first day, FIRST grade

Big day for our sweet Emma Caroline today and we are so thankful that it was a perfect day.

 

 

So hard to believe that the little girl that made me a Mommy headed off to FIRST grade this morning.  She was beyond excited and jumped out of bed on her own at 5:45 thrilled about what the day had in store for her.

 

I asked her how she felt and this was the face I got, love it.  She picked out her outfit, hair bow and shoes last night so we could have plenty of time this morning.  The days are gone of me choosing her clothes, she is a diva to the 10th power with a very strong opinion and as picky as they come (her Daddy likes to remind me that I created this!).

The first day of school and rain made for about an hour drop off/walk in for us, but we enjoyed every second of it with our big FIRST grader.  Notice the messenger bag, she had me search high and low for a leopard and pink one.

 

As we walked her in we stopped one last time to pray outside of her classroom and tell her how much we loved her.  Curtis and I walked away so proud of her courage, confidence and character this morning.  We could not stop talking about how easy she has made life for us and what a JOY it is to be her parents. 

 

Of course she was most excited about getting to school and seeing her best friend, Ellie.  So thankful that our paths crossed with this sweet family and that these two have each other again this school year.  When they found out they were in class again this year, they squealed out of control.  Their little eyes just light up when they see one another. 

So thankful for days like today and so proud of our big girl.  I hope her love for learning never stops, she loves every single thing about school.

Emma Lou, great things are in store for you this year kiddo.  No doubt God is going to promote you in every area of your little life, he loves you beyond comprehension and so do we!  Thank you for making your first day of school so wonderful for all of us.

Company Party

Last night Emma attended her first Company party at the dance studio from 7-10 and this girl had a blast.  The night consisted of games, secret sister reveal, pajamas, dinner, snacks, dancing and getting to know all the girls who made the competition team for 2013-2014.  These instructors know how to throw a fun party!

 

 

Most of the girls that will be dancing this year are included in this picture, but it was hard to squeeze them all in.  Talk about a super sweet set of girls and families, you are looking at them.  I can not imagine a better group to have my daughter surrounded by, great role models and peers.  Emma has danced with some of these girls since she was 3 years old, but some are new friends and she is so excited about them all. 

The girls were asked to lay flat on their stomachs, arms out and eyes closed.  Each of them had a straw placed in their hand that was a different color and size.  When Mrs. Rachel yelled, "Go" they all had to get up and run around the room to find the girl who had the matching straw, this would be their big/little sister for the competition season.  Emma and Amanda finally found each other and it was the cutest thing ever.  Emma can't stop talking about how much she has in common with her BIG SISTER at dance.  Amanda is a 5th grader and will be someone that Emma looks up to all year long.  Just so happens her Mommy is Gavin's PreK 4 teacher this year, small world.

Emma is thrilled about dance this year and has a heavy load at the studio on top of swimming with her year around team.  She is going to try and balance it all and I am going to continue to pray for our "want to be involved in everything" child.   It is going to be hard work for her, but she is up to the challenge.

Meet the Teacher 2013

We have spent the month of August getting ready to head back to school and talking about new routines, meeting new friends and teachers.

 

 

Always seems to help our kids get back in the swing of things and the first days much easier.  The mantle has been decorated with Emma's school colors and all the things that remind us that, "school is cool".

 

This evening we got to redeem our golden ticket and meet the teacher.  Emma had been looking forward to this for weeks.  

 

On the way to the school she told me she needed to talk to me about something, but she did not want me to be upset.  Of course I gave her my usual, you can talk to me about anything speech.  She proceeded to say, "Mom, can you please tell my teacher that I want to go by Caroline this year not Emma?"  I asked her if she would be fine with Emma Caroline and she said, "no Mom, just Caroline." 

 

 

Once again God has blessed us with an amazing teacher, Mrs. Kohler which just happens to be best friends with Emma's Kindergarten teacher.  We were thrilled that Emma got Mrs. Kohler this year and that sweet Ellie, Jackson and Dylan were in her class from last year. Looks like 2013-2014 is going to be another year filled with academic excellence for our girl. 

