Pause Please... Twins start kindergarten

When my oldest was old enough to start school, life was pretty crazy. I had a two year old and one week old premature twins in the NICU. I sent Lindsey off to kindergarten with a smile and a sense of relief. A few years later when it was Jacob's turn I wasn't quite as enthusiastic but the twins were 3 years old and keeping me plenty busy. The only thing that bothered me was that it was yesterday that I had sent Lindsey off to Kindergarten and there she was a big 3rd grader. I just blinked and she was in third grade. I learned a true fact which is once you send you kids to school they grow up very fast!

So this year sending my babies to kindergarten was a big deal. Not because they would gone so much quite yet (they only go for 2.5 hrs so its a lot like preschool) but because I knew it means they are growing up and before I blink they, too will be in third grade! Oh my!

The girls have loved kindergarten. They are in the same class but don't sit together are both are very independent. The biggest fear I get is being late. They worry all morning about being on time (we have never even been late). Their individual personalities are really showing more too. Hailey has revealed herself to be a bit of a perfectionist and a worry wart. She wants all her work to be perfect and has even woke herself up at night worrying about it. Sydney doesn't seem to care but is more apprehensive about new experiences whether it be computers or a new friend. I have loved spending time with them each morning. It isn't lost on me that this time is finite and limited so we spend time having play dates and lunches and snuggling because after all I am going to blink and they will be in third grade.

My kids are all at the perfect ages I want to hit pause!

Bowling....

In September we took the kids bowling. It was so much fun! It's attached to a pizza factory so the food was really good too! The place was also clean. Not really my expectation for bowling but we will be going back for sure!

This is the place...

I am about a month behind so bear with me as we get caught up...

First up..
The kids had school out in the beginning of September (yes they just started school) so we headed up to the park called This is the place. Alan and my sister Holly were able to come along too! This is the place is a little pioneer village with actors and other activities for kids.

 Plowing the field makes a lot of dust!  They must have been dirty back then!

 Learning about school and the dunce cap.

 Hailey loves horse rides.

 Sydney would have spent the day in the petting zoo. She even named her goats.  This is "Blackie".

 Wagon rides

 The kids loved panning for gold...

 Especially because if you turn it in to the banker he gives you candy!

 Good old fashioned tug a war!

The houses were really interesting and fun but we are all grateful to live in more modern times!

Thursday's tip...

I have all sorts of tips out here to share. Some I read on the internet and some I just figure out on my own...

Today's tip could be life changing for some...


Wash your hair twice when you shower. Seriously this makes a huge difference!

You can train your hair to not wash it daily. It won't happen right away though but over time your hair will produce less oil. I have dry hair so my tip works longer than most for me. But you, too, could at least get an extra day too.

Try it.

Some of you doubt and say you have really oily hair Just try it.


Read more about it here love this blog...
http://www.hdofblog.com/2010/06/hair-answers-shampoo-ing-less-often/

There are three more posts under the label dry shampoo for more info...


Then if it works for you thank me for the extra hour you gain when you skip blow drying.

Dance Dance Dance!!!

This fall I was in search of a good dance class that included both tap and ballet, was close to home, was reasonable priced, and offered a class before school (afternoon kindergarten). Pretty steep list huh? With good luck (and a good friend) I found this and more because the studio is wonderful! I love watching the girls take tap, its really adorable. Their teachers are awesome! The girls have detected how much I love them doing it and have asked me a lot about my experience with dance. Hailey says she is going to take her twins to dance class someday just like me. Ha ha.

 

The girls were a little done with pictures at this point. I think its so funny how similar their faces look in it though. They have almost the same mad face!

Sparkle Bear...

As luck would have it Sydney had Sparkle bear the first day she had to wear her glasses to school. Sparkle bear comes home with a child who is really good at school. He/she gets to spend the day with that child and the night and then the child shares the visit with the class. It's a big deal around here.

Going to Kindergarten with her new glasses was causing some major anxiety for Hailey so I decided it would help to invite a friend over to take her mind of it and reinforce that its no big deal. In addition we had a special treat and went to McDonalds. The friend was the perfect choice because she is so sweet and told the girls how great they looked. 
 
