A Cars and Trains Second Birthday for T

Our little baby Timmy is 2! Will there ever be a birthday when I feel like I can believe that they are as old as they are turning? I feel like it was just Cate's second birthday (well, it kind of was...) and now Timmy is already two. The seasons and years are whipping around so fast!

On Saturday we went to the choo choo restaurant in Glen Ellyn. Timmy and Cate loved it. Just like at Cate's second birthday, the food is delivered by train right next to your table.

After dinner, the birthday boy (and his big sister, of course) got special birthday cupcakes with sprinkles. They both devoured them. The frosting, anyway.

They also got in on some milkshake action. This was the beginning of the sugar overload for the weekend.

On Sunday after church (first day in the big 2 year old room!) and lunch and naps, we let Timmy rip into his presents. He was unsure at first of all the excitement and attention...although Cate was adeptly coaching him through it. Once he got the idea that under the brightly colored paper would lie cars, cars, legos, cars, footballs, cars, new clothes, cars, bikes and more cars, he was jumping around like a little maniac.

I was trying to get his cake ready in secret, but he came in as I was getting the candles lit and saw it. He started screaming, "That's Mater, That's McQueen!" The two race cars were off the cake before the candles were blown out.

He thoroughly enjoyed his cake (hence the black and white photo) with his friends, Mater and McQueen by his side. Happy Birthday TT! We love you!

Hey Daddy!

Since I won't talk on the phone, I thought I would send you a special blog post. This is me on my way to my second day of school. I can't wait to see you this weekend!

Love,

Cate

A Big Week

Cate's first day of preschool is behind us and she did great! We got her bag packed the night before and I made her favorite breakfast (french toast) to encourage a good mood. She was skipping along and holding my hand until we got close to her classroom and there were a lot of people, a little bit of chaos and a little bit of crying. Then she wanted to be picked up.

So we checked things out together and then Mimi swooped in so that I could make an exit. I got periodic updates throughout the morning when my mom had a chance to peek in at her. She was smiling, playing and having a good time. On the way home, I asked Cate how she liked school and her teachers and the other kids in her class. She liked school and the teachers, but not the other kids. She thought that they were too young to be in school. Of course she is one of the youngest ones, so I don't know what that means.

The weather turned cool, almost cold, last week, but we still made it over to our old playground. Timmy always wants to look for ducks on the bridge.

It's so much easier to be at the playground with both of them now that Timmy is more independent. I still look at other mothers who are sitting on a bench, talking to other mothers, drinking their coffee and wonder when that will be me, but at least I'm not holding one child and trying to help the other one anymore.

On Friday night we went out for dinner for Mimi's birthday. Cate and Timmy love their guacamole, so Mimi chose a Mexican restaurant.

Finally, on Saturday night with Daddy in Phoenix and Mimi and Pop at a wedding, I told C&T that we could make popcorn and watch a movie after bath time. They LOVE to eat popcorn out of a little plastic cup and watch "Toy Story." It was a good end to a busy week!

Ready for School

Actually, I think that the title of this post should be, "Ready for school??????"

Cate is going to preschool two days a week this Fall (or for however long we are still in Chicago). We started talking about it a few weeks ago. She told me, and everyone else who asked, that she was not going to school. She was staying home with me all morning. She said that she is not old enough to go to school.

So, I ordered her a new backpack which she loved to try to get her excited about school.

That worked for a day or so. She played school, pretended to go to school and packed some crayons in her bag. The next day she was back to saying that she was not going.

Today was "Meet the Teacher." Cate knows one of her teachers really well. My mom is the preschool director and we play in the empty playrooms and classrooms all the time. You might think that this would help her to be more comfortable.

You would be wrong. She wouldn't look at anyone, detach herself from the backs of my legs or speak the entire time. Thursday is the first day of school and I don't think it's going to be pretty. I think she'll have a great time once she settles down, but it's going to be a scene.

Also, if you're wondering why Cate is dressed for summer and Timmy for winter...I don't really have a good answer. We don't have a lot of clothes here. The temperature dropped dramatically this past weekend and Cate refused to cover up her new dress with leggings or a sweater.