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

Tahoe-Summer 2009

We had alot of fun in Tahoe at the Newman's family cabin in Homewood.

My sis Kathleen came up with us and Cara's dad and sister Lauren were there as well.

The girls played at Chambers Beach and the pool, we took a boat ride on the beautiful lake, drank Chambers punch on the pier, had snacks at Sunnyside, cooked delicious meals, played Scrabble, and had lots of fun with facepaints!

The girls on the boat

Eating pushups on Chambers Beach

The girls with Addi's auntie La La






Kathleen-a beautiful butterfly

Little Fairies Collage

Addison and Cecily frolicking in the Garden in Tahoe.

Addison-The Flower Fairy

Cecily-The Fairy Queen

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Making strawberry shortcakes for Daddy's 37th (yikes!) birthday.

Fourth of July '09

Another fun fourth of July in Sonoma and Petaluma. The girls loved the parade, got Fairy (Ceci) and Care Bear (Addi) tatoos and then a BBQ with lots of little blondies running around-Ceci, Addi, Luna Dator and Sophia Anderson.

A parade, hot dogs, ice cream, fireworks and friends.

Watching the parade

Getting Tatoos-All Serious

All the little girls

Enjoying an icecream

Naked Aborigine Fingerpainting

First Day of Summer School

Tuesday (6/30) was Cecily's first day of preschool.

It is the summer program and she is only going Tues-Thurs for the month of July. She then starts the regular 5 day a week program when school starts back up in September. She was very excited, and nervous. I stayed all day so that she would feel comfortable. She wanted me to engage with her at first, but later was satisfied to have me sitting on a bench chatting with other moms (or reading work email on my Bberry).

She made some new friends "sort of". She collected "nuts"(some type of acorn thing) with one little boy and on the second day she became a little obsessed with one of the "older" (read: 4 years old) girls who helped her put on a bandaid on an invisible boo-boo on her knee. She really liked the whole routine factor of the program, snack time, circle time, etc. On the second day of school (which I stayed all day that day too) she participated in circle time by sharing a story abt 4th of July. I was a little suprised she wanted to share, and a bit concerned she was going to spin some crazy tale bc the group had gotten a little off track (it started out about fireworks, which led to discussion of "loud noises" and then one little boy started rambling about some man standing outside his bedroom window) but Cecily "kept it real' and talked about seeing fireworks at Addi's house.

She painted pictures, made a noodle necklace and played dress up. All in all a successful introduction to the world of school!

Walking to school

Opening the Gate to Preschool

Meeting the Director

Painting a first picture