Pumpkin Patch

Mostly pictures. We took the kids to the pumpkin patch on Saturday morning with Missy, Travis, Ella and Jack. It was lots of fun. Madeline loves everything about the pumpkin patch. She likes to talk about Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin while she runs around. Abby does not like the tractor ride to get to the field :) Travis loves everything about the pumpkin patch, getting up early, freezing, getting your pictures taken a thousand times. Jon loved all the yuppies trying not to get their coats dirty. hahaha!

We're finally moved in...sort of.

We are in. We still have a lot of work to do but we are finally in a home of our own. It's really nice to be only ten minutes from Madeline's school.

Sharon, PJ and Mom came over on Sunday and helped unpack while Madeline played with Karlie and then went over to Julies house. Missy came over and used her magic touch to hang pics and make it feel warm and homey in here. She's a very talented lady.

We will be busy continually unpacking but at least the important things are in.

Madeline starts her first week of extended days at preschool this week. It means she gets an hour of one-on-one time with the teacher before her actual class starts. We'll see how it goes.
She's still doing really well, however she does tell me she wants to go home every time we take the turn into the school :)

Pictures!

School!

Just wanted to update everyone that read the last post about Madeline beginning school this week. It's going really well. She's not crying when I drop her off and she's actually participating and sitting in circle time. Those are things that didn't happen at all last year. Well, sometimes in bits and pieces. It's really nice to see a preschool run by people that actually have a clue. Madeline has allergies to nuts and eggs and the first day a note was sent home to all the kids stating the the room was a "nut and egg free zone". Meaning the other kids can't bring things with those ingredients in either. PERFECT! People that actually know what they are doing. It's a breath of fresh air.

The only problem she had today was that she wanted to take home Braeden's backpack because it had Thomas the train on it! Those kind of issues I can handle :)

week in review

We've been here a whole week and it's been a bit of a whirlwind. I went from spending all the time locked in the house with tutors coming every two hours to driving all over creation to take Madeline to all sorts of places. I'm learning to plan in advance a little more. I have to get the bags and car ready with snacks and toys the night before so that I'm not sweating buckets in the morning trying to get us all out the door on time.

Madeline had three sessions of ABA with Jennifer this week and she said she did pretty well. A little spacey and quiet but better than I had expected. She hasn't been crying and throwing a fit when we walk up to the building like she did the first two times. She's willingly going in with Jennifer and saying goodbye to me. That's great for a first week.

She also started dance lessons on Saturday! :) I just went yesterday and picked up her tap shoes, leotard, tights and ballet slippers. It's so freaking cute I can hardly stand it. Madeline's OT (occupational therapist) at school is a dance instructor and she teaches classes specifically for children with special needs. Of course, the first session was a bit chaotic but Madeline really loved the room. All those mirrors! :) Madeline is in the class with two other little girls. They are a little bit older than her (5 and 6, I think) and have done the class for over a year so she'll have some good role models. It's every Saturday so that should be fun.

Preschool starts tomorrow. We went on Thursday and met the teachers and therapists and they all seem great. I'm really excited for her to start. Hopefully she'll be happy, I'm trying to think positively about it and make it sound fun when I talk to her. I don't want her to hear the anxiety in my voice. Her cousin Ryan keeps telling her that her school has the best playground! :)

Jon just left today for Texas. He'll be there for two weeks. We're hoping to get into a house quickly after he gets home.

Send Madeline good vibes for her first day at preschool!! :)