The new preschooler!!

I have been talking about enrolling Esmeralda in preschool for the last couple of weeks/months and we finally got the ball rolling. Last week we went and observed in the class she would be attending and I fell in love with the place, her teacher and the art based "play" they have planned for this young group. Yesterday I called to see how soon she could start and they said as soon as I had the paperwork filled out. I promptly went home, filled out her paperwork, and called the school this morning to see if she could go TODAY and they said of course!! So...I took her at 12:45p, Miguel met us there, and we got the official tour and introductions to some parent helpers. Once she was all signed in, Papa and I watched from a distance and she just ran off to be with the other kids and played! We snuck out and when I came back to get her at 3:30p she just looked at me and said, "Hi Mama!" and walked over casually is if I'd been there all the time. When she got a bit closer, she launched into full speed and just about knocked me over in her excitement to give me a hug. The best part was that she was COVERED in orange tempera paint and smelled of shaving cream...I LOVE IT!! I think this will be a GREAT experience for her...we both need the time and space from each other to better appreciate our time together. Enjoy a couple of pictures from today's exciting day!!

Outdoor play at the water table.

A view of the play yard.

Check in and dramatic play area behind.

Art area and "kitchen" area.

"Mama!"

This is the orange tempera...literally from head to toe!

Random from the last two weeks

Esmeralda and I cleaning out the flower bed under the Asian pear tree.

Our close up.

Esmeralda hiding under her kitchen sink with her two babies telling them "no be scarwed, it a big nossy a-pane" during the Thunderbirds portion of the Hillsboro Airshow. (they flew right over our house for about 30mins)

Getting dressed for family quilting Esmeralda picked out all her own clothes and accessories. "Aly dress, Aly shoes, Aly hair band. I a pwincess mommy! You take my piture?" How could I resist?!

A just because picture that goes nicely with the next two. Before...

after! Nice hair cut!

Look at all those curls on the floor!

" Gwapa Pee-yo" and the cousins having tea.

Crazy Aly...I don't know who took this picture but it was on my camera so I thought I would put it out here.

Dragonfly & PJs!! (and now praying mantises)

This is the GIANT dragonfly that was on our porch for about 3hrs on Sunday.

Miguel and Esmeralda getting a closer look...and a touch!

Tuesday morning heading to work...not wanting to get dressed!

"Office Appropriate Attire"...I think not...not with PJs, rain boots and tousled hair! Very cute though!!

So this dragonfly was outside on one of our patio chairs this morning. I'm beginning to think that we have become the dragonfly safe-house.

And at work today we had not only one...

but two praying mantises!!

Adventures in Bend!!

So we hopped in the car and went to Bend overnight with the family!

This is dinner and music at one of Suzie's client's restaurants.

Esmeralda's not so sure about it.

But...she warmed up when the music started playing.



Post dinner and dancing required a little snack...while sitting in the middle of Momo's back!The next day we went to the High Desert Museum.
Esmeralda and I sitting on a metal sculpture of an elk.

One of MANY chipmunks scurrying accross our path.

Esmeralda like the Teepee...just her size!

This horse is sculpted out of barbed wire! Esmeralda was a bit scared of it at first, thinking it was a real mommy and baby horsey.

Mommy and baby in an eagle nest in the kid section of the museum.

Back at home nothing's more fun than stompping around in Papa's dancing boots.

When it was 107 degrees...!

So most people don't like it when it gets to be 107 degrees outside, but when your dad works in janitorial you have giant blower machines that dry the floor very quickly so if you're hot they can cool you off pretty quickly too...unless you are a baby doll, then you MUST be cold!