It's That Time of Year Again!

No...not Christmas time! Back to school time. Our summer seemed extra short this year. We are all focusing on being positive...so we are just rolling with it! This is the last year these three girls will all be in the same school together. Again, I'm rolling with it! no tears..no tears...

Vivien is starting the first grade! That means being at school the whole day and getting to eat in the cafeteria with her friends. It's pretty exciting! 

Ava has now made it to the 3rd grade. I can't believe it! When we moved to our new house Ava was not even born yet. She is excited for her new teacher and getting to be a third grader.

Lilli is at the end of her elementary school career. She will be in the sixth grade. She gets to have one of her favorite teachers again this year. This is an extra treat for sure!

ummm....here is my Lexi...my first born child. So, to make a long story short. Lexi really did not feel she had time for her back to school picture. I did empathize with her feelings, but being that I have taken a "back to school" picture of her since she was three.  I really felt like I could not let this slide. So, I let her know if she did not have time at home I'd have to get one at the school. Now, I thought she would be expecting me at the school.  Surprisingly, she had to be called to the office four times before I could get her for her picture. ( I guess that speaker at the jr. high really needs to be replaced if the kids can't even hear their name being called on the loud speaker! ) It's such a shame when the budget does not allow us to fix up our schools.

Anyway, my Lex was I guess not feeling in the picture mood...so I got what I could get.  That's just the breaks when your the mom, make do make do. Luckily I've had lots of practice at the make do's.

Lexi heading back to class.

I did follow her back to class hoping for a better smile picture. No luck. Maybe next year:)

School Store

Every fifth grader in Ms. Hansen's class gets to experience the class store. Every student has the opportunity to figure out what they would like to sell at their own store in the classroom. This is no easy undertaking. Every student must apply for a loan and meet the proper expectations if they want their loan approved. Once the paper work is accomplished, the student can then set into work and get their product ready for sale. The entire school is invited to attend the store and buy what they wish. (in Hansenville currency of course:).

Lilli decided that she would like a cupcake store. Now, normally this would be fine, but between me being 9 months pregnant and the store taking place a few weeks before Christmas...it was a tad on the difficult side. We set to work though and it all turned out terrific. We made these very fun snowflake cupcakes. We made tons and tons of cupcakes 3 Fridays in a row! I wish I had more pictures. We also made lots of mini cupcakes which we figured were a bigger profit margin. (store is every Friday for 3 weeks). I am happy to report that Lilli's cupcake store was a huge success! She sold out of cupcakes in the first 10 minutes and had earned enough money to pay back her loan. Good work Lilli!

Congrats to the President!

 

The President of Hansenville that is.

Lilli was nominated and elected as president of Mrs. Hansen's 5th grade class!

She will do a great job.

We had cake to celebrate.

Congratulations Lilli, we love you!

The Real First Day!

Here goes Vivi today, headed out the door.
School did start last Monday, except if you are in Kindergarten. The kindergartner's got to go to school for about 1 and 1/2 hours last Monday. The rest of the week is reserved for kindergarten assessment of each child individually. Today was the real thing! Vivien could not wait to finally get to school, after waiting all of last week. It was an exciting day around here.

Vivi happy to be heading to school with the "big kids". Her teacher this year is Mrs. Wright.

This was the first "fake day" (that's what we call it). We had a long week waiting for school to truly start. We are glad we made it through and hopefully someone learned some patience:)
I can't believe this little girlie is headed for a year full of big school. She has a lot of fun a head of her.

Lilli last Monday. The start of 5th grade. Lilli's teacher this year is Ms. Hansen.

Ava ready for the big grade of second! Mrs. Bryson this year:)

Lexi ready for her 2nd year at Jr. High! (wow...i'm gettin old:(
She is taking choir, Spanish 2, and Facs for her electives this year.

Fort Knox Here She Comes!

Oh WAIT....were just trying to get her into the local kindergarten class!

Vivien is yet to be officially registered for kindergarten. I have been putting it off seeing as, I have no idea where the copy of my deed is. I also don't have a valid passport or a letter from an approved government agency.

I'm afraid the pendulum has swung in the wrong direction if we need to give away private information like this just to register a child at the local elementary school. Doug has talked to a few people and a lawyer or two from the district. I think we are pretty stuck though and we'd better be hunting up some major info. if we want this girlie in school next year!

Details- Aladdin

So, it sounds like my school play post left a little wanting?
The school play was Aladdin and Lilli was a "harem girl". I suppose I was kindly leaving out that detail...ya, anyway, she did a fabulous job:)
This was her last night that she performed the play. She has both sets of grandparents there! A real treat:)

School Play Time!

