*seeing the girls looking at a costume magazine on the couch together on the couch

*two preschool mornings with no crying beforehand

*watching Gracie run into her classroom, find her name, and put it in the pocketchart

*singing to Madelyn on the couch

*the fact that Gracie wanted me to say 4 prayers for her on the way to preschool

*Madelyn has a favorite baby doll named Lucy. Gracie has one just like it named Caroline. Instead of calling her Caroline, Madelyn calls her "Gracie's Lucy". It is so cute.

*the smell of BBQ ribs baking in the oven--yum!

*being thankful for a husband who likes to cook, and for the fact that we have food to eat

*editing pictures of my beautiful girls

*playing with bouncy balls in the hallway and hearing the girls' squeals

*finding nitrite and nitrate-free lunchmeat at the store--yay!

Preschool Day 5

Gracie cried and cried all morning because she didn't want me to take her to school, but she ended up having a pretty good day! I'm so glad! Now we just have to see if she can have another good day.

Preschool Day 4

Not too much improvement. She cried when I dropped her off, which is the first time that's happened. She cried throughout the first part, but I guess did a little better towards the end. Everyone keeps telling me to keep trying it. I have my own opinion. We'll contiue to see how things go.

*Gracie's excitement over learning about fire safety and doing "school" at home with me (I enjoyed it, too!)

*seeing Madelyn's pride as she did a puzzle over and over again all by herself

*reading The Little House in the Big Woods with Gracie

*doing picture studies and reading poems with Gracie

*pulling Madelyn around in the laundry basket

*reading on the floor with Madelyn

*making hot buttered noodles for Gracie to eat when she got home from preschool

*preparing book activities and language lessons to do with Gracie

Preschool--Day 3

Day 3 didn't go much better. She cried again, her juice and pretzels spilled and she didn't get a snack, and she missed me. We'll keep trying.