Elmo's World

Tomorrow, Maddie & I are heading for double header Elmo shows in Jackson.

(Well, really the same show twice but since we're going that far,

we want to see lots of Elmo!)

I wanted to see how much Elmo stuff we've accumulated.

Wow. That's a lot of Elmo. Somebody's mommy got carried away.

Checking out the Elmo puppet.

See my Elmo shirt?

And I love this Elmo book.

Can you still see my Elmo shirt?

Here it is!

Maddie told Elmo to "say cheese."

Look at my Elmo piano!

Can you believe this stuff?

Shadow needed to check it out, too.

Reading my Elmo book to Elmo puppet; check out the Elmo slippers.

An even bigger Elmo book.

Finish it up with Elmo juice in the Elmo cup. Elmo snacks, anyone?

Happy Birthday, Emily!

Emily celebrated her birthday today at the Monkey Room.

Happy "Burfday, Emaee"

It has been fun to watch you grow up!

Maddie & Emily ... watching each other grow up? or just staring one another down? ....

and pals, Frank, Haley & Alex at Christmas, 2008Mama's Christmas angel, 2008

Daddy's little sweetheart, Valentine's, 2009

Kim & Emily (and Haley) last June (2008).

The party was great, but sadly, my photo abilities haven't much improved!

This was Frank waving hello.


And a great picture of Egan's face... oops, too late!




And Maddie was looking at me!


My diva had to wear a tutu with her "silly monkey" shirt.

Andrew helped Maddie jump.


Look at that bounce... Maddie is looking at the "utter jump." (Where is Alex?)



Now she's got it!



Emily & Daddy


Frank on the slide

On the "big slide" with Egan.

My camera ham. Say "cheese."

(Check out the color coordinated birthday girl and daddy in the back.

And can you see the monkey on Frank's shirt, too?)

Mommy, why are they all looking at me?

Okay, I can blow out my candles. Mommy & Daddy both helped.

Emily & Daddy again... see, color coordinated.

Maddie, where's your cake? "IN MOUF" (And just in case, you were confused...)

Ava & Andrew agree: we love cake!

Alex thinks it's faster with two hands.

More, please!

Dance Party

Our second week of school - and it's great! Maddie really seems to like it. Her verbal skills are multiplying - she told her teachers "Daddy back, aipane (airplane)"

We ended our week with lunch at Whole Foods and an impromto dance party Friday night. I put a music channel on TV and turned it up. We danced and shook and twirled and clapped and then got out the instruments, too.

the impressive dancing yoga move

with that pointed toe, it really is time for ballet class!

Maddie plays dueling guitars and a shaker!

Sentences!

I don't have any pictures of this, but Maddie now has three sentences:

"I got it." "Here it is." "Open it now, please"

Okay, they don't sound quite like that... "opentitnow, peas" is more like it, but sentences, really? I am not ready!

She also now says, yeah, instead of yes. What happened? At least I went from Mama Mimi to Mommy!

Happy Birthday, Caroline!

Our week ended with Caroline's 2nd birthday party at Gym Rompers. It was so much fun to be at Gym Rompers again and see how much our kids have grown. Maddie had a blast and can do everything now. Alex has really decided he likes her again and tries to get her to play on all the same toys. Maddie would much rather dance with the big girls, but she did have fun rocking with Alex. (And, again, thanks Blair for the pictures! )

Singing in the Rain

Kevin was out of town this week so we stayed busy. We hosted a new member playdate, an organizer meeting, and two playdates with friends. Maddie loved seeing Frannie and the "big girls" and sharing juice was the best!

We needed some "down time" so Maddie went out to play in the rain - check out this outfit. She's wearing the pj top she kept on all day, the capri jeans (that look much better with the white top mommy picked out), her black boots (thanks, Kirk & Stella) and her new rain hat.



When she found her fairy costume, her fashion sense kicked in and she changed boots!

First Day of School

Today was Maddie's first day of school! She started at Edisen House, Country Day, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My baby goes to school!

I thought it might be hard, but she only cried for about 30 seconds when I dropped her off. Luckily, her friend Elmo, also started school with her so he stayed with her all day. When I came to pick her up, she was busy with snack time - and I had to wait for her to have seconds (and thirds).


Her teachers said she was very social and verbal. She played with the blocks and was so great at building that her teacher thinks she is a future architect. As usual, she loved eating - especially the garlic bread - and also loved nap time with her mat.

Outside play with the big kids made the day even better.

A snoball playdate (followed by the park) was the perfect way to start her school year!