The Great Pumpkin Patch Express

Josh and I took a little trip last week.  We spent Wednesday walking around Round Top, then Thursday in San Marcos and Wimberly.  Josh's parents stayed with Alex, then took her to their house for the weekend.  We lined up a special surprise for Alex on Saturday.  My girl LOVES Snoopy and trains so we took her for a ride on the Texas State Railroad on a Peanuts themed ride.  The kids were encouraged to dress up so Alex used last years Belle costume.  It was so much fun!  We started the ride in Rusk.  We were able to walk around the depot until the engineer called, "all aboard!"

 

 My girl picked out a super cute pink engineers hat at the gift shop.  She proudly carried our tickets around until it was time to board.

 On the train ride to the pumpkin patch, they handed out bags and crayons so the kids could decorate their bags to use for trick or treating when they arrived.  As soon as we got there, she spotted Snoopy and took off to see him!

 A huge hug for Snoopy!

 The entire set up was great.  They had the pumpkin patch where everyone got to pick a pumpkin, a street front so the kids could trick or treat.  They also had carnival type games set up for the kids, a petting zoo, slide, bounce house, hay ride, a stage with a guy singing kids songs and a food vendor.

 Alex and Josh picked the perfect pumpkin then we took a hay ride.

 On the train ride back, they handed out foam sticker kits to use to decorate the pumpkins.  Then Alex turned the camera on us.  She loves taking pictures!

The ride was so great, Alex is already asking to go back next year.  The Texas State Railroad has several themed rides (a Peanuts Halloween, Easter and Valentines ride along with a Polar Express ride and all the regular excursions).  I have a feeling there will be many more train rides in our future!

First Week

 

 

One week (technically 3 days) of Pre-K down.  Drop off each day was a little emotional for Alex.  She was a little clingy and wanted me to walk into class with her while she put her stuff away, but thankfully, her class assistant, Ms. Susan was WONDERFUL and paid special attention to Alex while I said good bye and walked out of the class. 

 

I know she loves being there, she just doesn't like being away from me.  My sweet girl!  She is starting to make new friends and is already talking about them.  She has also been so excited to see her old class mates on the playground.  I LOVE hearing about her days.  After the first day, I took her out for a milkshake so we could just sit and talk about her day.  I think it may start being a new first day of school tradition for us.  She was so cute just talking and talking about her day! 

 

I can tell her first week wore her out.  Last night she asked to go to sleep a little before 8.  My kid never ask to go to sleep.  It didn't help that yesterday was a super busy day for her.  We left the house a little before 9, had an hour break at home from 3:30-4:30, then left again until after 7.

 

I am so excited for her school year.  We already LOVE her teachers!

First Day of Pre K

Alexandra started Pre K today!  I thought I was ready, but last night I realized our summer together was over and I got so sad.  We had such a great summer and now as I sit here in the empty house, it seems so quiet. 

She woke up so excited about school which made drop off a little easier.  Josh took the morning off so he could be there for first drop off.  She was ready half an hour early!  She will go to school 4 days a week this year!  We have a super busy weekly schedule lined up, but I know keeping her busy will help prepare her for a longer kindergarten day next year.  In addition to pre school Monday-Thursday (9am-1:30) she will stay an extra hour for "stay and play" on Tuesdays.  She begged to stay the second half of school last year so we told her she could stay this year.  But because she has a busy schedule, we are only doing it one day a week.  Wednesdays she will go straight from school to dance at 2:00, a little break, then pre cheer at 5:15.  Thursday she has gymnastics at 4:15.  We have Fridays completely open!

Just for memory sake, a few things about Alexandra...
She has been very adamant, she wants to go by Alexandra at school
She LOVES purple...so much that her new school clothes are all purple!
She is very vocal about what she gets for lunch.  We made a special trip to the grocery store where she got to pick out things for her lunch.  (she picked pineapple, cantaloupe, oranges, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, hummus, pita chips, green veggie chips, turkey, cheese sticks, gold fish shaped bread and black olives)
entering pre-k she knows all of her letters, upper and lower case, she can count to 100, she has some sight words memorized, she can spell and write her name and she can sound out many words to write them herself.

She has one friend from last year in her class so I am so excited that she gets to make new friends, but still see her other friends on the play ground.  I can not believe my girl is already 4 years and in pre-k.  Wasn't she just a little baby in my arms the other day?

Q & A

Sunday night Josh and I had a q&a with Alex.  It was her last night at a 3 year old!

