1st Grade

Yesterday we started yet another new chapter...Leah started 1st grade at a new school. She was beyond excited. Mostly because she didn't have to wear a uniform and I let her ride the bus. She thinks she is big stuff. We met her teacher two weeks ago at Registration and again last night at Orientation. I really, like her...Mrs. Patrick. She is young and full of energy. She needs it with 23 1st graders. Leah knows two kids in the class...well kind of. She met Audrey Brent yesterday, and I know Audrey's mom Anita. Then I was suprised to see that Kim McCullough's son was in Leah's class. Kim went to high school with me. Now she is Kim Arthur, and her son Austin is in Leah's class...so fun!

I felt like the day went out without a hitch and then at dinner Leah tells us that she wasn't paying attention and missed drop off at her school. So they had to go to the other two school then took her back. Oh dear! Then this morning she wanted to walk to the bus stop by herself. I let her but then put the other girls in the van and went and parked at a neighbors...just enough that I could see her until she hopped on the bus. Maybe that should be my little secret? Here's to hoping for a great start with Mt. Zion schools!

Go Cardinals!

The blog is giving me fits! Sorry that the pictures are all MESSED UP...AGAIN! At least I know I can fix them when I go to print the blog book for the girls.

Last week we took the girls to St. Louis for a Cardinals game. We took them to one game last year and they really enoyed it. So we figured it was awesome that we could do what we love with the kids we love more than anything! They were so excited. Our friends Tracy and Jason, whom we go to a lot of games with were also in St. Louis going to the game. Their seats were on the opposite side of the field, but we made plans to meet up for dinner beforehand. The kids were so excited to see one another. After dinner we walked from Caleco's to the stadium. There were a LOT of police offers on patrol. We had forgotten about the riots in nearby Ferguson, MO...thankfully the protesting was several miles from downtown. We snapped a quick group picture outside of the stadium and then headed in for the game.

And it was a good one. The girls were super excited when Jhonny Peralta hit a homerun in the second inning. A homerun means fireworks!!! Leah was so inquisitive asking lots of question revolving around the rules of the game and what was happening. Bug just talked about the food that she wanted to eat and when she wanted to eat it. We had peanuts, cracker jacks, licorice and we bought them sno cones. The game was a nailbiter all the way down to the last out, but the Cardinals came away with a win...more Fireworks, YAY!

Little Theater Love

 The Little Theater on the Square should have it's own label in my blog. It's repeated several times a year...but I'm not one for labels. Anyway, this past week we wrapped up the Children's summer series with 101 Dalmatians. It was definitely one of my favorites. It was one of Gigi's too. I haven't loved a show this much since Rescuing Rapunzel the summer of 2011. And normally we would get a picture of Gigi with the kids, but it was a cloudy, rainy day.

The cast was excellent, and they managed to get the kids involved. They howled and barked on command and at one point beach balls were flying all over the audience. The songs were so peppy and many of them we could sing along too...they were straight out of the Disney Film Version. The girls just loved it. As we were leaving mom said to me "I don't think Colby is a big fan of musicals."which made me chuckle. And of course after the show I told Leah she could only get one picture since it was raining. Fortunately for us, we got out of the theater pretty quickly and were third in line to see Cruella DeVille, Horace and Jasper.

So what made last Thursday even better was the fact that Thursday evening I got to go see Legally Blonde with all my Girlfriends...literally, ALMOST all of my local Decatur area girlfriends. I created the event on Facebook in early July and said RSVP now so we can get tickets and 10 out of the 14 said yes. We had a group of 11 to see the show and it was WONDERUL. I'm still singing the songs, but most of all I am just feeling incredibly blessed. Three and a half years ago living all alone in New Jersey I never would have imagined that my life could be so full. Family and Friends have made my life whole. I love this group of ladies. We have so much fun, we are supportive of one another...and most of all we are just there. Any time, all the time...whenever. I hit the jackpot with this group. Pictured from Left to Right in the back row: Tisha, Leslie, Nicole, Holly, Ashley and Missy. In the front row: Ellen, me, Jaci, Denise and Amanda. We missed Tracy, Emily, Laura and Amruta...but there is always next time.

Day at the Beach!

Well, somehow my pictures ended up all out of order. But you'll still get the jist of our day. My friend Leslie planned a Beach play date and we were super excited to join in on the fun! Tisha, Ellen, Ashley, Missy, Leslie and I all carted our kids and our STUFF to Clinton Lake Beach. It was a little over a 30 minute drive, so not to bad and well worth it. For the first hour, at least, we had the beach to ourselves. The Girls were so excited. They hadn't really been to a beach since New Jersey. So Leah was 2.5 and Bug was around 6 mo...they probably don't remember it. Thankfully all our friends have boys, so there were plenty of buckets and shovels for building sand castles. Note to self...get buckets and shovels. But mostly they just really loved being there with all their friends. Not gonna lie, I loved being there with my friends too. I really hope we can find the time to do it again before summer is over.

It was a gorgeous day. This July has been crazy with cooler temps. I think the high only got up to 78. The water was warm, but when you came out it was plenty chilly with the breeze. I was smart and stayed on land! We all packed lunches and snacks so the kids came and went and ate when they wanted to. I think you can tell from the pictures of the girls sleeping in the car that they were thoroughly worn out. But when Mitch got home Hattie kept telling him "Fun day" and "Beach"...yeah, we definitely need to do this again.