Thursday, August 30, 2012

First Day of Kindergarten

This morning we sent our babies out into the world of real school.





They were excited with nervous anticipation, yet as they have all their lives - found comfort and encouragement in one another.







Our first born little princess - talkative and in charge from the very moment of birth:



Our one and only little man - my silent learner is often shy, but quickly finds his place in the order of things with smiles and laughter:






There were plenty of tears from Aidan this morning...in fact, he cried from the moment I woke them up for their special first day of school breakfast (they now have to get up at 6:30 in order to leave the house before 7:30 to either make car pool or the bus)...




....to the time we left them at school at 8:15.  Ella; however, waltzed right in like she owned the place and had a complete blast from the very first minute!





Finally, it was time to pick them up! They opted to ride the bus, and I think this will definitely be the way to go from now on - no traffic for me, and a bus stop 3 minutes away!

Getting off the bus they were both all smiles and full of excitement, ready to tell us all about their day!


They each had their own miniature schultute - a German tradition of a celebratory cone filled with small toys and sweets given to all of the little girls and boys on their first day of school.

What a great first day of school! They both came home already rattling off German words and phrases and talking about German traditions and are excited to go back after Labor Day!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tomorrow

Dear Ella and Aidan,


Tomorrow, you start kindergarten. 
It feels like your dad and I have been counting down to this moment since you were born: “Can you believe in three years they will go to school?” “Next year at this time they will be in school.” “Only two more months until school.” But now, in time that’s felt less like a marathon and more like a 50-yard sprint, we’re buying markers and pencils, big backpacks and colored folders.
As with every other step along this parenting journey, friends, family, even strangers have offered opinions on how I’ll feel tomorrow. I haven’t a clue but I do know that when the door closes and I get that last glimpse of you for seven hours, you’ll crowd my thoughts: what you’re doing, what you’re thinking, if you’re ok, if you’re eating your lunch and using your manners, if you miss me.
Being a parent has been interesting, frightening, rewarding, and frustrating - sometimes all at once. On the day you were born, you were babies so welcomed and wondered over - a perfect set of twins. You were so tiny and ready to meet the world. From the first time I held you both in my arms and saw those little fists balled up and your sweet little red faces when you cried, I knew that you would be something big.

I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home with you and spend every second marveling in your development. Like so many parents of our generation, we tried to give you those “must-haves” the experts insisted upon:

Lots of books: Check.

Minimal TV: Check.

Early preschool: Check.

[mostly] Healthy meals: Check.

While we have given you advantages and can buy those school supplies and pack your lunch, you will now have to go it alone. And as the days draw nearer to the start of school, I notice you both testing the waters, asking questions, imitating imagined conversations, thinking aloud what this strange new world will be like.
Ella - my gregarious little social butterfly, you are still very cautious, watching and learning before truly jumping in. You will rely upon Aidan as your sounding board throughout the coming years.
Aidan - just a step to the side of shy, yet always sporting a bruise or a cut — you will soon be cliff diving, yet relying upon Ella to check the ropes.











Not long ago I expressed my hesitations about school to a teacher acquaintance. Her advice stuck with me: The hardest part of releasing you both to elementary school — or any new experience — is realizing that I must give you up to the less-than-perfect world that awaits you.
While the world has been and always will be imperfect, I too have been an imperfect parent. But I was always willing to learn, to say I was sorry, to try harder the next time. And now I’m willing to release you, with the knowledge that school, like parenting, will be rewarding and frustrating and I cannot change that. Despite all those fortunes of your early life, you will have sad days and lonely days and days when you just don’t want to go, when your teacher doesn’t notice you or your best friend won’t play with you or another kid is mean to you.
And those days, my loves, will break my heart.

If there are a few thoughts that carry you through, let them be this: While your dad and I have to let you go, no matter what you think or do or become we will always be there for you and listen. Dive off that cliff occasionally (check the rope first). And know that in our imperfect world, with all of our imperfect ways, we have been given the two of you - the two most perfect gifts one could ever imagine.
Love,
Mom and Dad

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Last Week

We have been very busy filling our last week before school starts with all sorts of fun adventures!

