Happy Halloween...

We had a fun day. We stayed at the house and both kids took nice naps. I had contemplated going down town to Trick-or-Treat on Broad but opted out since I was by myself and I really needed AG to nap. (And since we are really trying to 'control', or at least as much as possible, his CVS I wanted him to sleep and wake himself up.) Since we were having to tote Avi-Cakes I decided it would be easier if she wasn't in a costume this year since she is so little. We put on some layers and she wore her glow-in-the-dark skeleton pjs on top. AG decided to be a gorilla. One of his favorite books is Goodnight Gorilla and so it worked perfectly.  He was pretty cute...if I do say so myself! :) 

After a quick dinner we went to take pictures by our collection of pumpkins that we carved with our college crew. AG was super excited and began to squeal...this didn't go over well with Avi-Kate!

Pictures done and ready to get some candy!

Well, after a few houses AG was really getting in to it. I took him to a house and I should have turned around when I saw how it was decorated but live and learn. Well, we get up to the house and it's decked out...we ring the doorbell...delayed answering...out pops a man in a creepy mask...AG about jumps out of his skin and screams...the man immediately yells he's sorry and takes off the mask. Damage done. (sigh) We get back to Andy and all AG can talk about is that he is scared! So, we convince him to try a few more houses but each house he tells the owners how scared he is instead of Trick-Or-Treat. He had then had enough and told us he was ready to go see GrandMary because her house wasn't scary. So, we called it a night. Loaded up both kids into the Acadia. And away we went up the street to see our beloved GrandMary and Jack. :) Have I mentioned how much we love Mary?! Or how much we can't wait for AG to start Kindergarten?!

Andy was determined to capture our pumpkins at night...

Here's to next year and here's hoping that AG won't be scarred for life. :) If he is I guess we'll just go to GrandMary's and pass out her candy for her. 

I dig you...

...Happy Valentine's Day! Aunt Mis bought this fun shirt for AG to wear on Valentine's Day. I snapped a photo of it on him as soon as I put it on because I knew he'd have fun in it outside. Sure enough he did and we had to change for nap time!

This morning we woke up and gave AG his gift from us...two new books. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn and a new Dr. Seuss book. AG has really gotten in to kisses and specifically kissing hands so The Kissing Hand was the perfect addition to our library. In a few years GrandMary will read it to AG the night before he starts Kindergarten with the rest of the classmates. I look forward to that moment. :)

We had Andy's favorite, cinnamon rolls, for breakfast and then he headed off to work. AG spent the day playing and making normal toddler messes. I spent the day working on starting to reorganize dressers/chest of drawers to make way for Avi-Kate's clothes. I also did several loads of laundry to get everything I bought at Twice Is Nice washed up so that I can put it away.

Dinner was low key since Andy and I went out last night to celebrate. Thanks to Aunt Caro and Uncle Clay for spending an evening with AG so we could eat dinner at Outback and go see 'Just Go With It'. Which we loved and enjoyed even more because over half the movie was filmed at the resort we stayed at this past April in Maui, The Grand Wailea. I was planning to make some heart shaped frosted sugar cookies with AG after dinner but mommy is wiped! So, I'm thinking we'll do that later this week. Besides we still have birthday cupcakes that we made for Andy on Saturday to enjoy.

Ps- It should be noted that AG stole a smooch from Emma on Saturday night before she left...right on the lips! Needless to say we all laughed and Josh told AG to back off. :) It was pretty cute...

A few more reasons to love our college town...

One of the perks of living in Rome is all of the wonderful things available to us thru Berry. We decided that when we got married that if we stayed in Rome and if we were financially able that we would take advantage of all that Berry has to offer for our future family. Here are a few of the things Berry has to offer...

Kindermusik:

A music class that starts for infants and goes all the way to school age. Each semester focuses on something different and gives young children a wide exposure to the wonderful world that is music and the arts.

Child Development Center (CDC for short):

The CDC is the lab preschool here at Berry and it falls under the Charter School of Education at Berry College. As a student of the Charter School I had to spend a semester doing practicum work in one of the classrooms at the CDC. Not only are there practicum students in the classrooms on a regular basis there are college students that work in each classroom each day as part of Berry's on-campus work program. This is incredibly unique because it can make the adult to student ratio very low. Thus, allowing each child that goes there lots of one on one help, instruction, and guidance that you might not find in a typical preschool. The CDC has classes for 3-5 year olds with one of the major requirements being that they be potty trained before they start "school". 

