Kindergarten...

How is it possible that my baby is already in kindergarten? I remember when she was born, so tiny and so new. I remember thinking, "I wonder what she will be like when she goes to kindergarten?" Well, here we are, it happened way too fast! What is Grace like in kindergarten?
Favorite color: pink and purple
Favorite TV show: Full House (Can you believe that?)
Favorite Food: yogurt and pancakes
Favorite thing to do: have dance parties and play with friends
"When I grow up I want to be a teacher and a mommy."

Grace just loves going to Laurel Hill Primary with mommy, although she much rather ride the bus if she could. She has two teachers: Mrs. Cercopeley and Mrs. Atkinson - they are the sweetest, most energetic, loving ladies I know! Her friend Maddie from preschool is in her class, along with twin girls from our neighborhood that she swam with on the swim team. I am having to adjust to entertaining her after school while I am trying to get work done, but it is so great to be able to spend more time with her!

Meet the Teacher Night

(Mrs. Cercopeley)

Her teachers gave her the sweetest poem along with "magic confetti" that would help her sleep the night before the first day. She still has it under her pillow...

OK - These pictures were really taken the night  before the first day. I knew it would be hectic that morning (and dark at 6 a.m.), so I took some shots when she tried on her outfit the night before...

6:00 a.m.- First day of Kindergarten (not looking as awake as the night before).

Brooks was so sweet and insisted on taking her the first day (I think he knew how crazy my morning would be), I think he was more nervous than her. She had a great first day and loves her teachers!

Her amazing teachers made this sign and sent her picture home.

 Mrs. Atkinson e-mailed me this pic the other day: the twins, Grace and Maddie - Love it!

We celebrated the first week back to school on Friday night with a "sleep under" and dance party with the Alley girls. Grace stopped in the middle of dancing and said, "I wish my teachers were here, they really like to dance." So sweet!!!

Goodbye Summer, Hello School....

We spent our last true weekend of summer having fun with family. It was so great to have the Rogers of Chapin here, we had such a great time! The weekend was full of hugs, cuddles, swimming, laughing and playing. On Saturday we headed downtown to play in the fountains...

These three had a blast splashing and playing:

Sweet Hannah

(She is the such a good baby!)

Cousin Love

My first week back to work was a little hectic...

Monday: Car didn't start (battery was dead), had to borrow my neighbor's car

Tuesday: Grace's babysitter calls to let me know she is throwing up, I had to ask Brooks to leave work. 

Thursday: Lily gets a fever and stays home sick on Friday with the babysitter.

It is always right about this time of year is when my brain goes into overload and I say/do really "dumb"things. Did anyone notice the year on Lily's sign for her first day of school? Well I fixed it, we did a redo and it now has 2013 (not 2012)!

Lily's First Day of School

Lily was excited knew she had to go back to school on Monday. We met her new teachers last week and looked around the classroom, she has lots of the same sweet girls in her class. This year she has Ms. Katie and Ms. Marci and thinks she is such a big girl because she gets to play on the "big" playground now (she really loves the monkey bars!). I raved about how much fun she would have and how nice her teachers would be to try and get her excited. She really did have a great first day (no tears) and I am hoping she likes school more than she did last year. When I asked her to tell me the best things about her teachers she said, "giving them hugs." Being a mom has definitely helped me become a better teacher. Pretty soon I will have at least 22 more "kids" to hug, brag about, worry about and watch grow throughout the year.

Such a Big Girl...

L-O-V-E 

 Grace's favorite PJ's

 Lily was in a good mood this night, she loved 

daddy this much (10 is the maximum number for

 love in her book - sometimes he only gets a 3.)

Summer Bucket List

Last week I let the girls choose 2 more fun places to go before the end of summer, they chose Chuck E Cheese (my least favorite place) and Waterfront Park to play in the fountains. One thing on my bucket list was taking the girls downtown for some pictures, so we all had lots of fun at Waterfront Park. Here are some of my favorite shots...

My Almost Kindergartener...

Picture Perfect

Grace

My super social, little planner, often whiny 

but usually always sweet girl!

Lily

My very loving, often moody, independent girl 

that sometimes likes to be my baby..

Fountain Fun

Picnic in the Park

Afterwards I strolled them around downtown and we stopped for ice cream - perfect summer day!

P.S. - We did also make it to Chuck E. Cheese...