Trying on our dance recital dress

Laina's dance recital dress came in today so the girls got to try them all on and then we got a brief sneak peek of what they've learned in their dance recital so far. It was so much fun. When we got home, she was VERY excited to put on a fashion show for daddy so I snapped a few pictures. At the real recital (in June) she won't be wearing footless tights but since that is what we have on hand for dance class that is what we tried the dress on with. Something about this get~up makes Laina look very grown up to me ~ *sigh*

Playdate with Max, Colby & Asa

On Sunday, Laina and I got together with Cassie, Max & Asa and Karla and Colby over at Cassie's house. This group has been trying to get together since last October and between snow storms, illness, and just plain bad luck we've had to cancel this get together so many times. But we finally did it on Sunday! It was so nice to see everyone. The kids are all growing up so much and this time they actually played together instead of just playing in the presence of one another. I think everyone had a wonderful time - kids and adults alike. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I actually got to talk to Karla & Cassie instead of just monitor the little ones. Generally our play dates last about 2 hours maximum but we were able to play together for five wonderful hours - I think we could have all gone longer if we had packed ourselves a picnic lunch! I hope it doesn't take that many months until we can get together again!

The crew eating scones, fruit & munchkins - YUM!

Building a puzzle - great group effort!

Laina and Max dancing ~ Max has the sweetest smile

Napping in Max's crib (ok, not really)

Fooling around in Max's crib is more like it!

Three little monkeys jumping on the bedand jumping...

and jumping!!!

If at first you don't succeed, try try again

Laina has been in swim lessons at our local YMCA on and off for a couple of years. The first class she took was called "Parent/Child" it that was really just a class for babies and toddlers to get them used to the water. It was mostly just playing games and singing songs. She and Joe did it together and she had a wonderful time. Last fall we moved her up to the next level class called Pike/Parent for 3 year olds who are not ready to be away from a parent in the pool. After that she will transition to Pike, Eel, etc. Well when she moved over to Pike/Parent and they started teaching skills with structure and less singing, she wasn't as much of a fan. She fought Joe a lot and didn't want to do any of the things that the teacher was instructing them to do. She was more interested in "hokey pokey" and "pop goes the weasel". They had a nice time together and she was being exposed to the water to get her more comfortable but she wasn't getting more comfortable with the idea of doing anything solo in the water. At the end of that session, I definitely felt like Laina was just much more comfortable on land -- put her in a dance studio and she was a happy girl -- put her in the water and not so much.

We took last session off. We needed a break from having a class every Saturday morning, it was freezing cold here and we thought Laina could do well with some time away from the pool. We signed her back up for Spring session and her first class was today. She is still in Pike/Parent with Joe and wow, what a difference a few months has made for Laina. She was like a little fish today. She did all the skills her teacher asked, she blew bubbles in the water, she practiced her scoops (swim strokes), she did her blast offs from the side of the pool, she did her kicking, she jumped in off the side of the pool into Joe's arms...you get the picture. Even her teacher Stephanie commented on what a changed girl our little Laina was!

Here are some photos from our first swim class. She can't wait to go back next week and keeps asking us, "how few days until I go to swim class again"! Hooray!

A Day In The Life

Laina and I enjoy two weekdays home together each week. One of these days, Laina takes dance class and the other day we take music class together. The rest of the day we fill with outings such as grocery shopping, trips to Target, etc. Sometimes we do fun things like going to the Children's Museum. When the warmer months arrive we will spend lots of time at the playground or walking along the beach (oh how I cannot wait for this!).

Today after music class, we decided to hit our favorite little hangout, Starbucks and get a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for Laina (also known as a hot chwockowate). She love love loves Starbucks and really, who doesn't right. I didn't have my regular camera with me but snapped these shots of Laina with my cell phone camera.

Laina looks so grown up in the big easy chair holding the Starbucks cup

Delish! Her face is covered in chocolate

After Starbucks we headed over to the library. We have a pretty set routine at the library. It includes picking out a DVD to borrow, playing with the train table, visiting the fish tank and picking out books to borrow. But today --- Laina used her very own library card for the very first time and checked out six new books for us to enjoy!!!

At the train table

Building the track

And...drumroll.....
Checking out her very own books!

I'm blessed to be able to have my special days with Laina each week. Lately I've been thinking a lot about how she will be in school in the next couple of years and our days hanging out together will be limited. I want to eat up every bit of my time with her. I think back to when I worked full time and how I felt like I missed out on so many little things. I'm so thankful to be in a situation where we get our couple of days together and I also get to work a couple of days a week in a job I truly enjoy.

WARNING***Proud Mommy Moment***

OK I think this is pretty great writing for a little girl who will be 3.5 years old at the end of this month! Laina made necklaces for Grandma Carmie and Grammy Liza using her new bead kit and she made cards to send along with the presents. This is the card that will go to Grammy Liza.

First School Lunch

At Laina's school they serve the same foods for lunch each day of the week and Laina enjoys all the meals,except....on Fridays....when they serve fish sticks. Can you really blame her though? So the school is flexible and if you want to pack a lunch you can do so. Last Friday I packed Laina's first brown bag lunch for school. It was very exciting! I'm sure when Laina is 10 and I'm still making her lunch, I'll be burnt out and not so enthusiastic about it, but for now, I thought it was fun. I made her a turkey sandwich and a bag of grapes and then she also ate the fruit, vegetables and milk they serve at school. I also wrote her a little note telling her I loved her and she put it in her school cubby after she ate her lunch. Of course, I forgot to actually bring her lunch with us and as we were in the car in the driveway getting ready to leave for school she said "Mommy! You forgot to get my lunch!" I was so proud of her that she remembered and so happy that she was excited to have a special homemade lunch.

Children's Museum

This week we went to The Children's Museum and we had so much fun. We haven't been there for about a year and so everything felt "fresh and new" since it had been a while. Laina keeps asking me "how few days until we go to that kids museum again". I think she liked it! Here are some pictures...

Laina does not like things that blow air - be it hair dryers, bathroom hand dryers, wind you name it. The base blows on this exhibit blows out air and blows the beach balls up in the air. Laina kept going up to it and running away from it, running up to it, running away from it - getting closer and closer each time. She really wanted to play with the ball and finally her curiosity won out and she got close enough to grab the ball and put it back on the base.

She loved jumping off the platforms. This outing REALLY tired her out!

Rolling the balls down the chute.

Looking through the ball chute.

Inside the tree trunk.

Checking in on the animals at the Vet's Office.

A tuneup.

Riding in the fire truck.

Reading in the book nook.

A beautiful piece of nature.

Playing in the river currents.

Jumping in the tree house.