Fall 2014 School Photos

It's that time of year again, school picture time.  Other than the hideous brown background and the photographer zooming in too closely, these photos of the girls are adorbs. 

Evelina Fall 2010 (3M), Spring 2011 (10M), Fall 2011 (16M),
Spring 2012 (22M), Fall 2012 (28M), Spring 2013 (Almost 3Y),
Fall 2013 (3.5Y), Spring 2014 (Almost 4Y), Fall 2014 (4.5Y). 

Daphne Spring 2013 (6M), Fall 2013 (12M), Spring 2014 (18M) and Fall 2014 (24M).  I'm still amazed by her Fall 2013 photo....wow, just wow. 

They are going to love looking at these when they are older!! 

Ballet Take 2

Evelina continues to love dancing at home which includes putting on ballet performances for us, so I thought she could give ballet class another try this year.  Last year we withdrew her from her class after 4 sessions since we just couldn't get her to feel comfortable in the studio without us in the room with her.  She is a little more brave this year so we were hoping for the best.   We think she would be great at at and really enjoy it, but her first class this past weekend didn't go well.  Even with two of her friends in the class, she still didn't want to enter the studio.  Perhaps, its because it was the same studio and teacher (who she says she didn't like) as last year and she just has scary memories.  In hindsight, I should have chose a different ballet school. It is tough being 4.

Even so, she is so adorable in her ballet outfit.  Performing her pirouettes and plies.  She can still put on performances at home anytime she wants....her sister is happy to join her as well.

Last year and this year.  Even though she clearly grew, her leotard and skirt still fit!!  Seriously, how cute is she?!  Growing up too fast :-(  

1st Day of School 2014

Remember the 1st day of school 2013? 

Another school year has begun.  I seriously can't believe that Evelina will be a kindergartener next year and Daphne will be a pre-schooler!!!  But first, we need to get through Pre-K and another year of the toddler program at their current school.  

We always fear the beginning of a new school year for Evelina and this year was no different.  We try to hype it up as much as we can to prepare her for the transition in hopes that it will be tearfree.  She wasn't looking forward to school yesterday and was extremely clingy upon arrival.  She didn't shed any tears but she didn't want to let us go and was generally sad/anxious.  Of course, when I picked her up she was playing contently with some friends and her teacher said she had a fantastic day.  When I dropped her off today, she was smiling....big improvement!!  Let's hope it continues. Our hope is that she will become increasingly more brave as the months go on.  This week so far has already been an improvement over last year!! 

 

Even though Daphne already knew her new teachers, the long weekend and a new classroom got the best of her a little bit yesterday morning.  She didn't want her Mama to leave her, but literally within a minute of closing the door she was playing happily with her friends.  She is full of drama that one.  The girls classrooms just happen to be across the hall from each other so they will get to see lots of each other every day!!  Lucky ladies. 

Ogunquit 2014

We had a wonderful week in Ogunquit back in July.  The weather was fabulous, we loved the house we stayed in, we had a great time as a family, and of course, the girls LOVED the beach.  I wish we were still there.  For some photos, click  HERE.

Evelina is 4!!

Evelina is one lucky 4 year old.  She had a wonderful birthday weekend filled with fun, family,  friends...and Frozen.  What more could you ask for?   On her actual birthday we kept up with the tradition of visiting the Southwick Zoo.  Saturday, we had a tasty and sweet girls lunch at the American Girl store.  Sunday was her Frozen birthday party.  Click HERE for some photos.  

Frozen Photo Booth

Evelina is "Frozen" obsessed.  The child loves all things "Frozen" and is constantly asking me when it's going to be Winter so she can build a snowman.  Is she really my child??  For her 4th birthday, we celebrated with a Frozen-themed birthday party.  When I saw these Anna and Elsa cut-outs, they just screamed photo booth. I debated for 5 minutes about having Anna come to the party, but she looked too fake in her costume.  I personally preferred the cut-outs and the kids loved posing with them too!!

Click HERE for more pictures from the photo booth. 

Evelina's 4 Year Interview

It is interview time again!! Remember Evelina's 3 year interview last year?  It is fun to see how she has grown and changed (just a little).

Some of my thoughts:

1. I apologize in advance for the poor video quality.  
2. What's up with all of the references to space aliens?  Clearly, one of her friends at school is obsessed.   
3. The child enjoys talking about poop as often as she can.  
4. Nose-picking is gross, why do they all do it?  
5. In the past (week), whenever I ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, she has said "a teacher", "a dentist", or most recently at school, she told her teachers she wanted to be "mommy" when she grows up.  
6. She is a goofball!!  

Spring 2014 School Photos

Remember the Fall school pictures?  Wow!!  Lots of improvement this time around.  We had to bribe Evelina with an Anna (from Frozen) doll to get her to smile. 

And a couple of other cute ones that I didn't want to spend extra $$ on for digital files. 

I think this is the picture that should be displayed in Daphne's classroom next year.  Ha!!

We are getting closer to having 2 full smiles from these ladies!! When did Evelina actually turn into a brunette? 

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

What 3+ year old girl doesn't love "Frozen"? Evelina has really enjoying the music, although she has become afraid of the movie...not surprising. Here is her goofy rendition of "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?".

Holiday Fun 2013

Click here for some photos from this holiday season.  

Happy Holidays all!! 

