January & February 2012. . .is it really September?

I am hoping to get back into a more regular habit with this blog. . we'll see--I've wished that before!  Maybe one day I'll work from the start of 2012 forward, another can be anything that comes up, and the third can be working backwards--then I can catch it up!  (I could do Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays like Jimmy Buffett AND have at least one margarita per entry!) It sounds like a plan and it would be great to reach a point that I schedule writing in to our lives, but how many Mommies (Mums) actually pencil in things that fall under the category of "me time"?  But I really enjoy writing this blog and will keep poking away at it!!  And who knows, maybe a pattern will emerge and it can be my own little free therapy (the cost of margaritas aside)!!

So January and February 2012. . .

Hanging out in Grammy & Pa's room. . .obviously still in the States here!

Our niece, Annie--my brother, Mike's youngest.

The Butler cousins!

LOVE this picture of Charlotte and cousin Brynn (Mike & Beth's oldest)

It was time for Charlotte's first haircut. . .

I had to snap a picture of Charlotte's baby curls in case the first haircut knocked them out!  So far the curls are still there and we have had three or four!

It's good that our little Tennessee girl got to rock the mullet once in her life!!

Hey. . I say whatever works!

On to Charlotte's 2nd Birthday!!

This pushchair ranks near the top of the "best presents we ever bought them list". . .it's up there with Legos, the play kitchen and the Matchbox cars!!

Daddy teaching Mags to ride without "stabilizers" (training wheels).

The pep talk!

Potty training this child will break me!

Hannah's first cross-country race. . .she finished 30th, but couldn't have been more proud!  Bless her!

Let it snow. let it snow, let it snow!

The view from our bedroom window.

The girls were so excited to wake up to a snowy weekend!

This is the first snowfall that she might remember!!

Good to know that our "snow apples" fall in the UK, too!

Our Minnie Mouse snowgirl. . . who progressively did the limbo lower and lower as the week went on!

Mid February, we headed to London to pick up Keith's parents for their first visit. . .they ended up having their flight cancelled because there was an engine fire in the plane they were supposed to take.  While we were waiting for them to arrive, we took the girls to the Aquarium.

Always gotta find Nemo and his menemone. . .anem. .e nemone. . .:)

No one could figure out if this crocodile (alligator?) was real or not. . .it was perfectly still in this position for the whole 10-15 minutes we were in this section. . the only thing that convinced us that it was probably real was that it finally shut its eyes. . . 

Maggie and Hannah with the "dum-dums"

Just got in to a pub by our hotel before kids weren't allowed anymore. . .sampled some steak & ale pie and cottage pie. . .delicious!

The next morning Keith headed to the airport to pick up Grandpa & Grandma. . .that post coming soon! ;)

First Day(s) of School 2012

Time to get back into the school year again and all the fun it brings: the never-ending school runs, rummaging through the stinky pile of lost and found clothes, forgotten instruments, weekly trips to First Aid, fighting and tears over breakfast. . . good stuff! :)

This year we aren't the "new guys" and it's such a great thing to feel more at home!  We are looking forward to another wonderful year at St. Peters Catholic School for the girls--and really for our entire family!    Keith is a Foundation Governor--he represents our church community on what is like a school board.  I am involved in the PTA and will spend time this year helping to revamp the school library and volunteering at the school.  Hannah is in Year 4 (3rd grade) and this term she will have swimming and violin to start with.  Maggie is in Year 2 (1st grade).  She is also swimming and will hopefully start piano lessons soon.  Both girls are participating in Shelby Stars--an after school performing arts club that they have such a good time at!!  (We will see what else they can convince Mommy to sign them up for!)  Even Charlotte is getting in on the St. Peter's action--she is attending St. Peter's Church Preschool on Wednesday and Friday mornings this year.

I do have to note one complaint, however:  the kids are provided with most all of the supplies they need by the school and I miss shopping for school supplies!!  Definitely not the money involved, but checking off the list of necessities during a trip to Target and those aisles filled with beautiful fresh supplies!!  (of course I'd give just about anything for a Target run right now!)

I'm not sure where the disdain came from. . .

Charlotte's first day of preschool was the next day, and she. was. ready!!  Her preschool is in our parish center, so the building is familiar--she plays there after Mass.  The director and the teachers are faces that she knows from church and school.  She marched in and sorted her things. . .we found her name and she put it up. . .and then she sat down and promptly forgot about Mommy being there!  A little sad for me, but I am so glad that she has the strength to be independent!  And since Keith's Mom is Polish, we think it's really cool that the kids call the director "Babcia" which is Polish for Grandma!!

I think Hannah gave her the pencil she is carrying when she was packing some of her own to take to school. . .she was still holding it when I left!!

So, so ready to roll!!

For anyone who knows "the look" that Keith likes to give me when he thinks I am being ridiculous or I am being a nuisance. . .apparently here is Charlotte's version!  :)

Official report--from Charlotte--on the first day of preschool is as follows: 

"played games"

the best thing? "played with babies. . .someone pushed the pushchair"

"singed 3 songs. . .outside and inside and inside"

"someone put toys in the  _______ for school"

"trains"

"snack"