Yesterday at preschool, the parents were invited to come in for the first 30 minutes and see what the kids have been learning. They sang songs, did poems and did the calendar and pledge.

I thought the program was next week, so I didn't bring my camera with me when I took her to preschool yesterday. When I noticed all the cars at preschool and no parents in them, I knew the program was happening. So anyway, I had Makena recite one of her poems for me at home so I could record it.

"I eat my peas with honey...I've done it all my life. It makes my peas taste funny, but it keeps them on my knife."

Fun Activities

Just wanted to post a couple of fun activities that we have done in the past couple of weeks. First we went to the splash pool. The kids had a great time. It was a cooler day, so it took a little bit for the kids to get into the water...but once in, they didn't want to get out. We went with Grandma, Uncle Ben, Aunt Jenny, Gretchen and Ryan.



Makena, Kali and Gretchen enjoying the water


Kali playing with the water. Makena and Kali used this water fountain as a "drinking fountain"


Makena and Gretchen


Tyler...he had a great time sitting in the water and splashing with his hands


Kali with Grandma's help trying to shoot people with water


Makena


Tyler

We also went to the zoo to see all of the baby animals. We went with Aunt Katie and Uncle Jacob. It was a fun time. Makena loved all of the baby animals. They have a baby giraffe, baby snow leopard, baby elephant and 3 baby tiger cubs. We will be up there again soon to see them all again.


Bald Eagle at the entrance to the zoo


Golden Eagle


Mama Tiger with one of her cubs


Mama Elephant with her baby


The baby giraffe. He was trying to eat the grass on the ground


This monkey was going crazy while we were there. He was making lots of noise and going back and forth in his cage.


Jarel, Tyler, Makena and Kali...my favorite people!!!

BIG STEPS

Kali has had a couple of BIG STEPS/CHANGES with her life. She now sleeps with Makena in the bunk beds and LOVES it. I was kind of weary to put her in with Makena for the fact they would play around when it was bed time and also for the fact the Kali wakes up between 6:00-7:00 EVERY morning. I didn't want Kali waking up Makena. And mind you...Kali is NOT quiet in the morning. For the most part, Kali comes out in the morning and Makena stays asleep...but on those mornings, when Kali slams the door or talks to herself...Makena WILL wake up. All in all, it has been a good thing.

Another BIG STEP for Kali is that she is PACIFIER FREE!!!! She has been for the past 14 days. I wasn't planning on taking it away...but it just happened. One day we were driving home from Costco and she fell asleep (not unusual). When we got home, I picked her up and put her in her bed. She usually asked for her pacifier, but this time she didn't. So I didn't encourage the pacifier. She slept and did great. That night, I told Jarel I was going to try to just put her to bed WITHOUT the pacifier and she what she does. When we put her to bed, she ASKED for the PACIFIER, but I told her it was lost and that we would find it in the morning. That was all it took...she said, "OH, MAN" and then turned over and WENT TO BED!! She hasn't had it since. Every once in a while she will still ask for them, I just tell her they are GONE and she is okay with that. The only problem now, is that it is alot harder to get her to NAP in the afternoon. I had a FEAR of this...because I NEED Kali to take naps. Overall, I can't complain, she lays on the couch and watches a show and EVENTUALLY she will fall ASLEEP. So...YEAH for NO PACIFIERS and YEAH for SLEEPING in a BIG GIRL BED!!!



Kali's first night in the bunk beds.


Notice the pacifier in this picture...we took it away 2 days later.


Makena and Kali sharing a room now!!

Flag Pencil

Makena came home today with her flag pencil. She was so excited and she was the first in her class to get it. When I went to pick her up and she saw me...she came running and said, "Mom, I did it. I got my flag pencil." WAY TO GO MAKENA!!

Pledge of Allegiance

Makena has been learning the pledge of allegiance in preschool. And if she can recite it to her teacher...she gets a flag pencil. So, we have been practicing it and she has it down.

