Aloha Ducotes

On Saturday, we had a beach day with the ladies to celebrate Lisa's last weekend on the island. Even though I knew they were planning on moving eventually, the news that they were actually moving, floored me. As exciting as it is that they are starting a new chapter in their lives in Houston, it made me realize how much I was going to miss my friend. The day was a nice reminder of how lucky we are that we have lived in paradise and to have formed friendships that we have. After the ladies spent the day together gossiping and sunbathing, the rest of the families came and we turned it into an "Aloha Ducotes" picnic dinner. The sunset was amazing and the kids ran themselves silly.

Again, it was a bittersweet celebration, but I am so grateful for all the memories (and looking forward to all the future trips we'll plan to Texas.

Loving the bath

Mia just loves her bath!

Mia

Mia has been talking up a storm lately. I love listening to her.

She has also been rotating around and is inches from rolling over. Her fine motor skills are getting better too- she is starting to play with her toys. All of her little accomplishments are amazing, but a reminder that she is growing up and I am so not ready for that; I want her to stay my little baby forever.

Newest Seagull Student

We have been on Seagull Preschool's wait list since October and waiting anxiously for a spot for her to open up. Every time we pass it, she would make a comment about her "new school" and how some kids need to stay home so she could go instead. We finally got the call this week and have started the orientation process. The parent has to accompany the child for 2 half days to help with transition. Since I'm a teacher and can't accompany Makaela in the morning, the school is allowing us to do these sessions in the afternoon. Today was our first day of orientation and at first it took Makaela a little while to get used to their routines (story time, line-ups, not running away from the in line, etc) but within the hour, she got it. The teachers were very patient with her and assured me that the new kids pick up on all the routines within the first three days. Today Makaela got to sit in on craft time and she made a bracelet. She was so proud of this bracelet. On the way out of school, I asked her if she liked it and she shouted, "I love it". Here's the picture:

Everything revolves around Dora

I love it when Makaela can make connections, and as she is maturing, the connections and relationships are more relevant...sort of. Yesterday Makaela thought she saw Aunt Katie's car. When I told her it wasn't Aunt Katie's car, she asked "Well, what kind of car does Aunt Katie have?" So I saw, "Aunt Katie has an Explorer". Makaela's response: "Oh, well then how come I never see Dora?" Took me about a minute before I realized what she was talking about.

(for those of you who do not know, the name of the show is "Dora, The Explorer")

Eating cereal!

Mia has a penchant for spitting up and now that she is eating more, I've decided to try her on rice cereal to help settle that little belly. She seems to be enjoying it or at east enjoying making a mess with it.

Makaela-isms Part 3

-When Brooke is scolded, Monica or Melissa will say "Brooke Elizabeth Weida", so the other day, when I was scolding Makaela, I said, "Kaela" and she barked back "No, you say Makaela Torrie Hoffman".

Later when she was upset with me, she said, "Mommy Torrie Hoffman- I no like that!"

-We have been telling Makaela that she is a big girl, especially now that Mia is the baby of the house, so these words came back to bite me. A recent conversation played out like this:

"Mommy, can I drive. Gimme the keys."

"No Makaela, you're still little."

"No Mom, you said I was a big girl, so now I can drive"

...did I say that?

-I guess when I find myself in bad situation, I mutter to myself "I can't believe I did this, I can't believe I did this." The other day I got my keys stuck in the ignition and must have been saying that because when I let Makaela out for babysitting, she hopped up in the driver's seat, fiddled with the keys and muttered, "I can't believe you did this Ma, I can't believe you did this."- yeah, thanks kid.