CIRCUS (3 YRS OLD)

PRESCHOOL (3 YRS OLD)

S is about to start preschool this week. Instead of Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, she'll be doing Tuesday and Thursday mornings, from 8 am to 2:30 pm. It will be a long day, but 12:30 to 2:30 pm is nap time.

Momma is worried about how S will adjust and wonders if this is the right decision for S, but thinks this is the right decision for momma.

TENNIS (3 YRS OLD)

Daddy has been taking S to the tennis courts in the mornings over the weekends. Daddy and S enjoy this time together. Surprisingly, S seems to pick up tennis naturally and her eye-hand coordination is getting better.

It started a couple of weeks ago when S picked up daddy's extra racket in the garage and carried it around on and off all week. S asked momma if she could teach her how to hit balls with it and momma suggested it was something to do with daddy. Since then, it's become a daddy and daugther tradition in the mornings while momma sleeps in!

POOL FUN (3 YRS OLD)

Momma, daddy and S have been hitting the water parks on the weekends. Rocking River and Mentzer pool are closing for the summer so the weekend has been full of water slides and lazy rivers.

Last Saturday, August 15, daddy, momma and S went to Rocking River. And the following day, August 16, daddy, momma, and S went to Mentzer for the first time. S's friend Talia came along. They both rode the big slide several times. They didn't seem to get tired of it. Daddy's friends the Floyds also came. Their son Eli also had a great time on the water slides.

This Saturday, August 22, daddy, momma and S were back at Mentzer. This time the Gardners and the Chuters joined them. All the kiddos enjoyed themselves immensely. S was the only kid to ride the water slide numerous time.

Momma and daddy are gonna be sad when the pools finally close down for the summer season.

SICK (3 YRS OLD)

Momma been sick most of the week. It's hard for S to understand because all she wants to do is play, play, play. In the mornings, momma tries to convince S to let her sleep longer, but S usually responds with "Momma, you sleep enough." Good thing, momma's getting better.

HOUSTON (3 YRS OLD)

What a busy weekend! After camp was over on Friday, momma and S drove to Houston for Auntie Khue's goodbye dinner.

CAMP #5 (3 YRS OLD)

S's last camp day was Splash day! In the morning, she was excited to get into her swim suit and swim shoes. Daddy was dropping her off again and they were bringing a terrarium (that S made with momma) as a gift for Miss Heidi.

During splash day, they waded in the river bed at the Nature Center and hiked to the big pond to observe the water life. Miss Heidi said that Sarah was determine to catch some of the fishes, but unfortunately, she didn't catch any. When momma arrive to pick her up, S was busy playing at the water table, which is a long series of wooden troughs, connected by gates that open and clothes. The camp ended with popsicles for everyone! A good treat for a hot day in the sun! What a fun day!

When asked if S would do camp again next year, S repied "Yes!"

P.S. Daddy said the drop was no problem. She was hesitant to start the craft, making paper plate fish, but joined in eventually. Momma and daddy hope this leads for a smoother transition to preschool.

NAP TIME (3 YRS OLD)

Nap time routine has changed quite a bit over the last month or so. Often times,S sometimes refuses to nap and insist on playing. Momma says S can play in her room for a little bit. "Playing" consists of reading, playing with her animals, or listening to music. She has to stay in her room and her door has to stay close. Whenever she's done with playing, she has to take a nap, at which time, she can leave her door open.

Typically S falls asleep within half an hour of being put to bed. Sometimes, momma sneaks into the (connecting) bathroom and sees S flipping through her books, wrestling her animals, or pushing play again on her music player. There has been at least a couple times a month where S refuses to nap, despite her eye rubbing and then S just skips her nap.

The probably one of the best purchases momma has made recently has been S's CD player for her bedroom. She often listens to music before falling asleep both at nap time and bedtime. S enjoys listening and dancing to music and now, she can push the buttons and set it up herself.

CAMP #4 (3 YRS)

Today was bird day at Tadpole camp. Daddy dropped S off and left her building a nest. They went on a hike looking for birds and saw a hawk. They also saw an owl at the little animal santuary at the Nature Center.

When momma picked her up she was busy playing the drums and watching one of her fellow campers play with their parents. Unfortunately, there was no bird nest to take home. Miss Heidi said there was an incident. The kids were more hyper today than yesterday. The good news is that S stayed calm the entire time.

Tomorrow is splash day and S's last day!

CAMP #3 (3 YRS OLD)

S has become better adjusted to camp. S asked momma to stay abit to watch her get started. S continued on with her craft after a hug and a kiss when momma left.

Today was reptile day and S's favorite animal is the sssnake. Her morning craft was making a paper plate craft. After craft time, there was a short hike to the reptile house to visit the turtles, lizards, and snakes. She was disappointed that they didn't get to the pet the snakes.

When momma picked her up S was busy playing with different construction blocks in the playground. She looked up to say "hi" to momma and continued with her block building. (A good sign!)

P.S. Good news: Daddy visited Starbright Preschool yesterday and it seems that S is targeted for the Star room (3 -4 year old), not Rainbow room (18 months - 3 yr old). Yeah!

CAMP #2 (3 YRS OLD)

Today was bug day at tadpole camp. S and her class hiked around the Nature Center looking for bugs. She pointed out spiders, ants, and trees. The class collected rolly-pollys. Her favorite activity for today was making little rolly-polly habitats for them in a plastic container: dirt, leaves, and rolly-polly. She was so proud of it that she showed momma it immediately when momma showed up.

Their hike ended at the planetarium. S described it as a "big tent." And, followed up with a description of how everything went round and round, like wheels. Momma and daddy's not sure how much infomation "clicked" but she sounded like she had fun.

By the end of camp, S was exhausted and grumped through lunch and fell asleep immediately.

P.S. Momma lost S's rolly-polly habitat to S's dismay. Momma placed it on the hood and drove off before remembering about it. She drove and walked around the parking lot at the nature center but couldn't find it.

CAMP #1 (3 YRS OLD)

S is attending the "Wild About Wilderness" 3 year old tadpole camp every morning this week at the Nature Center. Today is her first day. S was excited about going but cried and screamed when she realized momma had to leave. Miss Heidi said that S hugged for awhile and then started to participate in the class.

Despite all the initial tears, S had a great time learning about mammals today. She told momma that all mammals have fur. She made moose antlers for herself. Her favorite part was visiting the shy fox. The class also pretended to be different animals and S pretended to be a lion. S ended her day in the playground painting.

SMALL THINGS (3 YRS)

-- Daddy often sings the following songs at bedtime now: That's My Bologna Has a First Name..., Take Me out to the Ball Game, and The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You.

-- Daddy puts S to bed probably three to four nights out of the week. (Momma loves this!)

-- S favorite book to read is a book labeled, "Human Body." She wants to know what everything is and what it does. Her favorite questions are about bones.

-- She goes to the potty 50% or more by herself.

-- S likes snakes and monkeys. When S was at the San Antonio zoo that's what she wanted to see most.

BULLOCK MUSUEM (3 YRS)

The Padron family, momma, and S went to the Bullock museum on Friday. They caught the 11:00 am showing "Into the Deep."