1st Grade in a NUTshell

This is highlights of the 2011-2012 school year for us. Finally the first and second baby teeth were lost this year (the 3rd and 4th are close). She was SO happy about this.

We spent as much time as we could playing with her on the weekends

Dad got to take the girls to a couple of carnivals this year and the circus! Some day the whole family will get to go to EVERYTHING...when naps are not needed we will be one mobile group.

At school a student was chosen for the student-of-the-month award. A child was chosen that displayed the value of that month. I was impressed that she was the very first child chosen from 1st grade! September's month was Responsibility. I already know how responsible she is, but I was surprised that a teacher was able to see that strength in her so soon.

Here she is with the children from the other classes who were selected.

We also experimented with bangs this year. She had bangs, no bangs, swept bangs, bumped bangs and now back to grown out.

Always bringing home a new "monkey bar trick" to teach her sisters at home.

Field trip to the zoo

First day of school flash back...I couldn't find the last day of school photo, but it exists!

The hardest thing about 1st grade was being away from her littlest sister (well, all 3 of them really, but there is something special about a baby sister). We had many mornings of tears not wanting to say goodbye.  Our house is very quiet when she is gone!! Love my Meg

FIVE

We had a birthday last month and the number was hard for me to swallow: 5?! But she had a blast. Her favorite gift was the life-sized pony color page that Dad sketched for her.

I love our daily adventures! You brighten our home. Happy Birthday

Pausing on a Sunday to snap a photo. The girls are always in the car before I'm even ready on Sundays. Its the only place they jump in the car without me asking because its the hour they get to see Dad! (Then we get there and the fight begins...who gets to sit by him! You better believe I try to elbow my way in!!)

Name & a Blessing Months ago Baby Robby was blessed. Each blessing we've had on our children has been so special...hers was no exception. However, the morning of I was afraid it would be a blur that I'd never remember. Hauling everyone to church solo has been quite an experience! I didn't even have a moment to take a photo my littlest angel-(until we got to a camera phone waiting in sacrament meeting!)

What made her blessing stand out from the rest was having (slightly) older children that could internalize the ordinance. My oldest was able to later mention parts of the blessing that were special to her, and I was able to tell her that the same things were said in her own blessing.

We are so grateful for family.

Sunday, Straight Sunday

These girls have been bugging me to put curlers in their hair...if you can believe that. I finally said I'd try to do round-brush curls but it turned into a full on dryer blow-out. It was a waste of time for sure...so we read a scripture story while I straightened...to make up for spending almost 2 hours on vanity.

More Christmas Just downloaded our pictures from one of our camera phones and it hadn't been done since JUNE. So, now I can post every holiday/event since then...there were a lot.

At Thanksgiving this year all the grandkids were together and since Grandma works in the mall we got a special session with Santa (love that Ken plays along with this stuff! She is so cute).

Happy Halloween???


This is for Lisa because I promised I'd someday post Halloween pictures. And oh. dear. We ARE a motley crew. In the mix we have Minnie, Belle, Jack 'o lantern, a Wall street protester, sweet bee and a cat--alley cat from the looks!

Our pumpkin carving was actually documented because the wall street man had come home for lunch this day and caught us having fun. I LOVE when Simi has "teacher-work-days" but this was during a week long FAll BREAK...its the best having her home.

A Name Sake The two Fawns together for the first time. One very tiny. One very great. We love our Grandma Great. I realized when they were together how much of a resemblance there is. Both have very curious blue eyes. And Grandma claims they have the same nose. I agree. But where is the red hair?? I hoped in vain. Either way, they had a sweet connection.

California Whirlwind Trip 2011 So much happened while visiting California for Christmas!!! The highlight of all was Aunt Katy was married! Matt and Katy are just the perfect couple. I can't believe how much all the cousins have grown in a year.

Christmas Sunday was very special visiting the Alamo 1st ward.

when we weren't doing wedding things, seeing our new twin nephews, or Christmas fun, we played at a few fun parks.

And right in the middle of our Christmas Nativity Program (as the costumes indicate) a special guest arrived! Santa!! The girls weren't sure what to think! so funny.

