Nobody told me...

... But going to preschool every day is a LOT of work!

First Day

Tess had preschool orientation today in preparation for her first real day tomorrow. Despite Finn's guarantees that he would see her on the playground and "catch her on the slide"... She was a little nervous.

Getting psyched up!

"I'll get the door for ya, Tess."

It went great! Tomorrow is officially the first day of the real routine!

Mazes to Tess

Finn was "sad" that Tess didn't have her own maze book so he made one for her, which I thought was pretty cute. 

Ballerina

We made the last-minute decision to try the pre-ballet class at the ballet school in Elmira today. Although we were unable to secure a black leotard on time, otherwise it's so far so good. I'm not allowed to watch so I will get the full report from Tess in an hour!

Meanwhile, here are some photos of her rite of passage.

"From Finn To Tess"

Finn spent much if the past two days at his work bench in the barn. He made his first project for someone else, which warms the cockles of this Mama's heart.

A table for Tess!

He even wrote a little note on the bottom.

It probably won't last too too long but maybe long enough for a pretend lemonade stand or two - and I feel like someday we will have a real live handyman in the house! (Although the grown ups have recently made a commitment to start learning how to use tools, etc.)

small differences

The kids usually take a bath together right before bedtime. Sometimes on days when we've been outside and my feet could use a little rinse I ask for an "express pedicure" meaning that they splash my feet and pretend to paint my nails.

Every time I try and pay Tess, she says, "No, Mommy--it's free!"

Every time I pay Finn, he says something like, "That will be FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS." And then I say, "More like FORTY! And that's for a really nice pedicure." And he will respond, "Give me two hundred dollars or else I'm rinsing off your nail polish. Now leave."

I wonder which one of them will end up running his or her own business?