Isn't it suppose to get quiet when school starts

We are now halfway though September, school and activities are in full swing. I know my family laughs at me with all the activities Bella is in but she really likes to be busy. So here is our schedule.

Monday-
Storytime and Enrichment

Tuesday- Fall Detectives and school

Wednesday- School

Thursday- Ballet/tap and school

Friday School

Fall detectives are only 3 weeks. We hope to add gymnastics on Mondays. In the next few days I hope to post our new at home school stuff as well as update pictures.

Fall is always full of great things. Halloween plans are in swing. Bella wants to either be a ballerina or Pinkalious. She changes daily. I found a costume of popcorn but she does not like it.

This weekend, we are super busy. Saturday, we will be participating in our friend, Ally's walk for MDA at the zoo. We do it every year and we have a great time. Saturday night, we are going to our first Got Shabbat? of the year! Sunday is our big Heart Walk. We have about 15 or so friends joining us. It should be fun. I hope all is well with everyone.

School has started

The summer has ended and Bella has begun her final year of preschool. She is going to Lions Park preschool four afternoons a week. As when I was a child, I wanted the first day of school to be a big deal. We started with a special first day of school, treat bag. I put some fun back to school stuff in it like pencils. books, and stickers, along with kisses. I made Bill and Bella a special back to school breakfast of all of Bella's favorites. Bella really seemed to enjoy to school. I feel we made a great decision. Here are some pictures!

Been so busy

I can not believe the summer is quickly ending. Izabella is starting Junior Kindergarten next Tuesday. I can not believe it, where did the time go. The school she is in is awesome. Such a great fit. She will be going 4 afternoons. Her teachers seem to have it together and have many things going on. They seem to understand kids this age and what is a age appropiate. They have a program every month. They have a day for moms, dads, grandparents, art show, thanksgiving, holidays as well as 4 field trips. Bella is so excited.

It is so hard to believe that next year she will be in Kindergarten. I swear I only blinked. Come back next week to look at school pictures!

getting ready for school

Bella will be starting Junior Kindergarten in a few weeks. Illinois is not charging state tax for this week, so we decided to go school shopping with my mom. Since it was so hot out we hit the outlets. Not one pair of pants bought. Bella is on a dress kick. I told her when the weather gets colder she would have to wear pants. She said, " Mom, I will just wear heavy tights". The highlight of her day came when we got back to my mom's house. There was a box sitting there from Zappos. It was her Twinkle Toes shoes. This was a gift from my mom and dad for going to sleep by herself. These are gym shoes made by Sketchers. They are two shades of pink amd have jewels on them. Much to mine and my moms surprise. They light up. I hate light up shoes. As a teacher, they were the biggest distraction. I have always told Bella no to them. I however sat and watched her with a big smile run through my mom's house in them. How could I take them away. I am sure the teachers will hate them but we will deal.

Sleeping by ourselves

As parent I think we all have one or two things we have a problem breaking with our kid. I have a friend whos child has been potty trained for a while but still needs a pullup to poop. Bellas is that she has always had me to fall asleep with. It was my mistake but in all fairness. When everyone was letting their kids cry it out Bella was still too sick to do that. So lately, I have been having a hard time with Bella with me leaving. She is fine if it is during the day but at night she freaks. So yesterday, I decided to make the move.

I put her in her room and told her that she could look at books but had to stay in bed. Needless to say this was rough. She cried and cried. I kept going in and reassuring her. There was a point when I was ready to break but I finally decide: ok I gave her no warning so I am going to sit in the hall. Once I did this she feel right asleep.

Today, I bought her something special to sleep with. You would think Mary her cow was enough but I figured this would help. We also made a chart. After a week of doing it she gets to pick something special. So I read her two books and went in the hallway. At first she cried and I said she could read books. I had to do something so I had Bill sit in the hall. When I went back up, she was laying there. After another 5 minutes, she was out. It still took an hour but she did it. I know I will have to work to not have to sit in the hall but this is a huge step! Yeah Bella! Yeah Mommy!

Flash back

Sean driving Bella in the car!

Face painting

Reilly and Bella having slurpies and popcorn!

Remember a world where the kids ran up and down the street or rode their bikes. SO yesterday, we went to a block party at our friends house. They live in the city, we live in the burbs. Now so many people move to the burbs because to feel safe. Our friends live in a nice area in the city that may surpass the burbs.

Now back when we were growing up, every year our block had a block party. It was more like a backyard party because all our yards were attached with no fences. The kids played, the adults, talked and we ate. Then we either had a water balloon fight or played in the sprinkler. I loved going up in the neighborhood I did. I think those people helped as much as my parents to raise me to who I am today! So thanks!

Yesterday brought me back. The kids rode bikes, jumped in a bounce house, and had their faces painted. The adults ate and drank. No one worried about what might happen. I wish my town allowed them. So thank you to our friends The Johnsons for taking us back and reminding us what summer is about.

Can't I just get a shower!!

Remembering the days when Bella was little and I had to take the bouncy seat or excersaucer in the bathroom to get a shower in. Or when she was a toddler and I had to shower when she napped. Now that she is four, I should be able to show in peace. I mean come on 5 minutes. Just enough time to wash my hair and body and every other day shave my legs. Here is how this morning went-

"Bella, I am going to take a shower ok."
"Ok Mom"

Not even a minute later, the door opens!
" Mommy, Daddy is on the phone"
Wait
" How do you know?"
" Cause I answered it"
Thinking how?
" Go tell Daddy, I will call him back"
Thank god it was 7:45 in the morning because no one else would call that early.

So as I am washing the soap out of my hair.

" Mommy, where is the jelly"
" In the door"
Second pause
" Bella"
" WHat"
" Come here"
" What?"
"Why do you need the jelly"
" I am making breakfast"
" What are you making?"
" Toast with Jelly and eggs"
"Is everything out?"
by now I am washing in fast motion, hoping by talking to her, my kitchen is not on fire.
I jump out and throw a towel on and go downstairs.

Here is what it looks like:

Toast in toaster but she does not realize that it has to be turned on. Good! No burns or fire.
Eggs( I make a ton of hard boiled because Bella is on a hard boiled kick)
However- like me she does not eat the york so the york is on the table.
She now has the jelly and knife.

So in my towel, I help her get everything made.

Now my thoughts-
1. Independance great
2. Possible danger in kitchen- not good

My bigger thought-

Why is it that my husband can go with a paper in the bathroom, do his business and shave and shower for 20 plus minutes and no one bothers him. I want a five minute shower and my house may go down. Tis the life of a mom!