Back to School

Time for first grade and off to Mrs. Steele's class!  Millie's school went to year-round schooling this year, so she had to go back to school on August 1st.  It felt early!  Summer was still in full swing, which felt a bit unfair.  But we still went to the pool after school and played with Cayden and the neighbors plenty.  And we've certainly enjoyed the more frequent breaks from school that have come with the year-round schedule!

Tan in full bloom and looking extra grown up!  Zero nervousness...walked in like she owned the place!  

Remember when I said she has a very specific idea of what her style is now?!  Too bad I had already purchased some new school clothes and forced her to wear them.  But look how cute!  I still can't figure out her style six months later...I think she's winging it based on her mood and how much she thinks I like a certain piece of clothing. ;)

Time for Piddy to meet-the-teacher!  Mrs. Hanna had everyone write their name to see how much they knew.  Okay, so we have a bit to work on ;)

First day of Pre-k 4's class!

 Channeling Audrey Hepburn and sporting some colors in her hair, this girl felt ready!

Not sure that I was ready though.  She's my little buddy.  I can't even think about next year...

When I picked her up, she had the biggest smile and had had the best day!  Mrs. Hanna is so great, and she has so many friends in her class this year!

Sprints from the car inside to find the kitties after school.  Just like I did growing up. ;)

Big event: total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017!  JKK got us the special glasses, and we headed to Millie's school to share the experience as a family.   Pretty darn cool, and hot as can be that day...

Apparently, Mrs. Steele did a good job of scaring the bejeezus out of the kids about keeping their glasses on.  As the class filed out, Millie was hunched over and acting very strange.  The class sat on the grass, and Millie refused to look up.  She started sobbing, scared to death that her eyes were going to be burned out of their sockets.  Sometimes, it's hard not to laugh.  We got her straightened out and she spent the rest of the time checking out the eclipse with us.  Our sensitive girl is so cautious.

Declaring her love <3

tracing is new this year for Piddy

We moved gyms because our old place was not air-conditioned, which is just bananas here in the south.  Syd was adamant that we continue gymnastics, so now we drive pretty far north, but it's worth it once you see Piddy in action.

Flexible Millie! She's a natural with not much interest.  She's already quit gymnastics.  Again.  Guess it's not her thing.  Syd is continuing though...

Bestie Dylan is in her class again this year!

We don't have any professional sports teams here, but we do have a minor league baseball team called The Naturals!  Millie's school performed the National Anthem before one of the games in August!

It was a fun night for the kiddos!  And funny for us, since Millie didn't know very many words.  She's pretty good at acting like she knows what she's doing though.  It worked. (she's up front in the pink converse)

Good timing, since it coincided with JKK's work event at the ballpark!

James is such a ham.  I love her little friends.

Nana came!  We ate ALL the ballpark snacks and didn't watch much of the game.  But jeez, they have so much stuff for kids there - playgrounds, bouncy houses, trains.

Good lord, she is the coolest.  I love how she's coming into her "style".

Millie's drawings have taken a dark turn...

Piddy is having a blast at school!  Painting with q-tips

learning how to use scissors

tracing

dotting.  it's all new and fun to her!

We have used the bikes SO much this year.  It has been amazing family time.  Big step up for Pid when she got moved from the trailer to the pull-along.  She really loves the bike rides, and she talks and sings and points things out the entire time.  Whereas Millie is the silent one, just taking it all in, slightly bored.  Can't decide if it's the age or the personality differences.

Every month, Syd's class learns about a new color and at the end of the month has a color party!  This month was yellow, and they sing a song that spells out the color name (which is crazy cute), and dress in the color and have show-and-tell (see she's holding a barbie in a yellow dress), and even eat snacks in the color of the month.  It's a big deal and she loves it!

Sometimes after school, we go to sephora to try on lipstick and act like girls.  It's totally her thing.

Good gravy, can you see everything going on here?!  Okay, so every thursday is chapel, which means she's supposed to wear her red shirt.  She HATES that damn red shirt.  Like throws the biggest fit.  It's itchy and isn't pretty.  Sometimes I'm successful in coming up with an alternative, like here where she's wearing it over a dress.  That way after chapel, she can take the shirt off.  Throw in a Moana necklace and two different shoes, and we've got a killer outfit!  This year, Syd has made it VERY difficult to get out of the house.  She is so particular.

very thorough

super proud of herself for finally writing her name on her own!

getting better every day!

snapchat works on cats too!

she has no idea who this is...hahahahaa

Back to school has been extremely hard on Syd.  She's just sooooo tired.  Meltdowns every day.  I was expecting it, I just feel sorry for her.  I've made her take naps a few times per week to try and help.  This is what she looks like for a good 20 minutes after I pick her up from school.  Poor Piddy.  She didn't find my snapchat filter amusing either.

Some days are good though, and we stop at the park to eat a snack and soak up the sun!