Horseback Riding

Here are some pictures from the Moo's riding lesson today -- unfortunately I did something goofy to the camera so a lot of them did not come out (I apparently put it on the wrong speed somehow -- I am extremely technologically challenged which is why I generally have Dad take the pictures). Here she is leading Molly the horse out of the corral -- she refers to Molly has her horse!
The Moo did an amazing job today at her lessons! Last week when we went to her new 3 pm lesson, she lacked energy and was clearly tired. Her instructor suggested that we give her an "engery snack" (read: something with sugar in it) before her lesson to overcome the tiredness. It definitely worked today -- she did an amazing job and her posting was GREAT. She got a great workout and did a wonderul job helping to untack Molly and clean the bit, saddle, and reins.
These interior shots were taken in the school's observation room. They have an outside set up as well, but today was TOO COLD for Mom to hang out there, so I retreated inside. After her lessons and on our way to get the Bean, the downside of the "energy snack" (in this case some brownie bites and a granola bar) became all too apparent. We had a MAJOR meltdown right when we got to Beantree because the Moo wanted to go to Red Robin, and I told her it was too late. She told me that there would be no dinner for me, for the Bean, or for anyone until she got to go to Red Robin. So, I was forced to inform her that it's a good thing she does not get to make those decisions, as we would be one hungry family if that were the case!

The Bean was in great spirits and had a great today, as her old teacher Ms. Rosa was subbing for her new teacher, Ms. Jen. The Bean loves Ms. Jen, but she only recently started in her class and still has a huge place in her heart for Ms. Rosa, who was her teacher for most of last year. The Bean informed me that the best part of the day was making a sand cake for Evan, her best friend (Ms. Rosa has told us to watch out for Evan!!) although apparently when she offered it to Evan he less than politely declined . . . so she had to insist. She kind of cut the details out of the story at that point, but I get the sense that Evan came to his senses and I also get the sense that he might be wearing his "cake."

Dad worked very hard yesterday to get ready for a training class that he helped to lead today -- he picked up the girls and watched them until I got home, and then headed back to work until 2 am. Luckily he is home now and can get some sleep. I am exhausted and also sick, but there will be no sleep for me until I watch the season premiere of Lost and possibly my DVRed episode of "Celebrity Rehab." (I know, I know, don't hold it against me . . . in my defense it is actually quite compelling).

Bean-isms

The Bean likes to call a particular book ("Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook" by Barbara Park, which we read three Junie B. Jones books ago) her "hummanah" book. She opens it up, clears her throat, and says, "I will now read from my hummanah book [pause] hummanah, hummanah hummanah. Hummanah hummanah, hummanah hummanahhummanah, hummanah hummanah."

The Bean is also just completely crazy, but in a way that is completely impossible to translate into words. I will endeavor to tkae pictures in order to communicate her particular brand of insanity (the facial expressions are a key part of grasping it) of I can get her to keep her clothes on long enough for me to snap a picture!)

Moo-isms

The Moo has informed her sister that if she wants to go to LCDS as well, she needs to learn a bunch of allegiance. As in "A bunch of allegiance, to the flag, of the United States of America . . . "

She also wants to know why everyone keeps talking to her about the meantime, when in actuality that particular time is not mean at all.

And finally, she continues to refer to angels as "Jesus fairies."

Swimming Lessons

Well, today started out much as most days have started out lately, with me feeling completely behind. In truth, we got everywhere we needed to go by the time we needed to be there, but there were a lot of things that did not get done quite the way the should have (on the way to the Bean's swimming lessons, for example, I finally noticed that I forgot to put her coat on her . . . OK in spring weather, not so great when it is 30 degrees and she is about to have a wet head).

The Bean did GREAT at her swimming lessons. She has regressed slightly since switching over to inaccompanied lessons three weeks ago, after turning three, and has gotten back into the habit of trying to keep her head above water. This leads her to tread water more than swim. Today she did a much better job though, but of course I forgot to nring the camera to take pictures. I tend to feel much more guilty about doing those kinds of things to her as opposed to when it happens with the Moo, as I acutely feel that the Bean gets the shaft sometimes as the second child. It's just a fact of life that you can do the same things the same way with two that you could do with one, but it does not stop me from feeling badly when these things happen. At any rate, it did not seem to bother her!

