October Costume Capers

October costume capers at the Halloween store

Itchy & Scratchy mask fun, yep they're BIG Simpsons fans!

One of our favorite things about pre-Halloween season is our visits to Halloween stores for what's been affectionately dubbed as "October costume capers". While the girls search for their official costumes they make sure to try on all the other fun masks, hats, and silly wares before finalizing their decisions. This has become an annual family tradition and I notice that with each passing year our October Halloween costume trips grow in frequency. The girls crack me up with their silliness and while they are building up their bravery around all the scary Halloween animatronic invaders, I have to admit to being amused by their tiptoeing around the "press here" pads on the floors and slyly finding ways to occupy themselves in the costume rows to avoid watching these creepy displays. Bottom line - they are both Halloween lovers in the making and in a few years they will likely be tormenting/scaring their little brother during Halloween store visits. Poor guy.

After a very fun search, they finally settled on their costumes. Elise is going to be a vampire this year, her first scary costume choice ever, which deserves celebration! Alina is going with two costumes this year to fit her dual personalities, as sweet and pretty princess Cinderella by day (for her preschool parade) and as a cute yet deadly little vampire by night (for actual trick-or-treat). Hopefully baby boy will arrive before Halloween to join in on the fun!

More costume fun with friends plus brave Alina

Masquerade masks never get old

Elise the tiger, and introducing Demonic Alien Baby, 
Evil Clown Baby's new partner in crime

Alina's First Dance Class

Alina loves her Saturday ballet and tap class

Adorable little dancer, Alina

Sweet little Alina started her first preschool dance class this month, and just look at her huge smile! She loves to dance and especially enjoys her new class as it is taught by the dance teacher that works at her preschool. She loves getting to dance at preschool and is very happy to be going to dance class on weekends now too. She makes the cutest little bun-haired ballerina and is so eager and excited to learn all the new dance steps and moves. We sure love our tiny dancer in the making!

All smiles while practicing her dance moves

Elise's 2014 Preschool Class Reunion

Elise's Montessori preschool classmates reunion

These little friends had the best time playing together again

The smiles and laughter lasted all afternoon long

They all played together like no time had passed
...some were camera shy (hah!)

Happy kiddos - looking forward to their next little reunion

Kiddo Christmas Party Fun

Alina's preschool Christmas party; Santa & smiles

She made the cutest little cowgirl ever

Elise's Kindergarten holiday party, the kids had a blast
 

The party fun continued when the cousins came to play!

Pre-Halloween Fun & Festivities 2014

Elise's Kindergarten class Halloween party

Adorable Minnie Mouse at her preschool Halloween parade

Halloween fun + Olaf & Minnie Mouse Jack-O-Lanterns

Mama & Nana had lots of fun at Alina's Halloween party

Mom's sharpie owl pumpkin

Halloween decorations and the girls festive artwork

Alina's Preschool Field Trip to The Pumpkin Farm

Alina's preschool field trip to The Pumpkin Farm

Enjoying having Nana & Papa all to herself!

Daddy and Alina by the corn maze

Enjoying her field trip with her preschool classmates

Recreating the same photo three years later, so cute!

Last Friday was little Alina's annual preschool field trip to The Pumpkin Farm in Citrus Heights. This was her first school field trip without big sister Elise (who is now in Kindergarten). Alina had such a great time, and was spoiled a bit with both Mommy and Daddy AND Nana and Papa all there to share the day with her! She had been talking about her big pumpkin patch trip a month in advance and was so excited when the day finally arrived. I think her favorite part of the day was getting Nana and Papa all to herself! She also really enjoyed feeding the goats and pigs. She even braved the spooky haunted house and the best reward for a fun filled day was getting to pick out her own little pumpkin to take home. She made sure to pick out the littlest and cutest one that she could possibly find.

She loved feeding the goats and pigs

With Nana and Papa in the corn maze

Picking out her little pumpkin

All smiles in the haunted house

Last Days of Summer & Little Friends

Best little preschool friends - Annie & Alina

Having a wonderful time at Annie's swim party

Happy birthday to Avi! Little Miss Tinkerbell

The summer of birthdays was in full force for the month of August. We know so many August babies, and it's pretty crazy busy and fun getting to spend nearly an entire month celebrating. Little Alina is in good company as some of our closest little (and adult) friends are all proud Leos too. While the girls had a wonderful time at all the August baby parties, Alina especially enjoyed celebrating with her best friend from preschool, Annie. They have been in preschool together since before they could walk, and both adore each other so much. In a short two years they will move on to separate preschools, but I certainly hope that these two always remember each other and the sweet friendship that they shared.

Celebrating cutie pie Leia's 1st birthday

Happy birthday sweet Zuri

Happy 3rd Birthday Sweet Alina!

Our adorable little Alina at 3-years-old!

Happy 3rd birthday to our sweet little Alina! From the moment she was delivered into our arms, she's been just the greatest joy and love of our lives. She was the happiest and most mellow little baby, with the face of a sweet little doll and the most playful/good-natured personality. She always given us big smiles and laughs. Her genuine little laugh is truly one of the best sounds imaginable. She was also our early walker at 9-months-old. She's been pushing to keep up with her big sister since birth and she truly excels at everything she does.

