It has been too long!

Today we did something that I have not done in way too long! I got to ride a horse. It all started when I called a friend of mine who works with a charity called Hearts In Motion. (I was passing down some clothes that Gabi has outgrown.) I brought the clothes to her house, and she happened to be in her barn, saddling up her horses for a ride with her daughter. So we walked down to the barn to say hi and to pet the horses. While there we let both Rachel and Gabi sit up on the horse's back.
Having nothing better to do, we stuck around to watch them ride. Before long she offered to let me ride too. Unfortunately I was not prepared, and was wearing sandals. Fortunately our feet are the same size, so she let me borrow her hiking boots, so I got to ride for a while. It was GREAT. It has been much too long since I have ridden.

While I was riding Blondie, she and her husband helped Rachel and Gabi take a ride on Honey. They both really liked it! Now I can't wait to do it again.

Halloween 2011

After 4 separate and distinct Trick or Treat outings, I think we have plenty of candy.

Outing #1 - The Worlds Largest Halloween Party at the Louisville Zoo.
Outing #2 - Our ward's trick or treat. This year we did it a little different. Instead of "trunk or treat" in the parking lot going to the different cars, people decorated the classrooms and handed out treats at each different classroom.

Outing #3 - We crashed Jeff's mom's ward's trunk or treat.

Outing #4 - Halloween night we went to Jeff's mom's house and went trick or treating in her neighborhood. She lives in a more rural area, so we walked a little bit further between houses. It was good for 2 reasons - 1. Since those houses don't usually get as many trick or treaters, each house gave out quite a bit of candy. The last house dumped several handfuls in each girl's bag. 2. The girls had to walk further, and that night they crashed! Didn't hear from either of them until 9:00 the next morning.

At the Pumpkin Patch

Today Jeff's office had its party for the employees. It was at Huber Farm. It was an absolutely beautiful day, so it was a lot of fun to wander around the farm and get pumpkins from the pumpkin patch.

First was lunch (hot dogs, fried chicken, mac and cheese, cole slaw, lemonade, chicken and dumplings, etc.)


Then we found a koi pond, and we fed the fish (and the ducks, geese and swans). These fish are obviously well fed. They were HUGE!
Next we wandered through the Farmer's Market. We got to check out the different kinds of pumpkins, squash and gourds, not to mention the cool tractor.
Finally we went to the pumpkin patch and checked out all of the pumpkins. The girls had a great time, and we found some excellent pumpkins to decorate, and maybe, if I get ambitious, I might even make a pumpkin pie from scratch. (Not the crust, though.)

Finally we took a hay ride back from the pumpkin patch. (It was actually a wagon behind a tractor, no hay involved.)
It was a wonderful afternoon, and we had a great time. And best of all, the girls came home nice and tired, and went to bed with no fuss. That's a success by any definition!

Parent Teacher Conference

Today was Rachel's first parent teacher conference. In it I got Rachel's first progress report. Rachel, unsurprisingly, is doing very well in school. She really enjoys it a lot, and is making good progress. The two categories of the score were "usually" and "working on." The "usually" category sounds weird, but it makes sense after you read the progress report.

Our first few weeks . . .

Social/Emotional Development

Shares things usually

Initiates play with others usually

Is considerate of others usually

Shows respect usually

Asks for help when needed usually

Adjusts easily to transition times usually

Self Awareness

Knows first and last name usually

Is able to tell own age usually

Can go to the bathroom alone usually

Readiness

Matches shapes usually

Recognizes and names shapes usually

Recognizes numbers 1 to 10 working on

Counts objects 1 to 10 usually

Can identify size differences usually

Recognizes and names colors usually

Recognizes alphabet letters usually (MTZFA - those are the letters they've learned so far.)

Learning is lots of fun!

Fine Motor Skills

Holds crayon correctly working on

Cuts well with scissors working on (I don't let her use scissors at home much because she's cut her hair 3 times. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me three times, I don't know, but that's really bad!)

Coloring usually

Puzzle assembly usually

gluing or pasting usually

Work Habits in Group Time

Participates in discussions usually

Enjoys books and story time usually

Listens attentively usually (could have fooled me!)

Completes tasks usually

Participates in art usually

Enjoys gym and outside time usually

Follows classroom rules usually

Work Habits - Independent Skills

Cares for tools and possessions usually

Responds to directions promptly usually

Relaxes during quiet times usually

Is independent in routine usually

Works/plays well alone usually

My day started at 5:00 this morning. I had to get up early because I was on TV this morning. A small group of people from my barbershop chorus were invited to sing on a show to highlight our upcoming competition, as well as our upcoming guest night. The show wasn't until 9:00, but we were supposed to be there by 7:00 so we could pre-record some Christmas music that they will use in the future.