A trip to Discovery Place, where Lauren loved the aquarium and the twins loved the light up dance floor....





....one last trip to the pool....




....a visit to the kiddos favorite toy store....





.....a sleepover at our house with our besties, Adams and Henry, where we played at our neighborhood park, had a fun pizza dinner, watched a movie before heading upstairs to bed, woke up bright and early and played at a park in Pineville, and had lunch and ice cream at Jason's deli before heading to a birthday party...
















....a trip to the mall with Lauren's "birthday twin"....




....and a morning at a local children's museum with Adams and Henry.....




The first day of school for Ella and Aidan is on Thursday, and we have soaked up every last bit of summer.

We are officially ready!

Monday, August 27, 2012

Vote for Lauren!

Friends and family - as a photographer, I am always capturing moments in time and wonderful family shots for my clients and friends. But, I am desperate for some of my own, where I can actually be a part of the picture! I entered a picture of Lauren in
to a contest, and the one with the most "votes" wins a free session.

I would be so honored if you would help me win the chance to have our own family moments captured! Simply click here (http://bit.ly/T6NxnT) and vote for Lauren....and every vote gets the chance to win a target gift card!


You can vote once a day through September 3, so don't forget to vote each morning!

If each one of my clients and fans voted just once each day, I might be able to win this! I am deeply grateful in advance for the support and chance to have pictures of my own family!






PS - They do make you like their page, but you can always go back and unlike it after Monday!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

So Close

She loves to stand and walk while holding your hands. And she is quite the cruiser from furniture piece to furniture piece.

She even spider walks and stands up as if she is about to take those first steps (LOVE those cute chunky thighs!)....









But the thing she loves the most?


A portion of an animal train....all of the animals removed, and all of the other train parts removed. 


Just the caboose....



Trust me, she is so close to walking!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Open House

On Tuesday we visited Waddell Language Academy again for our final open house before school starts next week.





Ella and Aidan are in separate classes this year - Ella will be with Frau Bonaddio and Aidan will be with Frau Malave. The rooms are right next door to each other and maintain the exact same schedule, even coming together quite often for various learning activities.



We found our desks....



....and cubbies....


....and picked up our carpool tags (lucky #208 - that was my lucky # when I used to ride in equestrian competetions back in high school!) and our nametags for when Mike and I come to visit the school.

We also got the bus information....I am really thinking that after the first week or two we might utilize the bus, at least in the  afternoon. The shuttle stop is literally right around the corner and the pick up time of 3:48 would allow Lauren to get in her afternoon nap at home every day as opposed to in the car waiting in the car pool line!

Ella and Aidan did fabulous. They are still a bit hesitant and shy, but that is to be expected. I definitely anticipate tears (in addition to my own) on the first official day when Mike and I actually have to leave them there, but I feel confident that they are in an amazing school with amazing teachers.

I cannot believe that we are so close to the first day of school. It seems like just days ago that our biggest worry was transitioning from bottles to sippy cups and from formula to whole milk.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Little Devil

Lauren is proving to us that she is most definitely her own little person and will do things that the twins never even attempted.

She tries to climb on everything...including her play block....



...and into chairs to sit at the playtable like a big girl....











She is obsessed with the bathroom, and has learned how to remove the caps off of the toilet seat...and also loves to flush the toilet over and over....



She is sooooo close to walking....our world is about to change yet again once she is even more mobile!

Friday, August 17, 2012

Ordinary Days

Life has been quite hectic lately as we have been busy completing all of our "to-do's" before school starts in two weeks.

But we still manage to find some time to unwind and play outside.






Thursday, August 16, 2012

Ella's First Sleepover

Back on August 3rd, little Miss Ella was invited to her first sleepover and she had such a good time!

We trekked up to Kannapolis to my good friend Talitha's house where she had planned a Fancy Nancy/glamour party for the girls. Her identical twin girls, Caelie and Ella, have quickly adopted Ella as a good friend over the past few months.

She had an incredible spread of goodies....






....and the girls each got to have their hair and nails done, as well as a little mini-makeover.





They played dance games on the Wii and played, laughed and giggled until nearly midnight. The Mommies also had fun socializing together and I spent the night as well...what fun!