Thankful Friday 8/19 ~ Family Photo Edition

[oldbaylover1024]

I hear today is World Photo Day, plus I'm trying to schedule our annual family photo session so the theme seemed appropriate

Happy Friday, PAL!

I hope all of you had a great week.

If not, tell us why and we'll give you all the hair pats.

Any big, fun plans for the weekend? Or maybe none at all? Sometimes no plans are the best plans

What else is going on with you? Give us some randoms, FFFC, or UOs, too. This thread is about sharing and caring!

And how about one more for good measure...

Annnnd go!

[oldbaylover1024]

I did it! I wore makeup, did the hair, nails are painted... And everyone noticed. Maybe I need to do this more often. I definitely feel more put-together. I even wore accessories today, including my Orioles infinity scarf from the Mother's Day game we attended - who is this woman?!



I'm also leaving work a few hours early to grocery shop, cook food for tomorrow, and dust/vacuum my house before picking J up.

Vent: DC sent home a list of school supplies (she attends the preschool at her DC center). WTF, DC?! Why did we JUST get this list today?! Our county schools start Monday, so stores are already clearing our supply sections to stock for Halloween. Thank goodness I hit Target yesterday and picked everything up (mostly on sale no less).

Another Vent: I was told J is going to have homework starting the second week of September. She's in preschool... why does she need homework?! Seriously?!?! Please talk me off the ledge if this is normal. But I kind of feel like it's ridiculous for 3/4 year olds to have homework of any kind. Can't they start doing that in pre-K (at the earliest)?!

Anti-Vent: We'll hopefully be putting in the new master closet organizers this weekend. Step 1 to getting back into my bedroom. I'm an organizer at heart, so I'm excited to get this part done. And it'll mean getting rid of LOTS of boxes in my house.

[madameovary]

@oldbaylover, I was just reading something about how preschools just take it down a notch because kids at that age learn more through imaginative play. Not sure how scientific it was, I'll look for it .

[gratefulgirl]

oldbaylover1024 - after reading "The Importance of Being Little" by Erika Christakas (of the Yale e-mail/safe space scandal, but she's actually an early childhood education researcher), homework for preschool is too normal way too wrong.

I actually offended a friend by half jokingly saying preschool homework scared me when she posted her 3 year old's "All About Me" assignment. But it does. It's AKA parental homework that stresses Mom and Dad out and does nothing for the kids.

[oldbaylover1024]

I am SO glad I'm not crazy for thinking this preschool homework was a little much too early. I'm sure it's just coloring worksheets, or maybe some basic letter work. But still... really?!

Her preschool is 99% play based so I'm not super-duper worried. But I do plan to discuss it at Back to School night in two weeks.

Of course I was also the mom freaking out that my kid was working on computers 1-3 hours a week when she was 2. But the kindergarten classes in our county use computers and smart boards, so the kids need early introduction to computers so they're accustomed when they reach elementary school.

I'm just old. Apparently, really old.


DoesItComeInPink - I hope everything is okay with DD. And I have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, so my nails are super uneven and bumpy. JamBerries look awful on my nails. NBD because painting them is kind of therapeutic and relaxing for me.

Again... arthritis... old...

[wifey]

LoL oldbaylover1024 ! Taken on my 43rd Birthday, this is Cole's response when asked how he feels about having the oldest Mummy in the room....

***Poof**

Thankful for my sweet boys, Tate's amazing progress with his speech, some rain, coffee, and that DH and I are also best buds.

***sorry for the close up. I will delete this

[oldbaylover1024]

OMG LOL So cute, wifey!!!!

[gratefulgirl]

I am thankful for this crib nest trick. My kid has neither reflux nor a cold but she decided the crib was anathema. She seems to like being snuggled. Who can blame her?

I am thankful for DH. He has stepped up on paternity leave more than ever this time - getting the big girls up for breakfast, taking them out (even though his foot hurts worse than ever). He is also so ga ga over his last little girl and I love it.

I am thankful for SIL. She sends the cutest hand-sewn playmats for each kid and we got our last one today. It is gorgeous.

I am thankful for our neighborhood. It's taken nearly 5 years but I'm really starting to feel a part of this community. I don't think I've had that in straight neighborhood terms (not counting college, which isn't really a neighborhood) since late elementary school.

I'm thankful the Royals are making a last ditch run. Will they actually make the postseason? Unlikely. However our house has a lot more fun when the Royals are winning and we can pretend there is a chance.