A Pulled Tooth

Yesterday, Makena went to the dentist for her 6 month check. We didn't know we would be back that afternoon getting a tooth pulled! At about 18 months old, Makena fell off of our table chair and the tile and her mouth met. We took her to the dentist when that happened, and he said that it looked fine but we will just watch it. Today we have a different dentist and when he looked at the tooth and saw also that Makena had a sore on her gum right above the tooth, he said it could be an infection and that he wanted an x-ray of that tooth. I thought the sore was just a sore on her mouth. It would come and go. The x-ray came back and it showed that the tooth was indeed infected and that the sore was the drainage spot for the infection. Makena never complained about that sore and so I didn't think too much of it and just happened to mention it to the dentist. The dentist said that the tooth needed to come out or it would stay infected and ruin her permanent tooth. So, we went back yesterday afternoon and had it pulled. She will now be toothless there until her permanent tooth comes in, which the dentist said will take between 2-3 years. We got an order for valium and Makena had to take the drug an hour before the procedure so she wouldn't remember the experience. When we got to the dentist, Makena was out of it and I carried her in and put her on the chair. The assistant put on the "laughing gas" and then the doctor numbed up her mouth. Makena didn't even flinch at all with all the poking of the needle in her mouth. The dentist looked at me and said, "wow, she did really well." Then the tooth was out. What a way to loose your first tooth. It was a very quick procedure and we were on our way home. What a brave little girl I have. After we got home and later that night, it hit her that the dentist pulled out her tooth. She was upset and cried and said "I didn't want him to pull it." But she is doing very well today and no complaints about it today.


This is what Valium will do to a little girl. She was out so fast on the drive over. And when she was awake she kept asking me where Kali was and when she did wake up (when we got to the dentist) she said, "mom, where are we going first? Are we going to the post office now?" She didn't know what was going on.


Back in the car after the procedure. She did great holding that gauze in her mouth for the ride home. I put her in Kali's carseat, especially with the valium in her system.


One less tooth smile...for the next 2-3 years.


Makena was excited to put her tooth under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy. She was asking me all day yesterday what the tooth fairy looks like, how she gets in the house, and how she carries the surprise. She was excited this morning when she found what the Tooth Fairy left. She left a Little Pet Shop dog house with 3 dogs and also some candy.


Another smile from her. She is adjusting just fine without that tooth there. No problems eating or drinking, and no complaints of pain. It is cute to hear her talk!

Second Hair Cut

This is Tyler's second hair cut. I don't know why I didn't take pictures of his first hair cut...but he had that hair cut in June. He just sits there while I buzz him. He does a good job.


The before shot...notice the hair growing over his ears...that had got to go. And he also had some baby hair that was longer than the rest and so I wanted to make it all one length.


The after shot...Cute Boy!!

Erma's Farm

We got to go to Aunt Erma's "farm" again and see the animals. Makena had been asking me for a long time if I would call Aunt Erma and see if we could come see Bart and Willow. So I did, and Erma was very kind and let us stop by for a visit.


Kali riding "Bart" Kali didn't want to get off. She loved riding Bart!


Tyler eating an otter pop with "Speckles the Chicken" waiting for a bite


Makena riding "Bart"


The girls petting "Willow" the bunny

Babies Galore

Talking about her babies and babies in general:

Mom: Makena, should mom have another baby?
Makena: I think 3 more and that's all.
Mom: Really? 3?
Makena: Yes! And we should name them Ni-Hao Kai-Lan (for my sister), Rintoo (for my brother) and Tolee (for my other brother).
Mom: Why those names? 3 is a lot of babies.
Makena: I like Ni-Hao Kai-Lan. Oh wait...we need a Hoho. So you can have 4 more babies...and that's all.
Mom: We will see about that!

Quite a fun conversation. Those nice names come from the show Ni-Hai, Kai-Lan (see picture above). She recently has discovered that show and LOVES it...as you can see. I'm just hoping that her favorite show changes by the time we have another baby!