First "real" day pictures

Lily couldn't wait to wear her school t-shirt on the first full day. She's already got school spirit!

Pigtails are her favorite hairstyle. : )

Here we are on the kindergarten hallway. Please note the way Lily's t-shirt is rubber-banded up because it is too big. Too bad I don't have any of my old brightly colored t-shirt rings to pass down to her. If you know what I am talking about, you were probably either born in the early '80s or have children who were. : )

Here you can see the back side of Lil's bag. All the kindergartners have to carry the same tote. My neighbor (aka Jim's mom) was so kind and embroidered Lily's name on her tote. Definitely beats the other option: puffy paint (another one for you who are about my age ;) ).

HUGS

Happy after her first "real" day at school!! We all got a little sweaty on the walk home!

Kindergarten update

This was written over a couple days.  It is now Saturday night, and Lily is already asking when she can go back to school. :)

Lily LOVED her first "real" day of kindergarten yesterday. :)  Now that makes it easier on me!  It was such a joy to hear all about her day.  She delighted in all the details from going to the library, to playing sharks and minnows on the playground, to how loud the cafeteria was.  

The only thing she was bummed about were the 3 boys sitting at her table.  "Mom, there are 3 boys and only 1 girl at my table.  I AM the 1 girl!"  She also relayed that the only kid to misbehave the whole day {sounds too good to be true} was one of her table mates.  I don't think she could decide if the boy should be condemned or just giggled at for pouring glue all over his black crayon.  Rumor has it crayons don't work so well after they have glue on them - you know, in case you were going to try that.

My own personal meteorologist {Jon takes after his dad in his love for the weather channel} predicted the rain was through, so we all headed out on the walking path to school this morning.  Well, we were all a tad wet by the time we arrived...and watched the rest of the entire city lined up in cars in the parking lot, umbrellas in tow.  

But seriously, you have to walk a few yards from your car to the front door and you and each of your three children need individual umbrellas?!?  If you ask me, those families were about as silly as we were with no umbrellas!  I need to add here that my meteorologist kindly ran home in the pouring rain (barefoot after a flip flop broke) and came back for Eli, Kaylee, and me in the car. :)

Anyway... right after we walked into the lobby {is that what you call the front of a school?} we saw Jim.  He lives two doors down from us, and he is hilarious.  Given the chance, he and Lil would probably run the elementary school...and might even do a decent job for 5 year olds.  He was a bit turned around, and Lily confidently said she could walk them to their classrooms from there.  I was a smidgen sad watching their backs walk down the hallway amidst older kids {1st - 5th graders look huge to me at this point}, but so proud of Lily!  Our girl is brave and willing to try something new.  Apparently she also has better directional skills than her mother, because I still have to go somewhere about 23 times before I know where I am going.

Day 2 was just as successful as day 1.  Lily even made her way all the way to the tip top of the behavior chart, earning the title of "Super Star!"  I was excited for her and thankful that she was having fun and being a sweet girl.  

So far, her favorite things at school are art and recess {no surprises here}.  

Harold and the Purple Crayon was the inspiration for her first art lesson.  The land she imagined Harold would step into if she wrote the book was a place where all the flowers could talk.  {I realize this post is getting long...thanks for bearing with me as I write this more for myself as memories than anything else! :)}

Both days at recess, she and Jim have coordinated a game of sharks and minnows.  Whadduhyaknow?!  Lily and Jim are the sharks!  Lil tells me that thus far only 2 kids have volunteered to be the minnows.  They need to work on their charisma and persuasive powers.  Or maybe let some other kids join in the predator part of the game.

Looking forward to Monday and the new adventures L will have to share with us! : )

BIG change

It's official.

Part of my heart is at kindergarten today.

For her first long, full day.

Ouch. That hurts.

But, can I tell you I believe we dropped her off at one of the best schools you could ever find?

And she was ready.

And I am excited for her...

And excited to pick her up in a couple of hours too!

Cell phone shot of the three munchkins on our walk to the school for testing last week.

And another one...

Lil and Eli just helped me make brownies, and I was cleaning up the bowl. While hugging my leg he lovingly proclaimed, "you are my special dish washer."

Awww, I am so honored! :)

Before I forget this one...

I was buckling E in his carseat {kids can pretty much vote and go to war before they can legally graduate from the carseat/booster seat confinement} the other day and he was petting my arm. He grabbed it close to his face to rub his cheek on me. "I just love your arms, Mom. They're so lovey."

A boy can make a mommy melt!

Heard Around Our House

"I didn't not know much."

Sounds like Lily did well ; ) on her kindergarten assessment testing this morning!

Happy 10 months, Kaylee!

Can you believe our baby is already 10 months old?!?!

"Row, row, row your boat..."

Kayler-B. wants to be a part of all the action {with Lil and Eli around, there is always something going down}. She races toward Sissy and Bubs no matter what they are doing, and is sometimes aloud to join in.

K eating fake Cheerios at the fair...and finding it hilarious!

The girl already has 7 teeth...4 on top, 3 on bottom {one of each of those is just barely through}. When she does her silly faces and smiles you can get a glimpse of them. K loves to have her teeth brushed, but beware - she bites!

Happiness :)

Sometimes I call her "Happiness." :) She's a sweetie and a crack-up...and what isn't to love about a soft, squishy baby? Things that make her not so happy: teething, siblings taking her toys {or just getting a little too close}, being still for diaper changes, getting out of the bathtub, Daddy going to work or just plain leaving the room. (That faded bruise on her right cheek is from falling on the hearth - she is pulling up and climbing!)

Chattin' it up on her play phone.

It is so fun to watch Kaylee in the beginning stages of pretending. :) She is learning so much so quickly! She is still having fun imitating words {with beginning consonant sounds}, signing, and now she's taking an interest in animal sounds. Her best "trick" ;) is growling like a tiger. I love her baby kisses and the way she blows kisses.

