First Day of First Grade!!

All ready and super excited for FIRST grade!!

Preston was excited for sissy's first day of school too.

A huge smile as she walked into school . . not even wanting to look back!

Today was finally the start of first grade.  After all summer of reading, writing, doing summer homework and talking about first grade, today was finally the day that Savannah got to officially become a first grader!  She was up at 6am and ready to go by 6:30 this morning.  When I picked her up this afternoon she was still glowing and said first grade "was AWESOME"!  She keeps telling me tidbits about the new routine, rules, friends, and how great school is.  I can't get enough details!  Here's to an amazing year in Mrs. Safran's first grade class!

To celebrate an "awesome" day, we went to TCBY for ice cream!

School Preview Day!

Today has been a fun-filled day! We started our morning bright and early at the dentist. I have to brag and say that Preston did an amazing job!! For the first time ever he sat perfectly still and let the hygienist do a complete cleaning. I was SO proud of him. Savannah was given the news that she too was cavity free and also that her bottom 6 year molars were already completely in! So, it took a little extra time as we had to have sealants put on those teeth.

Then it was off to WEE school for Preston to meet the rest of his little preschool class. We had already met his teachers when they came for their home visit last week, but today he got to see all of his friends too. He is going to have an awesome year in this class!! You can just tell how precious and loving his teachers are (they are twin sisters)!

Preston LOVING class with Miss Megan and Miss Becca

After a quick mystery shop at Wal-Mart where Savannah selected a few fun gifts for her teachers, we headed home for a quick lunch. The babysitter came for Preston and then it was time to go to PSE to meet Savannah's teacher!! When we arrived we were so excited to see that Savannah's desk is right beside her sweet friend Jack's desk! There was no rhyme or reason to how the desks were placed, so I'm pretty sure God worked out that little detail in a class of 20 children!

Jack and Savannah at their new desks!

One assignment posted was for the students to all draw a picture of themselves on the classroom banner. Of course Savannah drew herself in a pink dress. :)

Savannah beside her portrait she drew (see the pink girl)

Mrs. Safran and Savannah

On the way out we stopped by Mrs. Hindman's class (her kindergarten teacher) and found Savannah's writing on display for the incoming kindergartners. Apparently she builds character by picking up trash. I was hoping that her art was the one that said I build character by saving money, but not this time. It's funny to know that some other kid has been taught such great values too though. :)

Savannah with some art work from last year that Mrs. Hindman posted this year

I have to say that even though school hasn't started I'm pretty pleased with their teachers. They both are going to have an amazing year at school!!! Bring on Fall!

A Weekend with the Weningers

Playing dress up

This weekend we were so excited that Susan and the girls came to stay with us!  Savannah and Preston have had a blast playing with their cousins.  They have all played house (where Preston and Ashley were the mom and dad, the older girls were the sisters), dress up, swam at the YMCA pool, been out for ice-cream, had pizza, and played some more.  Yesterday was the first time in over a year when Preston slept until anything past 7, and Saturday he slept until 8!  I'm so thankful they enjoy playing with each other and have such a great time when they're together.  

Summer Days at the Pool

This summer we have spent MANY days at the pool.  It's been so much better this year  now that Savannah plays with her friends in the bigger, deeper part and Preston is agreeable to float around with his puddle jumper on.  Just this week, before many of our friends started Carmel Christian school, we planned a play date at the Siskey pool.  Here is a picture of many of the friends who have been friends since birth . . . it's hard to believe that many of them are starting first grade in just a few days!!

My Birthday!!

I'm not sure who was more excited about my Coldstone ice cream cookies!!

Savannah loved my huge, pink birthday balloon Dave brought home for me.

What a celebration I have had!  The fun started Friday afternoon when we dropped the kids off at our sweet friends house for the night.  Dave and I won a night at a local hotel in Savannah's school raffle so we decided to use it for my birthday weekend.  We had a nice dinner at Maggiano's, dessert from Cheesecake Factory, and the retreated to the hotel for the evening.  It was definitely a nice getaway and fun to sleep in to a whopping 7:30am! 

Tent sleepover at the Neal House!

Saturday morning my dad and grandmother arrived to help us with some plumbing issues so it was fun to spend the morning with them.  My grandmother brought some delicious Hershey's BBQ, so we all loved having that as a special treat too.

Sunday we celebrated at Red Robin, our favorite birthday dinner place that is kid friendly.  I talked my way out of the whole birthday song, but we did get the yummy ice cream sundae.

Then, on Monday, my actual birthday the kids and I enjoyed some pool time and of course another dinner out.  (I haven't cooked in days!)  Dave surprised me with this huge birthday balloon and Coldstone ice cream cookies.  The kids got me a new Appalachian t-shirt that I picked out.  My biggest birthday surprise was a specially selected bracelet that Dave picked out for me.  I LOVE it! 

So, I'm another year older, a lot grayer, and no thinner at all (especially after all of the dinners and ice cream treats out we've had lately).  But with another year has come a lot of special memories and moments that I'll cherish forever.  I'd like to say that I'm a bit wiser too, but maybe crazier would be a better word.  One thing is for sure, I'm thankful to have been blessed with another year of life here with my sweet family and friends. 



Fun times with the Robinsons!

I was so excited with my sweet friend Marie called yesterday and said that they were down from NJ visiting her parents in Cherryville!  Of course we cancelled our pool play date today and headed up there to visit with them this morning.  The boys had an awesome time playing (and almost destroyed poor Sue's house in the process) but Savannah was content to "sit and chat" as she called it.  We don't get to see the Robinson crew often, so it was definitely a treat to spend a little time with them today!

Two Man Band

This morning after breakfast the kids went upstairs to play for a bit.  They came down a few minutes later and wanted me to watch their band show.  Preston was pretty creative since Savannah took most of the good instruments and make a maraca out of a golf club holder.  They crack me up!!

The Miraculous GREEN Swim Band!

Savannah is one determined little girl . . . and when she sets her mind to something she usually does it!  Yesterday after lunch she started feeling really bad and actually had a fever of 102.  She was pitiful and was complaining about her stomach hurting and a sore throat too.  She ate only a little (another sign that she was feeling REALLY bad), but seemed to be feeling much better by dinner time.  But, at dinner we talked about how our plans for today might have to change.  We had planned to go to the pool to play with some friends, have swim lessons at noon, and were planning to go to support Chick fil A's stand on  marriage for dinner since Dave had to work late.  I tried to explain that since she was not feeling well it might be a stay at home kind of day. 

BUT, she woke up this morning feeling fine and said "mama, I'm going to go get my green swim band today".  Well, alrighty then, Gracie Bell.  I was thinking that there was no way under the sun that she could possibly pass that green swim band test since it's the hardest one, but I didn't dare mention how hard it was going to be.  She was determined and I was definitely going to let her try!  To pass the test you have to tread water for a minute in the deep end and also have to jump in and swim from one end of the pool to the other.  Much to my amazement she DID IT on the first try this morning.  Now I have to say that her swim was more like a doggy paddle, but she did it non stop the entire length of the pool and treaded water like a pro!  I was (and AM) SO proud of her!!!  Of course, she has worn the necklace all day very proudly! :)

Being that it was the first day of the month, Dave had to work late so it is usually not a fun day for me.  But today has been awesome!  The kids were very well behaved, did awesome at swim lessons, and even voluntarily pitched in to clip the beginning of the month printable coupons.  Did I mentioned that this great behavior was without either of them having a nap too?!  While I was taking my shower, Savannah also neatly folded an entire load of laundry that was on my bed WITHOUT me even asking.  WOW!  I guess that little green band worked miracles in the Bachmann house today!