First Field Trip

One of the bonuses of not finding a job yet is that I got to go on Sierra's first Kindergarten field trip with her! I've gone on so many with Lily I would be sad not to get to go on at least one with Sierra! I took loads of photos, but neglected to get one of me and her! It was a beautiful fall day and just warm enough to not need our jackets. If it was registering the same temperature in San Diego I probably would've been shivering in my winter coat, but I guess we've gotten used to the cooler climate or it's just warmer when the sun is shining because of the altitude? I don't know, but it was perfect weather to pick pumpkins and apples and enjoy a hayride with my 5 year old!

 Talking Pumpkin

 Mini log cabin

 "Bee talk" & honey comb

 Fresh picked Spartan apple - best apple I have ever tasted!

 The cute little friend Sierra picked to be with on the field trip

 We got to throw our cores off during the hay ride :)

Sweetest little Kindergartner I know!

1st days of school 2017

School started this week. Our summer is officially over, and we are sad...but there are good things about school starting and having a routine. Lily was really sad she didn't get the teacher she wanted this year, she actually got the exact teacher she didn't want!  Last year she didn't get in the same class with any of her closest friends, and wasn't loving school - which just made it harder to get her out the door in the mornings. Well, we heard some nice things about the teacher she got this year, and got a nice letter from her and we tried to help Lily have an open minded attitude about her (because everyone gets a teacher they don't like at some point, and chances are Lily just had a first impression overhearing her talking to a student who was misbehaving and needed a stern tone). Well, it has turned out awesome! Lily absolutely LOVES her teacher, and has tons of nice girls in her class this year, and was so excited to tell me about her 1st day, and chattering on again at bedtime last night about how excited she was to go to school and how much she loved school! I get tears in my eyes even typing about it - I am so relieved and happy!!! It makes such a difference every day when your child does, or doesn't like school! Lily telling me anything about school - is HUGE!! I have been anxious enough about this year because Sierra is also starting Kindergarten and I am planning on going back to work full time - so this great start is a big weight off my mind!

So here are Lily's 1st day of school pictures from earlier this week:
Happy 4th grader!

Lily got braces at the end of the summer -  here are a couple extra pictures of that:

Loved this picture I found on Mike's phone:

Such a beauty!

We had an interview with Sierra's teacher yesterday and went to the school's Open House/Ice Cream social last night, but the first day of Kindergarten didn't start until today.

And the moment you've all been waiting for...

Sierra's 1st day of Kindergarten!!

All ready with her gear!

 This backpack is a little heavy!

 She's got this!

Lily was not too excited to have to stop to have her picture taken

 so you can see her smile is a little strained ;)

Sierra comforting pat says: You can do it, Lily ;)

Lily really didn't want to have to take another picture with the bear!

(and other kids walking by) Ha ha!

 Sierra didn't mind :)

My baby!

Hoping this little love has a great day today! I miss her so much already, but I didn't cry until her dad started talking about how much harder it was dropping her off than it was when it was Lily (because he felt like he hasn't had as much time to play with her as he did with Lily). The tears started to flow, and I noticed a couple of other red-faced moms in the parking lot as we headed to our car. I think she will thrive in Kindergarten, she loves to be active and be with other kids, and was definitely getting bored at home. Here's hoping I can learn to juggle working and being a mom and not get burned out this year! Maybe I'll be an even better mom than before...? We will see... I sure hope so! Lots of changes going on!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We had a little family party today at my parent's house to celebrate the little bit of Irish in us and just to get together! The little girls were having so much fun I got some cute photos of them to share. Lily is such a party lover, and just loves her cousins so much! She was looking forward to them coming over all day, and yesterday actually - from the moment my mom decided to have the party! I had out some Irish dance music I checked out from the library and she was practicing her steps to everyone and getting some ideas of what Irish dancing was like from me and her Grandpa. ...Making plans for an Irish dance festival in the front room. She said: "Mom, watch this - I know all 3 Irish dances!" and she showed me her three different ways of jumping and kicking her legs out and holding her arms. It was pretty cute and funny - that's my Lily! Too bad she fell and hurt her knee and spent the first part of the party begging to be pushed around in a stroller like an invalid. Aujinay was so sweet to oblige. (Lily felt better and forgot about it halfway through, so they ran around the backyard like wild things and did do a little dancing by the end.) In honor of St. Patrick's Day I thought I would share what is probably Lily's longest Kindergarten journal entry so far. (It's just supposed to be 1 or 2 sentences practice writing.) She comes up with them all on her own and she wrote this one about a week and a half ago. She did ask how to spell leprechaun, but pretty much took it on her own from there. Great job, Miss Lily! (Snuck a video of her reading most of it, even she had a little trouble making out some of it.)

It begins: 6 little leprechauns sitting in a tree. 1 fell out and hurt his knee. Mama called the doctor and the doctor said: No more leprechauns sitting in a tree. 5 little leprechauns sitting in a tree. 2 fell out and had an icecream...Lily can take it from there :)

My two cuties ready to party!

Cousins on the swing

Sierra joining the girls in Hide and Seek "..5,6...Here I come!"

Audrey, Auji, and of course, Bunny Boo!

Hope you all have a great Monday! I do love green!