Sparkle bear got to join in the fun too!



Sydney had to color a picture of Sparkle doing something.

When we arrived at school the girls got noticed. Most kids were nice (Sydney was worried about being called four eyes) one came and sat with me and told me, "I don't think the girls should wear those glasses again". I had to remind her how fashionable and great they were and that she was very wrong.  Broke my heart.  I left them full of anxiety and almost asked to volunteer in their class that day (though I knew they needed to do this one on their own).  It really made the saying that goes something like ... "having kids is like having your heart walk outside your body", very real. I waited for them as school got out and they were totally fine and doing great.

It's taking some adjustment but they are getting used to the glasses.  They wear them all the time and really don't remove them at all. The worst I have noticed is just letting them slide on their nose or lifting them to see better. It's really a different challenge that they see better without them.

Today we were thankful for good friends and sparkle bear.

Seeing Double...

At the girls Kindergarten check up the girls had a little trouble with the eye test so I took them to an ophthalmologist. A little trouble turned into a big problem when it became obvious that they each were not able to see well out of one their eyes. So easy to miss as they can see 20/20 out of one eye.It's no surprise  that they both have it considering they are identical twins. Interestingly though, its the opposite eye on each girl. We have now determined they are probably mirror twins.

Regardless the official diagnosis is lazy eye. So we begin by wearing glasses and then if we don't see progress they will begin patching.

My first reaction was sadness but a week later it's gratitude. Grateful they each have one 20/20 eye and grateful we can begin to fix the other one. Hopefully we see lot's of progress. Either way they may wear glasses.

The girls had a mixed reaction at first but when I told them we would get fashion glasses they were excited.

So we began searching for the best fashion glasses. If you know me this took a bit of research :)

We ended up with pink.  Fun, sassy and all their choice. Each got similar but different which makes it nice.  I have to say even though I had a lot of sadness over this, the girls have done great.

 As we were walking out Sydney told me she didn't want to wear them to church. When I informed her that she had to wear them all the time (which is hard because they actually see better without them on) she told me she would never look pretty again!  Oh my... my tears fell but she never knew and I was able to get her to realize she looked pretty either way!

Best for last...

We finally found a place that served breakfast (a lot of stuff was closed during our stay).

 As a side note my sister is amazing trip planner and I benefited so much from all her research. One thing she did that helped me a lot was she researched menu's and we had a eating out budget. We went to the grocery store first and then only at out once a day.  We actually came out of our trip under budget on food too.  It helped me to plan and just take the cash out for my meals before hand. I didn't feel as guilty.
 After breakfast we walked the beach. 

We took tons of photo's because it was seriously beautiful. Empty too (which is why we were alone in all of them).


Because it was our last day in paradise we paid for a snorkeling tour by boat. Apparently the usually glass like water was stirred up from Hurricane Igor the week before. They only got 45 minutes of rain from the actual Hurricane but it affected the water a bit. So headed out  by boat was a better option.

We took a boat tour out with a company called Big Blue (just in case your taking notes for your vacation).  This included two snorkeling excursions (which were absolutely awesome yet  not pictured opps), a trip to private and stunning island

I really can't tell you how beautiful it was. The white sand, the color of the water. The sea shells everywhere.  I got one for each kid, and a intact sand dollar (don't worry there are so many we were encouraged to take them). I even came across from a huge live star fish. Don't worry he wasn't out of the water long.

You have no idea how hard it is to post my bathing suit shots but its just so pretty I have to prove it was real!

It also stopped at an island which is an Iguana sanctuary.  Not the best for me and my reptile fear but I got pics for Jacob.

After our day trip we hurried back to the beach and floated till Sunset. Just to get as much time in the water as possible...
The sunset was so pretty on the clouds..

And just like that the sunset on our vacation and it was over.  I arrived home last night.  I feel a little out of sorts and bit jet lagged but the hugs and kisses more than make up for that!  Dream Vacation for sure!