Bribes for Big Girls

Humongous news: Syd no longer has pacis at bedtime and nap time!  I've been telling her for weeks that the paci fairy is coming when she turns 3.  At first, she would get upset and say "no, she won't come...she'll let me keep my pacis".  But then, she started accepting it and we decided there were some new babies out there that needed those pacis.  In the end, she decided that Ms. Shari's baby next door needed those pacis.  On Thursday, when we were outside playing with the neighbors, I spontaneously asked Syd if she was ready.  She said "yes!" and we ran inside to get her pacis for sweet baby Audric.  She was so proud to give them to him, even her beloved pink paci.  Kind of made me sad...the end of an era.  She has barely asked about them since, so I guess the timing was right!
Video: Syd gives away her pacis

I had told her that she would get to go to the store and pick out a prize when she finally got rid of her pacis.  She picked out the Rapunzel barbie and the Cinderella barbie.  Great timing because she's been sick and stuck inside needing something to entertain.  See her sad, sick eyes? :(

Speaking of sick, apparently Millie had a horrible double ear infection in this picture the week before last.  She kept telling me her cheek hurt.  Finally when I asked her where on her cheek, she pointed to just below her ear.  I was like "ohhhhhh, let's go to the doctor".  Poor Mills has had 3 ear infections in past few months.  The doctor said one more and we'll have to visit an ENT.  She never had ear infections as a baby, sort of weird that she's getting so many now.

The pink medicine was in February and it didn't get the job done.  This time they put her on the white, horrible tasting medicine.  It was impossible to get her to take it, even while holding her down and sitting on her.  A bribe was necessary.  We made a chart and when the medicine was gone in 10 days, she got to go to the toy store and pick out a prize.  She picked this necklace-making kit!  Isn't it beautiful?!  She had the best time making it.

It's been a lazy weekend with a sick Syd.  They had fun building this Lego city with Nana!

In other news:  JKK had a half-birthday!  Any excuse for cake...

I tried a new braid with Millie.  Those things are tricky to get the end right.  Syd's face says it all.

Only 2 more months of school!  Millie is counting down the days until Cayden comes back.  At the mall water fountain, she asked for a coin and whispered "I wish Cayden would come back" as she threw it into the water.  A very sweet moment, since she didn't know I could hear. <3

Little Gym superstar: she RUNS across the balance beam.

Her happy place

Super duper fun birthday party at the new rec center...and some fun new goggles!

Doing great with potty training (85% of the time)...she loves her big girl panties!

Grandma Tricia, Jocelynn, and Maya stopped by last weekend for lunch!  We had bday cake, and they brought Easter baskets for the girls, which have been a hit all week.  Happy bday, Grandma Tricia!

Syd's first braid <3

Mills is so happy in gymnastics class.  Her cartwheel is pretty great and her back bends are beautiful.

St. Patrick's Day gear

Easter is so early this year, and with Spring Break being this week, Millie had her Easter party ON St. Patrick's Day.  How weird!

Our first Parent/Teacher conference was on Friday.  Miss Lea had great things to say about our Millie Bear.  She said Millie is such a joy to have in class!  She said she's such a good girl, and she is quiet.  She likes to sit back and watch before jumping in to an activity.  None of it was surprising, but it was great to hear. ;)

They had a few kindergarten-ready tests...like cutting out this shamrock

Circling the matching items with different colors

Writing her first and last name

Drawing shapes

And other various recognition and memorization tests.  We need to work on lower case letters, and she needs to learn her address and phone number.

Miss Lea said she's ready for kindergarten!

Syd's school art:

Her coloring style makes me laugh.  Very tiny scribbles, each with a different color.

She told me that this was a picture of me.   It's lovely, Syd!

Catchup

These blog posts get bigger and bigger because they get further and further apart.  Life is busy, which is a good thing.  I was obviously a bit bored when Millie was a newborn based on the detail of those posts.  Ha!

Video: Dance Lessons
Video: Swinging & Mud Pies
Video: Syd's Interpretive Dance
Video: Delicious Tuesdays with Syd

The annual Princess for a Day event.  Syd was Cinderella and Millie was Elsa.

For the record, this is the last time we'll be doing this event.  It makes mommy grumpy and Millie never seems to enjoy herself in these settings.  But I'm soooo glad Syd got to experience it.  Cinderella was the first princess she met, and she was thrilled!

Millie did LOVE meeting Elsa though!  I can't really figure out why she never likes these kinds of events.  Is it the big crowd?  Is it too many girls?  Overstimulation?  No idea.

My princesses <3

The whole crazy crew at Mermaids restaurant

Millie made this Rapunzel hair at school.  She requests her hair up so she can wear it often.  It's kind of weird, but very creative. ;)

Neighborhood posse!  Random costume playtime.  Looking forward to summer with these kiddos

So. Much. Princess. All. The. Time.

Other than her princess gowns, this is Syd's favorite dress.  It's light and flimsy and the whole back is cut out.  Definitely not a winter dress, but she always wants to wear it and never allows a cardigan.  She is the most stubborn child I've ever met.  Look at that face though.

funny faces

National Margarita Day!

Tuesdays with Syd have been pretty special this year.  We go to the gym and the library, and usually have a smoothie together...but sometimes mommy lets her have a real treat.  This cookie was as big as her face and she didn't want to save any for later.  Eaters gonna eat.

Millie's drawing skills are getting even more awesome!

Thank goodness for Coco's gloves...on that one day of the year we needed them. ;)  Thankfully they'll fit next year!

They always give each other hugs when parting at school.  And it's the first thing they do when they see each other again after school.

I love when I'm gone for a night and JKK sends me super cute bedtime pics, like this one.

We finally celebrated Papa's birthday at the end of February.  It was a gorgeous day to spend outside!

Bubbles!  Look at this fabulous pic of Syd...looks like her head is inside of the bubble!

She loved blowing bubbles for Fred

I miss having a kitty.  Syd's decided to start asking about Beansie and Buddy at night before bed.  It makes me sad.

 oink oink

Papa is a great cook and tries to involve the girls

 The girls get so excited to go to Papa and Grandma Tricia's house!  Makes my heart happy

We drove separately, and I got this text from JKK shortly after leaving.  Melted me.  It's pretty much the cutest thing in the world that Syd uses the word "super".  She's often heard saying "Mom, I'm super big hungry!".

Our sweet friends from preschool and Little Gym.  The littles are only 2 days apart, and the bigs will start kindergarten together this fall.  We took them to register for kindergarten last week.  Millie loved it!  She spoke to everyone and didn't get shy at all.  She knew how to spell her name, most of her letters and numbers (some of the capital vs lowercase letters messed her up), and she answered every question she was asked.  I was so proud of her at the meeting!

Happy like Scooby.  She only wants dresses and skirts so she can twirl!

 Special chips place lunch.  I'm going to miss this next year when Mills is in kindergarten.

If I have lettuce drying, then are stealing it.

snuggly things unite!

Syd's "bike".  She loves this thing, although she's really great at the tricycle these days too!

Mr. T face and accessories

rainbow everything

 she said this is a dinosaur

Spring school picture day fail

It makes me so happy that Syd focuses on the fingernails.  She adores having her own fingernails painted.

Syd was extremely proud of this one and showed every mom that came to pick up their kid before I got there.

Look!  Syd's famous!  Amber borrowed her for a little cover shoot.  I'm glad she got a good one because two toddlers are not very cooperative, especially when you throw in some balloons and the wind!  Turned out cute though!