Ramona!

We recently watched "Ramona and Beezus", which is SUCH a good movie. We don't buy a lot of movies, but this will be one we definitely try to own soon. I highly recommend it to any of you families who, like us, are touched by healthy, loving, family relationships being portrayed in clean and entertaining movies that the parents can actually sit through without wanting to jump out the window. Anyways, the whole movie, I just kept thinking, "this is soooooooo Allie". I've begun calling Allie "Ramona" at times, usually as I clean up another mess or watch her do something crazy like Ramona would do. You see, like Ramona, most of Allie's scrapes do not originate from a decision to be naughty, it just ends up looking that way. For example, she and I are eating our lunch and I just looked over at her and all 10 of her fingers are dipped in her chili bowl and she's lifting them to her mouth. That girl!

She started her second year of preschool today. We changed schools and she is in a preschool that is part of the Salem-Keizer Public Schools. Her teacher seems excellent and we picked this one on recommendation from a good friend, whose son is in class with Allie. I was a bit sad to be dropping her off this morning, but come on. It's 2 1/2 hours 3 days a week. I think I'm still going to have plenty of time with "Ramona". She has become my buddy, though. She's my shopping buddy, cuddle buddy, shower buddy (TMI?), baking buddy, and probably a few more.

I don't really have an explanation, other than... Ramona!!!

I think this is going to be a good year for us. She and I will still get two days a week to spend home together. I'm missing Avery quite a bit at this point. I keep wishing I could go see her at lunch, but I did that last week on my birthday and she had a hard time when I left. We both are struggling a bit with the adjustment. God has great things in mind, though, and I want to be a part of it! Anyway, Allie is such a blessing and I'm excited for all she's going to get to experience this year in preschool.