Reunion

 

Tonight we went to a birthday party for Eva's friend from her old daycare (now she is a kindergartener...) at a miniature golf course.

When we arrived, the place was closed and the Mom was beside herself.  How does that happen?  They just decide not to open for the day?

I have my own theories (think minimum wage and hangover), but we live extremely close to the venue and I offered our house as an optional choice for the party.

So the reunion of the ninos shifted to our backyard.  It went fantastic.

Thank goodness, the weather held out for us.  Dylan later asked, "Can I tell you my no favorite part?"  "XXX running away from me."

"Well Dyl, what was your favorite part?"

"Watching programas with Eva."

More importantly, I grilled Eva on seeing her friends again.  She hasn't seen these boys (all the guests were boys) since June.  In Toddler time that's years!

"OMG Eva!  What was it like seeing CM again?"

"It was special because we have to play together.   We did an obstacle course."

"Why is CM such a good friend?"

"CM shares with me, he plays with me, and gets along with me.  When SP is busy, he still plays with me.  Sometimes I want to play and CM gets along with me and will play with me."

These two have been together since they were babies.  They are adorable together and was a great reunion.  We were happy to help out considering the circumstances.

Kindergarten, Kindergarten!

First day of school
 

Eva embarked on a new chapter of her life today.  Today was  kindergarten orientation.  

We began in the aud, and soon Eva met her teacher as we went to sign her in.  "She looks like a princess in that beautiful dress."  She was very friendly and super excited to meet Eva.





They called the classes by teacher to board the school bus for the first time, and left the parents behind in the aud.  While the little niños were gone all by themselves on the big scary school bus, we got the important information about the bus, the cafeteria, pto, etc.

As they returned, we then visited the classroom to set up her areas and deliver all the school supplies.  It was crowded and chaotic, but saved the teacher hours of work by having us parents do it for her.



I couldn't help but compare the experience with my own first days as a teacher were I get students screaming at the door, because they havent met the teacher, thrusting bags and bags of school supplies through the door for me to (hopefully) find time to put away during my lunch, and a bunch of mystery stickers to be delivered sometime during the day containing super important bus information to get the students home safely.   Its a completely different world.   Oh, and my Eva has 16 students in her class, they just hired a sixth kindergarten teacher.  

It was a great day for Eva.  She is ready!   
 
 

Girls

As we began our second non-consecutive week at the beach, the arrival of the girls, only amplified the excitement of being back at the beach.  The 'girls' are the daughters of our next door neighbors, at the beach. 

Last year, Eva followed the girls around like a puppy dog.  She did 3-4 costume changes a day, just like the girls.  She was constantly asking, "Mommy, where are the girls?  What are the girls doing?"   We were concerned this year because they would have a five year old following them around.  Would that be okay?  Would they all get along?  Would she annoy them?  

Looking for sea glass

That wasn't the case.  Eva loves the girls, but she kind of did her own thing.    



Dylan making sand angels

Dylan, however, is another story.



Marley making sand angels.

My little ladies man followed those girls around the whole week.  If they went in the water, he followed.  If they were digging, he joined.  If they were absent, he was distressed.  "Mommy, where are the girls?"


The Grand Canyon

It was a fantastic week at the beach.  Dyleva enjoyed themselves, and with extra friends around they played with the parachute, flew every kite available, and buried Daddy in the Grand Canyon. 

Burying Daddy in the Grand Canyon






 

Princess Girl Superheroes

For about the past six months, Eva has developed an infatuation with the princess life.  She has been studying the Disney princesses, Sofia the First, and has adapted her wardrobe accordingly.  (We often leave the house wearing a crown.)

Today, a new character emerged.  Eva was working with stickers and created the Princess Girl Superhero.  

"So Eva, Can you tell me about the Princess Girl Superhero?"

"Sure.  The Princess Girl Superheroes are there to help the fairies in case they accidently get blown into a tree.  Then they can come help them," she explained.

"How can you tell them apart?"

"The fairies have wings."

"But what about the Princess Girl Superhero from a regular girl, what makes them different?"

"Well, people like them so much, they just know.  They can tell how they are dressed and if they live in a castle.  In a really, really, big castle with a zipline to the roof, and then you know that they are a Princess Girl Superhero." 

Superluna!

Even though our first attempt in early June ended in disaster, we decided to try camping again with Dyleva.  We ventured as far as the backyard.  Coincidently, it was the night of the superluna.

