Halloween

The lead up to Halloween started around October 1st with Cecily gearing up for all that this holiday had to offer. We "pretended" trick or treating all month, talked about the costume Grandpa was going to make, made decorations for the house, etc. Since Cecily was Alice, we put together a mad hatter costume for Greg and they both looked great at the preschool Halloween Faire. (More on my costume later)

A little bit scared of the mad hatter...

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On Halloween (actual day) we went up to Sonoma. We decided to go trick or treating in the neighborhood near Scott and Cara's house and it was perfect. This was Cecily's first real trick or treating event and she got ALOT out of it. Alot of candy of course, but also the experience of the real thing after all the pretend play was so exciting! She caught on pretty quick and then wanted on to the next house! She loved running around in the streets in the dark and seeing all the other little kids out. There were a few scary things (like Freddy Krueger handing out candy). But for the most part she embraced the spookiness.

A quick word about my costume. So Greg came back with this get-up from the costume store when we were down in L.A. I thought I could be the Queen of Hearts since we were doing the Wonderland theme. My one request was that it NOT be ...how should we say this... a skanky version of this character. The Queen of Hearts is not exactly a sex object so you'd think that would be do-able. However, what he brought me was a little more "tart" than I'd like. It was not exactly preschool Halloween faire appropriate, so I did not wear it there. But on Halloween night it was dark, and it made Cecily happy, so I wore it. Enough said.

Family Photo (not sure what is wrong with Greg in this pic, but its the only one we got of all 3 of us)

Getting excited for the night

First house

Wow-they really gave us candy

Alice and the Queen of Hearts

Examining the loot

Pretty in Pink

Family Visit

Tea Time with Grandma

Little Red Riding Hood with Auntie Leen

Watching cartoons with Auntie Leen

With Grandpa

Three Years Old

Cecily turned 3!

We brought cupcakes to school and she was a little bashful but mostly very proud for it to be her birthday. She likes to be the star. Chocolate cupcakes were a hit.

On Saturday we took Cecily to Fairyland with her friend Addi and cousins Lauren and Kaitlyn. The girls LOVED this. Ran around to all the statues, explored the little houses, and watched a puppet show, all while wearing the fairy princess outfits.

Then we had family over for a big dinner and it was lots of fun. Cecily liked holding her new little cousin Mikey (Mike and Eileens baby boy). She made it up to the cake with only a little bit of a "Baby Breakdown" (as Jennifer and Shelley call it) from all the stimulation. She tore through her presents but was oh so happy to play with them the next day.

Preschool Picnic

This weekend we went to the Preschool picnic. Cecily had alot of fun with her friends and pretty much didnt want anything to do with us. She is getting so independent...; )

gathering sticks with Lucy and Maisie

Playing Limbo and the Hokey Pokey

Enjoying some icecream with Maisie

Taking a break

Early Fall Days

We have been enjoying that wonderful Indian summer weather. This weekend was our annual block party, and Cecily had so much fun. The first year we had the block party Cecily was 6 days old. What a long way she has come! Facepainting (this was my job), games, waterballoons, pinata, a firetruck stopped by for the kids. Addison got to hang with us and enjoy as well, though she was a little spooked by the sirens ("they're coming to get me!")

Little Miss Thing

Cecily is really enjoying school lately. She happily runs in when Greg drops her off. This morning one of the teachers told Greg that Cecily is "very social". We pretty much have to rely on what Cecily reports to us at the end of the day and she describes her friendships with Maisy, Lucy and Isabelle. Occasionally she mentions boys, especially if the boy played dolls or dress up with them.

Her wild imagination continues to grow and she plays very elaborate games with us that usually involve Sally and Becky (her imaginary friends) and either a birthday party, a picnic, or some other important event. Sometimes she pretends they are lost and runs around the house calling for them.

Cecily is getting very interested in letters and "reading". When we are driving she will yell out "S-T-O-P STOP!" when we are near a stop sign. Although sometimes she says "S-O-P-T "or P-S-T or some other combo. But its a start.

On a less positive note, we have really crossed over into some bad attitude territory. Most simple tasks have become a major struggle. Getting her to go potty when she doesnt want to or get dressed in the morning can lead to huge tantrums and a very disgruntled mommy and/or daddy. She throws things, screams, hits us, and just wont do what we need her to do. And although we know she loves her daddy dearly, she often acts like he is the antichrist. None of this is bizarre behaviour. Im sure it is described almost identically in many books on preschoolers and "the terrible threes". But that doesnt make it easier. But she is still so much fun lately, and we love her to impossible levels, and she knows it.

First Week of Preschool

By her cubby


Cecily started preschool this week. The Friday prior Greg, Cecily and I went to the Open House which was just to aquaint (or reaquaint) the kids with the school and teachers, find their cubbies, etc. Cecily was very excited to see the classrooms and teachers again and went running around to make sure all the things were just as she remembered from summer school. She put on a smock and painted a quick picture. She played with the dolls and "sort of" interacted with the other children. All the children seemed to be casually studying each other and trying to figure out what was really going on here.



So on Tuesday when Greg brought her to school, she was fairly well prepared. But not prepared for his departure. He ended up sitting in a chair in one of the playrooms, upon the teacher's suggestion, and letting Cecily know he was leaving at snack time. She then felt happy to run off and play, coming back to check on him periodically. Then, when snack time arrived she became upset, and then VERY upset as he stayed true to his word and left for work. When Jasmine picked her up she seemed ok and the teachers said she did great. I did find a note in her back pack with a drawing on one side and on the other side was written "I want my dada and mama"(by one of the teachers of course) The teacher explained to Greg that this is how she helps the kids get their emotions out and communicate how they feel while at the same time working with them on writing and letters. Yesterday I found a little drawing of one of her people. She has started drawing faces with feet, hands and hair.

The program is "play based with some structure". Basically their only structured time is snack time and circle time at the end of the morning (goes from 9-12). Cecily really likes the songs and discussion time. At least I think she does, this is what she tells me. And during summer school it was her favorite part. "Apple Pie, Apple Pie, please dont take my apple pie".

The week ended better than it began, with Cecily much more at ease with Greg leaving. And this morning (Monday) she had no problem at all, and Greg even had to look for her to say goodbye as she had run off with some kids to do an art project.

Singing in the play-yard

Pretty Princesses

Cecily and her cousin Lauren at Kaitlyn's 7th birthday party in Folsom.

Swim Lessons

With Teacher Gina