favorite k&m moments: jan 2012

gymnastics

Since Kapria was no longer going to preschool, we knew we wanted to get her into some kind of activity that would help build her confidence. One of my good friends has her daughter in gymnastics and suggested that we check it out.

I signed up Kapria for a tryout class for four year olds and Mila in a parent participation class for toddlers. Since the classes were at the same time, I dropped off Kapria in hers, then went with Mila to a different room for hers.

And they both loved it! So here we are on our second day of gymnastics, with lots more of these days to come.

gymnastics 01.31.12

a preschool update

Kapria started preschool in October. From the beginning she had a hard time saying goodbye and would cry and cling a bit. But within about five or ten minutes, she would calm down and be okay. She loved going to preschool. But in November, things started getting worse. She would cry and yell. Then she was throwing full-on tantrums after I left for about fifteen to twenty minutes. She also started waking up in the middle of the night crying that she didn't want to go to preschool. We talked to her teacher, who is absolutely wonderful and has taught for years, and she paid special attention to Kapria to see if something was going on that she hadn't caught.

I don't feel that anything bad happened at preschool - I believe it was more to do with her separation anxiety, which has been prevalent at church every Sunday since she went into the Sunbeam class at the beginning of 2011. Then, I started working more hours in August (up from 10 to 20 per week, which was a company mandate to keep my job), and in November I was working a lot during the day and hiring sitters because of some big projects that were due. That, coupled with Trav being gone three to four days of the week from 9am-11pm, I think made for some tough months for Kapria.

So Trav and I talked and decided to let her take December off, since she would only miss a few days due to the Christmas break. Then we told her she could decide in January if she wanted to start back again.

Throughout December, Kapria would say that she missed her friends at preschool, and she missed her teacher. Then she would also add, "But I'm not going back."
"Let's see how you feel after Christmas, okay?" I'd say.

When January came, we asked Kapria how she felt. And she was adamant: "I do not want to go to preschool!"

We explained that she couldn't change her mind. If she didn't go to preschool, she wouldn't get to go again to that class. She said, "That's ok."

Trav and I talked and prayed again, and we felt it was good not to push her. Since she has a September birthday, she could either start Kindergarten this fall as the youngest in her class or we could wait another year and have her start as the oldest in her class. We had already decided to wait and have her start in 2013. So that means she'll have a whole year of preschool time still open to her.

So we told Kapria that she was done with preschool. Immediately we all felt relief. I know it was the right decision for her right now. A few weeks later, we attended a birthday party for one of her preschool friends. Afterwards she told me that she missed preschool and wanted to go back. I explained to her that she chose not to go to preschool and that we weren't going back to that class. She said, "Okay."

Every so often she'll tell me she misses her friends, and then she'll say, "I'm glad I'm not in preschool though, Mom."

I'm so grateful for guidance from Heavenly Father in helping us make this decision. And I'm grateful for my sweet Kapria who revels in our time together. I'm loving every minute of it too.

baby chat

Mila talks nonstop now, and I love hearing what she has to say. She also loves playing with her babies. So here you go, a conversation about her baby.

date night swap: january 2012

Another fun night with some of our favorite friends! Sabrina was so tired and did not want to be cuddled by Mila and Kapria, much as they adore her. The girls loved dressing up and playing superhero princesses. After dinner, Trav gave Sabrina her bottle. She snuggled in and fell asleep. Oh I just love watching my hubby be so sweet with babies. We ended the night with a movie and popcorn. We love our friends!

first disney day of the new year

Our Disney passes expired in December, and I couldn't decide if we should spend the money to renew or not. Trav is so busy with school that he can't go much at all, since the cheap tickets only work on the weekdays. So he didn't want to get a pass. That left me and Kapria. But the more I thought about it, I realized that this is a great way to spend time with my girls. We may never live so close to Disneyland again, and we'll never have only one child to pay for. Not only that, but I got a free Disney gift card that covered the price of Kapria's ticket. So that left only mine to pay for. We decided that would be my Christmas, and I'm so glad it worked out.

