Preschool

I have been meaning to post about preschool for a month now, but I didn't have a picture to post with it. I finally took one today, so here we go.

Last month we started doing preschool with some other moms in our ward. Both Grace and Sabrina get to participate, which makes the whole experience even better. I really want them to be able to spend as much time together this year as possible since next year Grace will be in school all day. I teach every 3rd week, and today was my day. We talked about the letter D and made dog paper sack puppets and had puppy chow for snack. The girls love it and are both learning lots.

Rebecca, Grace, Sabrina, and Owen

I'm not sure how it will work out after the baby comes, but it's a small group so hopefully it will be manageable.

Speaking of the baby...TWO months from today and we will officially be a family of 6. We have SO much going on in October, if November is even half as busy I will blink and she will be here. We are still debating names although the kids have a clear favorite. Everyone is so excited for her arrival!

I also wanted to share a cute Grace story. The girls and I (and yes they really do help me a lot so I must include them) watch our little neighbor, Noah, sometimes when his mom is at work. Today he was at our house and right as he was waking up from his afternoon nap, Sabrina spilled puppy chow all over the kitchen floor. While I cleaned up I sent Grace in to tell Noah that I would be right there so he wouldn't cry. He stopped crying pretty quickly so I cleaned everything up and when I got to Benson's room this is what I found:

Grace and Sabrina are such good helpers for me lately, especially when Noah is here. I know that they will be great helpers once the baby comes as well. I seriously can't believe what a different experience it is to be anticipating the birth of a baby with older children who actually understand what is going on and can be such good helpers. I feel very blessed to be the mother of such sweet children.

Silly Pills

Since Benson has started school, it's just me and the girls all day long and they are really getting to be the best of friends. In fact at the park today, Sabrina was telling another mom there that her name is Sabrina and her friend's name is Grace. Not her sister, but her friend...it was so cute it brought tears to my eyes.On a few occasions lately they have both gotten into really silly moods and honestly it kind of drives me nuts. Today was one of those days. ALL DAY LONG. They were giggly and poking at each other and playing and dancing and it didn't stop all day. They were outside playing on the swingset while I was making dinner and I looked out the window and caught them going down the slide on top of each other. One of them would lay down (head FIRST) on either their tummy or back and then the other one would climb on top and they would go down the slide that way. They are lucky they didn't crack their heads open. That's mostly why it drives me crazy when they get like this because someone usually gets hurt because they don't know when to stop. So I recorded some of their silly antics before bed tonight. Seriously it was like this or worse all day long.

Apple Days

On Saturday, Benson, Grace, and I went with some of our neighbors to Apple Days at Ft. Riley.  They have lots of free activities for the kids and supposedly some really yummy apple pies.  We got there towards the very end so unfortunately we missed the apple pies and things were kind of winding down but we still had fun.  We went with our neighbors that have the 3 older girls who all of our kids ADORE.  Sabrina was sad she had to stay home and take a nap, but it was much easier on me that way since she isn't the most willing walker sometimes and it is getting really difficult for me to carry her.  Next year we will make sure we get there early enough to get a pie!

1 - Grace petting a bunny, 2 - Grace and Ashlyn sliding down the obstacle course slide, 3 - Ben sliding down the slide, he finished the obstacle course faster than the little boy who he was racing which he was very happy about - I think school is helping him to value winning more, not something I really like, 4 - Benson in a Kiowa helicopter, which is what our next door neighbor flies, 5 - Benson in a Kiowa again, 6 - Benson in front of a tank

Ballet begins

It took me a while but I did manage to locate a ballet class in Manhattan for Grace and Sabrina that is during the day instead of after school.  Today was the first class and there are enough little kids in it that I'm surprised there is only one offered, but I guess that's living in a small town for you.

The girls were so excited, they asked me every 5 minutes after Benson left for school if it was time to go to ballet yet.  They were both eager and willing participators in the class.  I thought Sabrina might be a little shy, but she did not hesitate for a minute.  I think it helped that she knew not only Grace but her little neighbor friend Reagan.  I don't know how much either of them will learn, but it gives them something to do and they sure do look cute in their little ballet outfits.

Quick Labor Day Weekend Recap

The week is getting away from me but I have so many great pictures to post from last weekend. I will have to come back and fill in more details later, but here's the quick rundown:

4 day trip - 34.5 hours in the car, 1 trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science, 1 trip to the beach, 1 great BYU football game, many hours spent with our extended family, attending our cousin Baby Sam's blessing

It was a busy, fun, exciting weekend and I'm so grateful we were able to make the trip because I'm pretty sure it will be a while before we are able to travel that great of a distance again.