The first day was hard, but I did stay busy teaching Hailey preschool. Hailey has started preschool too. She is in another group like last year. There are six of us and we rotate and take turns teaching them. I was first up for teacher this year and it was nice so that I didn't just come home and bawl after dropping off Ashtyn. I dropped off Ashtyn and came home and took care of six sweet little 4 year olds. They are pretty adorable. Then after they were all gone and I was making lunch for only Hailey and Dalton, I started to cry missing Ashy. Missing not making lunch for her, missing not seeing her play with Hailey, missing not having my biggest helper. For the most part the mornings go quickly and we don't miss her too bad. But from lunch time until it is time to go pick her up, seems to take forever. She loves is though. Loves her teacher and loves getting to have two recesses and loves getting to eat hot lunch at school. Ashtyn has also started taking piano lessons too and is doing awesome.
Hailey is loving preschool too. She loves coloring and playing with the kids. She loves show and tell too. She is in dance this year and is absolutely loving it. It was cute, the first day she came right up to me and said, "Mom, she didn't teach me shuffle step." She has been watching Ashtyn take dance and has been to dance camp a couple times and was ready for the teacher to talk about that. Of course it was just the first day so they didn't get to that yet but she is excited and ready to learn all of her new dances. She and Ashtyn are really best friends and she misses her but is doing really good playing and learning on her own. She is good at playing with Dalton too. She loves to put his blanket over her head and act like a ghost and scare him. She also has the best little giggle that she shares with us so easily. I love how easy going and calm and happy she is.
Dalton is growing and changing so fast. He just said "uh-oh" for the first time yesterday at lunch time. He was throwing stuff down and I was saying uh oh and he was saying uh uh uh. And then I looked at him and went uh-oh really slow and then he did it right back and I laughed and got all excited and he did it like five more times and now he is a pro at it. IT is adorable. And today for the first time he rode in his car seat like a big boy, forward facing. Can you believe it. He is one and 30 pounds so around he goes. He loved it. He also got two new teeth in the last two weeks. His favorite book is "What Shall we do with the Boo-hoo baby." In it there is a baby that is sad and there is a cow and a duck and a cat and a dog that are trying to figure out how to help the baby stop crying. They try feeding it and bathing it and finally they get it to sleep. But he loves all the animals and the noises that they make in the book and he is right there making the noises of each one. ADORABLE!! He is still close to walking but isn't taking the plunge yet. He walks all along things, the couch, the wall, the entertainment center, his little truck and toy with wheels, and he will just stand up and stand there without holding onto anything. We have tried a couple of times to get him to walk. I will be walking with him and then just get in front of him and let go of his hands and as soon as I let go he just goes down to his knees. He won't walk even one little step between Sam and I. He just isn't ready to yet. I just know one of these days he will and then he will be unstoppable. He has also started signing his words that we have been teaching him: eat, sleep, and please are the ones he can do now. He also say "wo" and "go". He has been saying mama, dada and dog for a while.
This last weekend we really got a lot done to start getting ready for the winter. Cleaned up some of the garden. Sam got a big load of firewood. I cleaned all the windows inside and out. We fixed up a few other spots in the yard that were just messy. Now we just need to finish cleaning up the garage and sell our subaru. Anyone need a little get around car?? We will miss Carlos but it is time for him to go to a new family!!
I have started activity days. They put me in with the younger girls this year (8-9 yr olds). There are 13 of them. Wow! And they are precious girls. I think this year will be a lot of fun.
I am only three days shy of being 30. It really seems crazy to be that old. I think I will always think of myself as twenty something. But really life is great. I am married to the most fantastic wonderful perfect for me husband. I have three beautiful children. I have a beautiful house that we can call home. I am a member of the only true church. I have health and strength. I have my freedom. I have great extended family. I am truly so happy and so blessed. Thank you God. May the next thirty years be just as wonderful.
