Spring Break

Spring Break was great! I love being a teacher. You still get all kinds of breaks like you did when you were a kid. :) Alexis and I went to my parents for a long weekend the Friday I got out of school. (Michael, unfortunately doesn't still get a spring break) We didn't do too much, but I got a lot of rest, my parents kept Alexis entertained and vice-versa. Monday, we went to Branson to do a little shopping at the outlet malls. Tuesday, we went to visit my grandparents in Conway, on my way back home. Wednesday, I started cleaning like a crazy person and I got my house closer to being back in order. I had to stop cleaning though on Friday because I was busy getting my clothes ready to consign in the local consignment sale that has been going on this week. I had to wash, iron, tag, and enter my items online, and it took longer than I thought. But, I finally got it all done and checked in. Then it was back to work. I can't believe I am 7 weeks away from finishing my first year. I hopefully will start getting interviews soon. The school I am working for now is definately closing, and the Catholic school we were "merging" with decided that they didn't want any of the teachers at our school, or any teacher's for that matter.(Well, actually the bishop decided for everyone... )It's not a total loss, I didn't really want to work for that school anyway because of the way it was ran,the meeting we went to was a big mess...they couldn't answer anyone's questions, and of course I'm not Catholic and I have very little knowledge about it so I probably would have felt a little out of place, but it would have been a job. So, now it's a waiting game for interviews, which I hate, but this job this year fell into my lap so hopefully I will find something by August. Most schools don't even start hiring until late May or June so I have a while to worry :). Oh, and I passed my Praxis III!!! I now have my standard 5 year license, as opposed to my 3 year initial license, or at least I will once I give the state $100! I am so happy! That will make me much more marketable going into these interviews!

Baby Ballerina

Alexis had her first dance audition, and didn't even know it....neither did I. We went to the dance studio to ask how to get her enrolled...I had called and left messages for about 2 weeks and never got a reply. So I interrupted class to ask. It turned out that we had to register by November because that's when they ordered costumes for the recital in May. She told us we could sign up in May and begin classes in June. As soon as she said that Alexis started bawling...so the teacher asked her if she would like to stay and watch the girls dance. Alexis said "Yes please..." in a sad little voice and we sat down to watch. Then she asked Alexis if she would like to do some exercises with them. Alexis jumped off the bench and ran to her mark. Alexis was so good! She was picking up on the dances, and paying attention. Several times the teacher looked over at me and said, "She should have been in here a long time ago." I didn't know there was a registration deadline, and I didn't think that she could start before she was three. I thought we were pushing that by her not even being 3 for another few months. During the whole class Alexis kept yelling at me, " Mommy, I need ballet shoes...Mommy I need tights....Mommy I need a skirt!" She was just dressed in jeans and tennis shoes, and I guess she felt a little out of place. I thought this whole thing was a bad idea. Don't get me wrong I was glad she was having fun, but since we couldn't start until June I knew dancing in this one class would just make her want it more, and I would have no peace until June. So, after class was over the teacher asked me if I would be okay with having her join class and just not being in the recital as it was too later to order a costume. She was impressed at how ready Alexis was to dance at such a young age, and she was good. So I told her that would be fine, and she gave me a registration form and said see you next week! Alexis was so happy when I told her that she could keep going to dance class. The next day we went and bought her shoes, and tights and she wanted to put them all on (of course:) ), and she decided that her ballet shoes made "soft noises", and her tap shoes make "fun noises". I am also excited. Dance is something that I always wanted to put my daughter in. I loved to dance when I was younger, and I still sometimes wish I could be a ballerina. Spring Sing at Harding was some of the most fun I had while I was there. Unfortunately for me....I looked a little ridiculous while dancing. :) So, I think I can safely say that Alexis got her love for dance from me, but her talent is all from her Daddy :).

Funny Bits

Alexis was particularly hilarious today. While we were shopping for her ballet shoes today (more on dance later!), she was dancing around the store to the music, and yelled out " THAT'S MY JAM MOMMY!" And continued to hop around the aisle. Tonight, while we were playing I let her drink juice out of a small but still open cup. She begged for it. I gave in, but I told her she could not under any circumstances leave the kitchen with the cup. She (just like I thought would happen) bent over and spilled her juice all over the kitchen floor then said, "What in the world?! I need to mop this mess up!" As I was putting her to bed she asked for a drink. I told her that she could have a few sips, and I would go and get her something. "Leave the door open Mommy!" She likes to remind me of that, she knows when the door closes I'm not coming back. So as I was leaving she yelled out, " M&M'S!" I walked back to her and said "What? We don't even own M&M'S!" She burst into a hilarious fit of giggles. Then I heard, "GUMMIES!" And didn't even wait for me to respond before she about fell out of her bed laughing.I turned to leave again, and she yelled "POPSICLES!", and again started giggling. Then I heard, "FRUIT!! I TRICKED YOU MOMMY. THAT'S HEALTHY!" And started laughing again. It didn't make too much sense, but we understood it anyway. Above all, it was a great stalling tactic on her part. Once she started laughing hard I couldn't help but join in and play her game. I also kept the laughing going by tickling her every time she yelled out some sort of junk food....and then I tickled her for tricking me :)

Preschool Bound!

