BACK TO THE GRIND...

I can't believe that we are are now into our second year of school! While I don't think any of us are particularly happy about having to get ourselves up and out so early in the morning (I am already counting the minutes until next Summer), there's something that's just simply adorable about seeing how excited Caroline was for her first day as a Three-Day Three...

WANTED: DEVIATED SEPTUM...

While I was busy working on my organization project in my office (see previous post) and Steve was downstairs wrapping things up for the day in his office, Caroline apparently made her way upstairs - unsupervised (so it's kind of our fault...) - to our bedroom, where she got into Steve's nightstand drawer. After taking 15 Breathe-Right strips and sticking them all over her body, she also "decorated" the drawer with his Gold Bond powder. She then came downstairs to show us her "stickers." I couldn't help but laugh and take a picture for posterity. By the time I snapped the shots, she had taken most of the stickers off and stuck them on the basement stairs, but you get the point... Steve wasn't as impressed, but my theory is I should be the one who's pissed, not him - after all, I'm the one who will have to listen to him snoring this evening!

FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR...

I know that we residents in the DC Metro area aren't quite as hearty as some of our friends in other parts of the country in terms of Winter weather, but to us, a few inches is a big deal! Think 2 days off school and a delay tomorrow (although in our defense, it's pretty icy out there! )... Here's a video of Caroline's day in the snow - it's a few minutes long for some of our relatives who might be watching, but we wanted to put it all up there anyway!

**REMEMBER TO DISABLE THE MUSIC BY CLICKING ON THE BUTTON ON THE PLAYER TO THE LEFT OF THIS POST!!!***

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'M JUST IN LOVE WITH...

...EM Tanner Designs! I think I'm going to pick up these for the girls:

The ones above are stock items, but you can personalize them pretty much any way you think would be cute! Although the prices are a bit of a stretch in this economy, I still think their printed t-shirts, as well as the other gear and gifts that they sell, are just adorable. Here are a few of my other favorites (the lunchboxes in particular almost make me not dread the day when I have to start packing lunches for school...):

OUR LITTLE BALLERINA...

Today was Caroline's last Ballet Tea Party Class at Kidville. She had so much fun during the past 16 weeks, and her instructors were really great at helping her learn some of the basics of ballet. I was really amazed that she actually learned several proper terms for some of the positions and moves (even if she is still a two-year-old in her execution of them!). We're sad that the class is over since we had a great time each week with the other little girls and their moms. Here are a few pictures from our last day...

Warming up in "butterfly" pose

The rainbow rope

Practicing posse'

Getting ready to head to the balance beam

Waiting for turn to do her "solo"

Jete' (leaps) during her solo

Releve' (tippy toes!)

Her favorite part - tea (water) and cookies with an Angelina Ballerina story

Showing Mommy her certificate - it was our last class!

I'M CONTEMPLATING THIS PURCHASE...

I just think this bag from PBK is too cute. Even though I LOVE it, the white is definitely impractical for me, especially since it's a diaper bag, but they also have it in a cute mustard yellow with navy and white straps that I may be able to pull off with fewer issues. Hmm...

OH, (PINK) CHRISTMAS TREE!

While we were in the bathroom at Noodles and Company after her class at Kidville today, Caroline informed me that she wants a pink Christmas tree this year. Upon hearing this, some moms might have gotten excited at the prospect of decking a traditional tree out in all its Lilly Pulitzer-esque glory, with cute ornaments and grosgrain ribbons like this to go along with the theme, but I knew better. My daughter was, I am certain, literally referring to this:

When we arrived at the tree stand after lunch, just picture her initial disappointment when she saw a plain, old sea of green. Thank goodness she got over that quickly when she realized she not only could play hide-and-seek amongst the stands, but that they also sold hot apple cider and popcorn. Maybe it'll be just the pink fix she needs when she sees that we indeed have a few fabulous Lilly ornaments to hang up on our beautiful new frasier fir!

OUR FUTURE MICHELLE WIE!

We are really lucky because our new home is in a neighborhood that's part of a country club, and a membership came with the purchase of our house - a major selling point, especially since we were adding quite a bit to Steve's commute to work every day! This afternoon, Steve got home a bit early, so we decided to take Caroline out to the putting green for the first time.

She used my left-handed Jack Nicklaus Golden Cub clubs, which I totally use all the time (NOT - although I definitely plan to try to get more into it so that I don't become a golf widow). They were actually almost short enough for her, since Steve had the clever idea to get me a set of kids' clubs a few years ago so that I could go to the driving range with him and hit right from my chair. Caroline had a great time trying to putt, rolling the balls back to Daddy when putted to her, and occasionally chucking them from one end of the green to the other. It was too cute, so I just had to post some pictures. Enjoy!

AHHH - AT LAST, A GLIMMER OF LIGHT!

My not-so-little girl reading herself a book in her room

This morning, my good friend Danielle came over with lunch for herself, Caroline, and me so that we could have a chance to catch up. D is an attorney downtown and is working on a big case that goes to trial next month - interestingly enough, to all of you parents out there, about diapers and false advertising! Once the trial wraps up I just may have more to post on that, but I digress. We had a nice little lunch and visit on the deck before heading back inside to the AC. Caroline was entertaining herself by carrying around a little cup with water inside a small basket. As expected, she eventually spilled it, but in one of those "Ahhhhhhh!!!!"/heavens opening up/lightbulb moments, she turned around and said, in her sweet little baby voice but still clearly enough to understand, "Uh-oh - need towel," and proceeded to grab the dish towel that was hanging up next to the sink and mopped up the mess.

As the mother of a toddler, I sometimes lose focus of the impact I'm having on my daughter. You get so bogged down with the mundane day-to-day stuff that you miss the little milestones that add up to the great person you hope your kid will become. I don't get that many of those super-proud, "I did that" moments, but today's will most likely carry me through for some time. Just thought I would share with the masses... Hope your day is as simple/inspired/fulfilling as mine just became!

I'M SO EXCITED BECAUSE...

...Caroline let me pull her hair up into a ponytail today! Well, a half-pony, but still an accomplishment! She used to wear bows before she noticed them, and then it became a bit of a battle. As you have probably seen, she often looks like a shaggy dog because her bangs grow quickly! However, getting her to sit still for a haircut is a painful experience for all involved (parents, stylist, other patrons, people outside and down the street...), as she screams and cries the entire time. If I can get her to let me pull her hair back every day, we might just grow it out (and how cute would that be???)!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

COLOR ABOUNDS...

...at Gap right now! I have to say, it's been a bit since I have really gotten excited about anything in the adult side of Gap (although anyone who reads TPT knows I love the kids' stuff), but I think they are trying to break out of their typical Spring neutrals mold. What caught my eye and made me want to set foot in the store were these fabulous colored khakis and lightweight jackets that were so fun and made me think that Winter can't end fast enough. Here are some of my favorites:

HOW SMART (AND CUTE) IS THIS?!

The makers of Airborne, a cold-suppressant product that was created several years ago by a teacher who was tired of catching every cold that came through her classroom door, have now put out a really cute product that can actually get kids to wash their hands for the amount of time they need to kill germs! They've created SquidSoap, which leaves a vegetable ink mark on the palm of kids' hands when they press the pump. The mark only comes off after they wash their hands for about 20 seconds. Isn't that such a good idea?!