Q: Name
A: Alexandra Rae

Q: favorite food
A: chicken nuggets

Q: favorite movie
A: Lion King

Q: favorite restaurant
A: Chickfila

Q: favorite TV show
A: Doc McStuffins

Q: favorite baby
A: baby Stoney

Q: favorite dessert
A: pie...strawberry (for the record, she has never had strawberry pie!)

Q: favorite thing to do
A: play games...CandyLand

Q: what are you scared of?
A: the loud parts in movies, that's all, I cover my ears

Q: favorite place to go
A: Toys R Us

Q: what do you want to be when you grow up?
A: a hair stylist

Q: will you have children
A: yes, 2, a boy and a girl.  The pink one will be named Lolli and the blue one will be named Baby Coopie

Q: will you have a pet?
A: yes, a pink dog named Bow

Q: what food do you dislike?
A: potatoes

Q: favorite book
A: Not a Box

Q: favorite song
A: Hallelujah (Rufus Wainright)

Q: Who is your best friend?
A: hmmm, let me "fink" about that, Kate!  I was just "finking" about it and I came up with an idea

Q: What makes you laugh?
A: something funny, like when Snoopy dances (on an IPad game)

Q: What makes you cry?
A: when I get in trouble and I go to my chair then I snuggle baby Cooper and it makes me happy!

Q: What do you like for breakfast?
A: oranges, pineapple and apples.  I don't like eggs.

Happy 4th Birthday

Alex,

I was going to say something about how I can't believe you're four...but the more I thought about it, I can't believe just how much you seem both so much older and yet still just a baby to me.

You amaze me every day with how smart you are. You have a boundless energy and a sweet innocence that has made me look at my own life so much differently. You've made me complete and even though I have to leave you tucked in bed every weekday morning, you are somehow always with me.

Always know that I love you and that you are the very thing that makes me whole. You and your mommy are truly all I will ever need in this life to be happy. I will give my everything every day to make sure you both have everything you need and so that you never have to worry.

Never stop smiling, never stop laughing...and believe in your imagination.

I love you Alexandra.

XOXO Daddy


Alexandra,

I can not believe you are already 4 years old! I feel like I was just getting your nursery ready yesterday. My baby, you make me so proud every single day. You are so funny, amazingly smart and absolutely beautiful. I cherish every single day I get to spend with you.

Tinksie, I hope one day you will understand how deep my love for you is. You are a part of my heart and soul. I am so proud to have the honor of being your mommy. I love you more than you will ever know.

I love you forever and always,
Mommy 

4th Birthday Party!

We celebrated Alex's birthday early this year!  Anyone who knows me, knows I start planning Alex's birthday about 6 months out!  This year Alex didn't really have much of an opinion other than she wanted it to be purple.  I threw the idea of a movie party out there and she LOVED it.  Since Brave was coming out a few weeks before her birthday, we decided to have her party early (on opening weekend)!  Instead of going with a Brave theme, we did purple, purple and more purple!  The theater was fantastic and handled everything!  All we had to do was show up with cake or cupcakes.  Of course, because Alex wanted purple, I picked up our own paper goods, but they would have provided them if I wanted.  We had pizza and cupcakes then got to see the movie.  My favorite part was the manager reserved 2 great rows in the theater for Alex's party!  We walked in right before the movie started and took our seats!  During the party they took drink and icee orders from the kids and delivered kids packs with popcorn, drinks and graham crackers as soon as they were seated!



the birthday banner I made!

 silly girl coyping one of the triplets!

 happy girl with her cupcakes!

I would totally do a movie party again!  In fact, Monsters University and the second Despicable Me come out around Alex's birthday next year! 

Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day.  I woke up early and Alex and I made stuffed french toast for breakfast!  Considering I didn't follow a recipe I think it turned out pretty good! 

Then we got ready and drove to Cedar Park so we could ride the Father's Day Flyer on the Austin Steam Train.  We rode it several months ago but Josh and Alex wanted to ride it again on a different car.  I knew it would be a fun Father's Day activity so the second I got an email about the Father's Day Ride, I booked our compartment!  We rode in a private compartment on the City of Chicago pullman car.  It is so much fun having a private compartment because Alex can move around all she wants and we can just relax!  We had a yummy lunch and dessert.  It was so much fun!  My girl shares her Daddy's love for trains!

Josh and Alex heading to our compartment

Alex took so many pics of us while we were on the train.  She actually did a pretty good job!

 Daddy and daughter with huge smiles!

 my girl!

 Josh and Alex after the ride.  The car we rode in was BEAUTIFUL!

It was such a fun day!  We are already talking about our next ride!  Next time we will probably do a ride out of Rusk...either the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown in October or Polar Express in December!