1st Day of Preschool

Rose started preschool last week.  Preschool.  Sure, it is technically a prep-preschool as she will not be 3 for another 2 months but still.  PRESCHOOL.  I still vividly remember laboring for 48 hours in an effort to bring her into the world.  Pure crazyness.

We chose a Montessory preschool as the self directed and hands on learning is right up her alley for her outgoing personality.  So far so good as she comes home every day talking about her friends and the 'jobs' that she does.

Steve took her on her first day which was a very good choice as I got all hormonally teary when just looking at pictures.  I can only imagine what it would have been like if I had actually been there in person.  Me staying there the entire time would have been a real possibility.  As it was, even Steve had a hard time leaving when it was time to go due to her tears when she realized he was heading out the door.

This coming Friday is going to be the hardest for me.  I work 9 hour days so that I can have every other Friday off to spend with Rose.  With her going to Monday, Wednesday, Friday preschool means that a huge chunk of that day will be cut.   I treasure that time together with her so it is really hard to have to give it up.  I know that this is just part of her growing up but it doesn't make it easy on my heart.

"I'm ready to go in Daddy!"

Hanging up her backpack.

Waaait.  Your leaving???

The great toddler train adventure!

For Steve's birthday, my parents gave him and us tickets to ride the Amtrak up to Truckee.  This could have been the best present that Steve has gotten in a very long time.  Mostly because the joy that it brought his little girl.  She, like her Daddy, is a train lover and has been asking for a while now to go for a ride on one.  Well Saturday was her lucky day.  We rode the train from town into Sacramento and then from Sacramento to Truckee.  The trip into Truckee was a little long for her but she loved the ability to wander around the observation car and quickly made friends with the nice people sitting next to us.

Happily waving at the Engineer and completely oblivious to what was coming next.

"Oh!! My!! Gosh!!  I get to ride on that?!"

I don't know if she could have been any more excited.

In Sacramento, we stopped by the train museum.  If you are ever in the area I would highly recommend stopping by.  It's world class and a must see for any tiny train buffs.

Thanks to Great Grandma, we got to eat lunch in the dinning car.  Actually pretty good food.

The wonderful guy that he is, Grandpa Lease picked us up in Truckee and drove us back home.  With a stop by the cabin to play in the last of the snow of course.

Look, proof that I was there!  

 Ya know, you don't realize just how big you are getting at 33 weeks pregnant until you take a look at a picture.

Well, how big Evelyn is getting.

I blame any weight gain on her.

It all melts off after birth right?

Right???

Wordless Wednesday: A Grandma's Love

My little cowgirl

Rose came with me this morning to help feed the horses their breakfast.   This meant, of course, that the chore that usually takes 5 minutes took 15.  Being the forward looking mommy that I am however, I try to encourage a behavior of helping whenever I can (sorry Rose, you still can't help stir the food cooking on the stove).  Helping with the horses has an added benefit to fostering her love of the tall fuzzy equines.  hehe.

Still, it has only been the last few months that I have felt confident in letting Rose walk beside me when I'm feeding as the horses who, while respectful of our space, can get a little worked up when food is involved.  This was a real heart in the mouth step in her toddlerhood.

In the morning, I spread the hay in piles all over the paddock to encourage the boys to wander and get some exercise.  This morning, the horses got both much smaller piles (when Rose could only grab a handful) and about half a flake (once I put the hay down to open a gate and she grabbed all that was left).  Rose then wandered about pointing out where she left the hay and chattering to the horses to make sure they knew where to go next.  Love it!

"Sorry Mommy, no time for pictures.  I have work to do!"

"I did it!  Do I have any hay on me Mommy?"

Looking at a happy horse and a job well done.

Wordless Wednesday: A portrait of a tolerant cat

Trains in L.A.

Around Christmas time we headed down to L.A. to see my mom's family.  It was a brief visit but any minute spent seeing family is always worth it.  For Rose however, she came away from the trip with the secure toddler knowledge that we drove a really long time to see trains.  And it was worth every mile.  On the morning we were going to drive back up north, we headed over to Travel Town for a few hours.  Apparently there used to be old airplanes and fire trucks as well but they have all been given to other museums.  They really should just change the name to 'Lots of Cool Trains Museum'.   Needless to say my train loving daughter had a blast.

 Driving the train by myself is fun.....

 but driving the train with Daddy is even better.

No trip to a train museum is complete without a train ride.....

 but riding on Daddy's shoulders is awesome too.

Why is watching a toddler run so cute??

Those fascinating toddler minds

Every day it seems like I am finding new aspects of Rose's personality and new things that she has learned when I wasn't paying attention.  A few months ago we were sitting in the car and suddenly she starts counting.  Not just 1, 2, 3, 4 like we had been practicing but all the way to 12.  What???  Now she is up to 20.  Then a few weeks ago she suddenly starts singing the alphabet song with me instead of just listening.  Ummmm, when did that happen?

And it's not all abc, 123 stuff either.  Her logical use of tidbits that she has overheard has us snorting with laughter on more than one occasion.  Just last weekend we were down in the orchard pruning trees when I had one of those sudden 'must eat now or I will pass out' moments that come with pregnancy.   When Steve told Rose that we needed to head up to the house immediately so that I could eat she asked why.  He told her that 'Mommy needed to eat because the baby was eating all of mommy's food'.  That afternoon we were driving home from a party and she demanded to eat.  We told her that she could eat when she got home.  She replied with
'Rose needs to eat.  Baby in Rose's tummy eating Rose's food.  Rose needs to eat NOW.'  
Silly goose.

Oh my darling girl.  What new thing am I going to discover about you today?