TMI

Drew had her first ever field trip and they went to Cedar City's Iron Mission Museum.  I was in town and met her class there to help chaperone.  I surprised her and she was SO incredibly happy that her mommy was there.  The kids learned how the pioneers made string into twine and twine to rope.

And even had a hand in making it.

Then we Round Robined over to the candle making station where the kids were able to make their own candles by dipping a wick into wax and then water.

Then we went over to the ... other station where the kids where told the story about the mormon crickets and California Gulls.  In short the Pioneers planted crops and thousands upon thousands of crickets started eating all their crops.  They prayed and the Lord sent Seagulls to come eat all the crickets.  So the kids learned that the California Gull is Utah's State bird and they were able to color some birds and hear the different calls of birds native to Utah.  My favorite is the Meadowlark!

The last station the kids learned that the pioneers had not running toilet, no running water, and every time they moved they had to build a new house!  YUCK to all of the above!  I seriously would've died!

Drew had so much fun with her class and I was so happy I was able to go!

I can't believe how big she is getting and how much more she understands and how much more I need to teach her.  She has been asking very adult questions lately and I have no idea how in depth I should answer her or not.  I wish there was a book for these types of things.  So for a little prelude we've been watching Heroes and she's been awed by these peoples powers and abilities and also we attended a funeral today of a mom of one of Drew's classmates that decided she wanted to return home to Heavenly Father.  So our convoy's have been going something like this lately:

"Mom P (her friend at school) said her mommy killed herself."

"Oh she told you that?"

"Yeah she said she didn't like herself.  How did she kill herself?"

"I'm not going to tell you Drew."

"Did she put fire on her?"

"No don't ask!"

"Did she cut herself?"

"No!"

Etc. till I finally told her.  And AMAZINGLY she came up with a lot of realistic things that I had no idea she even knew about but surprisingly she didn't guess the one till I told her.  Don't think I'm a bad mom but when she was guessing these things and wouldn't stop I figured she was old enough to know.  More Convoy's

"Mom how are we going to die?"

"I don't know Drew."

"Who is going to put something in us to make us die?"

"NO ONE!"

"Well when are we going to die?"

"I don't know.  Not till we're old!"

"But you're old!"

"No I'm not old.  Grandma's are old!"

"When you're a grandma are you going to die?"

"Probably but that's a long ways away.  Don't worry because we'll be with Heavenly Father!"

She thought for a second

"Where's heaven?  Is it in the sky?"

"Sure!"

"When we die how do we get there?"

"Um... we float there?"

"Like with powers?"

"Yeah!"

"Does Heavenly Father have powers?"

"Yes!"

"I want powers!"

"Then you have to be a good girl."

"Is that how Heavenly Father has powers?"

"Yup!  He was good when he was like you and so now he has powers."

"I'm going to be good so I can have powers!  I want to make things dance like the stove and the fridge."

:)

"Mom does P's mom have powers?"

"I don't know Drew."

"When I see P's mom again I'm going to give her a big hug!"

I was holding back the tears then.  At the funeral we started singing the opening song and Drew asked me if we were singing for P's mom.  I told her yes and she started bawling.  Music really moves her.  I don't know why it surprises me how much she understands.  It's not just that she understands what's going on but she understands the emotions of everything.  She then saw her friend P come in and they gave each other a big hug.  P sat with us for a couple of minutes.  Asked if her mom was up by the pulpit then she made her way up to her family.  Drew wanted to go with her but I wouldn't let her.  She then started throwing a fit and became like a lip noodle.  We ended up leaving during the eulogy because Drew was being so irreverent but I think it was her emotions that caused her to act the way she did.  Drew is only 4 and that was her 3rd funeral she's been to.  How sad.

This post started happy and I'm sorry it got sad and serious but I felt compelled to write our conversations down for memory purpose.  I hate not know what I should and shouldn't tell her so don't judge.  I'm still learning!

Brusha, brusha, brusha

Last Friday Drew had a dentist appointment where she had to get six, yes six, cavities filled.  Our dentist explained that Drew's teeth are very close together, that they usually don't get this close till they're almost six.  Why does that sound familiar?  Oh yeah because I had the same problem when I was her age.  Her teeth are screwed!

We get to the dentist office and while we wait this little boy who just had work done comes out and looks like he's in Lala land.  Top right hand corner.

She plays a little longer

in this awesome pediatric dental office that has this log home, country, ranch feel.  As we are watching the movie Spirit about a wild horse getting captured they come out and bring her, her sedative drink.

She became VERY happy.

Then VERY loopy.  And then she started getting emotional as she kept watching Spirit.  The receptionist had to change the movie because Drew was on the verge of tears when the soldiers were capturing Spirit.

Why don't they have a sedative like this for adults?

They ask the parents to remain in the waiting room so the kids don't freak out and try to get to their mom.  When the doctor came to get me he said that every child reacts differently to the sedative.  Most of them become calm and happy.  Drew became very talkative and kept asking the dentist if he was putting shinny teeth in.  They had to tell her not to talk a couple of times.  Before we went to the dentist Drew asked what they were going to do to her and I told her that she had ugly cavities and that they were going to take out the ugly spots and make her teeth shinny.  She was obviously worried about her shinny teeth.  I had to carry her and the assistant had to support her because she couldn't walk straight.  If the kids do good in the chair they get a prize.

When we got out to the car she wanted to see her shinny teeth and was so upset she couldn't see them.  She was weird for the first two hours after and then she became ornery!  She called her numb lips squishy and she kept hitting them.  As we were driving home she was complaining that she was talking funny, that her lip was squishy and then she said she was bitting something.  I looked back and she was chomping on her lower lip, hard.  She didn't break the skin but she left a huge impression.  She seriously wasn't herself till the next day.

