Just Like Mommy

Anna has a new reason to take a bath (as if all the bathtub toys weren't motivation enough). After her bath, she can put on her BATHROBE, just like mommy.

Weekend Woes

Anna woke up feverish. Since her best friend at preschool had the flu and went home sick this week, Mommy got nervous and took Anna to the after hours clinic to get swabbed.

The good news: No flu and no strep!!

The bad news: This is her first doctor visit of the year, so the insurance deductible wasn't met. $183 later, we have a good health report and a red sucker.

Speaking of TV....

We have discovered a new Nick Jr. show called Ni Hao Kai-Lan. Although we don't get that cable channel at our house, the grandparents have been taping it for us to watch. I LOVE IT. Anna likes it, too...she watched the first episode without moving a muscle except to tell the TV characters how they could solve the problem they were having. The show emphasizes "emotional intelligence" and features Chinese-American culture, including teaching Mandarin in much the same way that "Dora the Explorer" teaches Spanish. I am typically against having young children watch a lot of TV, but this show has some value for us. Click here to read about the girl who voices Kai-Lan. She and Anna share a similar history.

Wonder Pets Save the Day

Mommy got notified yesterday that she had to attend the school board meeting tonight. Notice was short, so Anna "got to" attend with Mommy tonight. This meant (1) fast food chicken nuggets and french fries from the drive through, and (2) since the expectation was to be still and quiet for 2 hours, headphones and a portable DVD player with a rented Wonder Pets DVD. (Both are rarities!) Anna has now decided that going to a board meeting is fun. Maybe that positive attitude will rub off on Mommy!

Anna (and Mommy) just recently discovered Wonder Pets while at a friend's house (we don't have cable channels). Really cute Nick Jr. show with good message and music!

Transportation...

....that's a pretty big word for a 3-year-old, but that was today's pre-school theme, according to the daily info sheet picked up at dismissal time. Although Anna can't pronounce the word clearly, she can give you a list of things that are kinds of TRANSPORTATION: buses, cars, motorcycles, helicopters, boats, bicycles, and airplanes.

My Favorite Boy

Anna has been interested in getting married ever since she watched "Cinderella" at her friend Jenna's house during the Christmas holidays. Of course she also cried during the show several times because the cat was being mean to the mice or because "the mean girls tore Cinderalla's dress." We don't watch a lot of TV, so she hasn't become 'desensitized' to that kind of stuff yet....which is not a bad thing! Anyway......

Anna first said she wanted to get married to her Grandpa. When Mommy told her that she couldn't marry someone who was already in her family, she decided that she would marry a boy in her preschool class named Preston. When asked why she wanted to marry Preston, she replied, "Because he makes me laugh. Silly Preston is my favorite boy." Mommy told her she had to wait until she was 25 to get married!

Preston is the boy on the left with cupcake icing all over his face. Thanks, Grandpa, for taking pictures at the Valentine party yesterday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This morning, Anna was proud to give her hand-made valentines to her grandparents when they arrived. Grandma and Grandpa surprised Anna with a package of yogos and a valentine card, too. Grandma even had a little surprise for Mommy. She spirited Anna away to the other room for a few minutes to sign her name to the card....check out the penmanship!