VA Aquarium

So it's been a while [before summer] that I took the girls to the VA Aquarium and until just recently they were doing a ton of construction and remodeling but they just finished! So it was time to go again. After Nicole got back from school, we took the girls up there. We kinda rushed through it because it was close to lunchtime but the girls still had a good time. We'll definitely go back again before the end of the year [which is weeks away] because then my membership will expire. =[

at the sting ray exhibit


Marty, Haylee & Kylie






pretty girl!












sitting in front of the non-moving croc [we thought it was fake!]



Kylie & Haylee looking at the other croc w/ lunch in it's mouth!



so cool!

Pre-School update! [December]

We celebrate advent and Christmas- Jesus' Birthday!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...."

John 3:16

This month their shape is a circle and their color is red. They will be incorporating those into art projects throughout the month. The school is having a Christmas program on Wednesday, December 16th at 11am. I'm so excited about Kylie's 1st school program! Then the school goes on winter break on December 23rd til the New Year.

Today, before I went to get Kylie from her room, I met with her lead teacher for a "Touch Points" meeting, kinda like a parent-teacher conference. Ms Brenda went over things they do at school and how they are teaching them things like: taking turns, sharing, cleaning up and putting everything back in it's place, and following directions. She asked me my concerns and I asked how she interacts with the other kids knowing how she is. And she said that they are working on that with her, as in sharing and waiting her turn. She wants all the toys to herself so they are working on that. And that's about it. She said Kylie is smart and is sweet at times.

I can't believe we are almost at the halfway point for the school year. And Kylie will be 3 years old in 6 months, I know it's going to fly by! She's getting so big- I look at her and can't believe how big she is.

We're Back!

Kylie & I are home from IL. It was a nice week and half and it flew by! We had a really nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed spending time with family.


Here are the pictures taken while we were there.....





Papa & Kylie



cutie!



"how do I open this thing?"









Kylie taking a nap in the dog bed!



Grandma & Kylie riding a camel!



Kylie loved it & probably would have rode it by herself!



petting a baby camel



nice goat



I think she's pulling the donkey's ear!



and putting the goat in a headlock! WOW- she's rough!



Kylie & I on Thanksgiving!






Kylie & Haylee [they weren't cooperating!]



Nana & Kylie



Nana & Haylee



cutie!

Nor' Easter

We survived the Nor' Easter! It actually seemed like a Hurricane. We lost power last night around 6:30pm. I was hoping we would get it back sometime during the night but woke up to still no power. Jacob didn't have to go to work so we went to eat breakfast and found out that we probably wouldn't have power til at least Sunday. So we started making arrangements. We came back home and packed our bags and decided to go to my parents' house til we got power back. Kylie & I drove to Nicole's house so we could get ready for lunch with Grandma. We went to Red Robin for Haylee's 1st Birthday! While we were at Nicole's, Jacob called me and said we got power back at the house! After lunch, we came back home and Kylie took a nap. I ran some errands and we've been hanging out all afternoon/evening.

Here are some pictures I took today after the damage from the storm.....

When we went to get breakfast this tree was on the car in the driveway!

this is a field flooded with water [almost looks like a lake!]

these signs are almost in water!

updates!

Just a quick update, on the Potty Queen! For the last couple days, she has pretty much wore big girl undies at home. The first day as I already posted was not so good. But since then she has done really well with little to no accidents! When we leave the house, she puts on a pull-up and then her big girl undies on over that! This morning, she put on her big girl undies before she had gone on the potty since she woke up. I kept asking her if she had to go potty and she kept telling me no. Then finally, she wanted to go so we got her on the potty and she went poop & pee-pee! Since she's wearing undies, I don't put her in pants, less laundry and then I can really see if she has an accident. Also, while she is sleeping she wears a diaper because she is still peeing a lot while sleeping.

Since we are going on a 16 hour road trip in just 5 days Kylie will be wearing a pull-up and will just use the potty when we stop. I hope this doesn't mess her up any but we would never get to IL if we had to stop every hour!

Starting yesterday, the Hampton Roads area has been experiencing a Nor' Easter, and if you aren't from this area you probably have no idea what that is. Pretty much, it's a mini Hurricane with heavy winds and rain and flooding in low line areas. Most schools were cancelled today. Hopefully it'll be a little better tomorrow as we have lunch plans with Mom and it's also Haylee's 1st birthday!!!!!!

If you haven't heard..... Jacob was offered Area Manager in Elizabeth City, Outer Banks, Moyock, and South Mills [where Mom & Dad live] and he accepted! He starts December 1st. The drive is pretty far but only about an hour there and then an hour back home. It's not that far from Mom & Dad's house so he can take the back way and hit less traffic. As a salesman, he drives around all day whereas a Area Manager he will mostly work in the office so he won't be driving as much and there will be no pressure to sell. I'm hoping he won't be getting home til late since there is still quite a drive but we'll see how it goes.

Congrats on your promotion Jacob!!!!!

Here is Kylie's potty chart from last week! She did really good overall.

Since she has been doing so good with staying dry in her pull-up, I thought we should try big girl undies today! That did not go so well. I'm sure it just takes time to get the routine down and to remember to hold your pee-pee til you get on the potty. And plus, when you are playing and having so much fun, it's hard to stop what you are doing to relief yourself! =]

Kylie is so proud in her big girl undies!

SO pretty!

she loves to paint!

play-doh!

baby shower

On Saturday, I co-hosted a baby shower for my friend, Emily. She's due with her 2nd girl on December 22nd. Her first daughter, Rylee is 7 weeks younger than Kylie and they are best friends! We ate some yummy food, played some fun games, opened presents and ate cake! It was a really nice shower and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Emily, 33 weeks pregnant

Emily & Rylee

favors

food

presents!

cake!

Welcome Sweet Baby Girl! [she doesn't have a name yet :)]

Barbie, Emily & I [Barbie was the other co-host]

Emily & I

Nicole, Emily & I

Emily, Rylee & her husband, Dan