What I know about the goings on at preschool

I mentioned in Lily's post the other day that she seems really happy at her new preschool. I also mentioned that some days she tells me more than others. I thought it might be funny to read later on down the road all of the things that I "know" about preschool. How much if any, of the following details are true...the world may never know.

Every day she sits in the same seat at the table. The other kids also sit in their same seats.

Mrs. W has a loud voice and loves to sing.

Some days the crafts involve glue, I always hear about the craft on "glue days"

There are two little girls, June and Rose, whose clothes are almost always worthy of mentioning. (It makes me smile to think of Lily, Rose, and June all playing together, in a garden of course)  *Also I promise I am working on vanity and choosing friends for their qualities and not their appearance but girl has an eye for fashion.*

There is a song for picking up that goes, "This is the way we pick up our toys, pick up our toys,..." Lily was thrilled that I knew the tune until we got to the last verse and I didn't sing the correct words. I was asked not to sing school songs anymore because, "mommy you just don't know."

Snack is always crackers, either round (ritz?) or square (saltines?) with water AND juice.

There is a time of day called "ticket time" during which the kids are allowed to choose a ticket which corresponds to a designated play area of the classroom. Lily always chooses a "red circle" ticket which apparently grants her access to the ponies and the the play castle. Except on days when she chooses "pink rectangle" which is baby dolls and the play kitchen. The later area is called "housekeeping".

Lily always hangs her jacket on the "L" hook, she thinks it is hers, it definitely is not.

Some days she gets to bring "Heartly" on these glorious show and tell days, she puts him on the shelf. Yes, she always brings the same thing.

There is a girl named Addison and a boy named Colin. (we are pretty sure that last one is not true)

The church bells ringing at the end of school (noon) is often the highlight of her day.

She has a journal.

They read "Polar Bear Polar Bear what to you hear?" and now she uses the word hibernating.

At cleanup time she chooses "wash the tables" with Mrs. H.

That's it. That's everything I know about preschool.

Overheard

Admittedly this one is from a few months ago but every time it comes to mind I chuckle.

I was sitting on the couch in the sunroom talking about cars with Ben when Lily stumbled in with an arm full of stuffed animals.

Lily: "Mommy, can you babysit my kids for me?"

Me: "Sure honey, where are you off to?"

Lily: "I need to go for a run."

Me: "I'm proud of you for going for a run, sure I can watch your kids." I added, "Don't forget to put on your running sneakers!"

Lily: "Can I use your phone to listen to music?"

Me: "Sure, it is on the table by the door."

She seemed pretty pleased with my answer and that I was so fully going along with her game. So I continued to sit on the couch, bursting with pride that my daughter (who was clearly playing out a scene that she had witnessed between me and her daddy) was confident, independent, and taking care of her body. Clearly I must be doing something right!

Seconds later she called to me from the other room:

"When I get back...you can get me a beer!"

MOTHER OF THE YEAR 

Overheard

Pointing to each of us.

Lily: "You are April. You are Matt. Ben is Benjamin Daniel!"
Me: "Who are you?"
Lily: "I am Lily Victoria get in time out!"

This kid, she kills me.

Let's all go to the liquor store!

Lily has a very active imagination. With absolutely zero encouragement from me (there is still time to nominate me for Mother of the Year) Lily latched on to a set of doll house dolls when she was about 18 months old. They were the first toys that she really played with. According to my very conservative estimation I have personally endured over 150 hours of playing "Mommy Doll".

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY HOURS. Give that a minute to sink in.

150 hours of:

Me: "What do you want to do today Daddy Doll?"
Lily: "Chase me up the stairs and fall off the roof!!!!"

Me: "What do you want to do today Daddy Doll?"
Lily: "Chase me down the stairs and fall down in the kitchen!!!"

Me: "What do you want to do today Daddy Doll?"
Lily: "Chase me up the stairs and fall into the potty, HAHAHAHAHAHA.!!!!!"

You get the idea.

After 15 months of all consuming dollhouse play, I have groundbreaking news. Lily has a new favorite form of pretend play. Without further ado, "Let's all go to the liquor store!"

As the name would imply Lily packs each of us a purse and we strike out to the dining room to go to the liquor store. In a truly hilarious twist, the dining room also doubles as church. The kitchen is always the store and the living room and sun room alternate between the playground, the doctor, outside, and school. The playroom is always home.

