Purple Day

*Please note that all the following pictures were taken with my new camera on the auto setting. What the heck? They SUCK! Any advice/input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. ...and don't tell me to read the manual cause I will eventually get around to doing that. I am looking for a quick fix if there is one?

So, as you have probably figured out by the title, it was purple day. ...wearing her most fancy purple top - a gift from one of her most favorite people!


Today was day 2 of Izzy riding the bus home, but my first opportunity to take some pictures. We walked to the bus stop (me, Drew and Chloe) and found a mini party! The house the kids get dropped at is a house of 4 boys. Drew was in heaven with a garage full of scooters, green machines, and boy toys. They also have a 9 week old yellow lab puppy that Chloe got to play with. But the biggest treat was when Kristin (her daughter Laci is in Izzy class) rolled up in this!


Kristin ended up taking all the kids for rides and I am pretty sure if we weren't moving this might be our next purchase. So fun!

Here comes the bus...






Mom Brag coming up...
I tend to get the most dirt on Izzy's day as I tuck her into bed. Last night she was telling me about her day and mentioned that the neighbor of a girl in her class got the "Listener of the Day Award". Since this was the first I had heard of this award I asked her to tell me about it. From what I gather at the end of the day the teacher is able to give you a ticket if you have had a great day - basically following all rules all day. These tickets then get placed in a box and the principle randomly draws a ticket the following day and announces the "Listener of the Day" over the loudspeaker. So yesterday was the first day from what Izzy can remember. She then told me that she was one of three kids in her class that got a ticket! I told her how very proud I was and that she will get to eat off the special plate. She didn't quite get why I thought this was such a big deal, but I assured her that anytime a teacher recognizes good behavior is a HUGE deal and one that we want to know about and celebrate! I am reminded daily of what an awesome kid Izzy is and couldn't be more proud!

Oh, and for grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone...there is a mailbox outside of Izzy's classroom. Each day that mailman delivers mail and Izzy's teacher reads it to the students. The kids LOVE to get mail. I plan to write a letter to Izzy once a week, but if anyone else wants to send Izzy a letter just email it to me and I will pass it along to the teacher. She would LOVE to hear from everyone!

Bus Ride

Izzy's first three days of school were AWESOME! After I picked Izzy up on day 2, I asked, "How was school today? Did you have a good day?" She said, "no" then paused (as my heart sank) and said, "I had a GREAT day!"

This week begins color week. Yesterday was red day and I wish I would have taken a picture of Izzy because she looked so cute. Today is yellow day. Again...so cute...



A kiss goodbye for me :-) Stephanie picked her up for school today.


This is also the day that Izzy got to ride the bus for the first time. She has literally been begging to ride it. In fact when I told her this morning that her friend Rylie might not be riding it today, she said, "That's okay. If Rylie doesn't ride it then I will sit with Laci. If Laci doesn't ride it then I will sit with Luke. If Luke doesn't ride it then I will sit alone." I guess she didn't care if she knew anyone...just wanted to ride the big yellow bus.

Our problem is that Izzy's bus is not the same bus that some of her friends would ride. You see, I don't think she would know a soul on our bus. I had her afternoon bus changed (I will continue to drive her in the morning or else she has to get on the bus at 6:45) so she could be dropped at Rylie's stop. I would rather drive a street over to pick her up and have her ride with friends then wait in the pick up line.

Today was the day Izzy had waited for. She was scheduled to be dropped off at 3:12. Uncle Wes, Drew, Chloe and I set out on our walk to pick her up just after 2:30. I figured it would take me 15 min. to walk to the stop. I would have plenty of time to visit with the other moms and get ready to take pictures. Guess what...as I was walking down the street I saw the bus at 2:50!!! I began to haul a$$ to get to the stop and as the bus passed me Izzy leaned out the window and said, "Hi MOM!!!". The bus driver told me to stop running cause she would stop. Well hot damn - no pictures!

Izzy loved her bus ride and can't wait to ride again tomorrow. I am going to leave plenty early tomorrow so that I can get some bus pics!

