Our Valentine's Day Celebration

Yesterday hubs and I celebrated Valentine's Day at home with our extra special "Mini" Valentine.  Kathryn started the day by going to Preschool.  Her class had a Valentine's Day party, where they made Valentine bags and exchanged cards.  They also made cookies, a paper bag book, and painted.  The hand-print painting is currently hanging in my office.  :)  Later that afternoon we made chocolate covered strawberries.  Mini had so much fun dipping the strawberries in the chocolate, and even did a little taste-testing.  Before her bedtime I forced a photo shoot outside in our front yard, and I am so glad I did!  I got two super cute pics of Mini in her Valentine outfit.  After she went to bed, hubs and I continued celebrating with champagne, dinner, and DVR'd shows.  It was the perfect Valentine's Day, and I look forward to many more with my two loves!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Week in iPhone Pics

Week 39: February 5-11, 2012

 Sunday

Monday

 Tuesday

Wednesday

 Thursday

Friday

Saturday

-Rockin' out, diaper style

-Picture time with Mommy

-Coffee with Grandpa

-Anniversary present from hubs, new Ugg slippers!

-Sprinkle donuts- Mini's new fav

-Little Lambs- Mini's new preschool program

-Anniversary date night

-Flowers from hubs

-Mini making her "Q" quilt for school

-First day of preschool!

-Late night fruit snack, yum!

-Pretty teased pony

-Chick Fil A lunch date with Mommy

Mini's First Day of Pre-School!

The day has finally come!  Kathryn started her first day of pre-school at my church, Good Shepherd Catholic Community.  She goes Tuesday and Thursday from 9-2:30pm.  Her class consists of 8 two year olds (including her), and two teachers.  The program focuses on reading, math, art, science, and religion. They have a daily schedule consisting of:

• Open Activities (prayer, circle time, and music)
• Instructional Centers/Snack/Science
• Outdoor/Indoor play
• Lunch
• Nap/Enrichment Afternoon Activities
• Library/Music

The classroom is the same that they use on Sundays for childcare, so she had been there before.  She always runs straight in and never looks back at me.  On her first day of school she knew something was different.  When I went to the door to sign her in, she kept tugging at my arm trying to get me to come in and play with her.  I said my good byes and left.  No tears for mom; I was so excited for her and knew she would do great.  When I picked her up at 2:30 she was there waiting for me.  I received the biggest hug and "I missed you Mommy" from my girl.  Her teacher said that she did wonderful; only asked for me a couple of times and never cried.  She was sweet and did all the activities asked of her.  I was skeptical about nap time, since she is pretty particular about her environment, and sure enough she didn't sleep long.  She did however lay down quietly with the other children so I am sure she will do better and better.  I am so proud of my daughter and how well she did.  I am so happy I made the decision to put her in school.  Being an only child and not having many little ones her age around, she is always asking me to "see kids."  I feel very confident she is going to learn so much and develop the very necessary social skills a little toddler like herself needs.

Below are some pictures that I took when I picked her up.  Yes I was that mom with her DSLR...what a dork.  ;)

Photo A Day Challenge- January

I posted a couple of days ago about the Photo a Day challenge I am doing, but hadn't officially linked up.  So here is my official post, with my official collage.  I am no photoshop expert, so I am pretty impressed with myself.  :)  I decided to not follow the every day picture requirements, and am going to focus on just getting a picture of day.  Baby steps, right?   

Check out The House of Smiths for more details!

Photo A Day- January

So I have been reading a lot of blogs out on the web and there is a new challenge called Photo A Day.  Similar to my Week in iPhone Pics, yet instead of as many pictures as you want for the week, the Photo A Day requires a picture every single day.  Overwhelming for a working mom?  Yes.  But, I think I am up for the challenge.  It will make an awesome addition to the baby book, so what the who, I'll give it a try.  I went back through all my pictures in January and created the calendar below to catch up.  Most of the challenges going around the blog-osphere have a theme for each day, and I haven't decided if I am going to go with that or just take my usual every-day pics.  We will see how it goes and what I like best, but for now, here is the month of January.  :)

 January

A Week in iPhone Pics

Week 38: January 29- February 4, 2012

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

-Snuggles with Mommy

-Swinging at the park

-Playing with Mommy's curling iron

-Cleaning the kitchen

-Father/daughter date at the zoo
-Goldfish and coffee with Grandpa
-Goofy coworkers stealing my iPhone
-Perfecting my drawing skills with Swiper
-Snacks and coloring before dinner
-Pretty pony tail- Mini's hair is getting so long!
-New sitting area in my home office
-Mommy's going blonde!
-Mini looking for dust at Grandma's
-#1 present for my mom or I- a McDonald's Diet Coke!
-Booda Bear curled up on Daddy


Link up with A Good Life