Berry College Elementary and Middle School (BCEMS for short):

BCEMS is the lab school here at Berry and it falls under the Charter School of Education at Berry College as well. It contains one classroom per grade level starting with Kindergarten thru Eighth grade. My on campus job while I was a student was to work at Berry Elementary and I worked in Mary Niedrach's Kindergarten class. AKA AG and Avi-Kate's GrandMary. I loved working there! Like the CDC there are tons of college students in the school daily for on campus work, student teaching, and practicum experiences. Again, this makes the adult to student ratio much lower than in a traditional classroom. I love all the things that makes the Berry Education unique. BCEMS strives to give it's students an education of the head, the heart, and the hands just like the college does for it's students. They desire to educate the whole child not part of the child. For this reason our desire would be for our children to attend school here...because where else is your child going to take a field trip every week in Kindergarten relating to what they are learning that week? (Yes, for every letter of the alphabet there is a field trip!)

So, for spring semester we have enrolled AG in a Kindermusik class. He goes on Friday mornings and we are happy to be in class with our best friend Emma and our friend Addison, from church. Today I sent an email to the director of the CDC inquiring about enrollment for next January for AG. I can't believe I'm working on preschool options for my child. It seems like just yesterday I was doing practicum up at the CDC. Before I know it I'll be sending him off to Kindergarten in the classroom that I worked in for four years! It amazes me how quickly time flies...

Happy Halloween...

Buzz Lightyear contemplating his next mission.

Emma came by to show off her cute costume.

This year Ginn and I didn't have to hold them to get a picture...my what a difference a year makes! I can't wait to see them at the Tree Farm together in a few short weeks!

At the end of the night we drove up to GrandMary's house to see her and wish Jack a happy birthday. AG was tired and not excited about pictures...Mary and I on the other hand look fabulous! :o)

Sitting in GrandMary's office and eating some candy while admiring her Tooth Fairy wings. Yes, AG's future kindergarten teacher is THE Tooth Fairy. 

We love you GrandMary! Thanks for all you do...we appreciate you!

Meet AG's GrandMary...

For those of you who don't know this would be AG's GrandMary. She is also known as the Queen of all things Kindergarten and THE Tooth Fairy (I can't even begin to guess how many teeth she has pulled in her 30+ years of teaching.) When I was a student at Berry I was assigned to work in Mary's Kindergarten Classroom at Berry Elementary as my on campus job. It was a match made in heaven. I adored working for her and learning everything I could from her. My sophomore year I even arranged my schedule so that I could work all day Tuesdays and Thursdays for her. She is hands down one of the most talented and gifted teachers I have ever known. She LOVES what she does 150%. And I'm not exaggerating when I say that. Ask anyone who knows her and they will agree with me. I know people dread the day their child goes to Kindergarten...I on the other hand can't wait because I know first hand what an amazing year my child is going to have. It will be one of the most memorable years of his school career.

Mary became one of my dear friends over the course of my time at Berry. And so when we told her two years ago that I was pregnant (after much squealing and excitement) she informed us that AG would call her GrandMary...her grandmother name of choice. I asked how that would work when he came to Kindergarten...she said we'd cross that bridge when we got there. When people ask us if we have family in Rome we always reply with a "yes--in a way" and a smile.

Every year I help Mary get her classroom ready for the upcoming school year. Last week AG and I spent three days helping get things together. This time last year AG played contentedly on a blanket with a few toys. This year he enjoyed exploring every nook and cranny. He mastered climbing the stairs (both ways) to the loft. (Even tested out gravity by throwing a few things from the loft!) Played in the housekeeping area. Colored in the writing center. Admired the fish and turtles. Opened every cabinet to learn what goes where. Even discovered how to use the PC in the classroom. (Which Mary and I were quite impressed with since at home we only have MACs.) Played with the blocks. Tried out a resting mat. Familiarized himself with the art table. Mastered all the chairs in the classroom, how to operate the water fountain in the hall, and putting the boys bathroom pass on and off. If he could go to Kindergarten tomorrow he would. :)

Mary, we love you more than you know! Thanks for being AG's GrandMary. Thanks for being my dear friend. We can't wait for AG to start school.

Ps- I call dibs on being your Room Mom for the school year 2014-2015.