The Moo did a great job swimming -- she works very hard in her class and is really coming along. She came from a class where she was the strongest swimmer into one where she is now the y0ungest and one of the weaker ones, but I think that in the end this is good for her. She is much more challenged in her new class and the improvement is really remarkable. I've included some pictures of the Potomac Swim School as well, where the girls have their lessons. The school does an excellent job, and with class sizes limited to only four per class both girls get enough time in the water.

So after all that we came home and got here in just in time for a prescheduled play date with the Moo's friend , who has been very close to her since the Moo and her friend were at Beantree together (sorry for the awkward sentence construction, but I am trying to avoid using any real names). The Moo, Bean, and Friend played while the mom's planned out the Moo's class' Valentines Partys --we are room reps together for the Pre-K class and this is the last party we are responsible for throwing thank goodness. I end up stressing way too much over the whole thing, so I do not think I will be doing the Room Rep thing again next year or ever, with the possible exception of the Bean's first year at LCDS (parity, parity, parity -- I strive for it, although I rarely feel like I attain it).

Dad just got home about a half hour ago after a very long day at work and is unwinding with leftover pizza (the girls made pizza during their playdate -- we had to use fresh mozarella and proscuitto as the Moo is crazy is about it, so it's not as bad as it might sound) and the State of the Union address. Dad is the conservative side of this mixed marriage -- at this point, in this presidency, I opted to blog instead. I will be working 12 hours days tomorrow and the next to try and make up the time I wanted to put in this weekend, so I may not end up posting again until Thursday, hopefully with pictures of the Moo at her riding lessons . . . assuming I can be trusted to bring the camera, which is a big IF!!

Crazy Girls

Ok I got some clothes on her -- here is a picture of my crazy little things!

Sunday Mornings

Today is my day to get up with the girls, so we are in the arts and crafts room at 6 am -- the Moo is making "eyeballs" and the Bean is making "pants." There is at least a rational explanation for the Moo -- her PreK class just got done studying Kandinsky, and they made their version of Kandinsky circles, which of course look like "eyeballs." I'm not sure why the Bean is making pants though. Far be it from me to interfere with her creative process!! Apparently they will be pink pants, because as she tells me "pink is my favorite color."



Dad is up sleeping off what is developing into a terrible cold right now -- he has had since before leaving on his business trip last week, but it has really worsened the last few days. I am supposed to go into work today as I have a project that requires a tremendous amount of work, but I'm not sure that I want to leave him with the kids when he is feeling this bad. I recently changed accounts at work, and I have a tremendous amount of expertise building to do before I feel comfortable and able to do a decent job. Unfortunately between my part time schedule, mentoring responsibilities, and all of the unexpected things that pop up during the course of the day when I am in the office, I am struggling to get to that point. Thus, I have been going in on the weekends lately, but hopefully not for too much longer, as I miss the girls and their Dad when I am there.



The girls and I have been dangerously overscheduled on my days off, so we are trying to cut back. We have limited them to two extra activities a week, which helps. Both the Moo and the Bean have swimming lessons on Monday, the Bean in the morning and the Moo afterschool -- they have been swimming for two years now at a local swim school, so we can go year round. The Bean just started to take classes on her own, and I am very grateful not to have to wear a swimming suit in public every week. The Moo is working very hard on perfecting her technique -- her class is pretty intense and she is the only four year old there.



The Bean is also taking ballet, and the classes are offered at Beantree which is nice, as she can take it during the week and it does not require any additional running around on our part. The Moo was in ballet but really was not enjoying it, so she is now taking riding lessons at a local stables (we are in horse country, after all). She is doing great so far and is learning to post, and I am hoping that she will stick with it.



Well, the pants and eyeball projects have morphed somehow into telescopes, and glue and tape are involved so it looks like I will have to go! I would post some pictures of our early morning craft time but the Bean is in her favorite state -- NAKED -- so no pictures, at least until she gets some clothes on!

My First Post

Against my husband's best wishes, I have given in and decided to try my hand at Blogging. My intention is to use this as way to keep family and friends up to date on things that we are doing, particularly the Moo and the Bean, since their lives are MUCH more interesting than Mom and Dad's! Today, the Bean has two birthday to attend, and so far we are one down and one to go (she is sleeping off the cake from the first right now, as the second does not start until 430 pm). Dad was unexpectedly called into work on an emergency issue today and the Moo opted to go with him rather than go to the Bean's party. Dad checked in a little while ago and announced that she is being "super good" which is a relief, although I have the feeling that she is slowing him down regardless.

At any rate, that is all for now! I'll endeavor to be a prolific poster, at least for Grandma and Grandpa's sake, but I can't make any promises!