Picture Day & The New Routine

Today was Picture Day at school! My only "rule" for Picture Day is that the girls can't wear something with a logo/character on the front (we made that mistake last year and the picture looked awful). They didn't seem to mind the new rule and both picked comfy gray dresses. I'm looking forward to seeing how the pictures turned out!

Practicing her smile

We have a morning drop-off routine that seems to be working well. Neither girl likes to play outside before school and then line up when the bell rings, so instead we sit and chat in the car until about a minute after the bell. Then Steve walks Emily to her class and I walk Jessica to hers. This way is a lot less hectic and doesn't produce any tears.

Have a nice day xox

Together for 15 Years

Steve and I celebrated 7 years of marriage in August, but today we celebrated 15 years of being a couple! On Monday, September 25th, 2000, Steve asked me out and I said yes. The rest is history!

We spent the summer of 2000 hanging out, becoming best friends, and flirting a lot. Then in September, since we didn't have any classes together, we wrote notes to each other every day. I wrote mine during the school day and would give it to him before I went home. He wrote his in the evening at home, then would give it to me when I got to school in the morning. I have kept every single note he wrote to me, and although he's embarrassed about them now, I can't help but smile as I read through them.

My ♥Steve♥ Box

(I was 17!)

The note that changed everything

I could have never imagined what the next 15 years would be like... Suffice it to say they've been simply wonderful.

2000
 

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

To many more!

Jessi's Day Off

Of course I was wrong when I said "Hopefully we're in the clear." Steve and I both caught (a much milder version of) Emily's cold over the weekend, and then it was Jessica's turn. Hers was probably the easiest of them all -- just a runny nose on Monday and a stuffy nose today. We decided she could still use a little rest, so she stayed home from school today. There wasn't much on the agenda -- just car service appointments, a quick grocery shop, and lots of play time at home. Jessica even had enough energy for a bike ride to the pond to catch frogs and see a turtle. Ha! I'm sure she enjoyed her 'sick day'.

Bonne Fête Grand-Maman!

We had a belated birthday celebration for my mom yesterday which included fondue, presents, and cake. A lovely gathering!

Birthday girl with her grandson

Delicious chicken fondue

Santé!

Photo album of our trip to Germany ♥

Happy birthday to you!

We love you Grand-Maman! xox

Sick Days

It was only a matter of time before someone caught a bug from school! Emily was not feeling well on Tuesday night and woke up on Wednesday with a runny nose, followed by a lack of appetite and some throwing up. Both girls stayed home on Wednesday for a quiet break from school.

Doing a little workout (not sick, obviously!)

Jessica was still feeling fine this morning so off to school she went! It was her first time going without her big sister.

Emily continued to have a rough day. She spent most of it sleeping (sometimes on the floor).

Emily woke up from a long nap this afternoon and has been on the mend since! She ate a few noodles and is gradually feeling better. Yay! The rest of us aren't showing any signs of sickness yet... Hopefully we're in the clear.

September sicknesses seem to have become an annual tradition (see also September 2014 and September 2013). Yay school germs!

What Am I Up To?

This past week has brought big changes not only for our girls, but also for me! This is the first time in six years that I've been at home during the day without having kids to take care of. I have to admit that I am loving the new routine. There's something about all this sudden free time that makes me extra productive and excited!

A week before school started I wrote up a schedule outlining what I'd be doing on weekdays between 9:30am and 3pm. There's a lot of the basics like laundry, groceries, cleaning, lunch, and workouts. Some of the more creative things on the schedule are drawing lunch notes for the girls (I make the next day's note after I drop them off at school) and "art" time, which is divided into making art and working on an online course at WriteStoryBooksForChildren.com.

Lunch notes

Working on my course

WriteStoryBooksForChildren.com

I haven't made any art yet since my art course, but I do have a big project coming up for a friend, where I'll be painting on a huge 4'x5' canvas. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this project turns out!

Unfortunately, Jessica doesn't share my love of the new routine. Her feelings towards school have steadily decreased since the first day. On Monday this week she cried (for the first time) at drop off. Those tears made it a lot harder for me to have a productive day at home! I couldn't stop thinking about my little girl. The teachers say that she still ends up having a good day, but at home Jessica often talks about not liking school and wishing she didn't have to go (or that Mommy could go with her).

There are still no complaints from Emily, other than maybe having to 'take care of Jessi' during recess. It sounds like Jessica needs a bit of comforting from her big sister during the two breaks they have together.

Snuggling with her Hulks in her big blanket after a long day

Hopefully Jessica's comfort will grow with time! Much like Emily's did in her first year.