All About Our Girls: September 2011

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Labor Day Picnic

Josh loves picnics.... way more than me. I think they're a whole lot of work for a meal that the kids usually won't eat. He asked to go on a second picnic on Labor Day weekend and I was definitely not jumping for joy. Something always goes wrong. We always forget something. One of the girls always gets hurt. Yes, this is me the eternal optimist ;) Well Josh promised to get everything ready himself and all I would have to do is come (actually he gave me the option of staying home but I decided it would be wiser to join them!). Minus him not being able to start the grill very well (par for the course on our picnics, at least he didn't start himself on fire this time) and not having any forks, all went very well. It was a beautiful day and we had fun with the girls. I think I need to get a better attitude about picnics :)

Josh and Maya trying to get the grill started

My BEAUTIFUL Maya

The girls cutting the buns apart because of course Daddy would buy the buns that weren't pre-cut :)

I seriously love these two so much... they are best friends :)

Maya

Maryn

Makenna

Bedtime At The Budkes

Josh captured a sweet bedtime moment at our house recently...

Oh how I love my girls!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Maya's Naps

Why does napping have to be so difficult? Most adults would jump at the chance to lay down and rest every afternoon... why can't kids just embrace this while they have it?! Maya has been on a napping roller coaster. Last spring she all but gave up her nap. Then this summer she was back to 2-3 hour naps almost everyday. Then as soon as the girls went back to school she was back on a nap boycott. I couldn't get her to nap for anything. And it wasn't because she was done napping... she still needed them. She was fighting me on her nap in the afternoon but then as soon as we'd get in the car to run the girls to their evening activities she'd fall asleep in the car and then I couldn't get her to sleep at night. So two weeks ago I was desperate to get her back in a napping habit. I decided that if the car is where she wants to nap then I'll work with her. For almost a week straight we went on a drive right about nap time. She would fall asleep within 10-15 minutes and then I'd drive home and carry her up to bed and she'd sleep another hour or so. This must have worked because now she is back to napping 1-2 hours every afternoon without me having to drive around first! Books, sing songs, tickle back and she is out before I leave the room! Yay! No more grumpy toddler in the evening!

Sleepy Maya on the couch one day after falling asleep in the car. It was actually really late in the evening and I put her on the couch because I didn't want her napping at this time. She was so tuckered out though. I stood her up (while sleeping) and she just melted like a marshmallow. There was no waking this child up.

Cucumber, China & Piece of Fire

Maya was lying on my bed with me one afternoon and we were being silly. When I wasn't looking she apparently picked her nose and found herself a big old booger. As I turned back around she is holding her finger with her prized possession up in my face for me to see. I ask "Buddy is that a booger?" and in all seriousness she responds with "No Mommy! It's a cucumber!"

As I've mentioned numerous times on this blog, Maryn is my kid that questions everything. In depth. Ten times over. And then again. She has to know all details. So it hasn't been surprising to me that she has been more interested in human anatomy, the differences between boys and girls and where babies come from way before her big sister. I'm of the belief that you need to be honest with you kids (at an age appropriate level) and use correct terms. So one night she was asking all kinds of anatomy questions and of course she gets to her girl parts and I tell her it's a vagina. Let's not be shocked here people, that's what it's called! She repeated it and kind of looked at me quizzically but then moved on. So then about a week later after she had gone to the bathroom and was rushing out I once again questioned her about the thoroughness of her wiping. She looks at me totally annoyed and says "Don't worry mom! I didn't get any in my china!"

It took us months to figure this one out with Maya. She was walking around saying something about a "piece of fire." Constantly. And we couldn't figure it out. Finally it clicked. She wanted a PACIFIER! None of our children has ever used a pacifier but one happened to be up in the cupboard from when one of the girls used it to play with their baby dolls. She must have been able to see it all the way up there in the cupboard and wanted to play with the "piece of fire"!

Sunday, September 11, 2011

First Day of School - 2011

The 2011-2012 school year brings Makenna to second grade and Maryn to Alternative Kindergarten. Both girls were over the top excited to start school! No one was nervous about their first day, Maryn even told me that she didn't want me to walk her into the school :( But I insisted!!! I have pretty much figured out that it doesn't matter what grade they're in, I will be a basket of tears every year on the first day of school ;) I still choke up and get worried almost every morning when I drop Maryn off... she just looks so little running into that school with all those big kids. Both of the girls have had a fantastic start to the school year... they love their teachers and are making lots of friends.

Maryn's first day of Alternative Kindergarten. She is attending Bowman Woods Elementary from 8:30 - 11:30 am Monday through Friday mornings.

Maryn's first day of Alternative Kindergarten

She was yelling "Yay for AK!" in this picture!

Maryn with her AK teacher Mrs. Vogel

Maryn trying to show off her new puppy back pack!

My beautiful almost 5 year old!

Maryn getting off the bus after her first day at AK! Mommy was so glad to see her! Maryn wanted to stay at school :)

Makenna's first day of 2nd grade

Makenna showing off her new back pack

Makenna's second day of school (Maryn's first)... but I made a mistake and didn't have the right outfit clean for Makenna's first day of school. Here is the actual outfit she wanted to wear on the first day ;)

Makenna's Birthday Party

Since tomorrow is Maryn's birthday, I thought I better hurry up and get Makenna's birthday party pictures posted! I am so behind on this blog!

Makenna had her 7th birthday party at the bowling alley. She chose to invite only five friends but two were on vacation so that left just Makenna, her sisters and three friends. It was a fun little group!

The birthday girl! 7 years old!