followed suit! It turned into a very fun family afternoon. I am looking forward to many more of these times in the coming months!!

Happy Father's Day

I think my kids have the best daddy in the whole world. I am sure there are alot of mommies out there that think that but I know for a fact it's true :- ) We had a nice time celebrating Father's Day. We gave him the new UFC DVD and a certificate for a massage for his aching muscles. Unfortunately, Daddy Piper had to work some this AM but we had a very relaxing afternoon together out in the pool (1st time this summer - another post to follow just about the pool adventure...) followed by scrumptious BBQ from Piper Cafe. Thank you for being such an amazing father to our children, Daddy Piper! We Love You!!

Bounce U Birthday

L wanted her birthday party at Bounce U again this year, so the princess got her wish. It was such a fun party. Everyone she invited came - that really surprised me since she invited about 17 kiddos!! Bounce U is such a fun party place for people of all ages. Even Mom's and Dad's get to join in the fun. Here is a cute pic of L saying "Thank You" to everyone after opening her gifts.

The party was a complete success!!