Patio Pictures

I love how it turned out. I'm trying to figure out what goes on the patio and where. The girls didn't waste any time "christening" it with chalk. They love the slope instead of a step coming out of the garage because they can ride their trikes down it. I'm still waiting for the cement guy to come and do some "clean up" work that he promised.

Thursday

The morning started off a bit crazy. We are getting our patio poured today and so the chaos began at 7:40 this morning. The first truck to arrive was the gravel truck. The company name on the truck was Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. That'll make you feel a little uneasy about the whole thing...
The girls could hardly eat they were so excited. We were going to put their hand prints in, but it will be hard by the time Kayla gets home from school today. I can do Ellies, but that wouldn't be fair to Kayla.
I got them both to school, but dealt with a traffic jam (on Elton Hills of all places) and the check engine light is now back on in the van AGAIN! I got home in time to field a phone call between the contractor and cement guy and to do a phone interview for an article I have due next week. Here's the strange thing, it's a home remodel article but the homeowners don't want their name used AND I can't come to see their home. I have 2 photos I'm to use in aiding my writing. Weird. I don't even know how to begin such an article. Major writers block!

I like to go to Elyana's school early to watch her play outside for a bit before I go to get her. I love all the things they do to spark imagination. They have something different inside and out each day. Today (along with their normal cool playground equipment) they had a little construction site set up with real boards (little ones of course) and little saw horses. Another area they had a bunch of the cars and a mock gas station with a real pretend gas pump. Another area was a water station with their own cups and pitchers to pour their own water. Not to mention a box filled with super hero capes to wear. No wonder Elyana is never ready to come home with me. No wonder she is very sweaty when I pick her up. Elyana and I are wishing it was every morning instead of just the two.

I've got to get her down for her nap now. I'll post pictures of the patio later tonight.

BTW, Elyana was watching the patio work be done. Here is a 3 year old's idea of what they are doing, "The guys are fixing our grass by making mud." She also proceeded to dress up like a pig and not on the window yelling, "Oink, oink. Look at me." I distracted her with some berries and cream. She enjoyed wearing the piggy mask for that too ("I'm a hungry piggy").

Sometimes My 6 Year Old Can Be So Wise

Our dear neighbors, the Wittrups will be moving next week. We will really really miss them. I know that Elyana cannot and will not understand where her best friend is. Kayla and I were talking about it, trying to prepare her for it. I told her I think the new neighbors have kids. I mentioned, "I hope they're similar ages again, are nice, and will be good friends." Her reply was astounding, "Mom, God knows what kind of friends I need. We'll just have to see who He brings." Wow, I wish I had that much faith in life, especially at school.

I love you Mikayla, you're teaching your old mom so much each day!

Church Assignment

This is a picture that Mikayla worked on at church later this summer. It's not necessarily the picture that is so precious, it's the explanation Mikayla gave. It is an explanation that a parent would be proud of so I had to share.



The assignment was to draw in the backpack things you would need for along journey. In the center of her bag is God. Above God are the stars she said she would need to be able to see at night. The left is a carrot and grapes (healthy snacks to give her energy). On the right are a banana and an apple (more healthy snacks for energy). And, on the bottom right is a tree. She said she would need the tree to give her the oxygen she needs. How sweet is that. Now, I have actually seen what Mikayla packs when we go on a trip. Usually it's some underwear, a few Polly Pockets, a few DVD's, and her favorite stuffed animal.

First Day of School Present

I wanted to make Mikayla something special to give her when she got home from school. Since I'm still experimenting with sewing and had extra material, I made her another pillow. Also, she wanted something on her bolster pillow so she could tell it apart from Ellie's. So, I made a band to go around it with scrape material and the rest of the pillow ribbon.

First Day of School

Mikayla started 1st grade today at Elton Hills Elementary School and Elyana started school at Bethany Nursery School. We dropped Mikayla off first and waited with her until it was time for the first bell to ring. She seemed pretty nervous. It blows my mind how some people can drop off their kids late on the first day of school and drive off. They have no idea where to go. It's really sad. I can't wait to go pick her up and see how the day went. I'm nervous for her. Mostly hoping that the hot lunch thing goes smoothly and that she can make a friend or two.











I dropped Nate off at work and went home with Elyana for an hour because she had a 1/2 morning of preschool only today to ease them into it. I dropped Ellie off. She remembered where her cubbie was to put her backpack. She jammed it in and ran off squealing loudly. That was that. My first hour during the day to myself and no one else! I went to pick up Ellie at 11:30. She seemed to be having a blast on the playground, running from one thing to another. When it was time for her to go, she was sweaty. All was going smoothly until she had to get her backpack down from where they are kept on fence hooks while they are at the playground. Evidently Ellie is too short to get hers down herself and threw a fit when her teacher did it for her. She looses it if she can't do something herself. Man, I'm sure it's the first of many "episodes" the teachers will endure. I warned them. I'm reminding myself that preschool is a friendly type of "boot camp" to get kids ready for real school. So, I'm hoping that preschool will help shape Ellie emotionally and socially in a way that I can't.





I like comparison pictures. Here was Kayla on her first day of preschool at Bethany... Elyana is wearing the same pair of sandals that Mikayla did on her first day. She's also the same weight.


And here is Elyana on Mikayla's first day of preschool...


They grow so fast don't they!

The Jones' Labor Day Weekend

After weeks of Elyana telling me that it is her beloved monkey's birthday, I decided to actually give Monkey a party. We bought a little 8x8 plain cake and put some yellow frosting in the shape of a banana on it. Our neighbor Christi gave us a plastic banana for Monkey's present, which we wrapped up. (Monkey now sits at the high chair by us and must have that banana to "eat" at every meal.) Christi, can't thank you enough, I am no longer finding squished bananas around. Monkey evidently doesn't like the real ones now. We even blew up a few balloons for the party. Yes, we even sang "Happy Birthday" to Monkey as Elyana blew out his/her candle. Monkey had such a great time that he got a bit of frosting on him and had to go in the washer. I swear, if that monkey needs to be washed one more time, he will fall apart. Elyana is so attached to the thing that she sat outside with Monkey as he was drying in the sunshine. At least she has finally stopped asking about Monkey's birthday. By the way, in case you wondered, Monkey is now 4. Here are some precious photo moments from the party:




Also this weekend, my mom helped me to make bolster pillows for the girls' beds. I wanted to make them with cording but I couldn't find any that would work. I also couldn't find foam in tube form and had to roll up the 1" flat foam into a tube. I think if I did it again, I would make a pillow with the polyfill stuff and then make a bolster pillow cover to put it in. It would be squishier that way. Since the pillows were complete, they have already turned into swords, boats and tree branches that little sloths could hang from (my kids think sloths are cool thanks to Diego). Now that this project is done, I have a little more confidence with the sewing machine and am considering attempting this cool pattern I saw at the store for bean bag chairs. I could get material to match our family room.