Gymboree

Thursday morning I took Dani to her first Gymboree class.  She had SO much fun!  It is magazine how different an experience it is from taking Lily who was much more timid and shy.  Danielle just ran out there and wanted to get into everything.  She was so cute and she had the biggest smile and screamed with joy the whole time.  I loved every second of it and can't wait for next week. 

Getting ready to go -- in her new shoes!

Taking it all in . . .

Liking what she sees!

She loved the tunnels to crawl through.

Having so much fun!

Sadly, this was her first time seeing bubbles (I am a terrible mother) and she loved them!!!  I have to get some more bubbles to blow for her at home.  She was having a blast chasing them around the room!

Walking to School

With the exception of Wednesday (since Dani and I had a breakfast date with Rhiannon, Abby and Patti) Lily and I walked to school every morning.  It is actually a lot easier than loading the car, driving a painful 20 MPH in the school zone and dealing with traffic and all the pedestrians.  Lily LOVED it and I have to admit, so did I.  It is a nice way to start the day.

On our way on Tuesday.

Running to school on Friday!!

But, Danielle and I still drive to pick her up.  It has been about 100 degrees everyday at pick up time and none of us want to walk in that -- no matter how close the school is.  Once it cools off, we'll probably walk in the afternoons too.   One day Dani insisted -- as Dani does by screaming -- in bringing Minnie Mouse with us to pick up.

Rub A Dub Dub

On Monday the usual crew went over to Patti's for a Labor Day dinner and to hang out.  This was our first time ever hanging out on a "real" school night.  So we were all saying how we needed to get going, get the kids bathed and ready for bed.  I don't think Patti was ready for everyone to leave quite yet because she suggested we just bathe them Colorado style -- since they often all took baths together on vacation.  So we just threw all the kids in the bath -- Abby too -- and got to stay an extra half hour before we all had to head home to get to bed early!

Payphone!

There is a very popular song out right now by Maroon 5 called "Payphone".  The lyrics are "I'm at a pay phone, trying to call home.  All of my change I spent on you . .. "   We heard this song at least 7 times a day during our trip to Colorado and the kids loved it.  It kind of became the anthem for the trip.  But the kids had NO idea what a payphone was.  I had to go online to show them photos.  So, it became our mission to find a payphone and take a picture with it!  We looked at rest stops, gas stations, etc and never found one.   Ironically, walking home from soccer practice I noticed there was a payphone in front of the neihgborhood pool!!!!!!  It was right around the corner from me the whole time!!!!  We haven't been to our pool in the last month, I probably didn't notice before because I didn't care before!!   Carys and Rhiannon came running over to see it too!!   Who would have thought we'd get so excited over finding an old dirty pay phone and how sad is it that it is like an old antique relic! 

Soccer Practice

Lily had soccer practice bright and early on Saturday morning.  So I loaded the kiddos into the new wagon and we headed to the park.  Both girls loved riding in the wagon.  I couldn't really see them as we were walking, but I could hear nothing by giggles the whole way.  

Watching Lily run and sweat.

Lily had another amazing practice!  The coach said she was one of the best on the team.  She took the lead, kicked the ball down the field and made a goal!!  SO different from Lily playing soccer two years ago!  I can't wait for the first game next weekend.

Handy Lily

I think I mentioned it a previous post, but we are in the middle of getting new counter tops and back splashes in the kitchen.  It only took us 4 years to replace that funky pink tile!!  It is kind of a process, since we are doing a lot of the work ourselves -- and by that I mean with workers from the golf course instead of hiring regular professionals.  It is very financially smart, but we have to work around their work schedules, so it is taking a little more time than normal.  This week after school Grandpa came over to help.  Lily adores her Grandpa and got so excited he was here and couldn't wait to help him out!  So he put her to work.  She helped install the new faucet and soap dispenser.  She plastered the wall to help repair the drywall -- and she did a great job!  She screwed the panel back on the thingy (that's a technical term) that holds the wires for the cook top. And apparently she helped with the re-plumbing under the sink.  I was putting Danielle to sleep, so I missed them using the blow torch - which is probably for the best!  Both Grandpa and Lily had a great time!!  

Plastering the drywall!

Screwing in the "thingy".

Sno Cones

Friday after a long day at school and a long exhausting first week of kindergarten, Lily, Dani me and Grandma went to get shaved ice at the Hula Hut!  It was just like being in Hawaii . . . . except we were in the Walgreens parking lot. 

Thanks Anda!

