Virginia November 2011

This year we decided to load the family up and head to Lynchburg Virginia for Thanksgiving.
Mike's mom had done a great job of figuring out places to go and things to do to keep the girls entertained. Of course I get very nervous when I fly, so those nerves are even more out of control when it comes to flying with two 2 year olds, especially when you have a layover and get to hop on another plane. You never know what to expect, are they going to cry, scream, throw a fit...of course I only think the worse, so I pack enough goodies in their back packs to entertain an entire elementary school. We had a great flight, there and home. I am just so proud of how well my girls adapt to new and uncomfortable situations. Ava even cheesed it up on the plane so I could take a picture.


Now for the vacation part...

Barnes and Noble had a story time that we were able to attend, so the girls got to color and listen to the lady read.

We went to Amazement Square Museum. It was awesome. 4 stories of crazy activities for kids to do. The girls could go there everyday and have the time of their lives. From planting and picking crops to milking cows, to zip lining to steering boats down a river, to learning about the organs in a body and building with blocks and legos, kitchen cooking center...and TONS of slides, I was in awe. The pictures don't even do it justice.

The girls picking their crops - Ava found acorns and Alexa found corn

Alexa and tomatos

Ava would have zip lined all day if we would have let her



The kitchen area was so cool. It was a log cabin home with a stove, fridge, and cabinets. The girls had a blast preparing and serving food.

Ava playing with the lego table.

There was also a bounce house. In the mall at Lynchburg they have an entire space dedicated to bounce houses...








As we were leaving the mall the girls spotted an area set up for Santa. They even had a train that when in a circle, and since the girls LOVE trains, we just had to let them ride.




There were also playgrounds, running around the house and neighborhood, playing in the basement, and with the neighbors dog...I need to do better with taking more pictures, just with 2 its harder to get the camera out. (***New Years Resolution - be better with photographing these memories***)
On our last night there we went to eat at Macados...I tried to take a few pics, but the girls kept wanting to be the photographer for the evening, so these are a mix of pics I took and Ava and Alexa took.








However, before we left we had the waitress get a good pic of us all.


We had a great time in Lynchburg, VA. Thanks grandma and grandpa Griese for finding such great activities to keep us entertained while we were there.
It was a great Thanksgiving!

1st School Party - Thanksgiving 2011

We had so many things to be thankful for this year. We are all healthy and happy!
A first that we were able to experience this year was the girls Thanksgiving Party at school.
All the 2 year olds came in and lined the front wall. (As I have stated in previous blogs, I overreact about everything when it comes to the girls) When I saw all the kids lining up in the front, I thought there is no way mine will do this. Once they see me or Mike, they will be off running to us. How wrong I was, they both waved when they saw us, but continued up to the front to sing.

Well, they didn't so much sing, but they looked beautiful standing there starring at everyone. After the 2 songs were over they walked to their seats and we were able to join. Chick Fila catered, and they had juice and cookies...



Alexa and Ava with their feather hat on

This was one of the girls teachers. She announced at the party this would be her last day, her husband had taken a job in Phoenix and they were moving back home to where their families are.

For Thanksgiving Day, we headed to Virginia to visit Mikes parents...but that's another blog...

Pre-School...

All I can say is it was harder on me then it was for Alexa and Ava. Since we decided to start the girls in pre-school a couple of days a week, I have been stressed, losing sleep and overwhelmed with all of it. Which in the end, all my worrying has been a waste of my time, the girls have been doing great, their teachers have been very patient (more with me then with the girls) and it is a lot of fun!
I guess I should start at the beginning.
NEEDS: we need a nap mat, lunch box and back pack. Easy enough, but then here comes the crazy mom I am...Do we need to have it monogrammed, shouldn't it all match, wow, we need all this in 1 week. So my wonderful husband calmed me down, we all went to Target, and found 2 lunch boxes, and a Minnie Mouse and Princess nap mat and used the Tinkerbell back packs we already had. The girls were so excited about their nap mats! So, who needs to spend $40 monogramming something, not us :) First Misti freak out done...Check!
Next, what to pack, how many diapers, what clothes to wear on the 1st day, and biggest of all, what in the world to pack in their lunches?
Lets just say the teachers were VERY nice in telling me that maybe Alexa doesn't need apple sauce (she dropped a little on her shirt and had a 30 min cry from embarrassment) and the super cute new outfits we bought for their 1st day...Ava's bottoms won't stay on. Her spandex pants kept sliding off her diaper...Those pants are now in the trash, we are not going to have that problem again.
I was sidetracked, as I get when I have so much exciting stuff to write, and just feel that I can't get it all in 1 post...
Back to the story...Mike took off work Friday morning so he could be there to see our beautiful babies starting a new chapter in their life. We woke up, got dressed, and headed out to school. We got there a couple of minutes early to do pictures and make sure we had turned in the rest of their forms. Then it was off to their class. They looked like such big kids going in their classroom with their backpacks and lunches. We put everything on their shelves and hung up their jackets, then it was time for good bye. Alexa cried, and begged us not to go; however Ava was pushing us out the door waving and saying bye. We got to the car, and I almost cried, but I was very proud of myself! I kept it together and headed home. It seemed like the longest 5 hours of my life, then finally time to pick them up! They were just waking from their nap when I got there, and the teachers said eventhough Ava's pants kept falling down and Alexa spilled her apple sauce the girls did a great job and were a delight to have!

Outside about to get in mommy's car and drive to school:

Outside the school getting ready to head in:

Inside the school about to head in our classroom:

Getting ready to walk into their room:

Which brings me to Monday, our 2nd day of pre-school. Mommy finally got her act together, made an appropriate lunch, dressed with clothes we already had, so I knew there would be no issues and we were off. Alexa and Ava were both very excited again, and as we got to the school, they both hopped out and walked in the building, all the way down the hall to their classroom, then it happened. Alexa saw her teachers and immediately began crying. So I picked up the pace, unloaded their backpacks and gave a quick hug and kiss and left. Ava again, smiled and said I love you mommy, bye...That brought tears to my eyes. I had a few errands to run, so I did those, and then headed to pick up the girls. I snuck in a little early and peeked in. They were both sitting at the table watching their teachers, and smiling. It's moments like that, that let me know putting them in school was the right choice!

I am so proud of both my girls, they are amazing and mean the world to me! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of what beautiful intelligent girls you are becoming!