The Sink Family!: December 2019

We came home from the beach, and right into a brand new classroom, VT football, pumpkin-y things, and prep for another beach trip!

Ella and Sydney helped me bake muffins

and kept a close eye while fixing their own pizza

Labor Day

they had a fun sleepover at Grandma's house

squeezing in one more swim in the pool... and we had it all to ourselves

can't wait to see how well they can swim next year - fingers crossed they'll be little fish without puddle jumpers!

we started the week-long transition into their last classroom at the CDC

monsters!

mermaid outfits and trying on their new shin guards

spooky stories with Jeff

We decided to try out a new sport - soccer! Since it's at the YMCA in Chester, and all the games happen at the same time, I decided (much to Daniel's chagrin) to split Ella and Sydney into two different teams. I figured it would be the perfect time to see what it was like to separate them, but was also the most feasible in terms of logistics. I mean, we are already at the Y at the same time, would two different fields be a big deal? And what if we decide to split for Kindergarten - would this be a good test??

all ready for their first practice

and Jacob played at the same time, too!

4 years ago, I carried our 9 and 8 lb 3 month old babies into our daycare center. In the midst of sleepless nights and exhaustion, I looked at the kiddos in the PreK class, and thought to myself “Geez they are so big and old! It’ll take forever before we are there, and I can’t wait until it’s so much easier”. And then we blinked, and here we are! Ella and Sydney are officially the big kids on campus. My how far we’ve come, and it’s been such a fun ride watching them grow and flourish into such amazing little girls. They love to draw, dress up, ride bikes, play outside, and use their imaginations. I would also argue we much more exhausted now

Before school

silly, silly girls

and after!

in their new classroom, they have Show and Share on Fridays. The girls decided to take their animals on a leash from Aunt Kelly at the beach, and they wore tops to match their choices!

Whenever we've transitioned to new classrooms, the teachers have prepped me that "transitions are hard" and all of the exhaustion and big feelings that come with a new space. And surprisingly, with each new class, they've done amazing. Like really, really amazing - you never would have thought they had such a big change. So naturally, with this change, I assumed it would be the same. Wrong. They were extra tired, extra grumpy, and Ella really struggled. It didn't occur to me until a few weeks in when I was slowly losing my sanity, but it clicked and I realized that she was struggling. Sydney, too, was a little out of sorts, just not quite so badly. And then my heart filled with dread that they might not transition to Kindergarten quite so well.... but we will cross that bridge when we get there :)

our summertime dance classes went so well, that we re-upped for the school year! okay let's be honest, we really liked to catch up with Katie and Darryl and enjoyed all having dinner together when it was over.

snuggled up with my sweeties

There are so many aspects of our girls that are hard, hard, hard. I always dream "it'll be easier when....", and I've finally accepted that the hard just changes. It doesn't really get easier. But some things do! So I decided to take the girls out solo - we went to lunch, and then went to a few different stores to run a few errands and shop for Halloween decorations! And they did great, and I think it's safe to say we all really enjoyed ourselves. The biggest hiccup is when we finally all sat down to eat lunch and Ella announced she had to potty. I mean... what do you do!? We just abandoned our meal and went to potty, and thankfully nobody cleaned up our half-eaten food.

But I'm happy to report we didn't just survive our outing, we thrived!

sharing rice, so sweet

Ella and Sydney LOVE all things halloween. They just get so pumped. I'm going to save all my money and just head to the seasonal aisle at Walmart instead of going to Disney World... they had the same reaction. But in all seriousness - so much fun!! I love their zest for all the things right now.

sporting their new Halloween hair accessories - skeleton hands in Sydney and a witch hat for Ella
(Ella is going to be the Wicked Witch for Halloween, so she's obsessed)

and naturally, the skeleton hands were necessary for school the next day

Ella's soccer team - the Anacondas, played Sydney's soccer team - the Cyclones. They both did great and Sydney even scored a goal! The two of them also spent a considerable amount of time hugging on the field... and Ella kept pushing Sydney around because "she wasn't going after the ball" haha. A few weeks later, when we were chatting in the car about their upcoming game where they'd play each other again, I reminded them not to hug or push or touch each other. Ella said something about not being able to get the ball, and Sydney said "that's okay, Ella, I will get the ball and give it to you". I think they're missing the point of playing AGAINST each other, ha!

soccer sisters

newest obsession - watching Taylor Swift videos and coloring/cutting

I mentioned their transition was... rough. Daniel and I desperately needed some alone time, eating a nice meal in peace. So we had an SOS call to Grandma Georgia, dropped off the girls and jetted off to a new-to-us restaurant with a view.

love this guy

Hokie Girls

pretty ballerinas ready for dance

and who can forget this sweet girl, who keeps us all on our toes while the big girls dance?!

mexican dinner with our neighbors, and they insisted on climbing up on this horse and snapping a picture

I could think of a few more comfortable spots to watch their tablets... but you do you

it was a gorgeous night and only us girls, so we had a picnic break in between riding the cozy coupe and running around

We had soccer pictures... and you all know that we are a cross between cheap and poor. I mean, seriously... why are those dang pictures so pricey and they aren't ever that good. Daniel and I had just gotten new phones the week before, so he snapped a few pictures on portrait mode, and not only did we save some money, but they were so good!