The Toy Box Years: My Little Preschooler

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

As I was going through my pictures, moving them to my external hard drive, I came across these pictures from Nudgie's first day of preschool......and then it hit me.....

I never wrote about my baby's first day of school!

Worst.....Mother.....Ever!

So.....here they are....a little late....but better late than never, right???

**************************

The "Back To School Fairy" paid a visit to Nudgie too......just like big sister! Except she left Nudgie a brand new book about going to preschool. She was so thrilled that she got a visit from the Fairy!!

She also got the big girl, first day of school special breakfast too!

I think Nudgie was a little worried that preschool wouldn't have enough books, so she decided to bring her own from home.

I love the look on her face when I caught her!

Before we left for school, we had to take our tradition school pictures in front of the tree in our yard. We started this tradition with Nani when she started preschool, and plan on continuing! Also - the outfit that Nudgie is wearing is the same one that Nani wore on HER first day of preschool!

Proud big sister!

Since Daddy couldn't be with us, we took Daddy Doll to school. He spent the whole first day with her....watching from Nudgie's cubby!

I love that her preschool also shows you what they're going to be doing that day. I am just so blessed that both my girls were able to attend this caring, God-loving preschool!