January 2012 Snapshots

On January 14, my sister Jamie and her husband Chris were sealed to Tyler. Then a few days later, they moved to California. We were glad we could go to the sealing and glad they had it in Utah so we could be there.

In January, I decided to try green smoothies as a way to get my kids to eat some sort of vegetable. For the first few days, I thought the green mustaches were very funny and cute. I still think they're cute, but they're not so much of a novelty anymore and we also started using straws, which usually means no green mustaches.

Preschool at our house. Anna has really enjoyed preschool. I love the group of moms and kids we did it with, but I'm not going to lie. I was very happy when I had my last day to teach, but that's not to say I hated teaching. I just didn't relish it.

I let Anna paint one day and she decided to give herself red gloves.

My cute Evie in the sweater and hat Dan's aunt knitted for him.

Preschool in October and December

I got to teach preschool on the Thursday before Halloween, so I invited the kids to wear their costumes. 

 Seth, Rachel (she didn't want to wear hers), Andrew, Anna, and Will

 The kids have laminated mats to sit on for circle time, and Evie was devastated that I didn't have one for her. It's hard to be the tag-along.

In December we went on a field trip to the Sweet's candy factory in Salt Lake City where they make my favorite: chocolate covered cinnamon bears. Of course, while we were on tour, we couldn't take any pictures and we had to wear these awesome hairnets. We got to see them making jelly beans and pulling taffy. We also got to see how they make the jelly candies like the cinnamon bears and how they cover the candy in chocolate. It was lots of fun, especially when they let us sample the candy.

Preschool 2011

This year for preschool, Anna and I are doing a co-op with four other kids and their moms. They have preschool every Tuesday and Thursday and I get to teach every fifth week or so.

 The first day of preschool with Seth, Julianna, Rachel, Andrew, Anna, and Will (September 13).

We have a field trip about once a month. Our first field trip was to Bridal Veil Falls on September 29. Mostly we just let the kids run and explore.

Evie has enjoyed tagging along on our field trips. It's not too unusual for her to cry when I drop Anna off at preschool. Sometimes it's extra hard being little.

Rachel, Evie, Anna, Andrew, Seth, and Will

In October we went to an apple orchard for our field trip. We got to take a hayride around the trees that make up the bulk of their profitable crop. They also keep a cluster of Golden Delicious trees because I guess the blossoms attract bees and help encourage polination of the other trees. We got to pick apples from the Golden Delicious trees and then pay by the pound. It was so fun to pick apples that I couldn't stop. I think we ended up with seven pounds.

The cider making facilities. Unfortunately the apples were late this year so there was no cider to try.

Preschool

Last Tuesday (Sept. 13) was Anna's first day of preschool. We are in a group with five other moms and kids and we all take turns teaching the kids. I don't get my first turn to teach until October. Anna gets to go to preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for about two hours and she's really enjoying it. Of course we had to take a picture on the first day, but we forgot to include the obligatory backpack in our photo. 

Anna's first worksheet

While Anna is at school, Evie and I get some one-on-one time together. I try to get Evie to play with me, but she often just goes off and plays by herself. I think she's just thrilled to be able to play without being tackled or having toys ripped out of her hands. I tried to do a little activity with Evie last Thursday to help her with her fine motor skills. I drew dots on a piece of paper and then I gave her cheerios to put on the dots, but she just wanted to eat the cheerios. I can't say I blame her. Then I let her scribble with the markers, which she also loved since she only gets to draw with markers when I can keep an eye on her in order to protect the furniture and to prevent too much body art.