Here is a link to our segment from this morning. (I hope this works!)

http://www.whas11.com/great-day-live/video/Sweet-Adelines---131873348.html

First Day of School

Today was Rachel's first day of school this school year. She is in the 4-year-old preschool class. She was very excited to go, and this morning went very smoothly. This year is different because instead of walking her into the school myself (and helping her use the potty and wash her hands) we drop her off in a carpool lane. I learned that if I leave my house with the perfect amount of time for the ride, I will get caught behind a school bus in my neighborhood, and I will end up in the back of the long carpool line. (Okay, it wasn't that long.) Tomorrow we'll leave a little earlier.

Rachel was a little unsure when we got to the school, but pretty soon she was off.

When it came time to pick her up I got there early (a little too early) and ended up in the "early carpool" line, so I had to go back to another carpool line. So Rachel learned some stuff today, and so did I.

Rachel said that she really like it a lot. Apparently they learned about gingerbread men. That's what she kept on talking about, and sure enough, there was a gingerbread man that she had colored, in her backpack.

Rachel excited for her first day of school

Gabi didn't want to be left out of the fun

Gabi's first day of preschool (1 day a week) starts tomorrow, but we've got a picture from today anyway.

On the way home from school we stopped at the vet to pick up Scout (the dog). We saw this horse pasture on the way home. Rachel said "Look! I see horses and ponies and unicorns!"

Henry's Ark

I've been wanting to take the girls to Henry's Ark all summer long, but it has been pretty hot so the pool was usually a better choice, but it is finally cooling down some, so we decided to go there this week.

We made our first attempt on Monday, but as we arrived we realized (with the help of a sign) that it is closed on Monday, so instead we went to the play ground at Norton Common.

We made our next attempt on Tuesday, and this time we had success.

As we were walking toward the animals a lady asked me if we had brought carrots. Uh, no. I didn't even think about that. So she handed me a bag full of baby carrots. Rachel is absolutely fearless when it comes to animals. She was petting and feeding everything. Gabi, while not exactly scared, was a little more nervous. She was fine around the goats, but the emu had her a little intimidated.

We used all of the carrots, and another family offered us some of their carrots. They had the big kind of carrot, and they had quite a few of them, but they were ready to go home, so they gave us some of theirs. I don't know who appreciated the kindness of our fellow zoo-goers more, my girls or the animals.

Swimming Lessons

Rachel has taken swimming lessons this summer, and I can officially say that Rachel can swim. Okay, she can't swim an extremely long distance, but she can swim. I didn't measure it officially, but my estimate is that she can swim about 10 or 12 feet. That's both good and bad. I'm glad she can swim, but now she wants to not wear her floaties anymore, so I need to be right with her all the time. It's good, because when she does wear floaties, she just relaxes and floats, and doesn't swim, but when she doesn't wear floaties she is becoming a stronger and stronger swimmer. Now my challenge is to convince her to wear floaties when I want her to. It's a challenge because she enjoys the freedom of not wearing floaties.

The Week in Review

We, like pretty much everybody else, have been dealing with a heat wave. Because of that we have been to the pool nearly every day this week. The heat is much less oppressive when you are lounging in water. Just sayin'.

Rachel make a raft for herself to lounge on at the pool.

If we don't go to the pool we play in the sprinklers in the back yard.

On Tuesday Jeff was with the girls while I was at rehearsal. He reported to me that they had been awfully quiet. Turns out that Rachel found a sharpie somewhere, and decorated herself and Gabi. I learned that sunscreen spray (SPF 50) is very effective in removing sharpie from skin.
In keeping with the artistic theme, I got out some paper and paint for the girls to get creative.

Let's face it. Those girls are talented!

A day at the zoo

Started with a ride on the carousel. Last year when I took the girls on the carousel Rachel said she wanted to too, but as soon as it started she leaned off her horse and clung to my neck, and all this while I was holding the then 1-year-old Gabi. Last week when we went to the baseball game the girls rode the carousel there and they both loved it, so we did the zoo carousel again, and both girls loved it again.

Then we looked at a bunch of the animals. Both Rachel and Gabi really like animals, so that was fun. We also ate lunch.

Next we went to the splash park there. It was a pretty hot day, and and the water felt great. Gabi really didn't want to leave, but it was getting late, and both girls were getting tired. (Not to mention me and Grandma who was there too.)

We really wanted to see the new polar bear and sea lion display, so we went there before we left. We didn't stay too long because we were all seriously getting worn out.
They both fell asleep in the car on the way home. Not surprised at all!

That evening we got together with Jeff's mom and Brian and Amber and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 in anticipation of seeing part 2 today. Rachel and Gabi played with their cousin Rose while the "grown-ups" watched the movie. At least that was the plan. Its success was suspect. It was a very long day and the girls had yet another late bed time.

The Pool

Rachel just finished another round of swimming lessons. This time we signed up with a girl in our ward who just recently moved here. Different than the lessons at the YMCA we did earlier this summer, her teacher doesn't have the children wear any type of flotation device. Rachel loved the lessons. She loves the pool in general. One of the teacher's emphases this time was to teach Rachel to put her face in the water. Rachel's face often ended up in the water, but it was because she sunk. She just couldn't seem to tuck in her chin and put her face in the water.

