Big girl bed...

Oh goodness I almost can't believe it, for the first time (outside of vacation where she has slept w/ me) Eva slept in a BIG GIRL BED! We'd gone up, read Grace's library book, said our prayers - all while laying in Grace's bed. When I said, "Okay it's time for bed..." Eva didn't hop up like she normally would, instead she said, "Me sleep here - cover me up!"

Grace of course wasn't happy w/ this - this is her space, she didn't want to share it. Eva who looks like a little bed bug all snuggled up for the night, grinning from ear to ear. While Grace looks near tears, saying "Eva - I'm not "compy, I'm not compy. Go sleep in your crib." Eva was not budging. Matt even came up and tried to get the girls to sleep in the Rose Room(you know the room they are "supposed" to sleep in - the pretty room), but neither of them wanted that. Matt offered to push the two twin beds together, Eva wouldn't even walk in the room. I think she was afraid of losing her spot in Grace's bed.

I felt bad, but I had to tell Grace, if Eva wants to sleep in a big girl bed, this is the only bed we have w/ a railing... Grace didn't want to have to move spots so she unhappily relented and let Eva sleep next to her. I put Eva's pillow in Grace's bed and you would have thought I'd bought Eva her first car she was so excited! "Gracie - LOOK! Me pillow! Me pillow!"

So I tucked them in for the night, said no talking and turned out the lights. I then ran downstairs turned up the baby monitor - thinking in a few minutes I'll have to tell them to be quiet, or I'll be rocking Eva again... but nothing... I waited 15 minutes to go up and check. It was so sweet, and sad, and a relief! They were BOTH SOUND ASLEEP! While I miss rocking my little bird, I was shocked at what it was like to actually have the evening - a strange feeling!

So I have to wonder what tonight will be like;-)

Anderson Apple Orchard...

This afternoon the girls and I went to the Anderson Apple Orchard - we LOVE going! They probably love going b/c I love going. Who doesn't love picking fresh apples, okay maybe it's not daddy's favorite thing, but seriously it's tons of fun:-) Both girls have been going since they were little, we generally make more than one trip each season!

Prior to going Eva kept dancing about saying, "me going to Apple Bees!" I agreed, I mean she sort of got it right:-) When we got there she squealed APPLE BEES! "Me so excited!" W/ apple orchard fans like that who wouldn't go, right? :-)

Rocking my baby in the tree tops...

Oh gosh, why on earth was I worried about how Eva would do w/ Grace at school??? Today is our 1st Wednesday at home together w/out Gracie. I thought Eva might be cranky not having her playmate here, but no - she LOVES being w/ me and just me. It's amazing, I never realized how much they fuss back and forth, but when Gracie isn't here - you really notice it!

Eva and I had so much fun playing house, she played w/ her baby all kinds of things:-) She was rocking her baby, while I folded clothes, when she said, "Mommy. Me rocking my baby in the tree tops" I thought it was so sweet! I told Matt but I don't think he got where she came up w/ that at first, until I said, "rock a bye baby, in the tree tops..." he then got a big smile and thought it was super sweet.

Just love her to pieces!!!

Riding the bus....

Today was Grace's 1st day riding the bus -- she was sooooo excited! It was so cute watching her:-) We talked before she rode the bus, just in case she didn't have anyone to sit w/. She said, "if you don't have anyone to sit w/ that would be sad...." I was more worried that she would want to sit w/ someone and they would say no:-( But not Gracie! But we still practiced, I told her when you get on the bus if there is someone you want to sit w/ you say, "Hi I'm Gracie, can I sit w/ you?"

When the bus driver pulled up, Matt and I were both outside waiting w/ her. The bus driver said, "Are you Gracie?" Grace said, "Yes! And I'm going to ride your bus today:-)" The driver said, "I'm Kristi. Nice to meet you Gracie." Grace then hugged her:-) It was too sweet!

Grace then walked down the aisle and found someone to sit w/. The driver, whispered, "she's so pretty!" And off they went.

I was outside waiting on her when the bus dropped her off. The stop is on the other side of the street so I crossed to get her. Grace jumped out of the bus hugging me - she had a great time on the bus. I had her cross the street so we weren't holding the bus up:-) And asked her about riding the bus.... she said, "I sat w/ my friend." I said, "really? who is your friend?" Grace said, "I don't know Mommy but she drives past our house every day!"

Leave to Grace to have a great day, make friends and not even know their name -- she's such a social butterfly!

Grace's 1st day of Kindergarten...

Okay can you believe this was LAST years pic?? Preschool... seems like it was just yesterday... Look out b/c when you see this years pic - wowie... preschool to kindergarten, is she driving already???

Gracie's last day at Brenda's.... :-(

Brenda wrote today (after the girls had been gone all last week) and said,

"I sure missed the girls. They seemed excited to come back. I've gotten lots of hugs. Grace keeps reminding me she is going to miss me and this is her last day here and she wants to sit on my lap and give me lots of hugs. It's starting to sink in I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS HER!! This is really sad and I hate it. I get tears just thinking about it. I remember when she was only 6 months old and started coming to me. I will miss everything about her...all the hugs and kisses, the wonderful compliments, her cute little smile and even the motherly (big sister I guess I should say) gestures with Eva.

You and Matt must have reminded her that today would be her last day here. She has given me more hugs and kisses than I get in a week. I know she will come on her days off from school and in the summer...but it's still not the same. With your situation with the bus and me not being in your school district, it makes it different than with the other kids who start off to school. They come on the bus after school and Gracie won't come at all."

When we left Brenda's this afternoon, Brenda was crying when she hugged Grace - it was so sad!

Fisherman's Wharf

Muir Woods, CA (aka: Redwood Forest)