As a surprise Aunt Linda ordered Lily an awesome One Direction t-shirt.  They are currently her very favorite band and she is slightly obsessed (even though she failed to mention them in the questionnaire in the previous post).   Lily was so excited to have a present from Aunt Linda come in the mail.  Admittedly, her excitement faded when she saw it was a t-shirt -- she is NOT a fan of t-shirts.  But once I read her what the shirt said, she got excited times 1000!!  She was freaking out and running around the house with the shirt.  I think it was a huge success.  My little 5 year old is such a teeny bopper!! 

 

Lily's Favorites

At the start of school every year I am going to ask Lily these same questions to see how her answers change as she grow.  Here are here answers from this year:

Favorite TV Show --  Lazytown

Favorite Movie – The Little Mermaid

Favorite Song – Up All Night by One Direction

Favorite Band – Fresh Beat Band

Favorite Singer – Katy Perry

Favorite Food – Strawberies

Favorite Candy – ice cream

Favorite Toy – my sister

Favorite Activity – playing with my sister

Best friend – Carys

Favorite Color – Pink

Favorite Snack – cheese its

Favorite Book –books on the ipad

Favorite Holiday – my birthday

Favorite Game – tag the baby  (???)

What do you want to be when you grow up – teacher

Favorite summer memory – going to colorado

3 words to describe me – silly, mysterious, crazy

One wish – I wish that I could always cuddle with my mom and dad all day

If you could travel anywhere -- Colorado

If you could change your name what would you want – Stephanie

What are you best at  -- talking

Who is the coolest person you know -- Carys

 

Kindergarden!!

Even though Lily just completed her first week at kindergarten, I still think I am very much in denial.  It is hard to comprehend that she is old enough for kindergarten (even though she acts like she is 17 most of the time) and even harder to believe that she is in REAL school and will be for the next 17+ years!!!  This is only the beginning.   Thankfully,  Lily had such a positive experience at preschool so she was more than ready for Kindergarten to start (and me too for that matter).  And ever since she met her teacher week and saw her classroom, she has been so excited and counted down the days for school to start.

All ready to go on her first day!  I had her write her name and will continue this tradition every year so we can see how it changes.

(she picked out the headband at the store and HAD to wear it the first day!  It is cute.  A little big, but cute.)

Her new snazzy backpack.

My friend Michelle gave me the idea to give Lily a new necklace to wear to school and tell Lily if she missed me, she could just grab hold of the necklace and think of me.  It was my way of being with her all day.  So I did and Lily really liked that idea (of course when she got home I asked if she needed the necklace and she said "No, I didn't miss you that much".  I guess that is a good thing . . . .)

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday they have PE so she has to wear tennis shoes.  Even though it was the first day, I wasn't sure if they would have PE so I sent her in her sneakers anyway.

Finding her cubby.

Putting her folder away.

Off to meet new friends and start her day!

 

I was pretty proud of myself.  I didn't cry at all.  It wasn't that hard to leave her there.  It helped that we had those three years of preschool and it also helped knowing how very excited she was to be there.  I am so proud of the smart, silly girl she has become and I wasn't scared or worried for her all at.  I knew she'd be fine!

 

After school telling Aunt Linda all about her day!  

She loved kindergarten!!  She met a new friend named Logan (who is a girl) and seemed to have fun.  She likes her teacher and can't wait to go back tomorrow.  That was pretty much all I got out of her besides this awesome quote -- "No one asked me about my new outfit!  I guess they don't do that in Kindergarten??  Weird."

We let Lily pick dinner that night and we all went to Olive Garden where Dani ate and loved olives!

Poor Dani on Tuesday morning.  I think this week has been hardest on me and Dani.  It sucks to wake up so early -- Lily has to be at school at 7:45!!!  We were waking up at 9am this summer, so it is quite an adjustment and it is affecting Danielle and I the most.  Lily doesn't like getting up, but she is excited to go to school so it is okay for her.   I've been spoiled for too long.

Soccer!

Lily decide she wanted to try to play soccer again.  I admit I was a little apprehensive since last time she really didn't enjoy it that much -- and a practice and game once a week is a big commitment.  But she really really wanted to play, so I had to let her give it another go!   We had our first practice last weekend.  Lily was SO excited and ready to go. 

 

She looked SO cute in her soccer gear -- my little sporty spice!

 I was so impressed at how well and how hard she played!   So far this season is already a success!

 Goal!

 The best part was the huge smile she had the whole 45 minute practice -- and it was HOT and humid out there!

 Emily and Carys are on her team, so that always makes things more fun too!

 Go Lily!

Hot, sweaty and all soccered out!