Not to be forgotten!

Had to get some Eli on here!! This guy has a sweet, tender heart, a great smile, and contagious laugh. He will dutifully play art and music class with Lily, but usually wants to bring a dinosaur or lizard toy {"I have to bring something for boys."} along. Eli is perfectly at home digging a hole in the yard, and playing in the mud with a dump truck. He is really loving Sunday school, and even talks while he's there now. ;) He'll be going to preschool this year! More on that in September. :)

She's a thinker

L ~ Mom, ya know how God never sleeps. Like when we sleep, he is awake to take care of us.

Me ~ You're right!

L ~ Then how do you think he rested after making all that stuff all week? {Genesis 1 - 2:3}

Me ~ {giggle} I think he was just finished creating new things, and was enjoying all his good creation.

L ~ Ohhhhh! Just resting, not sleeping!

For Mom and Mimi :)

"Just so you know ;) ... "

Lily did have that {hideous} county fair tattoo on her arm today at school.

BUT....

Her head smelled {and was :)} clean.

Her fingernails were also clean and trimmed.

Her dress was clean.

There, I got that off my chest! My Mom and her mom, my Mimi (retired school teacher), have always advocated sending clean children to school. I have been wondering if they were fretting over that dirty looking tattoo, and felt the need to reassure them that the rest of her was clean. :)

{Mom & Mimi, I hope you are laughing...and feeling like you have accomplished your duty of passing along wisdom :).}

Kindergarten

Our Lily Girl is at kindergarten today.

Do you know what that means? She is not here.

Do you know what that means? My heart aches. And aches, and aches, and then aches some more for my baby.

Let's not talk about it anymore...if tears keep falling down my cheeks, Eli might get freaked out {and he doesn't even know that Jon held my hand while I cried myself to sleep last night}.

Instead, let me show you Lil ...

Here she is outside of her new room. What kind of mother allows her child to go to school with a county fair tattoo still on her arm?! {Don't answer that.}

This section of tree trunk hangs at the entrance of the kindergarten hallway. Jon had the idea to photograph all of our kids on their first days of school here. I think it's a great plan!

Isn't she beautiful?

Working away at her name tag necklace.

Let me assure you that while I am terribly sad, I am also so excited for Lil! She has been waiting for this. I love her enthusiasm and curiosity for all things kindergarten. :) I am sure I will be back soon with more kindergarten updates!

Starfall

I have really loved helping Lily learn to read this summer! Even better is watching the sweet moments when she reads to Eli and Kaylee {during the brief moments she will sit still!}. We recently found the Starfall site {click the logo to go there}. I think it is a wonderful tool and wish I would have discovered it much sooner! Lily is thoroughly enjoying it, and Eli is now starting to play on it. Whether your child is just learning their letter sounds, you have a new reader, or a child anywhere in between, you could benefit from this website.

Earth's Best Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cereal

I never, ever, ever, ever taste baby food.  It is sort of an unwritten law I live by.  I don't exactly love veggies anyway, I can't imagine they are any better all pureed {not to mention no salt, no butter, no cheese}.  This oatmeal seemed like a safer bet.  I figured the worst that would happen was feeling like I just ate a luke-warm cardboard box.  Not so bad, right?!  Let me tell you, the texture of this cereal is amazing!  Soft and velvety goodness!  I confess, I made an entire bowl for myself...with a little {that term "little" is so subjective!} brown sugar.  Surprisingly tasty!

Walk With Me

{photo borrowed from Jenn Everswick at Walk With Me}

Jenn Everswick is a gal I ran cross country and track with in high school. She and her hubby have sweet twins, Wyatt and Kendall, who are about the same age as Kaylee. Jenn has just started a new blog called Walk With Me. I think it will be a place to be inspired and encouraged. Girls, go check it out!

Seen & Heard Around Our House

Can you guess what's going on here {I couldn't.}?!?

Meet Belle and Katie. These gals keep Lily company during her relaxation time {what happens in our house when you aren't so much a napper}. I had to laugh when I saw this combination of the dolls, patriotic crafts, Obama paraphernalia from election day at pre-school, and the tissue paper stained-glass cross. I hadn't the slightest idea what might be going on here, and couldn't wait to find out. Lily informed me that "they were trying to remember the words to God Bless America." I mean, with all of those great clues, it must be on the tips of their tongues!

Favor Shmavor Update {Family Photos!}

Remember the favor {shmavor} we were going to do for Josh and Christi Rush?

They've graciously given me permission to share the link to our family pictures. :) {Click the word "link."} You will love them! Did I mention Josh took these photos in icky, muggy, sweaty weather...right at dinner time...getting dangerously close to bath and bedtime? Now you will be even more impressed that he and his handy dandy sidekick of a wife captured these images {parents of small children, you know what I mean}!

Now we need to choose a couple faves, and Josh will work some Photo Shop wonder and perfect them. :) How am I - I mean how are we - ever going to choose?! Once I, ahem, we spend an insane amount of time picking the ones to be magically transformed, I will share those with you.

Thanks, Rushes!!!

***Josh posted a few pictures on his site - a favor to those who wish to just see a sample of our family photos without having to look at 273 pictures!***

1 little, 2 little, 3 little Indians

After church on Sundays, we all {Dad, Mom, all five of us girls, the 3 hubbies, and our 3 monkeys} hang out at my parents' place. I especially love when it is beautiful outside, and we enjoy the porch and some lawn game competition. On one such Sunday we all became Indians. Thankfully, Allison had her camera with her. :) What a fun game to play...and what great pictures, Al!

After I read Christi's comment, I had to change the title of this post. :) Thanks for letting me steal the thought!