Wow! It's for Real!

My, my, my!  We have arrived to "big kid" school, and Madeline is so excited.  I'm pretty excited too.  I know she's "young", but I think she's ready for kindergarten.  Making new friends, learning all kinds of new stuff, learning to read, and being a "big kid" are Madeline's kindergarten goals. 

Madeline's 4K teachers collect artwork, letter, number, colors, and shapes portfolios for each child, and at the end of the year, we received a culmination of her 4K year in her "suitcase" for kindergarten.  It was fun to look through each piece of work, and I could see the growth she made from September to May.  I can only imagine the leaps and bounds she will make in Kindergarten.

We aren't so sure little sister is going to like Madeline leaving and being gone all day at school. 

Here we go!  Madeline has her supplies, her sweet disposition, and her excitement all ready to march through those school doors in August!

Big Girl Bed

This one:

 

now sleeps here:

To say that she's excited is an understatement.  So far so good.  She LOVES it.

Nine Years!

June 19, 2004

Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lexington, SC

 

June 19, 2013 (in Lexington, SC)

Funny how we ended up in Lexington after I protested about getting married in my parents' town, not mine.  Full circle, I suppose.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

 

Celebrating nine wonderful years with a few (perhaps a few too many) of these at a local martini & tapas bar!

Nine years.  Wow.  Honestly, it doesn't seem like that many years.  I can't imagine life without Eric (& the family we've created together). 

Happily ever after?  Yes.  Most definitely.

Amelia Strikes Again

Running full speed ahead to greet Mommy at the gym kids' care + clunky sandals + clumsy Amelia = forehead into the door jam = urgent care

Yes, this happened at pick up at the kids' care at Gold's.  Naturally, I panicked.  Then the kids' care ladies panicked, so I panicked even more.  They've seen a lot of accidents, but this one freaked them out.  Needless to say, I headed to urgent care immediately.  One of the ladies went with me because I am not the calm parent in this situation.  Two of the ladies kept kids' care open past the closing time to keep Madeline for me.  We received a "yep, she smacked it good" at the urgent care and was sent home with a 24 hour watch period.  Of course, Amelia was fine.  However, I really appreciate the kindness that was extended to me.  Those ladies at the kids' care love my girls (and me) like family.

 

After the urgent care visit, my sweet Madeline coddled Amelia like a little Mama.

 

Sweet Sisters

 

Two days later, the bruising and knot really showed up.

 

Will I ever get used to all these boo-boos?  Probably not.

Lake Greenwood

We had our annual lake weekend with my brother and his family at their home away from home.  We were also able to celebrate Eric's birthday again with a Butterfinger pie!

 

It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend.  The kids played and played while the adults hung out.  Madeline and Drew tubed all over the lake.

 

Madeline had her first fishing lesson.  Eric was in heaven.

 

This one.  I think she thought she was a movie star.  Amelia was so calm and relaxed on the boat.  She was all about cruising around the lake.

 

We couldn't have asked for a more fun, chill out weekend!

Eric's Birthday

My sweet fella is 37!  We celebrated just the two of us on Monday.  We went to the gun range to shoot handguns.  Eric was so impressed with my instructor that he requested a formal lesson to sharpen his already gun savvy skills.  The two of us shared a lane after his lesson, and we shot at the target.  Eric's holes were spot on, and mine, well, I still need a little practice.  But, it was fun for the birthday boy, and I was much more relaxed making mistakes in front of Eric.  Afterwards we headed to the Liberty Tap Room on the Lake for some dinner and birthday celebrating.  It was a nice "just us" evening.

 

Meanwhile, at home, the fabulous Ms. Kristen was holding down the fort with our monkeys.  She's such a sweet girl, and she loves my girls dearly.  And, my girls think she's a princess.

 

On Eric's birthday, the girls and I made him an ice cream sandwich cake complete with 37 candles.  

 

We are so fortunate to have Eric as our solo man of the house.  His patience and love for us is incredible.  Madeline sums it up perfectly, "WE have THE.BEST.DADDY.EVER!"  

Happy 37th birthday! 

Farm Fun with Sprite

Aunt Jen so kindly invited Madeline out to her teaching barn for an informal riding lesson on a former show pony, Sprite.  Sprite is a fantastic beginner pony, and Madeline was able to ride in the ring without Aunt Jen's assistance.  It was a fabulous time!

 

However, if you are one of Aunt Jen's students, you must also do the "dirty work" involved with riding horses.  Madeline was a little "EW!" at first, but she ended up following all of Aunt Jen's directions.

 

Madeline led Sprite over to the step stool all by herself with Aunt Jen coaching her, and with a little help, she got herself up on that pony.

 

Jen is a jam up teacher!  She teaches with a loving, yet stern, style.  She's a firm believer in a good foundation of basic horseback riding skills, and Madeline responds very well to Jen's demeanor in the ring.  I have my place in this situation - outside the ring, behind the camera.

 

Madeline did well in this lesson.  Jen thinks a couple of lessons a month at this point is what Madeline needs in order to see if this is "her thing".  Madeline has some getting dirty & being totally comfortable with large animals issues to work out before riding horses becomes a family time investment.

 

At the end of Madeline's lesson, little sister was NOT to be left out.  She hopped on Sprite with no fear.  Amelia was a wobbly mess, but she was grinning from ear to ear!  She loved it.

 

Our dear friend Jen is so kind to share her love of horses with us, and we have such a good time hanging out at the barn with her!