Perpetual Motion

Here is a photo with an 80s twist.  Who does Nora look like?

Mommy, Daddy, Alena, an aunt, or just original Nora?

Shades

Alena and Nora have been getting along better now that Alena has time with her preschool friends.  She even found sunglasses for Nora and helped her put them on.  

The great outdoors

The weather was so beautiful this weekend that it was manditory to spend it outside.  Saturday morning we went

to a parade. Alena isn't very assertive at chasing after candy and decided to just sit in a chair and eat it.  People in the parade started just setting candy in her lap.

Alena had wanted to have a campfire at our house for awhile, so Daddy helped her build a fire pit out of kiln bricks and Nora helped gather sticks.  We set up the tent in the backyard for the two of them to sleep in.  Did Alena make it through the night?  No, only until 9 pm.  She was so wound up she might not have fallen asleep until midnight.  They had fun, though.

The next day we went to visit Great Pa in Anamosa.  After our visit, we picked up sandwiches and had a picnic at Wapsipinicon State Park.  We explored a cave and went for a hike, but the biggest attraction was the freshly mowed grass.  Alena and Nora worked together to make a giant grass pile to play in.

Alena's first day of preschool

Alena started preschool today.  She will be going two days a week and gets to pack a lunch to eat with the other kids.  As soon as we walked into her classroom, she took a seat and started drawing.  She was so busy she barely had time to say goodbye. Her teachers, Ms Michelle and Ms Coralie, said she was helpful and listened to directions.  It was hard to get much out of Alena, but I did find out that some of the kids pretended there was a new baby.  Alena said everyone was a doctor, but she was a nurse because she was patient.  They went to the school's library for story time and she got to pick out a book to bring home.  And she ate all of her snack and her lunch.  When I asked if she was excited to come back next week she said she was.  

Nora and I, in the meantime, went through boxes of clothes so Nora would have pajamas that actually would fit her.  Nora didn't seem too concerned over Alena's absence, but I missed her!

Fashionista

Alena always picks out her own outfit in the morning and gets dressed by herself.  Fortunately, she only likes to wear sundresses so you don't have to worry too much about her putting together matching outfits.  Her accessories sometimes get a little crazy, though.  Yes, she is sporting a blond rat tail.

Funny Nora

Nora is a little more willing to eat when she can stand on a patio chair during the meal.  

The new "cheese" face.

Who let that baby run around without a diaper? 

Have a seat!  Nora always wants someone to sit on her bench with her.

And they call it puppy love

Nora is in love with her puppy.  If she sees him across a room, she exclaims, "puppy!" while running over to get him.  She is always excited to see him, and is just as enthusiastic whether it has been hours or seconds since she last held him.  Lately she has been carrying him around in her mouth and shaking him.  But it is done in love.  Whenever she hears a barking dog (which is constantly in our neighborhood) she says "puppy!"  When she sees one walking by, "puppy."  If a dog gets close to her she cries.  Real puppies should be enjoyed from a safe distance!

Taking turns with the Kindle.