Let’s start with the very close #2 reason I’m in MOPS – the food!  Our theme this year is "Adventures in Mothering" and our first meeting was carnival-themed.  Isn’t the banana on a stick such a great idea–everything was delicious!  Someone made a egg/Mexican bean casserole that was to die for–amazing cooks!

Let the games begin!  I’m a Discussion Group Leader this year, and one of my girls named Kristin won the most tickets during the games!

Steering team climbs out of the car one by one while being introduced to the group!

Lindsay running the water gun booth.

I announced my pregnancy to the girls at today’s meeting!  Without looking, I had to pick out a pink or blue jar of jelly beans from a basket.  I picked blue… I honestly would love a boy or a girl.  I keep going back and forth, so whichever is fine with me.  

Someone’s obsessed with playing dress-up! (And the Sleeping Beauty shoes have to be hidden before we leave the house or Little Miss would wear them everywhere!)

It seems like overnight Noelle has put together so many thoughts and concepts.  Here’s some of the funny and sweet things she’s been saying. 

There was a little bug in our living room.  Noelle asked, "Is he sweet, Mommy?"  "Can we feed him?"

"Nemo’s orange, Mommy."  "Nemo is orange, Noelle."  "Are you not orange, Mommy?"

At least once a day she comes up to my tummy and says, "I’m gonna get you little baby" and starts tickling me, but she always finishes with, "I love you little baby" in the sweetest high-pitched voice.

She saw an airplane in the sky and said, "There’s an airplane.  He goes, ‘FFLLLYYYY!’"

Noelle loves to say "snarky."  She asks us all the time if we’re snarky.  Never does she not see Jon Fearing that she doesn’t say, "You’re snarky, Jon!"

Noelle always brings me her white and peach colors when she’s coloring and tells me that they are broke and that they don’t work! 

Noelle is seriously into all things Disney Princesses.  She can name all 6 of them and will usually ask us to sing a song about each one.  Her favorites are Ariel and Cinderella.  When she watches The Little Mermaid, she’ll say, "Where’s Ariel?" every time she’s not on the screen.  I say, "She’s coming right back," then she’ll ask, "Is she okay?"

When we put her to sleep, she’ll always list her favorite people and ask if they are alseep too?  After we’ve said yes to about 5 or 6 people, she’ll finally roll over and go to sleep.

On Labor Day morning, Mike and I totally slept in.  Noelle came in and jumped up on our bed (via her table), crawled over to Mike and said, "Wake up, wake up, wake up!" and then "Did you have a good night’s sleep?  I had a good night’s sleep in my big girl bed!"  We were cracking up.

Lately she has been telling us we have things as a way of asking for them.  For example, "I want my gym suit."  "Sweetie, it’s in the wash, we can’t get it right now."  Noelle says, "But we have one Mommy.  We do have one."  What do you say to that?  I mean, she’s right, we do have one, it’s just not available. 

I gave Noelle a push-up pop for the first time today for her dessert.  After bath and story time, she looked up at me and said, "I liked that popsicle.  It was really good.  It was my favorite, it really was." 

And finally, today after school, I asked Noelle if she had a good day and she said, "I had a really good day at school, Mommy!" 

Noelle bug, we love hearing your little voice and what all you’re thinking.  We love you with all our hearts and are so glad you are in our family!

Noelle loved going to gym with her Daddy!  Her favorite part was holding up her hands and saying "Ta-da" at the end of each trick!

The stations were challenging and fun!  

Noelle LOVED the trampoline!!!

Noelle’s instructor told her to do a roll and she had no clue what to do, but Mike whispered in her ear to do a flip, and she went for it!

Noelle got to ring the bell for the entire gym to clap because she walked across the beam for the first time!  She was screaming when we started walking to the door after class because she wanted more gym.  Thank goodness we go back Tuesday!

Noelle’s first little craft from school!

Camron & Jamil hanging out with us after school.

Go Jamil!  Heather gave us this really cool sidewalk chalk that came with 3D glasses.  The kids had a blast watching the rocket fly above the sidewalk.  

Miss Priss with her friends.

These smiles tell the story of our morning!  Noelle couldn’t wait to go to school! 

Checking out the froggy on her lunch box and then we’re off!  Mike and I both took her to school this morning.  When we pulled up, she said, "That’s my school!" over and over again.  She gave us each a hug and kiss at the door and didn’t look back after that.  They were already doing centers and playing with puppets. 

Just for fun, I’m posting her school schedule.  I’ve been following along all morning!  🙂

Little Lambs Schedule

9:00-9:35 Arrival, Centers, Art

9:40-9:50 P.E. (in the gym)

9:50-10:00 Music (in the music room)

10:00-10:20 Playground

10:20-10:40 Snack, Bible Story

10:40-10:50 Bathroom, Centers

10:50-11:00 Pick up/Clean up

11:00-11:20 Concept Time

11:20-12:00 Lunch, Nap Mats Out, Bathroom, Clean Up

12:00-1:50 Rest Time

1:50-2:05 Playtime (in classroom)

2:05-2:30 Clean Up, Dismissal

Noelle is going to an early childhood education center.  We chose this place because even though she is only 2, they do treat it like preschool.  I can’t wait to hear what all she will learn this year! 

The unit for this month is "I Have A Place In God’s World."  Today’s lesson is "Jonathan’s Special Friend."  Next week the lessons are "God Gave Me Eyes and Ears" and "God Gave Me A Nose, A Tongue, And Hands." 

Noelle just had her first potty break.  I hope she made it!  Now I’m off to run as many errands as I can before 2:30!  

Poppa takes me flying, gives me lots of yummy treats, and sets up the best flippin’ tents around!  Thanks for all you do and happy birthday to ya! Love, The Ponds

Camron, Jamil, & Ashley came over for supper Tuesday night, and Noelle couldn’t wait to show them her big girl bed! 

Noelle LOVES her Ashley!

Camron really wanted our picture together (he’s so sweet).  Jamil asked me if he could give Noelle a nickname.  I said, "Sure!"  He said, "Good.  Then I’m going to start calling her Little Bit."  I told him I’m going to start calling him, "Smiley."

Camron taking advantage of Noelle’s new bed.  I don’t have it all "fancied" up yet (we’ve been reading "Fancy Nancy" a lot this week), but Noelle absolutely loves her big girl bed.

I was asked to take MOPS kick-off photos for our first newsletter.  I had so much fun chasing all the kiddos around.  They are all so cute and FUN!  Today was a great day!

Today was meet the teacher day at Noelle’s preschool.  This year, she is in the Little Lambs class!  Her teachers are Mrs. Nelda and Mrs. Erica. 

Her first day of school is Thursday, and we are all so excited!  She didn’t want to leave her classroom this morning and said, "I want to stay with the teachers!"  Yay!