Last night we went to the pool for an evening swim/desire to wear the girls out, ergo easy bed time. Rachel voluntarily tucked her chin and swam with her face in the water. And she did it over and over again.

It's fun watching her make progress in the pool.

Next year Gabi will be in swimming lessons too.

Opera

I think Rachel might have a future in opera. Tonight she found some music, put it on the music stand and she and Gabi started singing. And oh my! How they sang!

Baseball Game

Last night we went to a Louisville Bats game. Jeff got tickets from his work. I think we might have watched a total of maybe 1 inning worth of baseball. The rest of the time we spent watching the girls play. They have a couple of playgrounds there at Louisville Slugger Field, as well as a couple of other entertaining things for kids to do, like a carousel. Rachel rode it twice and Gabi rode it once. They both wanted to ride it more, but it wasn't free, so we drew the line. Nevertheless, the girls had a great time.

We only lasted until the end of the 8th inning. It was getting late, and way past the girls' bedtime. When we left we were down 2-0. When we got home we learned that we won the game 3-2. I guess we should have stayed for the last inning.

Hair

My philosophy is that when young people want to rebel a little and do crazy stuff with their look, the best bet is to focus on hair styles. Tattoos are permanent, and an eagle when you're 18 looks like a pterodactyl when you're 60. Weird piercings are, well, they're weird. But hair? Hair grows back. Hair is a safe medium with which to experiment.

Rachel has taken my philosophy to heart. Tonight Jeff and I were fixing dinner. When we were done we called Rachel and Gabi to the table. Rachel came from upstairs, and proudly announced that she cut her hair all by herself. I am happy to say that I did not lose my temper. I did not get angry. I did tell her that I wasn't too happy, and that she shouldn't do it ever again. Anyway, Rachel is currently sporting a bald spot on the side of her head.

A lesson on the power of prayer

On Tuesday I was planning to go grocery shopping in the afternoon. I got the girls ready. (Their outfits of choice were as follows: Rachel was wearing her Cinderella dress, complete with glass (or rather plastic) slippers. Gabi was wearing a unicorn costume.) But then I couldn't find my keys. I looked in all of the regular places, and couldn't find them. So I decided to gather the girls around and say a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me find my keys. After our quick prayer I decided to check the car to see if I left them in there. So we all went outside to look. I checked the ignition, the passenger seat, between the seats - no keys. Gabi, whose 'assigned' seat is the right side of the back seat, went to her door as always. As I was getting out of the car, trying to think where to look next, Gabi came strolling around the back of the car, dressed in her all-white unicorn costume, with her very dark complexion, looking like a little magical unicorn/angel holding my keys in her hand. I guess I must have dropped them on the ground as I was getting Gabi out of her seat earlier in the morning.

So then I gathered the girls around me again, and this time we offered a prayer of thanks that we were able to find my keys, and that my girls were so helpful in the process.

I really wish I had a picture of the view of Gabi in her costume holding my keys. It was too precious.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

We went to Costco today. Gabi was riding in the cart, and Rachel was walking. After a while Gabi wanted to get out and walk too. I said she could, but she had to stay close to me. It was going fine until I stopped to pick up something, and Rachel took off running. Gabi, who likes to do everything Rachel does, followed her. I called to them to stop, but they ignored me. I took off after them, but they were in the next aisle. When I got to the next aisle I saw Gabi at the other end, but Rachel was not in sight. So I went to the next aisle, and there she was, and Gabi was there by then too.

I caught up with them, and told them that as a consequence for not listening to me they both had to ride in the cart. Rachel especially was not too happy about that, but after a little while she accepted that it was just going to be that way. After a minute or two, Rachel turned to Gabi and said "I'm sorry. It's all my fault."

I admit I didn't realize that Rachel recognizes that Gabi follows her in just about everything. I was surprised that Rachel took all the responsibility. I thought it was sweet.

At bed time tonight, Gabi had something of a melt down. It started when Jeff took off her shoes, but I'm pretty sure it was because she was very tired. After a while she settled down, and was laying face-down on Rachel's bed listening as I read bed-time stories. Rachel started talking to her gently, trying to help her feel better. She is really very sweet.

But not perfect. Here is her bedroom wall after quiet/nap time.

NICU Reunion and Ice Cream Social

Every year the hospital where Gabi was born has a reunion and ice cream social for NICU graduates. It happened to be today, so we went. (Who can turn down free ice cream?)

It was very nice. They had a couple of inflatable bounce houses. One had a dinosaur theme, and the other had a caterpillar/butterfly theme. The caterpillar one had a tunnel, then a climb up a ladder and a slide. Rachel LOVED it. She loved it so much that when I asked her if she wanted ice cream, she declined telling me she was having so much fun. Gabi wanted to go into the caterpillar tunnel, but she was too scared. She made a move toward it a few times, but each time she changed her mind. Finally I took her in myself. She was not amused. Gabi did have a lot of fun in the other dinosaur bounce house. It was wide open.They also had cupcakes (which is finally what drew Rachel away from the caterpillar bounce house), games, popcorn and water bottles.

The girls came home filthy (covered in melted ice cream) and happy.