Storytime

Allie reads a story to her "class."

Ever since school started, Allie's taken to playing school at home. No, not where I'm the teacher and she's the student, but where she's the teacher to her menagerie of stuffed dogs, bears, cats, horses and whatever other fluffy critters she's accumulated through the years.

She'll very methodically bring out her "students" from her room to a designated spot in the house. Sometimes on the couch, sometimes on the floor. Or, seated among the dining room chairs.

Once the animals are positioned just right, Allie starts her storytime. She'll ask the animals questions along the way.

"Who hears an "r" sound?" she'll inquire. "Horsey, do you?"

It's just so cute ... I love kindergarten.

The End

Allie's "students" listen to her read a story

The Pictures Before the Pictures

Zach and Allie before going to school on Picture Day

So last week was Picture Day at the kids' school. And if you were around our house for the week prior and spent any time with Allie, you'd think it was Christmastime.

"Mommy ... how many more days until Picture Day?" Allie would ask with bated breath.

"Um ... four more days, honey," I'd reply.

"When should we pick a dress out?" she'd inquire.

"Soon," I told her.

With Blake and Nick, Picture Day always meant hoping their payment envelope would make it to the teacher and then fighting them to wear a collared shirt they professed to be "dorky" or "lame."

This year I tried not to be so anal about it and let them wear what they wear much of the time anyway -- a pro soccer jersey.

With Allie I knew I wanted her to wear her cute red dress with white polka dots. But Allie likes to choose her own clothes, so I had to be very strategic. One day while she was playing in the playroom I went to her closet, removed the dress from the back of the closet and put it right up front, pushed the hanging items on both sides so the dress had plenty of space to hang all on its own, and closed the closet door.

"Hey, Allie," I said nonchalantly. "Why don't we pick out your dress for Picture Day tomorrow."

"OK," she squealed, quickly abandoning the lesson she was giving her stuffed animal students.

She darted into her room, pushed open the closet, put her 5-year-old hands on her narrow little hips and peered inside.

Suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Mommy! This dress would be perfect" she proclaimed, pointing to the little red dress.

Bingo.

And sweet little Zach? He was very cooperative in wearing the dorky collared shirt Mom picked out for him.

My Zachy

Say Cheese!

A Dog in the House

Zach, Allie and cousin Hailey play with Foxie.

Last month the kids got one of their biggest wishes granted -- at least temporarily. They've been wanting a dog for years, so when Grandma and Grandpa said they planned on bringing their new chihuahua, Foxie, on their visit, the kids were ecstatic.

As soon as they heard the news, they talked about it as often as a teen texts. And soon, it wasn't "Grandma and Grandpa are coming," it was "Foxie's coming" and "How many more days until Foxie is here?"

And Foxie didn't disappoint.

Upon Foxie's arrival, the kids (well all of them except for Blake, who's much too cool to get excited about a dog) Allie, the supreme princess of the house, kept Foxie under her sole supervision during the first day of her arrival. She took her to her bedroom, sat with her on the bed, sat with her on the couch, carried her a bit awkwardly in her arms ... all while Zach and Nick tried to nudge in a little doggy time of their own.

With all the attention, Foxie would periodically make a sudden break for her carrier, finding cover in her comfy little crate.

As the week went on, Allie grew a little less possessive. Saying good-bye was hard for all the kids, but they're looking forward to November when they'll see Foxie again.

An hour after she left, Zach said he missed Foxie.

Then, after about a week, out of the blue, he said it again.

"I miss Foxie, Mommy ... when's Thanksgiving?"