The Real Story Behind The Cupcakes

Today was the second full day of preschool. Lilypad Dad and I walked Lilypad Princess over to school, and I had a minute to ask Miss Marianne what happened with the cupcakes last week. I told her LP's version of the story; Mrs. Hodgepodge was trying to steal the cupcakes so LP needed to hide them, but dropped them on the floor.

According to Miss Marianne, the janitor is Mr. H... and he likes to joke with the kids. Apparently he said that he was going to eat all the cupcakes. LP got nervous and took them down off the table to hide them, but the top came off and 1/2 to 3/4's of them landed on the floor.

Now the story makes more sense!

First Day of Preschool

There were a few tears this morning, all on my end. Lilypad Princess didn't even look back as she moved forward into the next phase, which will last the next 18+ years - school.



LP woke up ready to go to school. I think she was most excited about the cupcakes, but once I told her that they would be snack at school she was ready to head over. She ate a quick breakfast, too excited to put on her new dress from Nana and Pop Pop to even finish her oatmeal. Then she put on her new backpack, gathered up her baby to bring for Show & Tell, and dragged Lilypad Dad and me out the door. She paused momentarily for me to take a quick picture, stopped to say hello to Uncle Dave, and then it was off to school.



I walked into the room with her to drop off the cupcakes, and tried to get a hug and kiss when I said goodbye. She dropped a quick kiss on my cheek, gave me a one armed hug and rushed off to play. I wasn't ready to walk out of the room but LP Dad and Miss Marianne sent me on my way. The following 2.5 hours were the longest of my life. LP Dad tried to take my mind off it by taking me out for coffee and tea, but all of I could think of was LP. I felt like I left a part of me in that room.



The cry of MOMMY and the big hug I got when I walked into the room to pick her up made up for the tears. She had a birthday crown on her head, icing on her cheeks, flyaway hair, and a huge smile on her face. She loved school.



According to Miss Marianne, they did circle time, sang songs, did a school house art project, and the cupcakes were a big hit. According to LP, she was holding the cupcakes and dropped them on the floor. I'm going to have to check in with Miss Marianne and find out what really happened on Tuesday.

A Busy Birthday

Lilypad Princess had a busy third birthday today. She actually slept in late for once, then came in to jump on Lilypad Dad and I to wake us up. We started off the morning snuggling in bed talking about her birthday and plans for the day, then headed downstairs to get moving.

LP opened one of her birthday presents, a new baby who can get wet and a bathtub, and happily bathed her while I made her birthday waffles for breakfast. Then Alessandro and his mom joined us for a trip to the zoo.



This was the first trip to this zoo for all of us, it was small and old fashioned, but clean and intimate. We were only 2 fences and less than 5 feet away from bears, lions, and tigers, so the kids were able to get a great view of the animals. It was big enough that we never had to be near another group, but small enough that the kids were able to walk the whole thing. The biggest hit for the kids was not the animals though, but the playground in the center of the zoo. They would have been happy to spend the entire day there.









For dinner, Lilypad Dad and I took LP to a burger restaurant with summer music and atmosphere. LP loves this restaurant, and we had a nice dinner together. LP ended her day with vanilla ice cream with a candle and a round of happy birthday from us and the waiter.

Happy Birthday Lilypad Princess!

My baby girl is 3 years old today. I never knew that time could fly by so fast, or be so filled with millions of tiny moments that I would never forget.

She started off to tiny, so helpless. She has grown into her own little person; strong, outgoing, curious, fearless, compassionate, and loving. Watching her explore and learn has become my greatest joy. Although would love to stop time right now to always keep her mommy's little girl, I am also excited to see what she is going to learn and how she is going to grow and change and what kind of person she is becoming.

At 3 years old she is full of contradictions. One minute she is a big girl, dressing herself, jumping into the pool, or getting her own drink of water from the fridge. The next minute she is mommy's baby again, curling up on my lap and staring into my face with the same eyes that looked up at me the very first time I nursed her.

minutes old


1 year old


2 years old


3 years old (almost)


I love you baby girl.

Preschool Orientation

Today was preschool orientation. It was a shortened day and Lilypad Dad and I got to stay with Lilypad Princess. I think they planned it as an adjustment day for the kids, but I think it was more for the parents. Lilypad Princess couldn't wait to get to school this morning, even the massive thunderstorm happening right over our heads didn't deter her. When we walked into the hallway and spotted Mackenzie and Alexander, she ran right over forgetting her dad and I were even there. She settled into the new room right away, making some new friends and getting reacquainted with Mackenzie, Patrick, and Alexander from her two year old class. The first real day is Thursday, and while I know that LP will be fine I'm worried about how I'm going to hold up.

The Firemen's Parade

Saturday was the annual Fire Department Inspection parade and our neighbor's picnic. It started off rainy, but the kids loved it. They rain around in the rain pulling on the tree branches to get even wetter when it wasn't raining hard enough. Lilypad Princess and her friend Ruby grabbed umbrellas and headed off to the top of the street to watch the local fire departments show off their best trucks and private collectors display their antique trucks. The rain stopped long enough to put down the umbrellas and enjoy the parade. Then we headed back to Uncle Dave and Uncle Michael's house to enjoy lots of food, great conversations, and fun with friends. The rain didn't dampen a minute of the day.

Happy Birthday Grace!

The first of our friends has turned 3. LP's friend Munchkinetta turned 3 yesterday, and we hope she had a wonderful birthday with her Mom and Dad despite the rain. We attended a playdate party in her honor on Friday, where she was very excited to dig into her flower cake. And the play was almost exactly the same as 6 months ago when the picture above was taken - dress up all day!

The Ice Cream Truck

Lilypad Princess made a new friend at the beach this summer, the ice cream truck driver. Around 4:00 each afternoon he would make his way past our house, playing his music as he went. By the time we could grab our money and make it out the door, he was usually a few houses down. LP and I would go racing after him, with LP yelling, "Stop, wait!" And one time it was, "Stop, wait, I love you!"

Soon he was slowing down as he passed our house waiting to see if we were there. He remembered what LP's favorite popsicle was, even when we hadn't been there for a couple of weeks. When Auntie La was visiting for the weekend, LP wanted to introduce her to her friend and the excitement of the ice cream man.

Amazement

Lilypad Princess and Nana look on with amazement as the bridge we just walked across rises high into the air.

Picking Up PopPop

PopPop was able to get a few days off to come visit us at the beach. Lilypad Princess, Nana, and I took a trip up to TF Green to get him. LP spent an entire morning and afternoon working on a sign to greet him, and was so proud to hold it up while she and Nana waited for him in the airport.



She stood right in the middle of all the limo drivers holding their signs, not at all intimidated by them.



She finally dropped the sign when she saw him, deciding that a big hug was much more important.