Preschool Open House!

Today was Hanna's Apple House Preschool open house. We met lots of moms and dads, and the teacher and toured the school! Hanna found out where everything was by following her scavenger hunt sheet Mrs. Bartley gave her. It said things like "Find your name on the birthday wall", "find the restroom and wash your hands", "count the books in our library" and "open our mailbox and find a surprise". Hanna had so much fun and since she found these places on her own it will be much easier to remember where they are on the first day of school. We also did a craft with the teacher, a magnet for the first day of school. Hanna did this entire craft by herself and it was so neat to watch her and not help. She used big girl glue and chose where she wanted everything to go. How cool! I am so happy with the choice we made. Today really confirmed that. We love her teacher, the parents and the other children. Being part of the Indiana Council of Preschool Cooperatives and being able to be so hands on and spend so much time involved in her education is everything I wanted. We are really looking forward to her first day next Tuesday.

Parties and a Hike!!

We had a very busy but fun weekend! Hanna had a great time at Jaden's pool party and enjoyed seeing Carmen and Annika too! I had a great time with all the other moms as well, but boy was it hot! As soon as we left the birthday party we drove across town and met Daddy at Tom and Sue's (my in-laws) 40th anniversary party! Joe did a wonderful job as the emcee of the evening and we got to see quite a few family members we hadn't in a while, and of course, Hanna had a great time with all of her cousins!

After the 2 parties Joe and Hanna headed back to Plainfield and I met up with some girlfriends for some drinks. It was nice to unwind. We were out quite late so I just booked a room at Cassie and Dustin's:) A very busy, but super fun day!

Sunday the weather was unbelievably nice and Hanna and I took Joe to show him our new park! We packed a picnic, fed the ducks and went on a 2 mile hike! Their trails are gorgeous. It was simply the perfect day with my little family!! Here are some pictures .........

We love our new park!

Hanna and I went to our new park yesterday and took a walk around the woods and lake. We just love our new park, it is beautiful, big playground, sandpit, lots of shade and tons of neat trails. We hope it will cool down by Sunday because Hanna wants to take a family hike on one of the harder trails (I told her we needed Daddy and a map for those:) We have a busy weekend ahead, tomorrow we will be heading to Terre Haute for a friend of Hanna's birthday party in the afternoon and my in-laws 40th anniversary party in the evening! After our parties, Joe and Hanna are headed home for some daddy and Hanna time, which he has kind of missed out on since we have moved and I quit my part time job. But, I will be out and about with the Terre Haute girls for some much needed relaxation (and drinks). I am really looking forward to my fun filled weekend! I hope everyone is managing to stay cool in this heat.

Nothing like a good playdate!

Hi all! We are having a wonderful time as summer winds down. We had a playdate with LeeAnn and her two adorable children, Jaden and Cassidy, on Monday. They even brought a late birthday present for Hanna, an Aquadots set. After seeing the commercial on TV about a month ago she has been wanting one. She was so excited and it actually *is* as cool as the commercial says!

That evening while mommy, daddy and Hanna were all playing with the neat Aquadots thing, Hanna received another package in the mail from my friend Crystle! Hanna and Crystle's daughter Milynn are lucky enough to share the same birthday...and Milynn just celebrated her 1st birthday- isn't that neat! So, Crystle sent Hanna some Moon Sand, also something she has been wanting very badly! Boy- is that stuff cool- it never dries out!! She just had a wonderful day. Thank you so much again to my wonderful friends LeeAnn and Crystle!

The preschool decision....

We have Hanna all signed up for preschool in Avon at a participating member of a preschool cooperative. Meaning I will be a hands on teachers assistant in her class once a month and help with the loading and unloading of kids once a month. I will be able to be very involved and we are so excited about our decision. Hanna can't wait to start and today we got to meet some other moms and kiddos that will be attending her school as well. We had a wonderful time and Hanna made a new friend Amelia! As I was talking to the other mothers they all assumed Hanna was in the 4-5 year old class, because of her height, vocabulary and social skills....however, we actually had her signed up in the 3-4 year old class because of the actual cut off. Hanna misses the kindergarten cut off date by 6 days, and if we would like we can get a waiver for her. Or, we can wait it out and let her go when she is 6. The other moms suggested I move Hanna up to the next class, so she would be ready , if she could go. They also said, as far as they understood, the date will be moved back to September next school year. I think in so many ways Hanna actually is ready for kindergarten at 5, do any of you agree, Is it wrong to make the decision for her? It is strange being able to choose...do we want her to be one of the oldest or youngest in her class, possibly be ahead or average...maybe one of the tallest or shortest? Do we care if she is a grade above all of her current best friends...Molly, Jaden, Carmen etc...? Joe says go for it, I think, I think so too, but I am still on the fence. Any opinions?

Chuck E. Cheese and Water Parks!

Yesterday was Hanna's real birthday! 4 years old seems so crazy to me, and soon she will start preschool, and then before I know it she will be 16 wanting a car..ha! So, even though she had her party already we wanted to make her real birthday special as well. We asked her what she would like to do and she said..."make cupcakes with sprinkles and go to Chuck E. Cheese" . And that is exactly what we did. She got a birthday balloon, a hat and 4 tokens, how cool! I truly think she had a wonderful day.....how about those sprinkles?!


Today Hanna and I met my friend Colleen and her children at the Plainfield Water Park Splash Island! She called on her way from Brazil and with no reason why not, we packed up our things and took the 2 minute car ride:) We live in such a wonderful location only minutes from the Plainfield Recreation and Aquatic Center also home to Splash Island. We swam, played and had lunch and boy is Hanna pooped! If you haven't been yet, you should really make the trip, it is fantastic!
http://plainfieldpublic-om.com/si/index.php
Thank you Colleen for a wonderful time. We are looking forward to a weekend with no plans, we might try and paint Hanna's room and possibly take her to the State fair, but that really depends on the heat. Stay cool everyone!

~Hanna's Birthday party!~

Hanna had her 4th birthday party this weekend! It was really such a success (except for severely missing my friends Liz, LeeAnn and Christie who were unable to make it). The theme Hanna chose this year was Strawberry Shortcake, or "sweet"cake as Hanna says:) We all just had a wonderful time, thank you to all that were able to come and help us celebrate. We feel blessed to call you our friends and it means so much that you all love Hanna almost as much as we do! She got some wonderful presents, got to spend the day with her best friends and eat lots of sugar, she probably couldn't have asked for a better day!!! Here are just a few of the, oh so many, pictures mommy always takes, enjoy!