Gracie loved preschool again today. When I picked her up, she was so happy and talking so fast, I couldn’t understand what she was saying.  Then I saw it–the coveted “snack bucket”–envy of all preschoolers.  It’s Gracie’s turn to pick out and bring snacks for her class on Friday.  AND when you have the snack bucket, you’re also the line leader and it’s your day to bring a show and tell.  So it’s going to be a pretty big day on Friday!

Also, we’re going to the big aquarium up by Tulsa soon.  Our first family mini-vacation! It’s not a cruise or anything, but we’ll take it.  We all need some time away, I think.  I need to get out of this house for a few days! Gracie is going to love the trip there–it will be the first time she gets to watch the DVD player in the van.  Oh, and she gets her own Queen sized bed in the hotel suite. Give her those luxuries plus hotel room service, breakfast buffet, and all day looking at her favorite fishies…she’s not going to want to come back!

We’re going to convert her bed soon.  It’s a toddler daybed right now, but it converts into a full size. I’ve been looking at comforters and bed sets everywhere. The one Gracie picked out is from Pottery Barn Kids. 

her choice:

Why does she have to have such expensive taste???  She’s definitely my daughter. We’ll see if that’s what she ends up with.        

Oh-and Trinity loves New York. Katie and Jason, this is for you:

“Do you remember your teacher’s name?”

“Miss Susan”

And if you need to go potty, you’ll…”

“tell my teacher. I know, Mommy. I hope we get cookies for snacktime.”

“And you’re going to listen to Miss Susan and do everything she tells you to…” my voice trailed off as I realized this drill was unneccessary.  My baby–at preschool!

We arrived in her classroom just in time to say hi to her friends and then everyone went in to sit on the Big Rug.  She walked in without saying goodbye, so I went in after her for a hug and kiss.  I felt my cheeks burning and tears welled up in my eyes. I didn’t think it was going to be so hard! “Bye, sweetie, I love you.  I bet you’ll have a great day today.”

Focused on the other children in the room, she replied,  ”I know, Mommy.  I love you.  Bye!”

So…I left.  And I cried on the way home.  Why am I so silly?

Before we left home.  She’s obsessed with that umbrella.  She didn’t need it.

Refusing to take a picture with Trindon:

On the Big Rug and making sure I’d left already. 

And that was that.  She (or should I say, we…) survived the first day of preschool.  There’s just something about this age.  She’s not 4 yet but she meets all my expectations of a 4 year old.  She definitely doesn’t talk like a three year old anymore.  She’s just such a kid now, there’s no “baby” left in her.  So, in honor of my baby going to preschool, I thought I’d post a couple baby pictures to reminesce about our sweet Baby Gracie:

Just a few minutes old:

6 months:

7 months:

9 months:

1 1/2 when she learned how to take her diaper off:

2 Years:

Last August at 2 1/2:

So last night was the big preview sale for consignors at the HUGE consignment sale at the state fairgrounds. Each consignor gets one guest and I took Janie with me. We kinda went nuts–dressy church dresses, casual school dresses, jeans, sweaters, matching boutique sets, a jean jacket…all of it is so cute!  There were racks and racks of cute stuff, and the best part about this particular consignment sale is that they don’t take junk.  When you consign, you have to have it inspected first for stains, holes, etc, but also they only take certain brands, they’re very picky.  (If it’s not from Baby Gap, Gymboree, The Children’s Place, Old Navy or a boutique, they won’t let you consign it.) Gracie has an entire Fall/Winter wardrobe and Trinity got some jeans in sizes 3-6 months and 6-12 months and this…

…which was only $17!  Wooohooo, I do love a bargain! 

And the Peek and Play!  We’ve been looking forward to this for awhile now.  Gracie met her teacher and saw some friends. Jack and Elizabeth are in class with her.  And she gets to see all her friends in the beginning and end of each day for “Big Rug” time.  (Hehe.  I love this!) 

We met Miss Susan, her teacher…

Then we looked around the room. Gracie checked out the home area first! She even made me some toast.

Then she dressed the bears on the flannelgraph. 

Then colored a picture of school…

Worked an ABC puzzle–see how smart she is??? She did the whole thing by herself!

Then she found a special surprise in her cubby–a yummy lamb cookie!

Then it was time to find her bag on the wall.  She’s so excited about her purple bag! Inside the bag was a school tee shirt she’s supposed to wear on field trips and every Friday.   

After finding the cookie, life couldn’t get any better…until Miss Susan gave all the children balloons to take home!

I’d say she’s definitely ready for Monday.  The only time she got upset was when I told her we had to leave.  I just can’t believe how fortunate we are to send her to such a wonderful school.  Everyone I talk to raves about how amazing it is and how you can’t find a better preschool anywhere.  I’m so thankful that we have this opportunity and I hope that this gives her the start she needs to love learning and to love school.   

Oh my gosh, where has the time gone?  She’s six short months away from being FOUR!  She’s so smart and creative and adorable.  I just don’t know how she went from sweet tiny baby Gracie to this…crazy little kid.  Wow.  So to celebrate, we made Half Birthday cupcakes.

Two kinds of sprinkles to make it just right: 

The eating of the cupcake:

The preschool Peek n’ Play is on Friday.  She’ll get to meet her teacher then, and that’s when we will find out if she’s in a class with Trindon , Jack, Holland, Claire, Carson, Reese, Grady or Owen.  I’m hoping she’s at least with Trindon.  She’s so ready for school.  I’m so thankful that she’s going to be at school with all her church/MDO friends. Oh–and she’ll be getting her official school shirt and tote bag.  What a big girl! 

Confession time.  I’m always saying some people shouldn’t be allowed to be parents…moms who don’t know who their “baby daddy” is; Britney Spears driving with Sean Preston on her lap, or almost dropping him when she’s had too much to drink; the toothless people with their screaming, naked baby thrown amongst their beer and cigarettes in the cart at WalMart, people who yell and cuss at their kids or people who let their kids run around the backseat of their car while they’re driving down the highway fall into this category.  I’ve always held to the belief that there needs to be some kind of test you have to pass just to insure you won’t accidentally kill your child out of sheer stupidity.

However, this week marks the first week ever in my life that I feel like I should be among the ranks of Britney and the guests on Dr Phil. When Chris and I went out the other night, Meagan and Gracie made Kool Aid.  Not just any kind of Kool Aid, the cool new clear kind that doesn’t stain your kid or all the stuff your kid spills it on. I get home and think it’s odd that Meagan put water in that pitcher considering we have a water filter that keeps our purified water cold.  Oh well, I don’t think twice about it. I make Trinity’s bottles with it all day on Saturday.  What’s up with this nasty diarreah?  Go to get a drink of water out of the fridge…oh crap!  I’ve been mixing Trinity’s formula with grape Kool Aid!  

She’s fine, by the way.  But geez.  This week’s idiot mommy award? I win!

“Save me, Britney!”