The niños set up the tent for about an hour...babies, pillows, peluches, flashlights, etc.  All was going well until there was a major fight over a stuffed dog.  An unfortunate setback.  

Eventually, they made it back into the tent at dusk, just in time to watch the rise of superluna in the sky!

In the middle of the night, Dylan wet through his diaper.  As I trekked back into the house, the moon was amazing!  It illuminated our entire backyard!  So beautiful!

Tonight the ninos are in much better spirits, however there is imminent threat of thunderstorms by daybreak.  We listened to the rain beat down on the tent several times thoughout the night.  It was really cool, and proved the rain cover effective.  Another adventure.  Maybe next time we can travel further than our backyard.... 
 

Beach Days!

Dyleva's parents who were in desperate need for a beach getaway booked two weeks at the beach this year, instead of just one.  However, the weeks were not consecutive...strange.  Anyway, the niños have thoroughly enjoyed keeping busy in the sand and water.



Eva has taken to the beach like a sea turtle.  When she is not out swimming in the lake, she is combing the beach searching for sea glass.  It has turned into a slight obsession.  It was introduced to her last year by the niñas that stayed next door.  "Mommy, I just want it.  It makes me feel so happy to have it."  Fair enough.





Dylan, up until now, had perfected the art of sleeping on the beach.  It didn't matter where, Mexico, South Carolina, local beaches, zonk.   Out like a light.  We usually just throw a blanket over him and go on with our business.  This visit he's different.  

First of all, he loves our new house. "Mommy, me like this place."
If I can get him outside, he enjoys the beach.
"Dylan, come put on your bathing suit please."
 "No!"  
"Dylan come put on your sunscreen please."
  "No!"
"Dylan come brush your teeth please."
"No!"

But he loves the beach.  Today we made roads for his dump trucks to deposit the rocks they were carrying.     

In the lake, he is a little more apprehensive.  Not for lack of love of the water -he is a fish- but the thousands of stones he has to climb over to get there and also the waves have him a little nervous.

The boy also has a fascination for sticks, the longer the better.  This way he can help Daddy make a fire every night on the beach- a favorite part of the day for both niños and Mommy and Daddy. 

 
 
 
 

Hail on the Beach

Dyleva officially began their beach vacation this afternoon, however, they encountered several setbacks along the way.  

To Dylan's delight a big-ass choo-choo was blocking the road into the beach.   For hours.  I know this because Daddy left 3 hours before us, and the same car was on the track. 

So we detoured.  We got to see the town of Angola.  We arrived in tact on the brink of a major tormenta.  

Jeff had the niños out in the water about 10 minutes after they arrived with lightning in the distance.

"Jeff, there's lightning, could you. bring the children  in please?"

Hail on the beach!

Not long after the niños entered the house, a major storm continued.  There was hail falling the size of golf balls.  Lightning shot across the lake.  It was a great storm!

Later we watched a probable inappropriate film with the children (Jumanji), which they loved, but had a million questions...the niños were fascinated!  A successful but unlikely beginning for our beach vacation.

Our visit with Grandma Grandma

We went to visit Grandma-Grandma tonight.  The last time we saw her, she had fallen on her keester.  Since then she has been laid up in a nursing facility recovering.

Well this new setting was absolutely fascinating for Dyleva.  From the moment we walked in the door, "Mommy, where is the stretcher?"  "How did they get her on it?"

When we came in Grandma was cutting papers, she likes to keep busy.  She looked good, she had a lot of energy.  Not long after we arrived, Uncle Bill and Aunt Karol came.  It was like a mini party in her recovery room!

Dyleva fought over games and toys as I caught up with my family.....but fighting could only hold their interest for so long.

Dylan yanked the privacy curtain all the way around, then opened it again, then closed it.  "Peek a Boo!!"
For the record the people on the other side, I don't think they found him amusing.

Eva, the little mamita, was sooo busy bossing him around that he continued out of spite.  

Then dinner came.

They were sooooo interested in Grandma-Grandma's dinner. 
They are never that interested in my dinners.  "Grandma, what's this?"  "How come it comes in that?"  "What happens if Grandma doesn't finish her dinner?"

As we exited, the questions continued.  Mainly about Grandma-Grandma's mobility.
"But Mommy, how does she use the potty?"
"How come she just can't move the wheel (wheelchair) and go out?"
"Does she sleep in her bed at night?  How does she get there?"

We tortured Grandma enough with our visit.  We wish her well and that she gets to return home soon.