My Two Year Old!

Alyssa turned two this last week. We didn't really make a big production out of it, but we still managed to exhaust ourselves. I stayed up until about 12:30 the night before baking cookies to take to her class and muffins for the next day. Mike was up until about 1:00 putting together parts of the playhouse we got Alyssa for her birthday. On Alyssa's birthday Mike finished putting the playhouse together. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. Mike started putting it together in the back yard and in an attempt to not draw attention to the fact that he was putting it up, I drew the blinds over the sliding glass door. The girls noticed almost instantly that there was something different and had to take a peek. They saw a partially completed playhouse and had to go outside and play in it. So they were playing in this playhouse without a roof or all the accessories while Mike is still trying to put it together. It was pretty funny. The end result is that the girls love the playhouse. They are outside playing in it all the time.

I think even though the birthday was low key, Alyssa had a good time. She really liked the cookies and Dibbs we took into her classroom. When we went to pick her up she was bouncing off the wall. After the playhouse, we had a hard time getting her in to eat dinner and then we had a ton of presents to open, and then bath -- so neither girl got to bed until about 9:00ish. Long day -- but a fun one too!

These pictures were taken the weekend before Alyssa's birthday by Aspen Scott Photography (Jen). I have some others, but these are some of my favorites. I need to figure out which one I like the best so I can get them printed.

This one of her standing up is probably one of my favorites, but all the others are great too.

Jen really got some great shots. Alyssa is hiding a little plastic cricket and they had a great time with the "wheres the cricket" game.

Grandma brought Alyssa ALOT of presents but she also brought some games and books and clothes for Katelyn too. Katelyn did a really good job helping her sister open her presents without opening them for her and she showed alot of restraint in not insisting on playing with all of Alyssa's new toys. But when we brought out Alyssa's last toy (a Vtech tote -n- go laptop computer) she really wanted to play with it. So the fact that Grandma had some stuff for Katelyn too was perfect.

The above picture is cute. Alyssa just got done crying about something, so you can see the tear in her eye but she is smiling too!

Katelyn scored seven goals at soccer -- she probably should be in the next group, but she really likes to play with her friend Holden and he was two weeks short of the cut off. Katelyn could be in the next group up, but since Holden couldn't, we decided to put her in with the slightly younger kids. You can tell that Holden and Katelyn are two of the oldest kids on the field. They kind of dominate on the field.

I bought Katelyn and myself some crocs today. I was reading on-line that they are one of the best types of footware for Disney World. No worries about socks getting wet and rubbing the wrong way on your feet, etc. I love my Berks but I wasn't sure how they would hold up with all the heat and walking. I really like the sandals I bought -- they don't look like the traditional crocs. Katelyn got the standard crocs. So thats one more thing off my to do list before June!

An update on the kindergarten drama: I signed Katelyn up for all day kindergarten this week. They required us to go to a "meeting" on it on Wednesday. Luckily the meeting was after work, but in order to assure I got there in time I left work about 10 minutes early. Anyway, when I showed up at the school, the "meeting" was just a turn in your contract and down payment and the teacher was there to answer questions if we had any. I asked her my questions at the kindergarten registration. I could have filled out the contract and given her the check then! But I guess that type of efficiency is lost on the school district. We should find out this next week whether Katelyn got into the all day kindergarten. They need at least 20 people to sign up for the class. If they have more then 23 sign up then they turn it into a lottery. I think Katelyn was 10th on the list and there were more families coming into the classroom when I left, so I'm pretty confident they will get the 20 they need. I'll keep you posted when we find out if she got in.

I can't think of anything else to post and its past time for bed!

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do and thanks to everyone for all the gifts and cards wishing Alyssa a happy second birthday. She enjoyed getting the packages in the mail (of course, now whenever something comes in the mail the girls assume its for them!)