Dork of the Year

The first day of school for Centerville is today! The Summer flew by but the girls are anxious to get to school and I'm anxious to get back onto a routine. It's difficult to get workouts in with the girls home so I'm squeezing into my clothes, the house is also in disarray, and paperwork is piled up to my eyebrows on the computer desk. The mornings before school want to be chaotic so I was a bit nervous about this morning. But somehow we made it outside in plenty of time without any frazzled nerves. I was feeling mighty proud. Solana happily skipped onto her bus and I waited with Chloe for her bus to arrive.

But a strange thing happened. Her bus drove by in the wrong direction and on the other side of the street. It usually stops at our driveway. Then, even stranger, it kept on driving right past us. It was a bit chilly out this morning and Chloe got cold after we had been outside for fifteen minutes so I was holding her. I waved frantically while precariously holding my almost 4 year-old with one arm. The bus stopped a few houses down and I started walking toward it with Chloe in my arms. The Aid popped out and speed-walks over to us, "There's no Pre-School. It doesn't start until the 21st. The bus driver is calling to check but that's what we read on our bulletin board today."

Super Duh. I felt so stupid. "Are you kidding me? I don't know how I missed that! Thanks for stopping and telling me!"

Actually, I know exactly how I missed that. I didn't pay close enough attention to the letter from school that came a couple of weeks ago. I was so preoccupied worrying that Chloe got into the correct school this year that I completely overlooked the line stating the first day of school for Pre-School! It's a whole week later! Poor Chloe was all ready to go to school but she's sitting next to me now happily playing in her doll house so I think she'll be ok. We'll probably stop by the school today so she can visit her classroom.

I'm sure I have bills to pick up, anyway. I'm the PTO Treasurer this year - part of the reason I have a huge pile of paperwork waiting for me at home. But I'll talk about that in another post. It's a story.

Chloe's First Movie

We had a lazy Sunday last weekend. This is something we rarely enjoy. Dave ALWAYS has lots of yard work to do in the Summer so we don't usually have a whole day to do whatever we want. We took full advantage of our day decided to head to the Greene for lunch. Brio has a deck that faces the in-ground fountain that all the kids play in. The girls wore their swimsuits and played in the fountains as we waited for our food at Brio. After lunch we walked over to the movie theater to see Despicable Me 2. As we munched on popcorn before the movie Dave pointed out to me that this is Chloe's first movie. I can't believe I hadn't realized that!

She was a little squirmy and only spent about a third of the movie in her seat. The other third was on either Dave or my lap. Fortunately, the theater was fairly empty so her squirming didn't bother too many people. I think she enjoyed her first movie experience. We may wait a while before attempting another, though...

That's what Chloe said- June

The scene: Toward the end of a two hour drive returning from camping.
Chloe: Daddy, can I hold the van?

Me: What do you mean, Chloe? Can you show me how you hold the van?

She demonstrates by holding her arms out.

Dave: oh, you mean "drive the van." Tell you what. You can drive the van in 13 years.
Dave and I chuckle at his joke but Chloe heard what she wanted to hear.

Chloe: Solana! Daddy said I can drive to go shopping!

Chloe takes great offense when Solana or I sing. We were singing Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
Chloe: Mommy - don't sing! That's not how you make me happy. That's how you make me mean and grumpy!

That's what Solana said – June

Solana and I just returned from a quick jog with the dogs. I asked Dave to feed the dogs as I headed to the shower. "I'll feed them," Solana quickly offered." I continued to the shower. Dave came in a minute later laughing because Solana said s moment later, "I regret that coming out of my mouth."

That's What Chloe Said - May

Chloe has developed a new accent and we have no idea where it came from. She's dropped the Russian accent more or less and now has a...Southern(?) accent.

The shortened version of "yes" is no longer "yeah." It's "YAYuh"

Dad is now "DAHYud"

It's so weird. We have no idea where this came from. 

Chloe's First Haircut!

Purple

This is Purple

Things to keep in mind when talking about Purple.

1. Purple is a proper name and must be capitalized.
2. Purple is to be treated with respect. Do not toss her on the floor or step on her. (Which brings me to point 3.)
3. Purple is female and female pronouns should be used when referring to her.
4. And don't ever ever call her Blankie, Purple Blankie, or (heaven forbid) Your Blanket. I mean, seriously, how would you like it if someone called you by some other name? 

Purple first made her appearance in our lives during one of our pre-baby shopping extravaganzas at Babies R Us. We lived pretty close to one in Colorado and became quite familiar with its aisles during the 3 years we lived there. Purple came home and sat neatly folded in Solana's future crib waiting for her. Little did we know how important Purple would become. Stuffed animals have come and gone. There were the tiny square blankies with little Pooh and Tigger dolls sticking out the middle and rubber teethers on the corner. There was Puppy. And most recently, a rainbow night light. These were all night-time must-haves at one point or another. But Purple has stayed the course and is a true friend. For a long time Solana wouldn't drink her milk without "walking her fingers" along purple's edge. I wonder how many washings she'll withstand. Maybe she'll be a tiny shred of fabric that Solana carries off to college. I know I still have my Ted sitting up in the top of my closet. I guess time will tell. She looks pretty good for her age. 8 years down and a few to go... For now I thought it wise to snap a picture of her while she still resembles her original self.