Alyssa had her two and a half year check up yesterday. She's doing well at a whopping 25 pounds! She is 35 inches tall. She was actually happy to see the doctor yesterday. She lay on her tummy on the table and the doctor rested his arm on the table next to her. He just looked at her while he talked to me. She was mesmerized. It was so cute. It might sound weird to everyone else, but I've known her doctor since I was a teenager, not as a patient, but as a friend. I used to take care of his kids when they were as young as my two.

Samantha is a beautiful and happy sponge. She is sucking up everything at school. Saturday afternoon we were playing in her room and she was "reading" me a book. All of the sudden she jumped and said, "Mom, look at all the popcorn words! Those are the words that Pop out at you: like, love, and, the." She was so excited that she stopped "reading" and started looking for every popcorn word she could find.

She's also started writing simple sentences like "I love you. I see you." And her favorite, "I like James." Yes, we're already crushing on a boy. It's so funny. Yesterday afternoon she was telling me how she told him that she talks about him with her mommy and how she told him he was cute. I stared at her with a huge smile on my face thinking how beautiful she is. It was just one of those "awe", as in I'm in awe, moments.

Tonight we had our first Family Sock Hop at school. It was $5 for our family for dancing, pizza and drinks. Al and I sat down and watched our girls run around. They love to dance, but since they are so little they were more interested in playing with other kids. I know a few parents in our class since we went to school together, and I'm slowly meeting the others.

Al is enjoying coaching. I can't wait to go to the boys' first home game. He has been busy searching for jobs, but it is so frustrating and depressing sometimes. He finally got an interview with a great company, but they decided to go with someone else because he was overqualified. What else is there if you can't even get a simple job? And it's really hard not to get our hopes up.

I've started taking Samantha to church and she loves it. She reminds me of myself at her age. She loves being there, but gets tired about 50 minutes into mass. Good thing it only lasts an hour. I am very proud that she can sit still and pay attention during mass, too. She still has a difficult time understanding why she can't have Communion yet. She does like going up to the Father for a blessing, however.

I get to work in Samantha's class next month. I can't wait to see how it all goes. Until then I just get to relish in the stories she brings home about how much she loves her class--PE is her favorite right now. :)

Coach

We had a terrific first week of school. This week was the first week full time: 7:50 - 2:45. Samantha's been tired, but having the best time. She was so proud today when she got to move her name to Superstar. She listened to her teacher and followed directions correctly.

Tonight Al and I went to "Back to School Night" to meet with her teacher and learn about what she does in class. Their days are so filled with music, art, PE, Math and Reading. We left feeling very fortunate. Samantha and one of her preschool friends were the last two students to join the kinder class. There are 25 kids in her class and there is now a waiting list. I feel very grateful, but also very sad for those families who are stuck in the school district with 40 kids in their class. It is isn't fair.

Of course none of this is without sacrifice on our part. It's expensive and we're having to cut back even more now. We have 20 service hours to complete this year. It may seem like a lot, but we've always wanted to be involved. So Al has volunteered to coach the 8th Grade Flag Football team. He had his first practice today in this miserable 97 degree heat. I got to see one of the boys he coaches and I had a "awwww" moment. I forget how young 13 year old boys are. I know Al will have fun and I bet the boys will too. Al's going to be a great coach. His coaching will take care of our 20 hours, but I have volunteered for more events anyway. There is always plenty to do!