Gingerbread Fun with Friends

Evelina had been requesting that a few of her pre-school BFFs come over for a playdate.  I came across a cute gingerbread playdate idea on Pinterest and when I found a gingerbread village at Michael's I thought it would be perfect for them.  It was such a fun little day to plan for her and her friends.  They all had such a great time decorating their gingerbread houses and men, decorating their gingerbread chains and eating gingerbread shaped sandwiches.  Of course, my favorite part of the playdate was watching Evelina and her friends interact.  She can be so shy around others, but not these little girls she sees everyday.  They were so cute!!

Simply Hideous | Fall 2013 School Photos

It’s that time of year again, school picture time….and WOW was this session a doozy.  I couldn’t even bring myself to purchase digital files for posterity’s sake this time around.  

My thoughts: 

• Are Clix photographers actually trained?  I think I could do a better job.
• Why on earth was a brown background chosen?  It looks like the girls are in front of a big BM. We were told ahead of time that it was to be brown, hence the girls outfit choices.  You'd think they'd choose something a little more neutral so kids could wear holiday outfits. 
• What was wrong with the teacher who had the responsibility of getting Daphne dressed (we didn’t get her dressed in case she had to eat before being photographed)?  She looks like a complete slob with a third eye who hasn't slept for days.  Seriously, are you kidding me with that headband placement?
• If you can’t get Daphne to smile in a photo, you clearly have no talent and no personality (see 1st bullet).
• Thank GOD photographers like the Heidi Hope team exist in the world today so we can actually have beautiful images like these.  
• On a positive note, we are proud of Evelina for fighting her stranger anxiety and actually cracking a smile.  Progress!!  

This is actually a sweet photo but try not to cut off the head next time Clix.

YAY Evelina for smiling, but maybe someone could have wiped the snot from Daphne's nose?? 

 

This is just so bad...there is really nothing else for me to say about it.

Past school photos: 

Spring 2013
Fall 2012 (with a retrospective)

Daphne's 1st Birthday

A beautiful day(s) for a beautiful baby girl surrounded by a loving family.  Couldn't ask for anything better to celebrate ONE!!

Click HERE to see some photos from Daphne's birthday and her 1st birthday party.

Apple Picking at Tougas Family Farm

We decided to take advantage of a beautiful day, keep the girls out of school and head apple picking...minus the weekend crowds.

Even with only 2 teeth, Daphne loved her apple and could be heard sucking the juice of it.  Yum!!

Click HERE if you want to see some more photos.

Monthly Shots Side by Side

It is fun to see how Evelina and Daphne have changed month to month.  They are both so different from each other, although in a couple of the months, they looked so much alike (month 6 and 9) despite the hair difference.  Even though Evelina was so much smaller than Daphne, you can't really tell by the photos.  In fact, in some of them, Evelina actually looks bigger and taller.  Either way, they are both adorable. 

1st Day of School 2013

Our sweet Evelina has difficulty coping with transition.  The first day in her new preschool 4s class was a little rocky (even after weeks of preparation).  It was heartbreaking leaving her screaming and crying with her new teachers.  She was weepy throughout the day and kept asking for Mama or Papa (insert sad face here). We are over a week in and we have good mornings and bad mornings.  Can you blame a little girl for wanting to be with her family and not having us head off to work?? 

Evelina through the years

A trip down memory lane, Evelina's Toddler One and Toddler Two posts.  I never did take a picture of her first day in Preschool 3s in April 2013.  

Daphne wouldn't sit still for a photo.  I initially had her on the stairs but she fell off and hit her forehead on the floor.  Mama-of-the-year right here I tell ya.  She was okay after some TLC.  She had a wonderful day at school in her new classroom and was very loving and smiley with her new teachers.  I would expect nothing less of Daphne...at this age anyway.  

1st Ballet Class

Evelina's first ballet class was yesterday.  We have been prepping her for weeks.  Driving by the dance studio everyday, reading ballet related books, talking about ballet and the new little friends she would meet, trying on ballet shoes and leotards, even attending an open house so she could see where her dance class would take place and meet her teachers.

I knew this class would be difficult for her since we couldn't be in the room with her.  We told her we would be watching her through the viewing window and that it would be so much fun.  As much as she wanted to participate, it was just too scary for her.  She spent the majority of the class looking at the other little girls through the viewing window.  Poor thing.  We eventually got her to sit inside the door, but that's as far as we got.  Maybe next week that will be her starting point.  Fingers crossed.

She did happen to be the cutest little ballerina in her leotard and skirt though.

Photos | Evelina Turns 3

I'm definitely not the best at taking, downloading and editing photos lately.  I finally sifted through some photos from Evelina's 3rd birthday.  Yes, yes...I know it was over 2 months ago, but I'm certain there are a few people who read the blog that would like to see them so here they are. 

One observation, both Evelina and Daphne have more hair now.  Ha!! 

July 4th and Ogunquit

If you'd like to check out some photos from July 4th weekend and our vacation in Ogunquit, click here.  

The weather turned sour while we were in Maine so we didn't get much beach time in. Even so, Evelina had a wonderful time at the zoo and the beach, as well as spending lots of time with Grandpa.  Daphne is smiley where ever we go...with the exception of sleeping in a room that isn't her own!!  

Just for Fun | Evelina "Monthly" Photo

After I took Daphne's 9 month photo today, Evelina wanted to partake in the fun as well. Wow!! What a difference a year (plus a month) makes!!  When I was getting ready to take the photo Evelina asked, "Where's my sticker?!".  Too cute :-)