HAPPINESS IS...

... the OPPOSITE of hearing your 4-year-old hollering "Mom! McKenna is coloring purple and red crayon all over the wall, and couch!"

Grr!

So we've had some rough days lately.
And today was another rough one...  We did a lot of cleaning up messes,
and a LOT of time-outs.

This little lady is definitely pushing some new limits.
It's a good thing she's cute!
Sigh.
It's just so tough being two (well, almost two).

ROCKIN' THE SHADES

I'm considering starting my own fashion magazine.  My models are amazing!

READ IN

Back in elementary school, every once in a while we used to have these days called Read In's.
Basically it was a book day.  You would bring whatever chapter book (or books) you were working on, and lots of snacks, and a blanket and a pillow, and we would move all the desks, and everyone would pick a spot on the floor to set up camp, and all we would do all day is eat and read (and maybe nap a little, though I don't know if that was really supposed to happen...),
and it was awesome!

Brinlee has graduated from wanting short picture books any more before bed, so for the past couple of weeks we have been working through something a little heftier.  Her first big girl book choice was Charlotte's Web. Excellent choice!
This morning we woke up to a really impressive thunder storm. Conveniently enough we were pretty close to the end of her book too, and had nowhere we needed to be.  So, we set up a Read In!  We built our beds, finished the last couple chapters of her book, popped some popcorn, and then watched the movie.  We all dressed as our favorite characters.  Brinlee was Charlotte, of course.  McKenna ended up being Fern Arable (because she wouldn't wear anything else), and mommy got to be Wilbur... the pig.

It was the perfect morning!

TOO SOON?

 Is it too early to get her started on chores?

Maybe so?

FIRST DAY OF PRE K

This darling girl had her fist day of preschool on Tuesday!

We're doing joy school again this year, but it's joy school version 2.0!  The other mom I'm doing it with has a LOT in her arsenal when it comes to pre-k and kindergarten age academic know-how, and of course I have my awesome mom that I call on, often!  So we're beefing it up a little this go around.  They get to take a lunch and everything!
And Brinlee is so excited!
She headed out the door on Tuesday with a face full of smiles and came home with her face even more full of smiles!

Her teacher sent me this while she was gone.

Seriously, is she not the cutest?!  She is so smart, and fun, and spunky, and awesome.
It's a good thing she only goes across the street so far.  When I have to send her farther I may have a tough time.
She goes twice a week.  I took another picture of her today, just because... honestly.  So cute!
Yay for pre-school!

On the weeks I don't teach I get 3 and a half hours every Tuesday and Friday alone with this little face!  

On Tuesday we ran errands, and she wasn't happy.  So today, we just played.  And she ate it up!  I usually see and play with these girls together, it's so different and nice to get one-on-one time every once in a while.

She is so much fun!

I kind of love that I'm starting to find more things like this around the house that now have McKenna's little mark all over them.  She sure takes after Brin and is really starting to play cute.

Everyone should get to spend a morning with such an awesome, goofy little buddy!

HAPPINESS IS...

...your 4 year old hollering 

"Hey mom! Come in my room!  I have a surprise for you!"

And then going in to find her bed not only made (without you asking),

but finding it made absolutely flawlessly!

Loving this!