We miss everyone in Danville. Thank you for all the memories!!!

Preparing for Christmas...

Me: How are those cards going?

...silence...

Me: Hey, how those cards comin'?

...silence...

Me: Sweetie? The cards?

4-year-old: Mom...I'm just too busy to even talk to you...
(spoken with a huge smile and trying not to laugh but never looking up)

Outcome: she stuffed AND sealed 35 Christmas cards while I worked on addresses in the other room. Unfort. I never seem to capture a photo of moments like this; but I think I'll always remember!

Have a Chick-fil-A today
read this hyperlinked article. I've always been passionate about chick-fil-a

Hunting trip in CA

A lot of fun was had. But please, please don't ever let me be a single mom again!

2 months ago...we had a baby! Just the 5 of us girls hanging out for the very first time

I was so tired after this delivery. ...hmmm I still am!


Best dad hands down. With 5 females and one male in our house..we have plenty of meltdowns needless to say. This dad knows how to make us laugh when we just want to cry.

1st Grade

I cried for a straight week that she was gone ALL day :( But on the bright side: she loves school and has the most fun aunt EVER that made her a special 1st Grade brownie crayon that she came home to on her very first day. We felt loved!

(The top picture was the saddest goodbye I've had to watch between these girls. They were laughing I think to keep themselves from crying).

On a Semi-funny note: Here is the convo I had with my 1st Grader recently:

She says: "Mom, what's a 'hobby'?"

I say: Its what you like to do when you have free time...so, like dad for instance...what would his hobby be?"

She says: "Oh! I get it!! Dad's hobby is...being in the garage with cars and stuff? OH! and trains?"

I say: "Yeah, you got it. That's a hobby. ....So umm...what do you think my hobby is?"

She says confidently: "Cleaning!"

"And now...we spoon..." lately around here all anyone wants to do is snuggle...with the baby. Snuggle, spoon, SMOTHER...its all the same thing really.

This is what my baby looks like when her next biggest sister is in the room, or remotely close to her. Heaven help her survive! Every moment they are together is like...how could I describe? An emergency?

My Buddy and ME! Often times 3 is a crowd. This is the case in our home a lot. Which means I get special "buddy time" with this little lady. She's is saying new cute phrases everyday. But today she finally said, "MOM! I Yuv YOUUU!!" as she peaked around the corner at me. So it inspired me to write down my 5 top favorite things she says (that I know my other children didn't say yet at 1 year of age.

(side note: this picture was what I found after bath time was over and I couldn't find her anywhere. Finally she was spotted in her chair with a good book...pictures of her room remodel are coming soon)



5) "NOT MEEEE!"
(when I ask the group who forgot to pick up their _________ (fill in blank))

4) "Wait-a-MEEEE!"

(she is the first child I've had that actually runs to the car to buckle her seat belt when I say we are leaving. I think she has a real fear of being left. She's always telling her sisters to wait for her too)

3) "I DOOOOO!"

When asking the group who wants _________ (fill in blank)

2) "Evy-body HIDE!"

She feels this phrase is always appropriate

1) "MONEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Only 1 -year-old I know that gets this excited about seeing cold hard cash. If someone in a check out line pulls out real dollars or coins she announces it to the store usually to the point of embarrassing the cash-holder. I get such a kick out of it. It must be exciting to her because I never have any money in my purse so when she sees it, its a rare and special occasion.

7-4-20011

I counted up the pounds and we were both carrying approximately 60 extra lbs in this picture! For him it took a toddler and a six-year-old. For me it took a 4-year-old and a baby in utero. Lucky him, after the picture was taken, he got to drop his 60. *sigh*

Kindergarten Graduation not sure why we have to "graduate" with a ceremony from kindergarten, but it was fun to dress up and say goodbye to good friends.

Farewell to her Kindergarten teacher. We adored her so much!!! I still get emotional seeing her last picture with her first teacher.

Her teacher's aid was wonderful. She would ask all the time if she could steal my daughter for her own.

Some of her favorite girl friends

Last Day of Kindergarten...she was SO excited. Until about a week later when it hit her that she was actually never going back :(