1st day of school...

I can't believe another year has gone by already and it's that much closer to my babies being in school forever! Finley and Brody started their 2nd year of Preschool II at First United Methodist Church. Their teacher and the director of the program, Mrs. Jacobsen, and myself decided that this year it would be best if they were in separate classes. They did not agree of course so we were scared of how this might go, but as usual, they just went with the flow and it was no big deal. We had talks about it beforehand so they were prepared. So Finley has Mrs Serr and Mrs Henderson and it's a larger class. Brody has Mrs Basten. All of whom we all know and love so it's going to be a great year, I just know it! They were happy to report after the first day that they were okay being apart, "b/c we still go to be together at lunch and took our nap together!" Duh mom, what were you thinking? :)

Quinn started her 1st year in the pre-primary room. This is her last classroom before she heads down to preschool this time next year. She hasn't been so happy with her school experience...it's made us wonder, is it the school? The teacher? Or is it just Quinn's general lack of liking anyone who tells her what to do? Clearly she calls the shots at home, so I don't know who they think they are trying to give her a routine at school! It's her world, we all just live in it! She has Mrs. Lesley and they are butting heads at the moment but I'm sure they will work it out. When I asked her at the end of the day if she liked school, she said, "No, Lennon hit me, he mean to me." So I asked her if she wanted me to have a conversation with his mom, or she could call her, she replied yes. We called Aunt Ni Ni and did report Len's behavior, I'm sure she was completely innocent (sarcasm implied). We'll see how next week goes...could be a long year!

Quinn Campbell - Ring Leader

This one is a firecracker! She starts off the day with a bang and never slows down until it's time for bed! She doesn't walk anywhere. Everything she does is done with passion. She laughs and smiles a lot but she can also give a dirty look like no other. Recently we got a note home from her teacher, the first note regarding her behavior we've ever received mind you....it said something like this: "Quinn opted out of craft time today, she preferred to stand in the corner and give me the "stink eye...." I couldn't disagree with Mrs. Lesley b/c I could totally see her doing it. She's not a bad girl, she's just very opinionated and a normal toddler so far. She gets so mad when you tell her no or that she can't do something. She is downright mean to her siblings at times. But she'll admit to the hitting or biting later, she's honest. She LOVES food. Really any type of food. She takes the biggest bites you'll ever see. She loves pizza, breakfast, fruit, milk, water, broccoli, pasta...there isn't much she won't eat. She loves dip of any type. She loves oreo cookies. She can have a full conversation and talks a lot these days. She has a lot of questions also. She loves babies, real of baby doll. Loves the play kitchen. Loves to read books and count. Loves dogs of any type. Loves one on one time, that might be her favorite thing. She has the most crooked smile, we joke that she's going to need a lot of orthodontia work, and she is. It's part of her charm for now though. She loves the lake house also. Loves her daddy, and more than that, loves Elmo's daddy. We have one DVD called Elmo's Potty Time. She for some reason calls it "Elmo's Daddy," it does have Elmo's Daddy in it. She loves Elmo's Dad's big eyes and eyebrows she says. You've gone potty on the potty a couple of times but no consistent interest yet. I think the last time was just b/c Lennon did it and got candy and you were bound and determined to push something out to get candy also. I joke and say she is filled with vinegar, but mostly sweet...

Brody Andrew - Still our Quiz Master

Brody is such an interesting character. He asks 1000 questions a day, but he also retains whatever you tell him. He remembers everything, and even the stuff you'd rather him forget. He is a wealth of knowledge on anything animal related. He loves fish, wildlife, really any type of animal. Loves shark week on Discovery Channel. Loves going to Aquariums. Not a huge fan of sharing anything, takes his possessions very seriously. Takes everything pretty seriously really. Wants to get dressed the minute his feet hit the floor in the am, and he has to pick it out. Still loves Batman and recently wished into a wishing well that he could actually go to the "real" Batcave. LOVES the lake, riding on the boat, fishing, swimming, everything about the lake house. Loves pretty much all food, biscuits and gravy are his running favorite right now. Drinks a lot of milk and water. Loves breakfast and pasta. Hates tacos, really doesn't care for mexican but likes the white cheese to dip chips in. He loves when you make up silly names for him. Loves playing games. Is into Transformers at the moment, we'll see how long this phase lasts. Loves putting coins into his piggy bank. He is a generally thoughtful and sweet boy when he's not whining and guarding his possessions. He's the first one to think about others and compliment his mother on everything from her wardrobe to her jewelry. He's very sensitive :)

Finley Paige - 4 going on 15

Finley is still her same sweet self, but we've seen a lot of signs of early teenager moments lately. She thinks she's a lot older than 4 for sure. Aside from that, she's her usual funny self, she says at least two things a day that make us say either how smart she is, or how funny she is. Mostly she's very nice to her brother and sister and would give them anything. She still loves Darla most. She carries around a backpack constantly that is stuffed full of little things that don't really matter much but she just likes to collect. She recently has latched on to a tiny chicken finger puppet that she named "Chicken Dicken." The other day she said to her brother, "Hey Brode, remember when we were in mommy's belly, back when Daddy still had hair?" I laughed out loud and of course couldn't wait to tell Daddy. She is also a great story teller and has the most vivid imagination. She told Andy and I a story the other day that was something about a coyote eating her baby Darla right out of her belly! Who knows where she gets these things. She threw some coins in the wishing well this past weekend and 1st wished for a house, specifically one w/o spiders in it, and secondly she wanted a real, live unicorn. She's a fairly decent eater lately, still doesn't love milk but since I haven't given up on making her drink it, she's coming around. She loves fruit. Loves snacks of course. Loves going to the movies and eating popcorn. Loves horses and talks about them a lot. Loves bossing her siblings around. She loves teaching Quinn new things and loves to read to her, mostly the stories are made up though :). She still could care less what she wears, which is a beautiful thing for mom and dad. She will literally put anything you lay out on. Couldn't care less! We can't say the same for her brother so she makes our life easy in that regard. She doesn't really care about the little stuff. For the most part, she's as easy going as they come, just don't let her get to her tired point...then everyone's in trouble!

Downtown St. Louis "Staycation - Day #1

With saving money for a house in mind, we set off for a downtown StL "staycation." We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and headed out to lunch. After lunch we headed to the City Museum. It was so much fun there, almost too much to do, don't think we could have done it all in one day. I'm not sure if their favorite was the aquarium or the slides. Quinn was not a fan of the large blue macaw parrot, whenever it made it's super loud noise, she needed her daddy to hold her! Then we headed back to our hotel where the kids got to throw pennies in the wishing well in the lobby, who'd have thought that would be such a hit! Some of the wishes I heard were: our own house (specifically w/o spiders), to go to the "real" batcave and a real unicorn. We then put on our swimsuits and headed to the citygarden. What an amazing place. The kids had so much fun getting in and out of the fountains, swimming everywhere, and splashing all around in the bubblers. We stopped to have pizza and ice cream for dinner during our walk home and then we met "Chocolate"...he's a horse that pulls a carriage and we decided it was too nice of a night not ride on Chocolate and tour the city. So we went up to the room and showered the kids, put on their pj's, and headed back out to ride Chocolate. It was a beautiful night and a great 1st day of our "staycation." St. Louis has lots to offer right downtown that we never take advantage of. Tomorrow's agenda: Brody must try the hotel's biscuits and gravy that they offer for the free breakfast, believe it or not, it might be one of his highlights! Then maybe a quick tour of the arch, the zoo, lunch and then home. Mommy and Daddy are already exhausted!