Back to School - Kaylin and Annlee

My big girls started school today! I can't believe I have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader this year - wow! They grow so fast! I took them this morning and walked them to their class. Kaylin said I didn't have to walk her in, but I told her I wanted to take pictures and help carry all the classroom supplies for her. As we were walking up to the school, she quietly told me that she had forgotten where the 3rd grade hall is. Aww, she still needs me after all...
Annlee wanted Kaylin to go first so we went to Mrs. Keen's classroom and Kaylin was so excited to be there. She handed Mrs. Keen the cookies we had brought for the class, posed for a picture, found her seat and was done with me. I told her goodbye, but she completely ignored me on her way to the pencil sharpener to get going on her day.
Then it was Annlee's turn and I could tell she was nervous. We got to her classroom and handed Mrs. Robinson the cookies for their class and got our picture. Then she took my hand and we walked over to her seat and she gave me my hug and kiss and I told her bye. She didn't say anything and I left. She was fine, just shy and nervous.







This afternoon when I went to pick them up, they were both full of fun stories of the day and are looking forward to tomorrow. They both love their teachers and they are going to have great years! I'm looking forward to it all!
And just for fun, these are pictures that I have taken at the sign in front of the school every year since Kaylin started kindergarten. My how they have grown! (I can't believe that Maryella will be in this picture next year!!!)
This year - Kaylin, 3rd grade Annlee, 1st grade


Kaylin, 2nd grade Annlee, kindergarten


Kaylin, 1st grade


Kaylin, kindergarten

Summer Overview

We got a little busy as the summer progressed and I let my blog updates slide a bit - sorry. Rather than try to go back and catch up on all the pictures in the past 2 months, I'm just going to give a few highlights (and even that is a lot!). Anyone interested in seeing more can look on facebook - I think I kept my photos pretty up to date on there. July was incredibly busy!
It started out with a minor dental emergency for Kaylin and she ended up needing a tooth pulled. I still don't understand quite what happened, but she came through fine and handled it very well.
We had a fun 4th of July and I made my first cake pops. Those were fun, but harder than I expected them to be. They were worth the effort though - YUM! We ate burgers and hotdogs outside and just spent time together. It was a fun weekend.



We had Maryella's birthday party on the 10th of July - a week before the real day. She wanted a pink princess water party with a pink princess cake covered with flowers. She had thought for a long time about that and was very specific and insistent about it. It was a small party, but so much fun! The little girls who came seemed to have a great time!


The next day, we left for Cape San Blas for our annual beach vacation with my family. It was such a fabulous week!
We played on the beach




played at the pool


played in the house





celebrated birthdays with a cake I made

got to eat out and see old friends.






On our way home, it was Maryella's real birthday and we stopped at McDonald's for the chicken nuggets she had been begging for. We were driving back to Alabama for more vacation time.




When we got back to Alabaster, we stopped at Del Toro for a birthday dinner for Maryella. She wasn't sure about the sombraro thing but was excited about the singing and the flan!

Jeff and I left soon after that for Charleston, SC for our 10th anniversary trip. That was a wonderful time!




While we were gone, my parents kept the girls and treated them to a very fun couple of days! They went to the park

the zoo


and Pump It Up - we made it back just in time to join them for that one!

Then we drove back to Alabama, picked up the girls, and headed up to Tennessee for Papa Tate's memorial service.

After the service, we made a fast trip back to Montgomery, AL for a family wedding that night.

Whew, that was a whirlwind day!

After we got back home to Lake City, Maryella had her 4 yr well check and all was well. She's 35 lbs (50%) and 41 inches (80ish%) - growing right on track!

On August 5-6 we drove over to Jekyll Island for a quick beach trip to finish our summer. We had enough hotel points to get a free night stay, so it worked out perfectly!



And here are a few more random pictures from the summer.
Maryella did her on make-up!


Elianna with a cute hair-do.

A room rearrange we did for the 3 big girls. They now have a separate playroom and bedroom that they share together.





It was a fun and busy summer, filled with memories! Just the way we like it!