Just Eat Something

My poor Sissy has been complaining that her mouth hurts for the past couple days.

A visit to the doctor's office confirmed that she had strep throat.

Suffice it to say that this little monkey has not had an appetite.

When your baby is sick and won't eat, you are just happy for them to get anything into their bellies.

So for dinner tonight, Sophia had ice cream...

Finally, after a few days, it put something in her tummy and a smile on her face.

The Bachelorette

Because this is a family blog, I will keep the contents of this post clean.
That mostly means deleting any pictures of Tami and Leroy.

Christi, my cousin and Tami's sister, really went all out to ensure that Tami felt special.
Like always, she remembered every little detail and made all of us feel special...

Tami was ready to go from the start and was a good sport about everything.
This girl cracked me up from Thursday night to Saturday night...

Tami and Leroy (the clean version)...

My mom did a little bartending for our pre-party.
She mixed up a special Pomegranate Martini recipe that was DELICIOUS...

We all drank a little, relaxed some...

and laughed a ton...

We snacked on some food hoping it would help absorb some party drinks later on...

Then we got dressed up for a night at Tao in our classiest Vegas best...

Although my mom was going to hang out with the slots that night, we are so happy she stayed with us through the pre-party...

The next few hours were spent dancing and just celebrating my wonderful cousin.
I feel so happy and fortunate that I got to spend these past few days with her creating memories that will likely not be forgotten.
And in five weeks I get to see her walk down the aisle to marry an equally incredible man.
I will be so proud!

Vegas Sights

There was so much to see and do while in Vegas.
I was only there for two and a half days and I tried to cram in as much as possible.
We did the tourist thing and wandered through the casinos, shopped and ate.
I really enjoyed my short visit with my mom, cousins and friends.
Unfortunately I don't have a lot of pictures to show for it.
Carrying around a bulky camera in 108 degree heat was not my idea of fun, so I didn't do it often.

I did carry it for a few hours one day and this is really all I have to show for it.

The Excalibur Hotel, which I thought the girls would love because it looks like a castle...

Our hotel, the MGM Grand...

Tami holding on for dear life...

Yummy cakes at Jean Phillippe...

The Paris Hotel (where my search for the requested gifts were found)...

I suppose there's always next time.

Unrealistic Expectations

In just a few hours, I would be boarding a plane by myself for the first time in 5+ years.

I will be traveling to celebrate my cousin Tami's single status one last time.

Where was I going?

Vegas Baby!

Before leaving for the weekend, I had to break the news to the girls.

They both seemed to take it well at first.

Lily even made me a picture to put next to my bed so that "I wouldn't forget my family."

As the time got closer, there were a few tears.

Mostly from Lily.

I didn't want meltdown city before my trip, so I told them that I had to go so that I could find them something special to bring back.

Lily perked up at this tiny bit of bribery.

Her request went like this:

"I want a doll with red hair, but I don't want her hair to be in a braid like Jessie's.  I just want her to have red hair."

A doll with red hair seemed simple enough.

Sophia's request was just a little different and, maybe I was wrong, but a little more difficult:

"I want a dolly, too.  No, never mind.  I want a pig...and when you press it's tummy, it goes 'Quack Quack'"

Uh, ok.

If I was going to be lucky enough to find a pig that quacks, I better play every high dollar slot in Vegas because I would be one lucky girl.

Once I arrived in Vegas, I set aside thoughts of searching for a red-headed doll and the true Holy Grail (a quacking pig).

Instead, I did what I thought was most important...

I set her picture by my bed.

Week One Recap

All in all, week one of school went very well.
Lily survived her first week without a daily nap.
She started to break a little after a minor fall on while picking her up on Thursday.
When she got up from skinning her knees, I asked her if she was hurt or embarrassed?
She looked at me with her teary eyes and said, "I just want to close my eyes for a few minutes."

Sophia woke up each morning excited for school.
She got wonderful reports each day from both teachers.

On the way home from school today, I asked the girls what their favorite part of the week was.
Sophia's response was
"taking naps."

Lily didn't hesitate for a single moment and told me her favorite part was
"Seeing Sophia every day at lunch."

Even in all of her tiredness, Lily still has a tremendous soft spot for her little sister.

