Kindergarten Orientation

 Before Elise could get started in school, she needed some new school clothes.  The girl (and her little sister) was set up by Mommy, Daddy, Mammy, and MawMaw.  Look at all of their stuff!  She's definitely set well into fall.

 Orientation was tonight.  I thought Erin would enjoy seeing where Elise was going to be going every day, so we brought her along (plus, it was only supposed to be 45 minutes long).  She struggled to sit still, but in her defense, she's not about to start Kindergarten!  Elise had a much easier time sitting quietly and listening to the teachers and the principal.

 Since Strafford is building a new elementary school (which Elise will enjoy as a 1st grader next year), the theme for Kindergarten this year is "Under Construction".  Her Kindergarten teacher had all sorts of fun stuff for the kids at their desks to fit with the theme. 

Elise's classroom even has a lego table--which Elise immediately went nuts about!  After orientation, she decided she was ready to start school, and was bummed that she had to wait one more day before she got to go!  

T Minus two days till Kindergarten!

Kindergarten is Coming

6 weeks old

 This sweet little baby girl is starting Kindergarten this week.  I'm pretty sure I'm not one of those moms that is going to sob on the first day (but that day isn't quite here yet, so we'll see!)

1 Year Old

 However, as I sat this afternoon and watched her playing with her toys without a care in the world, I did start thinking about how it seemed like a blink of an eye between bringing her home from the hospital to sending her off to Kindergarten.

2 Years Old

 The girl tests me, there is no doubt about that.  Since before she could talk, she has been very opinionated, full of drama, and SO sassy.

3 Years Old

 But these aren't the traits that define her.  She is silly, loves to make people laugh, so friendly to everyone, is sensitive to others, and is a huge animal lover (aside from spiders).

4 Years Old

I am so anxious to see what her first year in school brings: the things she will learn, the friends she will make, and the experiences she will have.  She is so excited, but also a little nervous, too.  She wants to ride the bus to school, but did decide that on the first day, Daddy and Mommy better take her to her class.

5 Years Old

 Big things are ahead for you, Elise Joann.  We are already so proud of you and can't wait to see what your future holds!

***NEXT WEEK: First day of school pictures!!!***

Camera Roll

I have a friend who has a blog who calls it "Camera Roll" when she posts random pictures.  So I stole that idea for myself.  (HI, CASEY :))  Below are some randoms from the last month.

It isn't very often that both girls want to cuddle Mommy--had to get a picture of it!

Erin is only allowed to have her pacifier during nap and in the car.  She stashed one, and when I tried to take it away, this was her idea of a getaway.  Plus, she hates to miss the washer filling with water.

I was working on the computer one day, and I heard Erin hard at work, but wasn't paying a lot of attention to what she was up to.  When I turned around, I saw she had made herself a train!

Elise wanted a picture with her "monster blueberry".

Slumber party at our house, and Daddy (Uncle Sean) made cookies.  Just look at Erin.  Seriously.

Father's Day Musings

These girls...they have my heart!

I sort of failed father's day when it came to photographs.  I did get one of the girls with Sean, and some of Sean with his dad and his grandpa, but after that I didn't get my camera back out.  I do want to take a moment to give a shout out to all the amazing dads in our lives, though.

Elise's cheeseface--I don't know.

Sean.  No lies (and this isn't news to him, either) that I wasn't sure if he was ready to be a dad when we started trying for a baby.  The man had only held one baby at that point in his life, and that was by force.  The first diaper he changed was Elise's when we were in the hospital.  But he took to fatherhood like he was meant to be a dad.  Elise adores him, and Erin loves him to pieces, too.  He works hard to provide for his family, he makes sure to spend plenty of quality time playing with the girls, and he is definitely the "fun" parent most of the time!

Sean, his dad Mike, and the girls

Mike, Sean's grandpa Dave, Sean and the girls

The next dad in our lives that I want to say a big "Thank You" to would be my dad, Link.  I am thankful that my husband gets along with him so well and respects his opinions as much as I do.  Dad never pushes--he always lets us make our own decisions--but he is diligent in being there for us and supporting us.  Even when we do something "crazy" like moving one town away from him! :)  It's been so much fun watching him be a Popa to the girls.

Mike, Sean's dad, is another dad that means so much to us.  We have so much fun when we spend time with him--camping, trips, and holidays are always special with Mike.  The girls love to use him as a jungle gym, and he makes a good Papoo.  Elise always has a great time when they go on their "special days". 

Terry is Sean's step-dad.  He is steady as a rock, patient with our antics, and a fantastic PawPaw to the girls.  He likes to teach them things (imagine that from a retired teacher!) and they like to learn from him and spend time with him.  

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there, but a special "I love you" to the fathers who are near and dear to MY heart!

Swingset Excitement!

 We bought the girls this sweet swing set on clearance last fall.  We showed them a pic of it at Christmas, and told them when we got moved, we'd put it up.  Well, other house projects ended up taking priority over their swing set, and Sean was just able to get to it this week.  They were THRILLED.  I think the bronco (the red thing) is definitely their favorite.  The monkey bars are still a little high for Elise to reach, and Erin can't do much more besides slide and ride the bronco, but they'll definitely grow into it and it's awesome to have a place for them to play in our own backyard!

Elise's Preschool Graduation

Yes, you read that right.  This post is about Elise's preschool graduation.  It's mind-boggling to me, too.  I have probably said this a ton on this blog, but it is fitting here, too: Time flies when you're watching your babies grow.  

 

She went from this to preschool in about a year.  Maybe two.  I swear.  

Okay, her little sister is proof that I might have my timing off a little, but still.

Elise's cheese-face is getting to be notorious.  Miss Melissa even had a page in her memory book about it.  You tell the girl to smile for a pic, and she literally says cheese with the face in most of these pics.  It's super cute, but sometimes Mom wants a real smile.  Sigh.

Elise managed a real smile with her Daddy--probably because she was with him.  She thinks he hung the moon.

Graduation drew a good crowd for such a small class--and we took up a whole row.

Elise did so good to stop and smile for me on her way to the stage.

Elise only went to A Touch Above preschool for about 5 months, but we were thoroughly impressed.  Miss Melissa worked really hard to make graduation special for the kiddos and their families. 

She got a diploma, a memory book, a goody bag, and just all sorts of great stuff.  During learning time today (I work with Elise while Erin is napping), she practiced her letters on the dry-erase board that was part of her graduation gift from Miss Melissa.

Nothing like a photo-bomb from little sister...

This is Elise's self-portrait for graduation--it cracked me up that she gave herself brown hair, but I guess that's what she thinks she has!

Miss Melissa gave us an 8x10 of Elise in her graduation gown (in the pic above) and I love it.

We are so proud of our preschool graduate, and are really looking forward to her starting kindergarten in the fall.  So far, the two things she is most excited about include a new lunchbox and riding the bus.  These are both easy things for us to get excited about too!

As a bonus pic, here is Erin sitting still for a bit this morning.  The kid rarely does it, but when she relaxes, she relaxes RIGHT!

Elite HR Solutions, LLC

This little link makes my business feel so much more official: www.elitehrsolutionsllc.com.  Sean and a friend of ours worked hard to get my website up and running, and I am so thankful for their hard work.  Prayers would be appreciated for my brand new adventure with Elite HR Solutions, LLC!