Our first day back was so much fun. It's crazy how much Mila has changed in the month since we last went. She does better waiting in line, plays more with Kapria, and isn't as scared of the rides.

The first ride the girls insisted on seeing was Captain EO. Since seeing it in December with Trav, they have become obsessed with Michael Jackson and his music. We listen to it every day. So that's the first ride we went to. But with being even a month older, Mila IS more aware of things that truly are dark and scary, and this time she was so scared of the spider lady that she hid her face in my shoulder and wouldn't watch. I made sure she saw the end, where the spider lady is turned into a beautiful queen by Captain EO. And even though it was scary, she still says it's her favorite ride.

We were super excited to meet Iridessa for the first time - the girls have been hoping to see her for months, so they were pretty thrilled. In the past Mila has been too scared to talk to any of the characters, but this time she wouldn't stop talking. She told Iridessa all about Captain EO and the spider lady. Ha ha ha.

We get spoiled with short lines, so if there's ever a long line, we choose not to go on the ride. So the short lines for the day were the carousel, teacups, astro blaster, astro orbiter, and visiting the fairies and Rapunzel. All in all, a great day with my two favorite little people.

a special kind of lip gloss

trying new things

We went to a birthday party for our friend Paiton, who turned three. The girls loved it! There was a huge blow-up slide, and Kapria spent nearly the entire two hours climbing up the stairs and sliding down it. Mila loved the slide as long as I slid down with her. But her absolute favorite part was the zip line. I couldn't believe how much she loved it and how well she held on! She spent most of her time in there, taking turns with the other kids. She was the smallest one to do it and never fell off. She would hit the bouncy end wall and slide backwards, and still be holding on until I came and helped her off. Kapria finally took a break from the slide to come see what Mila was up to. And she loved the zip line too. Looks like we have an idea for some good family adventures.

book parties

I want to throw book parties for my kids when we read good books together. So I'm starting to gather ideas. Please - send me links to your favorite ones!

I'll start. My friend Erin threw THIS Ella Enchanted party with her family once they finished reading the book together. Such fun food and activity ideas! I will for sure be using this one once the girls are big enough.

Now let's hear some ideas for book parties you've thrown or attended or ones you've seen others blog about!

in which mila reads a book

mila conversations: 2.5 years old

Mila talks really well, and we have great conversations. Most of the time I can understand everything she says. But every so often she says a word or two that I just can't understand. Of course this has happened every since she started talking. But how the conversations end always makes me laugh (and leaves me surprised and a little sad too).

This morning, Kapria and Mila are watching Return to Neverland.
I'm cleaning the house, and Mila wanders over every so often to report what's happening in the movie.

Mila: Jane yelled at her mom and brother.

Me: Oh, that wasn't very nice of her, was it?

Mila: No it wasn't. Jane's {running}.

Me (not quite understanding that last word): Jane's running?

Mila: No. Jane's {running}.

Me: Jane's . . . yelling?

Mila: No.

Me: I'm sorry, I can't understand what you're saying. Can you tell me one more time?

Mila: No. I don't want to tell you one more time.
And she's done and runs away.




This happens any time I don't understand her. She'll look at me for a minute, then if I ask her to repeat it one more time, she'll say, "No. I don't want to tell you again." She clamps her mouth shut and the conversation is over: you got two chances, and that's that.

It does make me laugh, but I feel sad that I'm not understanding what she wants me to know.

So I'm warning you now: If you're ever talking to Mila, you better use your chances wisely.

superheroes

an evening with grandpa keith

newport

We met a friend up in Newport on the most warmly beautiful day. How is this January? I love it.

Whenever we go to the beach, Kapria routinely wants to make a mermaid tail. Mila has never been interested in burying her legs under a mound of sand - in fact, she was scared of sand for the first year we lived here. But now she loves playing in it, and this time she even got brave enough to join in on the mermaid fun. 

It was a lovely perfect day of surfing (for Trav), playing and running and chasing (for the girls),  relaxing and talking and enjoying (for me).

I wish I could live near the ocean always.