My Kindergarten Girl

Oh, say it isn't so! For 5 years Izzy has been my almost "constant" companion. My little shadow...if she didn't carry the title of my daughter then I might just call her my best friend :-)

It is no secret that a couple weeks ago I had a major "boo hoo" moment. I had a big cry - not a long cry (though I think it did come periodically over the course of a few days) but rather an ugly cry. You know the one...big alligator tears, dripping snot wiped with a sleeve, ugly moans coming from deep within...the kind you do either alone or in the presence of another mom going through exactly the same emotions. ...these were tears that even my husband didn't witness.

I am SO SO SO (could list a heck of a lot more "so's") happy to report that Izzy ROCKED her first day! These past few weeks we have not talked too much about school. I have tried not to freak her out by making a huge deal. It was in moments when the two of us were cuddling where we would casually discuss school. I told her that it was okay to be nervous and scared and shared that I was nervous and scared for her to go to school. I told her how proud I was of her and what an awesome kid she is, but that I was going to miss her something fierce while she was gone. I gave her the option to stay home with me forever or go to school (a place that I LOVED as a kid) and have lots of fun learning and making new friends. Well, I lost out.

I may not be the worlds best parent. I have certainly made many parenting mistakes! But one thing I know for certain is that Pete and I have sure done good with this kid! SHE IS AWESOME!!!

Here is my girl with a breakfast of champions. She had mini blueberry muffins and maybe ate one small bite...of one!


Getting ready to hit the road - posing for a couple pictures.




Waiting in line outside the school for the doors to open. School doors open at 7:30. YUCK!


Posing for a pick with RC


Saying goodmorning to Mr. H - the principle. LOVE HIM!!!


Izzy wanted to stop and greet Speckles and Pancake (frogs) at the top of the stairs that lead to the Kindergarten wing. It was at this point that I noticed Izzy's dress was on backwards. She said, "I thought it was on backwards, but it is just a bunch of stripes." I told her she could leave it, but she opted to turn it around.


Finding her room!

Have I mentioned that Izzy has the most wonderful Kindergarten teachers? You walk into the classroom and just feel love. It is just warm and cozy. I have always said Izzy is just like my Grandma...kind, gentle, warm and nurturing. You know what? Izzy's teachers are also just like my Grandma! Izzy is in good hands :-) and that makes this Mama's heart feel good!

...and isn't it always nice once you get to your classroom to see a friend. Laci is a friend Izzy met our very first summer here. She is one of the nicest little girls I know. She comes from good people!


I am super excited to be taking this Kindergarten journey with Izzy. Not only do I think she is a really neat kid, but I think she has a couple of really great teachers. I am a conflicted mess of emotions - so sad that my girl is growing up so quickly, yet so excited to see all the fun things she will experience in Kindergarten.

Kindergarten

World, I bequeath to you today one little girl in a crispy dress.. with two blue eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs. I Trust You'll Treat Her Well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning and skipping off down the street to her first day at school.

And never again will she be completely mine...

Prim and proud, she'll wave a young and independent hand this morning, and say goodbye and walk with little-lady steps to the nearby schoolhouse...

Gone will be the chattering little hoyden who lived only for play, and gone will be the delightful little gamin who roamed the yard like a proud princess with nary a care in her little world.

Now, she will learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called...

She will learn to tune her little-girl ears for the sound of school bells, and for deadlines...

She will learn to giggle and gossip... and to look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy across the aisle sticks out his tongue.

Now she will learn to be jealous...and now she will learn how it is to feel hurt inside...and now she will learn how not to cry. No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch steps on a summer day and watch while an ant scurries across a crack in the sidewalk...

Or will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn to kiss lilac blossoms in the morning dew. Now she will worry about important things...like grades...and what dresses to wear...and whose best friend is whose. Now she will worry about the little boy who pulls her hair at recess time... and staying after school...and which little girls like which little boys...And the magic of books and knowledge will soon take the place of the magic of her blocks and dolls.

And she'll find her new heroes. For five full years I've been her sage and Santa Claus...her pal and playmate...her parent and friend. Now, alas, she'll learn to share her worship and adoration with her teachers (which is only right).

