J is off to Preschool!!

E's birthday week was filled with activity - it was also J's first week of true "preschool"! She went last year to a mini-preschool class but it was only 1 day a week for a couple of hours - more play than anything. This year she has officially entered 3 year old preschool class full of rules, expectations, tons of activities and new friends to meet. Overall, I would say the past week and a half of school has been a success. I was a bit concerned because she has a tendency not to want to leave mom at camp, vbs, etc. but am happy to report that it appears as though I was worried for nothing. While she is adjusting, she has been a trooper each day about getting ready for school and being a big girl. We've definitely had more smiles than tears and that is all that matters :)

Here's a before - school pic from the first day

And we still have smiles when I picked her up!!! (along with a little pink glue all over her shirt - which I was a-ok with since it shows she participated in class!)

J and her HSM Wildcats pose...what to do with a 3 year old obsessed with Troy and Gabriella?!?!

Can you tell E is ready for school herself? She is going to hate an August birthday for a bit....the girls were arguing in the car on Sunday over who's school it was. E would really like to stay with the big kids :) I keep telling her someday...

My Baby Turned Two...

Last week was momentous...my little E turned two. If you ask her, she's three like her sister, but that has been the case for the past year. We had a great party for her on Sunday at a park near home. Friends and family came for a good time filled with swinging, sliding, playing in the sand and of course birthday cake! We ran out of time to open presents (it's hard gathering 15 kids from a playground for an activity like that) so E, with much help from J, opened presents after quiet time. Here are just a few pics from the party - I need to get some from the Grandma's as they were able to do a few more clicks of the camera than I was :)

It makes me wonder what kind of mother I am, but have to admit that I did not get any pictures of her actual birthday. She got to spend the day with Grandma, Poppy, Mickey and J since Russ and I had to work. We got home early and took her to one of her favorite activities - swimming and happy meals :) Grandma L met us at the pool so the girls could show off their swimming skills. It was a great day for her. Reportedly, she barely napped - it was as if she new it was her day to party like a rockstar!!!