As a two-year-old, she was our inquisitive little climber and daredevil; always pushing the limits. She was virtually fearless and rarely slowed down. She loved climbing (and still does)! If she could climb it she would, and the girl would scale things like they were of no consequence. We were always surprised by where we would find her, because she found ways to climb up the counter or in her closet to get things she shouldn't be into. Sneaky little thing. Despite her pent up energy and curiosity, she's always been the sweetest little love bug. She took excellent care of all her baby dolls and always displayed her innate desire to nurture and calm those around her. In fact, when I last asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she responded, "I want to be a mommy just like you, and I want to take care of little babies". Not gonna lie that this had me in tears of joy, and it really highlights her loving and nurturing personality. She's definitely going to be a wonderful mommy someday, and this brings me so much happiness.

At three-years-old, she is the kindest and most loving little girl with an unparalleled love for all things Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She had a great time celebrating last month, with all her friends and family, at her Mickey and Minnie Mouse party too! She moved up into the bigger class in preschool several months before her third birthday because she was already ready and determined. Her best friend in preschool is Annie and they are like two peas in pod, little friends with birthdays only a week apart. She loves making art projects at preschool and is excellent at coloring, she has nearly mastered staying in the lines and has even started writing her name. She loves to stay active too, whether its playing outside, showing off her gymnastic talents on the playground trapeze, riding her bike and scooter in the court or just running through the grass on a little mini mission. We've embraced her boundless energy and know that someday she will be out little athletic star. She brings us countless moments of joy every day, and we are so proud and happy to have been blessed with this adorable little angel. We love you so much sweet girl. Happy Birthday baby doll Alina!

She's our big girl now, but I love that I still see her baby face here

 

Elise's Preschool Graduation - August 2014

Proud family with our little preschool graduate, Elise

With our grad - 1st of many to come!

Enjoying the ceremony with her preschool classmates

  

 

Well, we've reached that first big and extra special milestone, because as of last weekend Miss Elise is now a preschool graduate! Ever since her very first day at Montessori preschool, she has excelled. It's amazing just how much she's learned and grown, both socially and academically, since she started at a mere 18-months-old. She is already reading, and I'm not talking simple sight words, but 5+ letter words with very little help from mom and dad. She's learned so much in other areas as well, and can even recite full songs in Spanish thanks to her wonderful preschool teacher. 

I am so grateful for all she has learned, but perhaps the area where I've seen the most growth is in her social development. She's always been fairly reserved and apprehensive to partake in new activities or engage with others. For this reason, it was especially important for us to ensure that she gains independence and gets the opportunity to interact and socialize with other kids of her own age. I can't begin to express just how happy it makes me to hear her recount daily stories of all her school yard games, classmates, and adventures. She really loves each and every one of her preschool friends and will miss them all dearly. Of course, it goes without saying she will miss her preschool teacher, Miss Maria, the most of all. She gives her a hug every single day before she leaves, and if she ever forgets, she makes up for it with two the following day. She really adores Miss Maria and the feeling is certainly mutual, she expressed just how much she will miss her hugs. We are so proud of our 2014 preschool graduate. Kindergarten here we come!

Elise during the ceremony, and proud sister Alina

Elise with her preschool teacher

Celebrating Class of 2014, plus her sweet gifts to her teachers

Happy 5th Birthday Elise!

Elise at Five Years Old!

Happy 5th birthday to our lovely little Elise! We are so proud of our smart and feisty yet loving little girl. She has more will and determination than we could have ever imagined. She is driven to succeed and do well in life and we are so thankful for her determined little spirit. She's had her own opinion since before she could talk and her dream at five-years-old is to grow up and become an artist. She loves preschool and all of her school friends. Her best preschool friend is Halynne and she tells us many stories of all the adventures that they have at recess. Ms. Maria, her teacher, is her favorite person in the world right now and she gives her a nice long hug every single day after school. She loves to read, draw, swim, and ride her bike. She just learned how to swim underwater and it was one of her proudest moments. She is a very adventurous eater. She will try anything you put on her plate and she especially loves her cauliflower, broccoli, avocado, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggs, bananas and watermelon. Her favorite thing to do on weekends, aside from bike rides, is to go on day trips, and travel to new places. She has so much energy and thrives on those full busy days where we just go, go, go. She's usually the last to tire out on a busy day, and yes, she still fights sleep, but it has gotten much better. She's become a big helper around the house too. She loves to help dust, sweep and put away her laundry. She also loves to help mom out in the kitchen cooking up new recipes. She is such a joy to have around and we are so proud of all the milestones that she has accomplished in the last year. Happy birthday sweet Elise!

Celebrating her birthday at John's Incredible Pizza

Happy Mother's Day 2014! Preschool Celebration & Berry Fest

West African drum and dance performance at preschool

Strawberry shortcake cuties

Momma with her favorite girls at Berry Fest 2014

Mother's Day 2014 was such fun. Momma got spoiled by the girls at their preschool Mother's Day celebration. They made me adorable gifts, sang me a song and showered me with plenty of hugs and love. Since the girls are learning about Africa at school, we were treated to a very fun West African drum and dance session and even invited to dance along. It was a nice surprise and despite my blatant lack of rhythm, I gave it a shot. We also headed out to Berry Fest in Roseville on Saturday. The girls love to go every year, and I mainly tag along for the fresh strawberry smoothies, strawberry salsa and to take home a case of locally grown strawberries.

While I love to lavish in a little extra affection on Mother's Day weekend, I certainly can't forget to mention the two most special moms in our lives; Grandma and Nana. We owe our family to them and they are loved and adored beyond belief. The girls love spending time with them and we are so fortunate to live so close and see them on a regular basis. Happy Mother's Day to all the hard-working and loving moms of the world!

Slide, bounce house and hula hoop play time

Miss Elise picking out a crate of fresh strawberries

Two adored moms and two special little girls. Happy Mother's Day!