But it was a funny experience and don't want to do that again for a while.

Ballerina

My very good friend, Cheryl, decided to teach a ballet class for a bunch of her friends' girls.  We were lucky to be one of them.  A year ago we did a couple of trial mommy and me ballet classes and it didn't work out too well.  I was pregnant with Alia and not patient with a three year old girl who all she wanted to do was look in the mirror.  She is now four and I am not pregnant.

She did SO well!  She was the most attentive.  Look she's pointing her toes!

She really wanted to dress up like a ballerina and we were lucky enough to find her black 3T onesie - I know, too big to still be wearing a onesie, but it actually was perfect for this - her black tights she just got for Christmas and her tutu that her Aunty Nikki made for her.  Then I had to do her hair like a ballerina.

She had so much fun and can't wait for next time.

Growing Up

Last Friday we went to Drew's school for an orientation. When we first got there Drew took an eye exam which she passed with flying colors. I was really worried about it because Kurtis had his first pair of glasses when he was three. In a period of a couple of months Kurt went through three pairs of glasses which he mysteriously lost, broke, and lost again. He hated wearing them, could you guess? Then she also did a shape test where she had to match the identical shapes together. She didn't miss a beat! While the aid went over the boring stuff with the parents Raelynn, Drew's teacher, went through a normal day with the kids. First they had circle time.

Brody was playing with the blocks, keeping out of trouble.

Then they had a little snack. Drew starts school at 8:45 and it goes till 12:45 so they actually feed them breakfast and lunch.

After they ate they played with playdoh,

then went outside for some exercise.

Brody keeping out of trouble playing under the playground.

Alia getting into trouble playing on the circle mat.

After Drew cleaned up the blocks we headed home. This orientation got her really excited for school.

This is the morning of her first real day!

As you can see in this picture she didn't bring a back pack because you don't have to. When we got in half of the kids had them. She started freaking out because she didn't have her back pack. I had to drive home and get it so she would be okay. The things you do for your kids! Then the next day she said she peed in her clothes just so she could wear the extra pair of clothes that I bought especially to keep in her class. She really didn't pee. We're excited to see what other things she comes up with the rest of the year.

They also sign in every day when they get there. I think it'll be fun to see the progression. Already after the third day of school I've seen her interest in words a lot more. I've tried to teach her her letters before and she did not of the patience for me. So when I could teach Drew for 20 min. without her getting frustrated I see it as a breakthrough!

I'm SO excited that she's in preschool and loving it. It gives her a chance to get a heads up for kindergarten next year and it gives me a chance to focus on Brody a little more.

Go Blue Lightning and Black Thunder!

Drew had her first soccer game today. Her team name is Blue Lightning and her cousin Case's team is Black Thunder who's game we saw after Drew's.

The first half of the game consisted of girls making goals for the opposite team, the ball being dribbled the wrong way and a lot of confused faces. Drew, I have to say, had the biggest confused face of them all. Instead of looking at the ball she would look at us. A couple of times she just ran around where the other girls were, not knowing where the ball was.

We didn't get it. We had been practicing with her since we signed her up. Kurt's motto that he taught her was,

"BE MEAN!"

but everything we had said and coached her on previously had gone to the back of her head.

It was then her turn to sit out and let her other team members play. As she sat on my lap on the side lines she could see from a different perspective what she was supposed to do. As soon as it was her turn to go back in she dominated!

And scored a goal!!

We stayed after Drew's game to watch Case's. He was having a hard time. He cried for a little bit and sat out for a little more and then as soon as he was able to hold him mom's hand he did great!

And scored a goal!!

I think they are now ready for their next game!

Red Card!

Drew had her first soccer practice yesterday! The practices are only 30 min. long and we were running late so I wanted Drew to run out to her team as soon as we got there. She got scared, shy, embarrassed and wanted me to go with her. I turned into "that mom" that forces her kid, makes them do something they don't want to do. I finally walked her out in the field by her team and then she was okay. She even got excited and was sad when it was time to go. That whole experience made me realize I'm going to be "that mom" during games. The one who yells at their kids to take out the other players. Seriously, I'm not joking! I am going to have to try my hardest to be positive and encouraging. When I used to play soccer I couldn't stand "that mom" and now I know I'm one of them. And Drew is only 4!

Happy Birthday Drew!!

Last year for Drew's birthday we go her these polka dot shoes. She loves them so much, she started calling them her polkies.

One year later they look like this.

Drew turned four yesterday and I have to say it's about time. She has seemed four to me for a couple of months now.

This past week we got a package from Grandma Steph and in it was this cute Princess tote and a singing card for Drew. She immediately started stuffing as many toys in the bag as possible and was carrying every where she went.

Brody's having a tough time seeing his sister get all these presents. As you can see as I was taking this picture of Drew and her new camera, Brody thought he would tackle her.

She got a bike from Grandma Karla and riding it was all she wanted to do yesterday.

We went to Maggie Moo's for some ice cream to celebrate.

Then she said she wanted to play at the park. She was posing for the camera every time I went to take a picture. Some of the poses were not appropriate and I had to tell her to stop. I have no idea where she gets this!

The kids ran off into the fields and found a good old mud hole.

When we got home we found a package from Auntie Breana and Uncle Mack at our door step. They gave Drew a tattoo set and some coloring/activity books. We've had to hide the tattoo stuff so she wouldn't use it all in one day. She was so excited to get a package! Thank you Mack and Bre!

More festivities to come!!