First day of preschool!

Mireya started preschool today! She is growing up fast! The morning started out rocky. We forgot to wash her clothes, so we spent a half hour finding something that she could wear. When we did find something, she refused to get dressed and there was a fair amount of kicking and screaming. Then, she was not cooperating at all while taking her "first day of school" photos. She ended up being a few minutes late because of everything.

Once we got to school, everything went smoothly. She was not nervous at all, probably because her best-friend, Landon, was there. She spoke to the teacher and introduced herself. (She is adorable when she says, "Hi. My name is Mireya.") She then took off and began playing with all of the fun new toys and children. One of the first things she did, which made me proud(!), was run over to a little boy playing with a large two-person toy and ask him, "Hi. Can I play with you?" Hooray! She may not have good manners all the time at home, but she does at school!

Spoiled by MeMe, Papa, and Uncle Canyon

Mireya and I went down to St. George today to see my Dad, my Step-mom, and my brother. She was super excited! She knows exactly who they are, and positively adores them! They all spoil her rotten. She gets homemade treats, favorite snacks, candy, TONS of love and attention, and always a special surprise or two. She never wants to leave, but when we do she always rattles on about how much fun she had.

It is really nice to see Mireya get treated as the special, sweet girl she is. All children need extended family to spoil them the way parents do not. ;) Mireya will never wont for love in this life.

WE HAVE DONE IT!

Mireya is potty-trained! It took almost two years of trying off and on. I tried EVERYTHING. I used: sticker charts, potty training videos, candy jars, special 'gifts' that she could pick out of a prize bucket, tons of praise, potty dances, pull-ups, big girl underwear, special potty time songs, having her see how her best-friend can go in the potty, letting her run around naked, giving her lots of drinks and prune juice, reminding her every 30 minutes, letting her read books on the potty, a froggy potty that sits on the ground, a fairy-themed potty seat that fits over the toilet, and a toddler seat that hides in the lid of the adult toilet. *sigh*

I finally tried what everywhere says not to do, I punished her for going in her pants. She went to the calm-down-corner for two minutes when she peed or pooped in her diaper. I also had an honest conversation about how she was too old to wear a diaper anymore. She must go in the potty or she was not going to be able to take the dance class she wants to take, and she would not be able to go to preschool either. I really think her success was a combination between her age, the threat of the calm-down-corner, and her desire to attend a dance class. She really loves to dance and asks if she can dance like the little girls on tv. Thank you 'Dance Moms'! :)

I LOVE THAT I DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE DIAPERS! Flushing messes down the toilet has got to be the best feeling ever! Also, do you have any idea how much money we are saving now!? Pull-ups are especially expensive! Jeez... HALLELUJAH!