I'm ok

As my youngest says when she falls down "I'm ok!"  and today I'm not feeling so sorry for myself so 'I'm ok'!

Preschool went very well and although the house was way too quiet I did get a lot of things done. Off to the park today to ride our bikes!

Bittersweet Day

First day of preschool for my youngest today....
I'm so happy for them both as it's such a lovely class, the teacher is great and I know they're going to have loads of fun and learn so much but for each chapter that opens, another has to close...
My time alone with them is gone, they are heading off into the big world and I fear I may be left behind!
All my life I wished for babies and now that chapter is officially over..
The trash truck came today and we all usually shout 'trash truck!' and run to the window to watch the big arm come out and lift up the trash. Today I watched on my own and felt very lonely!
Get a grip Mommy! They'll be back at 11.30! Yes, but they'll be full of stories of things they did with their friends and their teacher....not me...
It's hard to let them go but for now at least I know they are in a safe, happy place - I'm already dreading this time next year when my oldest heads for kindergarten at 'big girl school'!
My husband and my girls all want a puppy but I'm set against it - until today that is, when the house is so quiet!
OK I must go and cook and clean and do all the things I don't get round to doing when they are here - can't wait for 11.30am!

Funny Story for a Monday!

We have lots of toys, too many toys! So I put some away and rotate them from time to time to keep things fresh and exciting for the girls.

For my oldest girls' 1st Birthday a friend gave her a large white teddy with a heart on it's paw (as she was born the day after Valentine's Day!)

Well she hadn't seen this bear for a while but remembered it well as we have a photo of her hugging it as she opened the gift and the teddy was as big as her. She found it the other day and after she'd been playing with it for a little while she asked "Where's the other Valentine bear?"

When I explained we only have this one she said "but where's the really big one that's as big as me?"

I really tried not to laugh but couldn't help smiling as I explained she'd gotten bigger but the bear hadn't!

So sweet!

Crazy week

What a crazy week!
NY on the brain, relief my girls survived 3 nights without me, and my Mom in the hospital. Glad you're home and on the mend Mom - now sit down and take it easy!
My husband has now decided we definitely can't afford to live in Westchester NY and much as I loved Manhattan I didn't find a place in Westchester on our whirlwind house hunting tour that I could imagine us living in - massive property tax aside.
The houses and areas are so very different to here and we'd have no money left for the ballet lessons, horseback riding and piano lessons that I'm sure our future will hold!
This is the last day of the girls' summer vacation as they head back to preschool next week. I feel they've really grown up this summer - no more babies here (if we could only progress with the toilet training - final piece of babyhood remaining!).
Playing out in the street and going to the 'big girls' houses has made them so much more confident and independent - I'm not sure I was ready for that happening but they we have it!
Lovely day today, blue, cloudless sky, warm without being too hot, they've been out riding their bikes (my little one got a 2 wheeler with training wheels for her Birthday!) then splashing in their little swim suits in the paddling pool, eating Popsicles and (special treat) candy. Isn't this the stuff of childhood memories??
We have a huge neighborhood party tomorrow afternoon for a retiring firefighter who lives on our street then this party will blend into an evening birthday party for another neighbor. Summer's going out with a bang here! The mornings have a chill in the air and a few leaves are starting to change color on our trees. Fall is coming although in this part of the world it is all too short before the winter arrives. But for today, I'm going to relax and watch my carefree girls making memories... have a lovely w/e everyone!

Home again

Thankfully the girls had a great time staying with my friend but they were ready to come home by the last day - any longer and I think we could have been in trouble.

So on Monday they had another 'reward day' for being good. They got to eat what they wanted, play what they wanted etc - well worth being good for, I say!

After my first phone call home and knowing they were settled OK I could actually relax and enjoy the luxury of the company's hospitality - namely the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, champagne (lots of champagne!) and delicious meals. I also managed a trip into Manhattan!

I always knew it but this trip confirmed it - I am a city girl. Stepping out of Grand Central Station onto 42nd street and being hit by the buzz, the crowds, the taxi horns and (very!) tall buildings I just felt alive! Saw some sites then headed for Central Park late afternoon to enjoy a Cosmopolitan cocktail in the lakeside bar - very 'Sex in the City'!! I was Carrie Bradshaw! (except she was always searching for love and I was there with my husband!)

Not really further forward in our decision though as, except for a few pennies we found on the street in NYC, we haven't won the lottery so still not really able to afford the annual property tax (it's brutal - 5 times what we're paying here! gulp!) but now I'm pining for a big city...

New York, New York

...so good they named it twice.  Ok NY - here we come!  

This is it - tomorrow I leave my precious girls for the very first time ever...  Thanks very, very much to my neighbor for volunteering to look after them.

Hopefully this trip will help us decide if we are moving (again!) or not...

Have  a great w/e everyone - fingers crossed my girls have a fun time...

Good job Mommy!

The 'big girls' down the street have brought my girls some toys they no longer play with - Polly Pockets! They are the tiniest little dolls with the tiniest little clothes and accessories that I just know are going to end up all over the house!!

This morning a little tiny Polly Pocket skirt rolled under the furniture and the girl's arms were too short to reach it. Now I'm only 5'2" so not exactly big but I was able to reach this little toy. I was then delighted when my youngest (now 3 yr old!!) said "good job Mommy!"

It took me by surprise and it was several moments before I realised how I was feeling. It's hard to describe but I felt proud and humble all at the same time. Proud that she was pleased I'd been able to help her but humble when I realised that she really is growing up and was using a phrase I usually say to her, as if I'd really achieved something by reaching in for this toy, she sounded so grown up! I realised that one day the tables will be turned and she'll be helping me!

This was echoed by a friend I met up with on our recent trip to the UK. Her son is now away at University but was home for the summer. She was commenting how he is so grown up and helps her out now by reaching things on high shelves for her or unscrewing jars. She felt she was no longer his 'parent' as he didn't need looking after any more. She said it was a strange sensation when she realised this shift had happened.

We want them to be independent but we also want them to always need us!

p.s. hope you like the photo of the longed for Princess cake. She was even more excited when she found out Cinderella's dress lit up!!