Journal Pen Pals

I found this idea on pinterest about starting a journal with your kids. You write in a composition notebook and write letters back and forth. It can be about anything. The book is between you and one of your children. You tell the child they can write whatever they want in the book. When they are done they leave it on your bed. Then when you can write back, you do. The process repeats itself.  I thought it was a great way to talk between adults and kids. I did a book kinda of like that with a friend in high school and loved it. I sat down with Kenna the night before school started and talked the about the book. I wrote her a letter on the first page asking her if she would be my pen pal. I told her she can ask me questions, write stories, jokes, tell me about her day, anything she wanted. I told her if she was ever embarrassed to talk to me or ask me something she could write it in the book and I could talk to her about it. I told her that it was a special book between her and I and no one else. She seemed pretty excited. As I left her room, she said she had something she wanted to tell me and she would write it down. This morning I found the book on my bed. She told me a secret of hers. I was so excited. I wrote her back while she was school. While we were eating dinner, I told her I read what she wrote and she started smiling really big. She then said, ' I have wanted to tell you for a really long time, but i was too embarrassed.' I  was happy to know that this book helped her talk to me about something she wanted to tell me, but was too embarrassed to talk about. I hope that we can keep up this book as she gets older. I really hope she will continue to talk to me and be open and honest with me. I told her she can talk to me about anything. Even if she thinks she might get in trouble. I told her it is my job as a parent to discipline her and she still might get in trouble. But if I find out from someone else something bad that happened, she would be in much bigger trouble. Anyways....I think this book thing is a good idea for everyone. It also helps children work on their spelling, grammar and punctuation.

First Day of School

Today the girls started their 2013-2014 school year. Makenna started 2nd grade and Bryn started Pre-K. Ever since we applied for the Pre-K lottery, Bryn has been asking me if she can go. Both girls were super excited and ready for school. They woke up at 6am and were both dressed and wanting to go. Makenna was excited to buy lunch on her first day and Bryn was sad she is only half day and doesn't do lunch at school. I drove the girls to school and walked them in. Makenna was more than happy to leave and go sit with her class. Her friend Aliyah is in her class again this year. I walked Bryn to where she needs to go to meet her teacher in the morning. She seemed excited, but nervous. She kept asking if she could go see Kenna. I explained to her Kenna was in her own class and that they could see each other after school. Bryn's teacher had the kids hold hands and walk to class. This girl in her class seemed a lot older than her and took her hand. I had no idea that it would effect me so much. I just started crying. I guess I have worried about Bryn starting normal school. I was worried that the little girl would feel her hand and be scared of Bryn. The girl took Bryn by the hand and didn't even notice. She acted like her and Bryn were best buds. It was great. So yes, I didn't expect to cry, but I left very emotional.

I picked Bryn up from school and she was excited to see me. She got in the car and told the teacher we forgot her sister. Haha, Kenna doesn't get out of school until later. I reassured Bryn we did NOT forget Kenna and we would be back to get her. Then Bryn was super excited to show me the pencil the principal gave her and show me the folder she gets to bring home. She felt like such a BIG kid. Bryn kept asking me if we could go get Kenna. Haha, she doesn't like her when she is around, but when she isn't, she loves her to death. I asked Bryn if she made any friends. She said, ' yea, Lauren. Not my best friend Lauren, but another Lauren.' Bryn had a best friend named Lauren at her school last year.  I then asked Bryn what she looked like. She said, 'she had a black face.' I about died laughing. Made me laugh to hear how she described this little girl. She doesn't understand a difference in color or any of that. To her it's no big deal. It made me laugh pretty hard. Then at dinner she sat cross legged and said, ' apple cross, applesauce.' It was cute. I said where did you learn that. She said, ' my teacher, she is my best friend.' I told her the saying was criss cross applesauce. She couldn't quite get it.

Makenna came home super excited. She loved her lunch at school. In her words, ' I even ate the vegetables mom!' She was excited to have her friend Aliyah in class. She loves all the kids that sit at her table. Her teacher will be the best 2nd grade teacher for her, she says. She said Mrs. M was perfect for 1st grade, but Miss B. will be perfect for 2nd. Glad she approves. 

Both girls had great days and we celebrated by getting ice cream at Braums and coming home and riding bikes. Such a fun day!

Baby #3 is a.....

 Baby #3 is a BOY!!!!! We have broken the girl streak in the Larsen family. We are adding a boy to the crazy mix of diva girls. He sure is in for it. :) We are excited to start a new adventure in our family.

 his foot

 kind of creep view but its his face.