Success!

Our first evening babysitter experience was a success! We went to see Movin' Out (highly recommended, Aunt Cheri--you would love this show). Daddy kept checking his cell phone to make sure he didn't miss any calls! Mommy thought the show was so fabulous, so it kept her mind occupied.

You'll be happy to know we didn't even call home during intermission, although it helped that we were out with the babysitter's parents. During intermission, we ran into friends who were also using their first evening babysitter, trying NOT to call and check in. It still felt really strange to "pay the babysitter". I used to be the one getting paid and now I'm the one who's paying!

Thank you Lauren and Jennifer. Sasha was sad when she woke up and you weren't here!

Why?

Why? What's that? Why? Why Mommy? Mommy Why? What's that? What's that called? Who's that? Mommy, what's that? Who's that? What's that called? Why? Why Mommy? Why? What's that? Who's that? Why? What's that called? Who's that? What's that? Why? Why? Mommy, what's that? Why? Who's that, Mommy? Why? Why? Why? What's that? Mommy, why? Why? What's that called? Who's that? What's that called Mommy? Why? Why?

I just hope I don't start having conversations with myself that sound like that. Why? Because I would look pretty silly. Why? Because people shouldn't talk to themselves out loud. Why Mommy? Because usually you talk to a person. Why? Because you do. Oh, Ok. Why, Mommy?

online friends

If you are one of my online friends (Moon/Aliott) and got lost in the craziness on that FF website. We are on Connected Moms. FF yelled at me when I tried to give you the site.

Unfortunately you have to make 50 posts before you can join our group but it won't take long with all the fun stuff on there. Hope you can join us. Our BG name is The Path Less Traveled under General Buddy Groups.

The Boot...

...may not be very fashionable but it's great for small talk. I've had to tell the story so many times about why I'm wearing The Boot. My official diagnosis: The patient (that's me) has osteochondritis dissecans involving the posterior portion of the tibia centrally and slightly medially. There is a defect that is 1.2 cm wide... Sounds awful doesn't it? I should have that printed on a t-shirt.


I have to wear The Boot for 2 more weeks!

The things we say

Tonight, I heard Matt saying to Sasha. "You shouldn't put your underwear on your face."

I didn't even ask!

Curling

What is it? What kind of sport is that? What is the purpose of curling? Are those brooms they are using? Who decides they want to be a curler/curlee?

Mommy Curling:
Give me a Clorox Wipe and I'll curl the mess right off the countertop.
Or a Dustbuster. I can curl while sweeping the dried Play Dough off the floor.
Wipes. I'll curl that tushy clean!
Have you seen how fast I can pick up kid/dog/husband toys? I only use my bare hands.

I'm sorry Daddy...

...but your daughter has no coordination! She is just like her mother. Let's hope that gym class helps develop better skills! She goes to gym class once a week and I laugh at her every time because she looks like me trying to do things. Unlike me, she looks really cute doing it.

More gym pictures and yoga pictures here

Yummy foods here

The Lady

The Lady is a yoga teacher.

"Aunt" Laura came to visit this weekend. For those of you who don't know her, Aunt Laura is my bestest friend. Sasha was a little concerned when she couldn't find her and kept asking, "Where's the lady?" Then, she was calling her "Aunt Kerri." After 3 days, she's knows who she is but unfortunately, The Lady has to leave today. She better come back soon!

Smart Dog

Murray used to sit under my chair while we were eating dinner. Now that we have Sasha, I get up from the table too often so he moved to sit under Daddy's chair for a while. Daddy isn't always here to eat with us so Murray has finally realized that his best chance for food is to sit under Sasha's chair.

Frist Day of School

Her first day of pre-school. No tears. She gave me a hug, said, "I love you Mommy, " and went off to play! When I picked her up, she was doing gymnastics with her favorite gymnastics teacher.

When I picked her happy, she was so happy. We were in the car, and she said, "I love my Mommy." What a sweetie!

And...apparantly they didn't work her hard enough because she decided NOT to nap today!

This is her other Valentine's Day outfit. Believe it or not, it's just been too cold to wear it until today.

First Carnival Date

Pre-date fun

We went to the carnival this weekend and she and her little friend Matthew rode all the kiddie rides. Her daddy won her a great big huge dog playing Ski-Ball. Of course, Mommy had to carry it around and the giant lemonade while everyone else was having fun.

Happy Belated Valentine's Day

Please forgive me. It's been 5 days since my last post.

Sasha had 3 Valentine's Day outfits. Well, she's really cute and so were the clothes so I couldn't help it. Unfortunately, I only took one picture. This is her J Lo (really, she has her own line of clothes) outfit. And yes, that is her little buddah belly sticking out.

We gave Sasha 2 stuffed dogs that look EXACTLY like Murray and Dudley. In fact, when I showed one to my mom, she thought I WAS carrying Dudley. I had bought them to take to the orphanage for Eugenia and Igor so it was a little bittersweet when we gave them to her. But the joy on her face made up for it!

Mommy's new fur-sister and fur-brother

Chai is an 8 week old little girl.


Tommy is a 2 year old big boy!


Those of you who are pet people know that life after the loss of a pet is very lonely. Didi and Pap really miss Duncan but decided to give 2 kitties a good home. Welcome to the family!

Didi was talking to Sasha when they were on the way to get the cats:
Didi: "Guess what Didi and Pap are going to get?"
Sasha: "Ice cream!"
Didi: "We are going to get 2 kitty-cats."
Sasha: "I want 2 kitty-cats."

