The Jones Girls

Today the girls had their first swimming lesson.    All 4 of them are enrolled in the Pikes which is the very beginning class for swimming lesson.   They go Tuesday and Thursdays at 4pm.

They were all so excited to go swimming in the indoor pool.    They all get in…except for Miranda.  She was scared out of her skin.  She screamed, hollered, clung to me like Velcro.     Finally we pulled her off me and it took 3 people to help me get her in the pool.  Amazingly, the instructor told me this is completely normal and they see this all of the time. 

They all hung onto to the side of the pool.    They leard to kick their feet in the water and get their face wet.  They didn’t blow bubbles in the water, that was a little too much for them to do and they got a little scared.  Savannah did fine with blowing bubbles and dunking her head.

Savannah did so well that they have moved her up to Polliwog!!    Her class will be after the triplets, at 4:30.

Miranda cried the whole lesson.    She really was scared and kept saying she was scared.  I think she needs the swimming lessons the most to help her get over her fear.

Amanda was so happy she held on with her strong left arm and splashed the water with her right lucky arm and also kicked her feet in the water.  She had a complete blast and was enjoying it so much.

Maryssa was following the teachers directions and splashing as she was told to do.  She is quite the good little student!!  

They all froze their little tails off when they got out of the pool.  They cried as I put their towels on them.   They were shivering.  We quickly scuttled to the car and I changed their clothes when we got home.

I am so proud of my little guppies!!

I drove up to the preschool and we were all excited!!   The girls had their new first day of school outfits on and they all looked so adorable.   

We walked into Mrs. Darling’s classroom.  What a wonderful name for their teacher…Darling!!    She is truly darling and the girls and I really love her.    The girls ran right to the toys and began playing with the other girls.   There is only one boy in the class, Samuel, and he was out sick yesterday so the class was all girls yesterday.

The triplets will go Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am – 12pm.  While they girls were in preschool yesterday, I ran home and sorted through and organized their toys.  I donated 3 boxes of old toys that they have outgrown and we have more space for new toys.   Tomorrow I will do a deep house clean and that will be nice!

I stayed for a few minutes to observe and the triplets didn’t miss me at all.  I shuffled out and watched through the window.  They were playing nicely and enjoying themselves.     I was so happy that they were so happy!!

Each parent revolves bringing snacks for the classroom.   I have 3 times this months since I have three girls!!  I thought themed snacks for my girls would be fun for the classroom.   It will give the teacher an opportunity to play on the them with the snack them.    I will make cheese sandwiches in the shape of fish (using a cookie cutter) and also bring fishie crackers for Amanda’s snack day.   For Miranda’s snack day I will be doing apple shaped cheese sandwiches with slices of apples.  For Maryssa’s snack day I will bring in flower shaped sandwiches and also raisins so that they can decorate their flower sandwiches. 

Cliff and I went to pick up the girls after school.   At the end of the school day, the teacher puts their school work out for the parents to pick up.   There is a pretty wrapped box with their name and decorated stickers all over to identity each child’s school work.  It was so cute to see 3 of the wrapped boxes for my girls. 

The girls also get their own little cubbies to hold their little “quiet time” blanket and some extra clothes in case they need to change.   They get quiet time and a book is ready to them while they lay down and relax for 10 minutes.     Miranda and Amanda wouldn’t lay down and ran around the classroom.   The teacher asst. had to round them up and sit next to them to remind them that it was quiet time and they needed to lay down.    This is going to take a little adjustment for the girls.  They haven’t done naps or quiet time in a year.

I really like this preschool.  It is a private preschool at a Presbyterian Church and the girls will go to chapel every.  They will be educated in a Christian background.    Cliff and I are really happy about that.

After my meeting with Lyn, I went home and packed us all up to go away for the weekend.  Cliff was ready to have some fun after working so much.   We also brought our dog Teddy.

We drove up to Camarillo and I gave them a tour of where I grew up and the homes I lived in..on Merced Drive and on Lemon Street.    

We stopped by Cliff’s customer, Alberto.  What a nice guy.    The girls and I got out, did a bathroom run, then took Teddy out for a walk.  We walked past a building with barrels…it was a winery!!   The lady in the office kept staring at us walking Teddy.  Then she walked out and asked if that was her dog.  I said no.  Then her dog appeard and her dog looked exactly like Teddy!!  Her dog’s name is Lucy.   She invited us in and we had a nice chat,.    I purchased a present for Steven and Reyna’s 25th Wedding anniversary present.    I got them a signature wine from the winery (good bottle of wine..$35) and got them 2 gift certicates for a wine tasting and they can taste fresh from the barrel.   It doesn’t get better for fresher than this!!  I thought this would be a unique gift.