Before you run to get the phone and call child services I think it bears mentioning that in MA the only place we can buy beer or wine is a liquor store. The only reason I mention it is that I understand that in states where hooch is easier to come by the idea of going to the liquor store is hardcore. In either case, I wouldn't say that I am proud that my 2 and a half year old knows the word liquor, but it's not like she knows what she is saying. It certainly doesn't help that the cashier at our neighborhood store gives Lily a lollipop every time she is there. Which as my friend Vicki pointed out, just seems "wrong" (albeit comical) for some reason...something about luring kids into a liquor store with candy. Anyway, it is Lily's favorite errand to run with her daddy. The kicker, we don't even let her eat the lollipops! As everyone knows, lollipops are for big girls that poop on the potty...a feat that Lily is still refusing to do.

Anyway, while I certainly wouldn't say that this new form of pretend is my favorite activity, it is a nice change from all of the dollhouse nonsense. Mommy doll is tired of falling off the roof. The biggest drawback, in my eyes, to her new game is that she wants to haul two thirds of the toys out the the playroom all day long. That might not seem too terrible except that a) I am a control freak and can hardly think straight when I am trying to cook dinner ankle deep in toys, b) she has less than zero intention of helping me pick up any of it, c) I am forced to referee no less than 30 squabbles a minute because "No, Ben that is mine. Put it back on the floor in the middle of the room where Mommy can step on it while she rushes me to the bathroom in a few minutes!!!" -I might be paraphrasing that last one.

I am glad that she has an active imagination and I have to admit it makes me chuckle every time she shouts, "Mommy get your purse! It's time to go to the liquor store!"

According to Lily

10:27 am, realizing that he has a Skype meeting in three minutes, Dingle runs by the playroom on his way upstairs to change.

Lily shouts, "Oh! Daddy, are you okay?!" "Do you need to sit on the potty?!"

According to Lily

While eating lunch.

I was staring off into space but apparently I was looking down.

Matt: "Whatcha thinking about Mommy?"
Lily: "The floor."

According to Lily

At the dinner table:

me: "Lily are you going to be a good girl and eat all of your dinner?"

Lily: "Probably not."

Happy Birthday Lily!

I asked Lily what she wanted to do today. The first thing she said was "have cake", which really should surprise no one.
The second thing she said..."Go to store and see lobsters, uh-huh!!!"

How can I say no to that?!?

Happy Birthday to my sweet little coo coo girl. I will write a longer post to celebrate your big day, as soon as I stop crying. I love you more than anything.

In anticipation of her birthday party...!

Lily has only ever been to a few birthday parties, so who know what she thinks is happening later on today.

I took this video on Thursday, yes she is still in her (Christmas) jammies, and yes that is what her hair really looks like in the back! I would like to save any hurt feelings and point out that Lily and I have been talking about her birthday party for a week. She asks me to list attendees on a hourly basis. If you didn't get a shout out it isn't because she doesn't want you here, more likely I have just already told her you will not be able to come.

The video is pretty precious if you ask me!

As promised a cute video :)

The quality isn't the greatest, I was trying to be incognito. 

Overheard

Listening to Lily's pretend play has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever heard. Her imagination, coupled with her crazy vocabulary, is just too much. Here are a few excerpts from her morning play!

While playing with her little people farm:


"Pig, ride goat all way home, wee wee wee!"


Farmer to cow, "What cow say?" 

Cow, "Baaaa" 

Farmer, : "No, ha ha. Night night silly cow!"

"Don't get me goat! Don't get me goat!" 

While playing with her toy kitchen and feeding baby girl lunch:

"Baby girl eat fish and cheese!" - mmm fish and cheese my favorite


"Eat apples baby girl, noooooo cookie"  - how many times has she heard that one!


"Be a nice girl" - hmmm


"Baby girl not all done!" - can you tell we struggle with meal time?!?

"Happy Ween!"

Happy Halloween!! 

Thank you for a perfect night, I love you duck baby. 

According to Lily

...anything with buttons is a phone.

 You should be expecting a call from our remote any minute.

talking on two "phones" at once! 

According to Lily

Doggies say "woof woof"

Kitties say "aaawwww"

According to Lily

Anything that folds, opens and closes, must be a book. Diapers are therefore books you wear on your butt.