Sasha has recently learned the word want so "I want that" is a very common phrase in our house. It's hard teaching a 3-year-old the difference between want and need. Well, gee, it's hard for her shopaholic Mommy too!

It was hard for me!

Sasha is ready for pre-school. We have been waiting because we wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and stable with us before we sent her. We are waiting for a nearby pre-school to open up this summer but in the meantime, we wanted to start her 2 days a week at her gym's pre-school. When I asked, they were full but they offered "Fun Fridays" while we waited for a spot to open up. "Fun Friday" is a 3 1/2 hour program but it's not curriculum based.

Well, today was our first "Fun Friday" and I was a little sad. Sasha, on the other hand, was so excited she could barely sit still! As soon as she came into our bedroom this morning, she started talking about school. I mean...SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL!!!! We made sure to tell her often that Mommy was going to pick her up at lunchtime. When I took her in, I was almost in tears but she took her shoes off, gave me a hug, said "Bye Mommy. See you soon!" and ran off to play in the gym. And that's it, my baby was a big girl. I reluctantly walked away to fill out the paperwork but I did make sure to get in one last hug and kiss before I left. I even forgot to take a picture.

When I went to pick her up, her teacher told me that Sasha was so well-behaved that she would be glad to have her in the class! That's my girl! What a wonderful compliment to receive from a teacher. Sasha starts pre-school next Thursday.

Fun Activities

I am always looking for fun and FREE activities to do with Sasha. I just found out that our mall has a "Family Fun Day" every other Thursday morning. A retired teacher reads stories, sings songs, and does craft activities with the kids. It's so cute and makes me wonder why I didn't think of that!

Panic Mode *Updated*

I am a mom! I just realized that Sasha's first babysitter (not my mom) is coming in less than an hour. I am a Mom who has hired a babysitter. This is such a weird feeling. What do I do? I put up emergency contact numbers. I put up 5 different emergency contact numbers to be exact. Do you think that's enough? What else should I do? Should I pad the walls? Oh my goodness, I have a real live babysitter coming in less than an hour!

Now you are all going to laugh when you hear the details. I am going to get a manicure 5 minutes away. I'll probably be gone a whole hour.

**Sasha could not wait for Lauren to get here. Dudley was very upset with me when I left him with another person and a 3 year old so he hid in the closet. The best news is that Lauren was was not tied to the chair when I got home! Sasha had so much fun and even got sad when we took her home. Thanks Lauren! **

Huh?

Sasha picked this book at the library today.

My name is Mommy...

...and I'm a snob. I am a teacher snob. I am a teacher so this makes me qualified to become a teacher snob. Sasha started her first big girl gym class last week. She doesn't need Mommy anymore. Well, the class I wanted with the fabulous teacher we had for the Mommy and Me Class was filled so we had to sign up for another class. The minute Miss Youngthang started with Sasha and another child, I knew I wasn't going to be happy. I won't bore you with the details but let's just say that my girl didn't do so well and neither did I. Ok, well I'll give you one example. I tried very hard to keep my mouth closed and let the teacher do her job but at one point, I could tell Sasha AND the other child just didn't understand. So I said something. Yes, I stepped in Miss Youngthang's territory and that wasn't very nice. After that, I went to the front desk and asked if our beloved teacher's class had openings and thank goodness (for all of our sakes) it did. Sasha had her first big girl gym class with Miss Yona today and we were all very happy! Miss Yona is an excellent gym teacher and so good with Sasha.

www.tastefullysimple.com/web/kklein

How Will I Justify Weekly Manicures?

This Stay-At-Home-Mom couldn't stay at home for long. I am becoming a Tastefully Simple consultant.

"Tastefully Simple offers easy-to-prepare gourmet foods for people who like to eat - even if they don't necessarily like to cook!" (from the Tastefully Simple website)
http://www.tastefullysimple.com/web/kklein

If you are interested in ordering anything from Tastefully Simple, my website is up and running! I love every product I have tried from them and I'm not just saying that to make a sale. I ate almost an entire jar of Corn and Black Bean Salsa last night! I've heard that the Truffle Fudge Brownies are "to die for" but haven't made them yet. If you have any questions about anything, please PM me or email me from the link on my site. Also, if you are interested in having a party, let me know. You will get $10 for every $100 in orders. I will even help you out-of-towners have a Book Party. (Those of you who are friends and family with Mom, Kerri or Aunt Cheri, wait for them--they are all having book parties for me.) Also, if you are interested in being on my email list, please use the link on my webpage to send me your email address. Thank you!

Duncan's legacy lives on!

Some of you know that during the summer of 1992, I tripped over Duncan in the backyard while we were playing, and broke my ankle. Now that I'm getting older, I'm having problems with that ankle and I have to wear a walking boot for the next 3 weeks! This will hopefully prevent me from having surgery. I wouldn't have forgotten you anyway, Dunc!

It's a very unattractive fashion accessory except when Sasha is wearing it! She's also wearing Mommy's shoe!

Didi and Pap visit again

No, Didi, those are Raggedy Ann's clothes!
How long did it take Pap to read "My First 1,000 Words"?

Daddy was out of town this weekend for work. Mommy wanted some other grown-up company so Didi and Pap came to visit! We had a great weekend.




Didi
helped me win a
a stuffed poodle.