Thoughts from a Preschooler Mom...

So my little girl started preschool on Tuesday. She was so excited; so excited that she woke up at 5:15am that morning and wanted to leave right away. I think it was a combination of nervous energy and the excitment of something new. Mom and Dad groggily and not very happily made her stay in bed with us until 6am. The day started early and with some reluctance to get out of bed, but we got going and drove to Preschool. Lots of cars, lots of mommies, lots of daddies and lots of younger siblings. I think there may have been lots of mommies hiding behind sunglasses in the parking lot as well! I am happy to report that I did not cry, but did choke back some heavy emotions as I left my oldest daughter at school for the 1st time...perhaps now is when I will cry - reflection! Addison did seem a little nervous, but sat down at the table with the other children and started coloring. Tony, Olivia and I kissed Addison, told her to listen to her teachers and then left out the back door of the classroom. Olivia and I went home and cleaned for the "big" party this weekend, and Tony went to work; where I think he got asked numerous times if I had cried, he didn't even know (he had to ask later). Tony and I picked Addison up from school, and took her to lunch at her favorite, Ruby Tuesday. She was able to tell us that she colored, played kitchen and made a hotdog and had ice cream for her snack!

As I drove to work after lunch, I thought about what had just transpired over the morning. My baby girl, my tough, independent peanut had grown up in the blink of an eye. Where in the world did my little baby who struggled with jaundice, couldn't gain weight; where did she go? My little toddler who used to poke her sister's eyes and squeeze her so hard while giving hugs (oh wait, she still does that one), my little girl who wants no one in the bathroom with her and amazes people at Sams Club that she needs to poop in private and can even make the noises to go with it, where did she go? She just walked through the doors of Peace Lutheran Preschool as a big girl. (Hope she knows that with that now comes some new repsonsibilites, like minding her manners, not throwing tantrums, not whinning, eating all her dinner when it is presented to her and sleeping until at least 6am EVERY morning!!)Now she is Miss Independent going to school!

As I wipe the tears now, and laugh at how she really is still my baby girl, my peanut and oh so much like me when I was little (so I have been told), I pray she just don't grow up so fast over the next few years!

Olivia's Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Olivia!!! We had a great birthday party for Olivia last night. We went to Valentino's for dinner and she ate great...peas, noodles, and half a whole piece of pizza! She loved it, no yelling and was just an angel! When we got home, we had a "quick" party with presents from Addison and let Olivia dive into her cake which was quite a site. Addison was anxious to have Olivia play with her Bounce and Go Zebra. She has promised us that she will always ask Olivia before she plays with "her" toys.

Olivia throughly enjoyed her cake.

Not so happy when mommy took the cake away for her to get into the bath:

Happy 1st Birthday Olivia

Hard to believe a whole year has already flown by and Olivia is one years old!!! Where has all the time gone? This first year with Olivia has been full of lots and lots of different emotions, some I would like to forget and many many others I hope to never ever forget. Olivia has been a true miracle to Tony and I. As many of you know, our chances of ever having a family were very slim, then came Addison and then to find out we were having another little miracle...it filled our hearts with so much joy knowing that we relied on God to pull us through and show us the miracle He had planned for us. Tony and I have both shed lots of tears through the years, and the best tears where at the births of each of our children. I know there will be many more tears as Olivia grows up; but it is still the cry that we have this miracle that warms my heart the most. I love to just snuggle with her (she still loves to snuggle too)! Olivia has filled a spot in my heart that was reserved only for her. She has given us so many laughs over the last year, some scares (okay many scares), but she is tough...she's gotta be with a sister like Addison!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Olivia!! Enjoy your party today with mommy, daddy and Addison!! Addison is so excited to give you your gifts and watch you eat your cake...do NOT disappoint her!!

Naps are for Wimps

Please let me preface this video clip: sometimes telling a little white lie is necessary in order to get your children to do things.
Addison played in her room for almost 2 hours yesterday coming out only a few times to know if it was "wake-up time". I told her she needed to go to sleep on many occassions; she NEVER did!

Olivia on the other hand slept great, but also likes to play in her crib.

Summer Fun

The girls have enjoyed the summer very much. We have been busy, therefore the lack of updates. Thank goodness for Bubba and Grammy who always seem to have their camer ready to catch a moment with the girls. The latest adventures have taken us to Omaha to wedding dress shop with Cassie, the Taste of West Omaha, and a trip to Fun Plex with Bubba, Lou and Grammy.


We are anticipating the arrival of Kevin, Jenny and Leo intoGrand Island on September 1st while they are enroute to their new home in Pocatello, Idaho. Addison is especially excited to see Michael Leo, and it appears that Leo is excited to see the girls as well. Apparently he has found a new fun trick, hitting people, animals and various other things. Don't worry Kevin and Jenny, Addison will set him straight and tell him that it is not nice to hit!!! She will probably also give him "the lecture" about keeping his tongue in his mouth, using nice words, being a big boy, the list could go on. You will quickly learn all the things we are telling her about being nice and about being a big girl so that she can go to school.


The hot days of August are taking its toll on us, Addison has so much energy that she can't run off, and Olivia is having some heat rashes. Both the girls are such "hot kids". They sweat very easily. We are "forcing" water. Olivia is officially off the bottle, she has been for about a 1 1/2 months now. She loves to be just like Addison and drink from the sippy cup. Matter of fact, whatever Addison is doing, Olivia wants to be doing it also. She has found that when Addison takes a toy from her, yelling is a great way to mom and dad's attention. We are trying to teach "sharing"; but Addison is pretty protective of "her stuff". At daycare Olivia has learned that when she does not want to eat something to throw it on the floor because the dogs will eat it; not so much at home. She just kind of gives us this look like "you won't yell at me for throwing this because I am so darn cute".


The rest of the pictures are of our"little fishy". Addison loves to swim and play in the water. She has figured out that jumping into the pool is a lot of fun, and so is going down slides. Still not a big fan of having water in her face, but getting better.




One last picture for you to enjoy! This cutie will turn 1 years old in 6 days!!
Where has the time gone?