Welcome Fall!

The change in the seasons, especially summer to fall, is always difficult for me. I know I'm not the only one but letting go of the long, warm summer days is tough! I hate it when I start noticing the sun setting earlier and feeling the bite in the air in the morning. My mood sunk when I put away my shorts and all of our swimsuits. I'm sad knowing that all the fun stuff we planned for the summer is done and we have six or seven months to wait until we start the planning again.

But then I spotted a pie pumpkin at the produce stand on Saturday. I couldn't resist. I baked it last night and then we ate the seeds. We'll make homemade pumpkin bread tomorrow. Lily came home today talking about decorating for Halloween. It got me thinking about which weekend we'll plan to go to pick out pumpkins for Jack-O-Lanterns and what kind of fun Halloween crafts I'll come up with. Then she told me she wants to be a Kitty Cat for Halloween so I started thinking about how to pull that costume off on a budget.

And then I noticed the tree out our kitchen window starting to turn it's leaves.

And, well,  I guess Fall really isn't that bad. Thanksgiving and Christmas are really just around the corner.

Oh my! They really are just around the corner! I've got to get planning!

Lily's Birthday Party



Lily's Pampering Salon and Boutique

Lily's Gramma Di told me about Lily's Pampering Salon and Boutique a couple of years ago when it was featured in the newspaper. Ever since then I thought it would be fun to take Lily there- mostly because I knew the name itself would make it special for her. At the time, though, she was too little to appreciate it.



All three got thier nails and hair done

This year, I knew with school starting so late that it would be difficult finding friends to invite that Lily just met and also getting the invitations out to them in time. So I had to come up with another plan. That is when I ran into Denae's mom. Denae went to Lily's old daycare so they had been friends since Lily was 2. We hadn't seen Denae since Lily changed daycares last February. 

*Lightbulb!* Inviting Denae and having Lily and Kendra go to the salon this year would be perfect- and we wouldn't have to worry about who to invite from her new Kindergarten class. The salon was great. It was beautifully decorated and perfect for making the girls feel pampered and special. And it wasn't just nails and a hair style. They really went out of their was to make it special- with "Cotton Candy" perfume, glitter in their hair and pink lemonade with sprinkles. At the end they got their picture taken that they then put in a frame with a cute ribbon. Then we came home for pizza, cupcakes and hanging out. We had a great day...I'm just glad it all came together in the end!

Having fun getting pampered!

How cute are they?

Anxiously awaiting Tinkerbell Cupcakes

The Salon Picture and Birthday Invitation

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

What more can I say? Love that girl!

Honestly

Leaving her in the morning in Kindergarten wasn't that hard. We've had lots of new classes and a few new schools for the last 4 and a half years. She was nervous. I was nervous. But we were ok.

What I didn't expect...the sheer joy that shot through my heart the moment I saw her at the end of the day. I had an overwhelming feeling of pride in her accomplishment. Though it may not seem like much, getting through that first day with a smile on her face told me everything. She can do it. She CAN do this.

Can you see it in my face???

So we're off and running turning in paperwork, finding our new routine and shaking off the nerves.

Next up? Lily's birthday is next week already. NEXT WEEK!!! I am having some minor issues in the planning department this year so yeah. I hope everything goes well with that.

I have had a one track mind with my crafting lately (besides Lily's Birthday Invitations)- SCRAPBOOKING! I am working on a scrapbook that starts on Lily's 4th birthday through the next summer (ish). It has been a lot of fun but a lot of work. Really hoping to finish soon and move onto some different kind of projects.

She made it!

The countdown is finally over...Lily started Kindergarten this morning. It feels like we've been waiting a very long time for today. I can say that the long wait hasn't been all excited anticipation. Lily has been very nervous and scared about starting school. I think Kendra may or may not have scared her with stories about homework...

Her very first assignment this morning was to draw a picture of herself and then color it. The parents got to stay and help for a few minutes. It was good to give her that time to settle in before leaving.

When it was time for us to go I could tell she was still quite unsure. But, I gave her a big hug and a word of encouragement and that was it. I just can't wait to hear all about her first day this afternoon when we go pick her up. She's such a great kid I hope she can learn to let go of her fears, relax and have some fun.

PS Does it seem like there are an unusual amount of "Blog Children" starting Kindergarten this year? I swear it seems like almost every blog I read has a child starting school. Crazy!

A weekend away in South Bend

Lily: Why are these called Bananagrams?
Kendra: Yeah, what is a gram anyway?
Lily: They should be called Banana Letters.

Totally makes sense to me. And yeah, what is a "gram"???

*****************

We were so very lucky to have nice weather when we went to South Bend last weekend. They even threw a parade in our honor (well, it might have been the Oyster Festival or something like that). But it was the longest parade I think I've ever seen and the girls came home with a gallon size Ziploc bag full of candy. It was crazy y'all.

Lily was the most enthusiastic of all the kids we were with- but I think that is just because I told her they wouldn't throw her any candy unless she got excited. It was sunny and warm and fun to be with family and friends and relax and have adventures and just be together.

Checking out the waterfront

Anxiously awaiting the start of the parade

Lily danced very nearly the whole time

Apparently she picked up "posing" from someone...

Good times.

I am so glad both girls get to make these happy memories of us together. Right now I just feel so thankful for all of it. Every second we get to spend with each other.

Where did the summer go?

School already? You've got to be kidding me! Summer literally just started around here...no really. The hot weather started last week and Kendra started 1st grade this morning. Martin was able to go and drop her off in her class (yay!)...She was so excited. I love how that girl just jumps into anything and everything head first- no hesitation!

Hello!

Well, my camera hasn't seen the light of day for weeks but we've still been keeping busy.

Summer finally hit a couple weeks ago and we are trying to enjoy the sun as much as we can- swimming, playing with some partying thrown in too!

We've got lots coming up in the next few weeks so I know I will have posts coming more frequently. I am feeling a bit better...more ready to get back into the swing of things...or rather start the new phase we have been anticipating for so long...KINDERGARTEN!!!!

Once school starts my schedule will change in the morning (a later start actually!) and I am looking forward to having a little more time to get myself and Lily together before we head out the door. I'll be driving her to school, though we may try walking- or parking a couple blocks away to avoid the before school traffic mess. It will be like old times when we used to walk together everyday.

I've finally got Lily's birthday plans mostly nailed down and I think it is going to be a lot of fun. I'll have more to post on that later.

This weekend we are headed to South Bend to visit Martin's mom. The weather is supposed to hold out so I am hoping maybe we can set up the tent and sleep outside. But that is always iffy when you are on the coast.

Lily has her dreaded cavity filling appointment on Tuesday that I am extra nervous for. I haven't reminded her about it or anything because she pretty much cries whenever we talk about it. It doesn't matter how many times I've reassured her that it is going to be ok. She is terrified.

I have been TRYING to get a scrapbook done but it is slow going. I am about 1/3 or 1/2 done when I said I wanted to finish by the end of summer. Probably not going to happen but I just have to keep plugging away- one happy memory after another!

So that is what I'm up to right now. So much to think about but I think we are ok. We're getting through and we're all ok- that is the most important I think.

How's everybody else out there? Looking forward to the end of summer?

....

Yeah I didn't think so.