A Fun Photo Shoot

The weather was simply awesome this weekend, and I just couldn't help feeling like we needed to head to a park for a picnic! Naturally, if we head to a park on a beautiful day, well, NATURALLY we would have to include a photo shoot of my everchanging girl! Today, we thought it would be fun to include Kayli's doll friend in our pictures...

So, as they say in show business..."It's a wrap!"

Watermelon, Shorts, and Shades

The first big "all school" event, during the school day, is the Watermelon feed. This is also the first "spirit day" called Shorts & Shades day! Kayli brought a spare pair of "bling glasses" to give to her friend, Lily, who just started kindergarten this year! The two looked FABULOUS!

Kayli had the perfect shirt for this day too...

time for a quick pic before sending her off to her classroom...

the watermelon feed was later in the afternoon, when it was good and HOT!!!

YUMMY and COOL!

 

 

 

...and she's off!

ok, so let's back up a bit. As usual, directly following our annual lake vacation, we had a few days to unpack and finish laundry before we needed to shift our focus to preparing me, my classroom, and my sweet pea for a new school year! Kayli helped me get my classroom put together, and we had alot of fun with my pet shop theme, where kids can always learn "new tricks" and keep calm while holding a kitty in their lap when needed, or feeding our dog a bone after doing a great job! Kayli helped me hang up posters, and even got so enthusiastic about this theme that she just had to make a poster of her own to add to my decor! Thank-you Kayli...

We spent a few days up at school, getting everything ready, then squeezed in some last minute pool time before the big night of "pop-a-peek" arrived. This night is the night before school, where all the kids get to come up and meet their new teachers, and see their new classrooms. We arrived early and hung out in my room for a while...

then, it was time to go and meet Kayli's new teacher, Mrs. M! Kayli was so excited when she saw this totally AWESOME entrance to her new classroom...

Mrs. M and her hubby created a totally cool rock star stage in the corner of the classroom!!!

WOW, what an INTRO to 3rd grade!

This year, I decided to order Kayli's school supplies from the booster club. Since we were out of town for the official enrollment day, we didn't get this big box of school supplies until this night. Kayli was thrilled when she saw this huge box with her name on it! It was like opening a giant present! She gasped with excitement when she saw she would get her very own binder this year! Yep, a sure sign that she's moving up a notch, and she has no idea what she'll be filling that binder with... Lot's of surprises ahead for my new 3rd grader!

                                                   we spent some time checking out the "spirit wear"...

then, headed outside where the popsicle truck was waiting to provide the traditional cool, sweet start to the school year...

In case you were wondering, these hot pink "bling" glasses are really a headband that we found at the dollar store. But, seriously, would you wear them as a headband when you can make a far better fashion statement

 by wearing them as an awesome pair of bling glasses?!!!

So, it was early to bed tonight...off to a good start but I know what happens to that plan once the school year is underway, ha! I said "Kayli, it's time for bed" and Sprinkles, our dog, looked up from her spot and her look said it all..."What? Did you say BED? Did I hear somebody say you were starting school again?  What about our late summer nights where you two stay up 'til midnight playing with me and watching movies and stuff? And, what about those leisurely mornings you spend in your pjs, letting me in and out and in and out and...well, I won't remind you of that, but, what about my new toy? What about playing tug-a-war with me? Seriously, people, is this end of summer?"

Yes, it is, the end of summer, Sprinkles, but just think of the long naps you get to take while we are filling our brains with new learning!

So, there we were, up early the next morning, and ready to greet this new day, this new year, with eager anticipation of all it would hold! Kayli had dressed in her best "Rock Star" attire, had a good breakfast, pulled on her backpack, gave Sprinkles a bone, then posed for a picture before heading out the door..

 we arrived early to school and took the traditional picture on top of the school rock...

A new school year isn't complete without the traditional picture on the school rock, and apparently it was a good thing we got to school early as the "word on the street" was that parents were getting cranky with each other as they all tried to get that picture taken of their kids before sending them into the building that first morning of school!

we were greeted at the door by the school mascot...

then, we headed inside and I videotaped Kayli's walk down the 3rd grade hall. Once inside the classroom, Mrs. M. handed Kayli a paper and asked her to write about her summer, and she was off and running, I mean writing...

Our good friend, Natalie, sent Kayli and I, a "care package" at school today, that contained her famous first day of school monster cookies! Ohhh, what a great way to start the school year...

 

 

 

Visions of my future Tween!

While at our recent annual trip to the lake, Kayli and her cousin, Hannah, who was visiting from another state in the Midwest, had lots of fun hanging out together. One day, after playing together for the afternoon, they excitedly shared with me their discovery that they had sooo much in common! They loved that they were both adopted from China, and amazed at how many shared traits they had, as a result of their Asian heritage! Coincidentally, they both had brought mini-ipads on this trip and spent some time sharing apps, phone numbers, and other tips for each other. Well, here it is, 2 weeks after getting home, and we're sitting in the living room, when we hear the ipad "ringing"...it's Hannah calling Kayli via facetime! Well, next thing I know, the two girls are chatting away, giving each other tours of their houses, and bedrooms, and in the process discovered that they both owned the exact same "look-alike Asian doll" named Ling (a type of doll similar to the Amer Girl Doll ) They spent the next 30-45 minutes playing with their dolls via facetime/ipad!
The next night, they tried facetime again and were having trouble connecting so they decided to converse via text and text-video. I naturally had to check in on things, and as I stood in the doorway to Kayli's bedroom, it struck me that I was looking through that imaginary window where you catch a glimpse of your child in the future, imagining the time when she has entered the "tween years", a tiny teen with big ideas, and technology paving the way! Yikes!