The Afternoon Pickup

2:45 p.m. could not get here fast enough.
After my crying fit this morning, I had collected myself together.
Now I sat watching the clock.
I was eager to hear how the first day of school went.

To my utter joy, when the room doors opened up, I still had two very happy, smiling girls.

Lily and Sophia found each other quickly...

The girls appeared to be tired.
I don't blame them.
Seven hours is a long time.
However, they were not too tired to chat between themselves about how their days went...

Lily excitedly informed me that she saw Sophia during lunch.
She also told me about the rest of her day.
They read a book called "The Kissing Hand."
They drew a picture of their own hand and she drew the people that made her feel safe and happy.
(When I got a chance to look at the picture at home, I noticed she had drawn me, Joe, Sophia, Sasha and herself).
They did not do any centers today.
They watched Veggie Tales during rest time and played on the playground twice.

Sophia filled me in on her day as well.
"We took a nap.
We played outside two times.
We ate lunch.
We read a book."

Sitting in the car as the two girls told me about their first day was by far the best part of my day.

Where Does the Time Go?

As cliche as it may sound, this morning I am honestly trying to figure out where all the time goes.
I feel like my babies just got out of diapers.
I feel like I should still be carrying them in my arms.
Instead I find myself setting out their clothes for their first day of school...

Today Lily starts kindergarten...

My little Sissy starts preschool...

The two of them are more than ready for their school days to start.
None more so than Sophia...

The girls seemed so big as they carried their backpacks and lunch boxes towards their rooms...

Lily was a little unsure about going to school last night.
I told her that she would have so much fun and learn so much in Kindergarten.
I didn't want her to scare her sister by getting upset, so I told her that she would have to look out for Sophia because this is all so new to her.
She seemed better by bedtime, but I still wanted to take Sophia to her class first in case I had to console Lily later on.

Sophia found her cubby and put her bags away...

She then stopped long enough to take a couple of pictures.
Sophia and Mrs. Hiatt...

Sophia and Ms. Jan...

And although I was dressed in my finest gym attire, I wasn't expecting a picture, but Ms. Jan insisted upon it.
I'm glad she did...

Although I wanted to stay all day, Sophia seemed perfectly happy immersed in her new surroundings.
I knew now was the best time for Lily and I to make our exit.
I gave Sophia a hug and kiss and my voice broke a little while telling her to "Have a great day."
Lily wanted some time with her sister as well.
She gave her a hug...

Then she looked Sophia in the eyes and said,
"If you need anything, I am right down the hall.  You can come get me anytime you need me."
She then brushed Sophia's hair aside and did this...

She truly took in everything we discussed the night before.

I knew with Lily around, Sophia would be ok.

Lily quickly disappeared to her class and I had one more moment to turn around to look at Sophia.

She seemed to be lost in thought for a second like she was unsure about being there.

In the time I thought about going to her and hugging her one more time, she pulled herself together and immersed herself in her surroundings.

Any doubt she had was quickly replaced by excitement.

By the time I caught up to Lily, Ms. Backie was showing her where to hang her belongings...

She found her seat...

Took some instruction from her teacher...

Then spotted her pal, Lyla...

Just like that, both of my babies were situated in their classrooms.

There were no tears shed by them, only big smiles as I walked away.

There was still 15 minutes before school was to start and for a moment I just stood there.

I felt lost.

I walked past Sophia's room hoping the door was open so I could go back in and spend just a few more minutes with her.

The door was already closed.

So I peeked through the window.

I didn't see her at first.

I panicked a little.

Then I spotted her among the toys and the other little people who I am sure would be her eventual friends.

I watched her a few moments more and then walked down the quiet hall towards my car.

As is tradition for kindergarten parents, the have a little breakfast once the kids have been dropped off... 

I didn't want to be antisocial, but I needed to be alone.

Instead of walking to the library, I walked to my car, put on my sunglasses and cried.

I know I should feel happy that my girls are so well adjusted that they could easily walk into their new surroundings.

Trust me, I am.

I just felt a little lost and wondered "what do I do now?"

The past five and a half years of my life have been spent caring for at least one child 24 hours a day every day.

Now both of them were in others very capable hands.

They still need me.

They always will.

But I also realized today that it's not just them who need me, it is me who needs them.