Alexis is in preschool now! I truly can't believe it!! She got moved to the preschool class 3 months early, because she was potty trained and has surpassed the 2 year old curriculum! We are so proud of her! She loves preschool. She brings work home everyday, and she is already learning so much! She already knows all of her colors, shapes, and several of her letters so her work is pretty easy for her. Today she made an egg, and a rainbow! She has also made a baby chick that is hanging on the wall of her classroom. She also likes daycare because she get to eat Cheetos. She only occasionally gets to eat them at home. But, boy does she love them! I've already got a box to collect all of her work in to keep and scrap book with. So, congratulations Alexis for moving on and moving up! Daddy and I are so proud of our little girl!

Go Get A New Baby Mommy!

Alexis has become obsessed with babies, and being a big sister. (We are not expecting!) All of this started at daycare when one of her best friends had just gotten a new baby brother. She saw the baby, and she wanted one too. And not just any baby. A baby brother, "that was cute and sweet!" So all she talked about was how she wanted to be a big sister, and asked if she could have one too. Everyday. So here's how one of those conversations went.

Alexis: Mommy, can I have a baby brother?

Me: I don't know if you will ever have a baby brother. We don't get to pick.

Alexis: Why not?

Me: God will give us the baby that is right for us. He will decided if you get a baby brother or a baby sister.

Alexis: Oh....Mommy, let's go get a new baby.

Me: You don't get them at a store.

Alexis: Ohhh...

Me: The baby will grow in Mommy's tummy. Just like you did. (I showed her a picture of me pregnant with her)

Alexis: You need to grow a new baby Mommy...Just go get one.

Me: Maybe someday.....

Truth be told, we can't wait to have another baby. In fact we were planning on having another baby by late May/early June of this year. But, due to insurance rules we had to wait to use our insurance. We always wanted our kids three years apart, but now they will be about 4 years apart. And we are finally okay with that. It's been hard to wait when we want another child so badly, but it will definitely be worth the wait when I hold that new baby in my arms, and Alexis will finally be a big sister. But until that day comes we are just thoroughly enjoying spending this time with our daughter, because even though it seems like such a long time away (especially since we aren't pregnant yet) I know how quickly the past 3 years have gone by, and this will be the last year (hopefully) only having our baby girl by herself.

Gymnastics...Take 2

When we still lived in Conway we took Alexis to one gymnastics class to see if she liked it. Before we were able to really enroll her in classes, we moved. Well, we are trying this out again, and we started tonight! I finally found a place with good references to take her to gymnastics. She has been begging to go to gymnastics class, and to do tap and ballet. She has been begging for a good 2 months, so we finally decided that it was something that she truly wanted to do, and got her started. I called yesterday to see if there were any spots left for her age group, and how much they cost. (Perk of living in the middle of nowhere....gymnastics classes are really really cheap!) Shle told us if we wanted to we could start her on Thursday night so we would get the whole month in. So today I signed her up for class, we bought a light pink leotard, and scooted her off to class. It. was. precious! We weren't allowed to sit in the same room with her because there is no room, but we could look in through a door, and Alexis had so much fun. She tried everything. Her teacher also alternated counting and talking in English and Spanish. Alexis counted along with her in both languages. :) She does, however, need to learn to wait her turn in line at the water fountain. Once she gave up getting a drink of water and ran to go play. My patient child :). But, it was her first class and she catches on to things quickly so I know it will be great. Alexis surprised us twice tonight. One, they were hanging from a bar and doing a flip. I told Michael, "She will never do this. She doesn't like to dangle, she won't hang on." And that little booger hung onto that bar so tight and kicked her feet back over her head! I couldn't believe it! Next, they were jumping on the trampoline for 10 seconds each. I told Michael, "I betcha she won't get down once her 10 seconds are up." And of course...she hopped right down once the teacher got to 10! I guess I need to have a little more faith in my daughter! The funniest moment of the night was a little conversation I heard between Alexis and her teacher. They were doing forward rolls down the mat, one right after another.

Alexis rolled onto her back and looked up at her teacher....

Alexis: "I can do gymnastics!"

Teacher: " This is gymnastics so you better get moving."

It was so funny. Alexis was having so much fun. I don't know if it was the picture that was funny, or the actual words, but I laughed so hard. She was apparently not suppose to stop and chit chat on the mat :).

It was a successful night, and she loved it. She was a little mad about the fact that we couldn't do ballet today too, but we told her we would go talk to the dance teacher next week. Her gymnastics teacher told me after class that she was very surprised that Alexis was counting with her in Spanish, and English for that matter, and that she did really well. She wandered around a little bit, but it was her first class and that was to be expected for her age. Her class is ages 3-6 so since she's not even 3 yet she is definitely the youngest in her class. The only reason they let her in was because she was potty trained. And, at a whole 26 lbs. she's also the smallest. I hope Alexis continues to enjoy herself, and if she doesn't....there's always ballet!

New Car!

Yay! We finally got a new (to us) vehicle! We got a great deal on a 2007 Envoy. I love it! I was however a little sad to get rid of our blue car, only because it was the car we brought Alexis home from the hospital in when she was born. But, even with the sentimental value we were happy to trade it in on the Envoy. It is much more reliable, and I don't have to worry about getting stuck anywhere. We think the blue car was beginning to burn oil, very slowly if it was, but I didn't like chancing it. So, we are very happy and excited and hopefully this car will last us a long time. :)