No longer will her parents be the smartest, and greatest in the world. Today, when the first school bell rings, she'll learn how it is to be a member of the group...with all its privileges, and, of course, its disadvantages, too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies don't laugh out loud...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or watch ants scurry across the cracks in a summer sidewalk...

Today, she'll begin to learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. That "the group" can be a demanding mistress... and I'll stand on the porch and watch her start out on the long, long journey to becoming a woman.

So WORLD, I BEQUEATH TO YOU TODAY ONE LITTLE GIRL in a crispy dress, with two blue eyes, a happy laugh that ripples all day long, and a batch of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I TRUST YOU'LL TREAT HER WELL.

Cheer Camp - Nobody's Perfect Dance

Izzy attended Cheer Camp at the Y this week and here is one of her dance routines. She was very serious :-)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Countdown to School

I can't believe that in less than one month my firstborn will be starting Kindergarten. Sniff, sniff :-(

She is ubber excited! I can't help but be excited for her. She desperately wants to ride the bus to school. I told her that for the first couple weeks I will drive her, and then she might be able to ride it home. Her day starts VERY early. If she were to ride the bus to school she would get picked up just before 7. The first bell doesn't ring until 7:35 - with the school being maybe 2 miles away, I think I will drive her.

Her school ROCKS! It is our public school and is a school of excellence. This is saying quite a lot since many school around us aren't so hot...remember we are in the south. The principal is FANTASTIC! He greets the children in the morning and has lunch with them daily. He has been at the school for 5 years and has done some incredible things while there. He radiates enthusiasm and it sure is contagious.

We are fortunate that Izzy will be familiar with about 8-10 kids starting Kindergarten. There will be 4 Kindergarten classes and I am comfortable with any class Izzy is placed in. From talking to the principal, each teacher brings something unique to her classroom. I think Izzy could benefit from any of them and will trust that she will end up with the teacher she was meant to have.

We went to tour the school with Rylie and Stephanie. We were greeted by the principal, of course, and spent 90 min. just touring and talking about the school. I came away feeling as if I had made a real friend. ...and what a great feeling that is!

Look at these two cuties holding hands and getting ready to enter their future school for the very first time!

Drew is leading the pack and attempting to read the signs on the door.

Waiting out in the hall for the principal to give us the grand tour!

Drew was playing the role of the bus driver.

Always a good idea to check out the awards a school has won - and the recognition it has received!


Scoping out the library. While Stephanie and I talked the principal's ear off the kids got bored and decided to play "library". ...the role of the librarian was played by Izzy.


The first day of school is August 25th. Can you believe that? Less than one month away! I am not sure what Izzy will wear for her first day, but I do know what she will be carrying her lunch in :-)

Check out this beauty!


back view:


inside: ice pack and fun containers


Aside from the fact that I can change out the front/back faceplates (the Izzy cover - there are lots of different cover/backs to choose from) this entire lunchbox can go in the dishwasher. I am in no way a germaphobe. Heck, I let my kids eat food that they drop on the floor, drink out of cups a friend has used, eat cookies on the playground after getting off the equipment...you get my drift...but the thought of food sitting in a lunchbox for 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week just grosses me out! Strange, huh? So, this lunchbox is all "eco" friendly and dishwasher safe! SOLD!....even if it was ridiculously expensive. (but we will use it for years - all we have to do is change out the faceplate).

...to top it off, Izzy LOVES it! She wants to use it on a picnic tomorrow and I said "absolutely not! This is for school." Heaven forbid it doesn't look brand spankin new on the first day, right?

Kid Funnies~

Pete asking Drew...

Pete: Drew, do you like Tupperware?
Drew: Yes, I'm silverware!

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Izzy and I were talking one morning and I said to her, "sometimes I just don't get your brother?". Izzy replies, "Mommy, sometimes I just don't get myself!"

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On Sunday Izzy asked for a friend to come over and play. I told her "no" and she continued to ask. I said, "Izzy today is a family day - no friends." She said, "But Mom, I thought yesterday was a family day?" I am not sure whether she just loves her friends or doesn't like hanging out with us?

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Drew came downstairs all upset and whining. When I asked him what was wrong he showed me a booger on his finger and said, "I can't get dis booger back in my nose." Really? Really???? Who tries to put a booger back in their nose?