First Day of Preschool!

JD started preschool today with much anticipation and excitement (mostly from me). We got used to the Mother's Day Out schedule in the spring and I really missed it over the summer! Plus I know that JD has lots more fun with kids closer to his own age (as evidenced by all the fun he has at playdates and playing with his cousins).

To get ready for school today, JD helped me to fix his lunch: turkey & cheese sandwich in his new Toy Story sandwich box, wash the grapes and put them in a Toy Story baggie, add some Toy Story fruit snacks and a cheese stick with a bottle of water (yes, my kid loves TS right now).

We also labeled everything and laid out his extra clothes for his backpack and his clothes for school today, complete with new, really fast shoes from Grandma!

Last Thursday, we met JD's teacher Ms. Otelia and some of the other kids that would be in his class and JD loved the playground and toys in the classroom. He also recognized his name right off to post on the door.

So JD really wasn't too upset about the prospect of playing with new friends with his nice teacher and eating his yummy lunch this morning.

I tried to get some pictures at school, but he was too excited about getting in the building to give me much of a smile.

He went right away to the other boys and started to play with the construction trucks set out. Whew! No clinging, tears or anything. Just a "see ya later mommy" and a "I love you too."

I spent some time with the Megster, who just chuckled and giggled all morning! I think she liked having her mama all to herself for a bit! We also met up with Daddy for lunch - what a treat!

When I picked JD up, he was so excited to tell me about making a new friend (Aiden) and a new song that he learned (Where is Thumbkin- not so new, but apparently this is the first he has remembered it). Just when I was about to breathe a sigh of relief that this year is going to go smoothly, I received a letter from the director that our teacher is leaving (tomorrow) to start at Wylie ISD. We will have a substitute teacher until they find the right person to take Ms. Otelia's place. Oh man!

So we will hold our breath until we meet our next teacher and hope for the best!!

Moving and Shaking

Meg is now an eight month old busy girl, crawling and cruising everywhere she goes. She mastered crawling about 2 weeks ago and almost immediately decided that she wanted to be upright and walking.

I caught her mid-crawl in this picture.

Meg has also mastered dumping her toys all over the floor to get to the one she wants.

And she is pretty proud of herself too!

5 Question Friday

My friend Brooke posted this with a challenge to do the same, so here goes:

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so, how did it come about?
My obvious nickname is Mandy (from Amanda), but the other one is Mando. This came from my years as a Berkner High School Bandelero (Bando). So in high school I was Mando the Bando. Mando stuck with my family members and a few others.

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?
I am the dreaded "middle child" with none of the middle child hangups - ha ha (I'm sure they would disagree)! I have an older sister (by 3 years) and a younger brother (by 4 years). I love being a middle child and think it is the best place to be - not the Type A "anal" perfectionist first sibling and not the "spoiled baby" of the family (not that my siblings are either of those things - ha ha). Just perfect! :)

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?
Sean Connery in his younger James Bond years because my husband has the Scottish accent perfected.

4. What is currently your favorite song?
Hmmm...that is a tough one since I listen to kids' songs the most these days. I'm a huge Backyardigans fan - love "Robot Rampage" or "Pirate Says Arggh."

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?
Sort of. We (by we, I mean me) are hoping to get a new couch next year. It is becoming a desperate situation since ours is falling apart and looks disgusting after 2 kids have attacked it.

Just Beachy Keen

We went on a spur-of-the-moment trip to Palm Beach, Florida last week with Jon's cousin Jeremy and wife Lindsey and their kids Izzy (almost 3) and Chloe (10 days younger than Meg).

We stayed at The Breakers, a beautiful hotel resort right on the beach. We had some rain, but also some really hot and pretty sunshine! They had some great pools that we enjoyed, as well as the beach. JD really got into swimming this time and would stick his face under water for extended periods of time (long enough to smile and wave at you)! The kids got along so well and really loved on each other. It was really cute.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week:

Airplane ride - VERY exciting for my little boy!!

Izzy enjoying a fruity beverage by the pool!

Meg got ridiculously hot, so the babies spent a lot of time in the diapers to stay cool. I think they had fun anyway!

My boys on the beach! JD loved "surfing" on his very own boogie board.

Meg and Chloe were so cute together!

My little ham! She got quite the reaction from the older ladies at the hotel in this hat.


My boy was tuckered out every night when his head hit the pillow. He fell asleep here with all the lights on, tv going and baby sister crying!

What a fun week! We loved spending time with Jeremy and Lindsey and the kids and can't wait to do it again soon!!