Cliff wrapped up his meeting with Alberto and we continued onto Venture to meet our friend Barbara Hobbins and visit our dog Scottie, who now lives with Barbara.  Our plan was to have dinner with Barbara.  When we got to her house, she didn’t answer the door.  She was gone.  So we went and had dinner at Marie Calendars.

We enjoyed the famous cornbread @ Marie Calendars.  After eating 3/4 of it Savannah started freaking out saying aunts.  There were ants crawling in her cornbread!!   By this time we were already eating our dinner.   The manager comped our dinner and gave us a whole pie.   Barbara was home so we took her the Razzleberry Pie to her house and had a very nice visit.

At about 9pm went drove to Oxnard to Steve & Reyna’s house.    We gave them their present and they really like it.  We partied and had so much fun.   At about midnight we all went to bed.

The next morning we all got up and got ready for Steve & Reyna’s big 25th wedding anniversary brunch.  We all dressed up.     We drove to Five Points Sheraton off of Harbor Blvd.    What a beautiful reception it was!!   Reyna was dressed in a beautiful white gown that looked similar to a wedding gown.     I was suprised to see some old friends there, Janet and Mike.   We had so much fun!!   Steve & Reyna’s son played the piano beautifully and entertained us all.

We left at about 2pm and drove by our old house on “M” Street.  Then we drove home and got ready to go to Disneyland.

We arrived at Disneyland at about 7pm.  We wanted to see the show Fantasmic and it started at 9pm.  They have a new dragon in the show and we wanted to see it before the show goes on hiatus till May.  Tonight was the last night it was running and it was very crowded.  It is a good thing we got there at 7pm to get a decent spot.  It was a wonderful show and the girls really enjoyed it.   We also got to enjoy the fireworks too.   We got home at 11:30pm.

What a fantastic weekend!!

Thank goodness Cliff has the project completed and he can relax at home.  He is doing a little work from the house today.    We are going to order in for Lascari’s – YUM!   I am so happy to say goodbye to 2009!!  It has been a financially challenging year for us and for so many other people too.  I hope 2010 bring more good things for all of us.

I laid down with the girls and fell asleep with them tonight.   I woke up at 11:55pm and Cliff and I rang in the New Year together.

I was up all night with both ends going.   Miranda has been sick right along with me.    How in the world am I going to get through the day like this watching the girls while Cliff is working.  It is Sunday for crying out loud….I want my husband home!!!

Dad and Fran left early today at about 10:30am.  I have been just laying here on the couch puking and feeling gross.  I am too dizzy and weak to get up.  I said my goodbyes to them from our couch.

Cliff was kind enough to pick up some milk, juice, popsicles and chicken soup for me tonight.  He got home at 9:30pm.  He didn’t even get to see Dad & Fran today.

Savannah’s 2nd top front  tooth has been loose for a while.   Tonight she came to me and said it HAD to come out NOW.  So she loosened it and then I did the final pull.   She couldn’t believe it was out. That makes 5 teeth she has lost.

Something kinda funny… Our next door neighbor called me a couple of days ago and he said both of his top front teeth broke off and he has no front teeth.  He has an appointment at the dentist on January 4th to get some caps.   

I am going to take a picture of the both of them with their missing front teeth!   LOL!

Cliff has been working very hard and many hours…17-20 hours a day and there was a day he worked 24 hours trying to complete a project at work that is critical.  We all miss him.  It has been very challenging these past couple of weeks trying to get ready for the Holidays with Cliff being gone working so much.   

He didn’t get to see Dad or Fran today.   He won’t be getting home till 3:30am.   I feel so sorry for him.

We all saw Avatar today.  That is a LONG movie.  I am not really into Science Fiction and I couldn’t really get into the movie. I will have to sit down another time and watch it without the chaos of the kids.

Fran and I saw the movie Precious.  Wow!!  From the get go that movie pushes the envelope. Lots of disturbing scenes.  It breaks my heart to know that this is based on a true story.  Very graphic movie!!

I am feeling sick tonight and so is Miranda.  I think we caught what the other girls had – ugh!!