We were all so excited for the school play to start it's run. Lilli has been practicing since January. I so love to watch her dedication for something that she enjoys so much. She did not miss one practice, practiced at home and gave her entire heart and soul to this play!
We all enjoyed getting to watch her and she did a fabulous job in her part...yea, Lilli. Way to go!

Vivien was so excited to get to go up on the stage after the show was over. Perhaps another actress in the family?

Payton and Lilli, in costumes:)

We all enjoyed getting to watch her and she did a fabulous job in her part...yea, Lilli. Way to go!

The Little Red Hen

This is NOT a typical Vivi photo! I guess she was feeling shy and not wanting her picture?
A couple of weeks ago I got to go to the preschool puppet show production of "The Little Red Hen". It was a wonderful show and each participant did a fabulous job:)
Vivien was a cat. She had the time of her life being a cat.

Here are the cats doing their part in the show. (excuse all the heads in the shots, but the puppet show seating is always in high demand.) I wasn't first in line for seats, hence the heads in most of my photos.

Vivi did a great job and new every single word to every song and poem:)

Do you notice the cute cat ears in this photo? Vivien felt VERY strongly about having a cat costume...even though it was a puppet show...ya. Well we found the best cat costume we could find on short notice. Especially considering it is NO where near Halloween. Thank you to big Sis Lilli who put together the stylin cat ears:)

Yes, even cat whiskers:)

Here's our cute cat finally agreeing to smile for the photo!

Here is Vivien with some of her best preschool friends and the most wonderful preschool teacher around! We LOVE preschool:)

A Shakespearean Festival

Lilli got to be part of the Shakespearean Festival at school. They performed "The Taming of the Shrew". It was an interesting choice for elementary school, but they all did a great job!

Lilli was a narrator, she did a wonderful job:)

I even got a photo of her performing.

Grandpa, Grandma, Dad and Lilli


Look who was loving the stage after the performance...big surprise ;)

For The Record!

I am posting this conversation Lexi and I had today for her sake...one day when she is a mom she is going to read it and forever be in my debt!!!

Lexi~ "Mother, please...never be late like this again!"
Me~ " Lexi, I am sorry...but, do you have any idea how I have been running all over this town all day for you girls and that's about all I have done for the day."
Lexi~ "Well, you could at least be on time with all of your running around."

~ then there was something about some random talk...your late for everything, your whole life, and mine...etc, etc...(I am paraphrasing this part.)

Me~
1."Lexi, I woke up this morning and drove you to school.
2. I got Lilli ready and out the door for school without having to drive.
3. I drove Ava to meet up to walk with Lilli because she was late.
4. I drove Nicolette for a photo at stupid Target.
5. I drove back home, a needed bathroom break. (a bathroom break at the store with a toddler...not fun!)
6. I drove to Vivi's preschool for her program.
7. I drove home and fed Vivi lunch.
8. I drove Vivi to her friend's house to play.
9. I drove home to give Nicolette a nap.
10. Nicolette would not sleep so we drove to the school to help with Lilli's school play.
11. As I was heading out of the school to drive the Jr. high carpool...(your carpool Lexi) Nicolette bashed her face into the solid rock hard floor and was bleeding all over herself and me and the elementary school.
12. I cleaned up the blood and drove to the the jr. high...yes, late to pick you up...(remember the bleeding baby here).
13. drove home and dropped you, Lexi off...another bathroom break.
14. I drove back to the elementary school to pick up those girls there.
15.I drove back home dropped off Lilli, got Ava ready for her party.
16. Drove you, Lexi to your singing lesson, drove Ava to her party.
17.drove home.
18. drove back to pick you up from your singing lesson...(only 5 min. late)
19. And, Lexi I still have to drive and pick Ava up from her party!"

" So if I am a little late...maybe you can give me a bit of a break, and maybe when your the mom you might understand this better and give me a little slack."
Lexi~ "Well, when I'm the mom I won't be late for one thing ever, and I will call you up and let you know how it is done"
me~ "lovely, that's just lovely...

Ok, if you have made it through reading this post maybe this post if for me too...I need some positive reinforcement from somebody out there! And, can someone please tell me how it is that I seem to have a teenager in my home even though she is only 12? And, isn't this far too much driving for one person? I think I feel an everyone is walking everywhere strike coming on;)
serenity now... :)

Ava's Kindergarten Program

This is my Ava looking so big after her kindergarten program. I can't even believe that summer is upon us and I am still trying to blog the end of school. I found out yesterday school starts the 25th of August...bummer...I really would like more free time with the kiddos....not to mention the unbearable heat that will be waiting for them in our non-air conditioned school!


Ava said her part beautifully.

They sang lots of very fun and cute songs:)

The teachers (or room mom's) made these cute silhouettes of each child.

Daddy even got to come to the program:)

I can't even believe this girl will be in the first grade next year! When we moved into this house Lexi started kindergarten...time does fly!