Fun at the Fair!

On a day like today, we remembered a lot of things and one of them is that you should never take any day for granted. So we ceased the day and went out as a family and went to the fair. We go to the Sandwich Fair every year and it is so much fun! They have so much there. For one, they have tractors that you can sit on.

They have animals that you can pet like these cute baby ducks. We had fun watching all the baby chicks.
They have buildings of cows, sheep, pigs, goats, and.....poultry! We had fun in ther and it was noisy too. Evie and Presley were very impressed. Then Gracie wanted to sit on the big tire. Then it was time for rides. All my kiddies drove the pretty purple car. Well, the girls did. Presley just sat there, enjoying the ride. Then eveyrone rode the merry-go-round. Then Gracie wanted to watch this bear show. I'm pretty sure that if you remember the old Showbiz Pizza (what Chuck. E. Cheese was before it was named that). These are the characters from their little show there. Billy Bob is the big bear. The big gorilla was there too. I don't remember his name. And the girl bear. She was dressed as a cheerleader or something like that back in the day but now she is hawaiian. Brought back soem memories. Then my big girl Gracie wanted to try her very first roller coaster ride! I went with her. For a little dragon roller coaster, it goes pretty fast.
We had a lot of fun! After some rides, it was time to eat lunch. Evie had fun eating Auntie Amy's hot dog. That girl always wants to eat what Auntie has. Presley was happy with his chicken nuggets and potato chips. And lucky for Grace, they had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! We went on a train ride after that. We all squeezed into the same car. Then we went and saw more animals. We saw a horse. And then someone decided that she needed a pony ride! Presley watched but he would not go on one. It was a great day and I am glad we went. It was shortly after this that everyone fell asleep and we headed home. It's days like these that I love. Spending time with the people you love most and that was very important especially on today 9/11.

Bub's Big Boy Bed!

Yesterday was a big day in the Weiss household. Presley had successfully slept in Gracie big girl bed for the past 3 nights, a decision he totally made on his own. So we decided to take the front of his crib and give him his own big boy bed! Everyone wanted to help.

Presley had all the tools ready. He was a natural with them too.
Soon the front was off. Guess who immediately jumped up on his new bed. With the screwdriver. This made somebody very happy. But it didn't take long for the girl to notice. And then everyone was having a good time on the "new" bed. But then when it came time to actually try it out.....the girls were the ones who were ready. Presley wasn't ready yet to lie down. I think he just wasn't ready for bed yet. He wasn't about to go to sleep now. The fun was just beginning. Afterall, it is more fun to climb over the rail. Miss Evie had the most fun of all but she is not ready for this yet. I am not ready either. Soon I was second-guessing this decision. But Evie said he was and that she was proud of her twin bro. But soon, my bubby boy was fast asleep in his new big boy bed. You know it seem like yesterday he was sleeping in a crib with Evie and then eventually by himself in his crib. Now he doesn't need a crib. My baby is big boy. And while I am proud of him, it still makes me sad because like I have said before...you never know which day will be the last of things. So now holding him and laying him down to sleep is going to become yet another memory.

But here is everyone having a little bit of fun.

Gracie's First Day of 4 Year-Old Preschool!

Today was Gracie's first day of preschool! Again! This year she is in 4 year old preschool. She is still going to the same place and is in the same classroom except now she goes 3 days a week! She woke up this morning, smiled, and said "Today is my first day of school! I wonder what I will make today? What is Josselin bringing for snack?"

Evie and Presley were so excited for her even though Bub didn't want to pose for a picture with his big sis.

Gracie even decorated her own bookbag. She wrote her name and even wrote the whoe alphabet on the back. What a big girl! I am so proud of my baby girl and I know she will do great! Daddy is proud too! We drove to school and Gracie waited in the car for her teacher to come and get her. Miss Colleen was there to come and get her from the car. She was nice enough to pose for one quick pic in the drop-off line. She seems really nice and I know Gracie will love her. She already does! We told her "bye", said "I love you" and she smiled and headed in. There she goes! And as soon as Gracie got out of the car, Presley started crying and pointing to the school. Aww, he missed his big sis. We'll see if he gets this emotinoal when it's his turn. So we got home and had some more cereal to ease the pain. It helped. Soon it was time to go and get Gracie. We came in her classroom and she was all smiles! I knew she would be. She showed us where she gets to hang her bookbag. And then we said goodbye to her other teacher, Miss Jayne. And on the way out, she posed with her BFF Ava, who is her friend she saw all summer in dance, soccer, and cooking class! I'm glad they are in the same class again. Turns out, they are actually taking tap dance together starting next week! I'm so proud of my Gracie Girl! I knew she would be excited to go back to school. I didn't really get sad like I did last year but next year when she started Kindergarten.....that will be a different story.

Great Job Gracie! Mommy and Daddy know you will have a great year! You will learn a lot and make new friends. We are so proud of you!

Preschool Orientation!

Gracie had preschool orientation yesterday and she was excited!

We got to go with her too so we all could meet her new teachers, Miss Coleen and Miss Jane. They seem very nice and we have heard such wonderful things about them. They already got to know Gracie a bit while we got to have a parents meeting.
It was pretty much the same thing as lasy year as this is her second year in preschool. This year she gets to go Monday, Wednesday, Friday, because that's what 4 year olds do. They will still focus on a letter and a theme a week. We already got the snack schedule for the month of September but because Gracie doesn't have a birthday and her last name starts with a "W", we probably won't have a turn until October. They are going to teach the 18 kids who are in her class big and little letters which Gracie has come a long way this summer writing them. They are going to do lots of motor activites, arts and crafts, circle time, and sharing time. When it's their turn to bring in snack, they also get to bring something for show-and-share. We did this last year too but it prepares the kids for public speaking. I have already volunteered to help at a party, they will let me know which party. Last year I got to help at the Halloween party. So it will be that again, or the Valentine party or the end of the year party. They don't have Christmas parties because they have a holiday program and potluck lunch. The one thing I am excited for this year is that they will have parent sign-up volunteer for help in the classroom. Um, hello? Sign me up! I got sick days right? That is so up my alley and I would and am so excited to help out in her room! Talk about having the tables turned now. I like this side of it! So that's about it. We have been really happy with the Plainfield Park District Great Adventures preschool program. They provide a bag that Gracie can decorate and we don't have to get any school supplies, it's included in the price. Of course I would be willing to donate if they needed anything though. She has lots of familiar faces in her class from last year too: Ava, Kendal, Bella, Henry, Michael, and Grace Ann. That will help too. I am jsut so proud of her and teared up a little just thinking about this being her last year of preschool. This time next year, she will be a big girl in Kindergarten! But for now we'll just focus on this year. Gracie's first day is Wednesday and I intend to drop her off and pick her up for the first day. I will only her to see that face once on her first day of preschool and I wouldn't miss it for anything!