Happy Labor Day

Yesterday, the  girls were up at 3:30am telling me the sun was up.  I sent them back to bed. At 4am, I caved and told them to go watch TV.  They were hyper all morning.  I wonder if being away from each other all week means they are extra excited about Saturdays together.  By 1:30pm, they crashed watching a movie.  they look so sweet when they are sleeping.

Hailey's Birthday

 The girls in their party dresses on their way to their friends Hailey's 3rd birthday party

 Hailey's mom rented a bounce house.  For some reason, Sasha decided she was too shy to jump. She gets this way sometimes and I do not understand it.  She wouldn't bounce and she wouldn't come out.  Leeza had no problem bouncing.

 Hailey, the birthday girl, eating lunch.

 Leeza had a good time at lunch, but then she is a party girl.  Sasha was still in her shy mode here.  It didn't last much past lunch.  I think she is just needing some attention since Leeza had so much focus on her and kindergarten this week.

 Yes, that is Sasha going in the bounce house with out me.  They just ran out there together and they both got in.

 Then the little playhouse got a workout.  Leeza, Cora, Dexter  and another girl are inside and Sasha and another kid are on the outside.  That is a lot of kids in one little house.

It was a princess party and the birthday girl did good blowing out her candles.  I had best start planning for Sasha's birthday- it is only a montha nd a half away

First Week

Kindergarten started with a half day on Tuesday.  Leeza had a good day. but she was a little nervous about some of the big kids in the before and after school program.  I guess one girl named Olivia was mean to her.  Wednesday she had a nose bleed at quiet time after lunch.  She got to go to the Office and also see the nurse.   She had a bad one Wendnesday night also. Thursday she had another small one later in the day and got to go to the nurse again.  I guess this means we will have to go to teh hospital and let the Dr look in her nose after all.  She also met a new friend- Mackenzie.  I guess she was in her gymnastics class. There were so many kids in there I never learned their names. 
I was told by friends that there would be lots of things I would have to do and send in to school and I was bragging on how Leeza's teacher didn't seem to do all that.  THEN I got the weekly newsletter.  Now I have to remember:
$2 for a poetry notebook
Skittles for an art project(for the whole class)
A snack for the class(from the Approved Snack list of course)
Napkins for snack day
Bags from McDonalds/Culvers for another art project
A red shirt for Wednesday(it is red day for the kindergarteners)
Lunch for Leeza on Friday(it is a half day and the cafeteria is closed)
I did the book order on line so I don't have to remember that
A check for the BASAP program(you have to pay every Thursday)
I am skipping the Market Day since the food is delivered the same night as Dance class

Oh, yes, did I mention we also start dance next week.  I am thinking about signing them up for swimming and gymnastics too, but that makes it totally crazy.

KINDERGARTEN

 I can hardly believe that one of my babies is in kindergarten.  It seems like they just came home a year ago!  This is her special 1st Day of Kindergarten outfit.  Hello Kitty ensemble including a Hello Kitty backpack and lunch bag.  Leeza was very excited and a little nervous.  She loved all the attention.

 This will be the first time they will not be in the same building.  They have been in different classes off and on, but always saw each other multiple times throughout the day.  Sasha's teacher Ms Tracey promised her a piggyback ride if she didn't cry all week.  Sasha is very excited about that.

 I love this picture.  Sisters and best friends forever.

 Here we are outside the school.  Still all smiles.

 And into the big girl school.  Leeza will attend the before and after school program so I drop her off at 7-7:15 and she is in the cafeteria until school starts at 8:20.  They have games and a TV and coloring etc that she can do.

We all walked Leeza into the school, signed her in, put her backpack in the cubby and said goodbye.  She would not give Sasha a hug.  By this time, the smile was going and the nerves were taking over.  Mommy started getting ready to cry, Leeza started getting ready to cry.  Mommy and Sasha left quickly before the tears started.  There may have been a few tears, but I think they were Mommy tears and not Leeza tears.  the first day was only a half day so Leeza spent most of her time in the cafeteria.  She fell asleep in the afternoon watching It's a Bug's life on the TV.  Orientation was the night before so she had met her teacher(and so did Sasha) and put all her supplies away.Her teacher is Mrs Fitzgerald.  She has been teaching about 30 years and seems to be a good match for Leeza.  Her classroom is at the far end of the school next to the library. 

Pony Express Days

 It was Pony Express weekend at Mt Zion today.  We went to the carnival and had a good time.  They had a lot less there this year than last year- no ponies, no face painting and a few less rides.  The girls still had a good time though which is all the counts

 They really like the little alligator roller coaster. We went on this one about 4 times.

They had a seating area near the big slide.  I sat while the girls went on the slide over and over and over again.

Dance Classes

I signed the girls up this morning for dance class- ballet and tap.  Now I am sitting here wondering what kind of idiot signs a 4 aqnd 5 year old up for TAP which means they get TAP shoes.  ARRGGH!  I can see them both driving me crazy with the tap tap tap tapping. We go Monday to pick out their tap shoes.  I ordered their leotards and ballet shoes today.  Between dance classes and school registration fees, there goes any savings from less daycare.

3 Years

3 years ago today, after 5 planes and 40 hours of travel, I met my girls.  Life has never been the same.  It seems like so so long ago that I made that trip, but I will never forget it.

I remember the "airport hotel" that turned out to be a bench in the lobby.  the little old russian lady who gave me coffee made from water in a mason jar.(and me drinking it as I remembered the multiple Do Not drink the water warnings)  Arriving in Shymkent totally exhausted.  Going to the Ministry of Education for my interview that was suppose to last about 45 minutes.  The lady asked me the first question- Why did you come to Kazakhstan?  I was supposed to say Because I would like to adopt a child.  Instead my mind went blank, I looked at the interpreter and said-I don't understand the question.  They looked at each other, I am convinced they decided I was an idiot and said I should come back later.  I never did go back!  Less than 30 minutes later, I was in the babyhouse holding my Leeza and looking (briefly) at my Sasha.