Cousin Camp 2013

We pulled off another surprise for these kiddos with cousin camp this year.  This year we decided to rent a cabin and head to a camp ground.  



 

After some Mexican food we pulled up to Yogi Bear park, the kids were a little unsure about where we had brought them (they are a little spoiled to Hotels, so am I).

 

Did not take us long to hit the campground, get checked into our cabin and make our way to the pools for some fun.

Nana surprised the kids by renting this golf cart and thank goodness she did.  Nana and the kids had a blast decorating it for the parade at night.

After a long day of fun in the sun, so thankful these four are the best of friends and get along so well. Nana treated us all to ice cream every evening, yummy!

 

Gavin was such a trooper and joined us on the big water slides this year.  I must admit that the big blue and yellow one scared me and my SIL to death, I was airborne for about half the ride (NEVER again!)

 

 

I can not even begin to tell you how much my little boy LOVES his big cousin Hunter, he is completely crazy about him!

 

These kiddos had a blast on all of the water slides, in the lazy river, on the golf cart, playing putt putt, at the pancake breakfast, having talent shows, sleeping in the loft, playing on the playground and on the campground.  

 

So thankful for this weekend, our family and that we continue to the tradition of cousin camp year after year.

Look what's missing

On the way to cousin camp today a little girl decided to pull her 5th tooth in the car and Nana was completly disqusted.

Her tooth had been loose, but her bestie Ellie accidently kicked her at the swimming pool yesterday and made it looser.  Emma decided to start yanking on it in the car and eventually go it out, we were laughing hysterically at Nana's reaction.  Daddy loves to tell her that she is our little Jack-O-Lantern now.  

Kate, Emma and Ellie

 

Sweet friendships make summer so much fun!

Church Camp 2013

We have just returned from Church Camp and it was a wonderful time spent with a great group of kiddos and adults falling deeper in love with the Lord.  To witness kids on fire about Jesus is an amazing feeling and one that left my heart filled with so much hope.



Camp was filled with water slides, swimming in the pool, blow up obstacle courses, jump houses, crafts, activities, bible study, hikes, praise/worship, mail call, making homemade ice cream, gaga ball, ping pong, friendships, prayer time, hayrides, county fairs, nature walks, quiet time and a hoe down with a real caller.

Emma begged to go to camp last year as a 5 year old, but she was not old enough.  Our church participates in 4 camps a year and this year we participated in the one that was for kids who have completed Kindergarten - 2nd grade.  There was no way my 6 year old was going to camp alone for half the week, so I prayed about it and went along as a cabin counselor. 

Emma was super excited when we arrived at camp and she found out she got to sleep on a top bunk.  The initial sight of the cabin made me a little nervous, but I got over it quick.

Sweet Lauren is one of our Praise Team members at church and she assisted me as a Junior Counselor which was a huge help.

Each day was jam packed with activities from 8 in the morning until 9 o'clock at night.  I was exhausted after chasing little girls around all day.  Every bible story was associated with an activity that had great meaning and gave the kids a better understanding, wonderful.

These are the babies at camp and they were all so precious and sweet.  They were so proud of their initial batch of homemade ice cream.  These girls looked after each other all week long and provided each other comfort and encouragement on their first camp adventure.

Proud of that top bunk, can you tell?  This girl was such a trooper and I was so proud of her to be a first time camp kid.

I grew up going to church camp from 3rd grade thru high school and it is still some of the best memories of my entire life.  It was so special that I got to be a part of Emma's first time camp experience.  I was a little worried when I agreed to go and actually requested NOT to be in the same cabin with her so she could fully experience camp.  I actually thought I was going to be in a boy cabin, but it ended up that she was in my cabin, but you would have NEVER known she was my child.   She was a trooper, never hung on me, tried to sit in my lap or whined about a single thing.  She fully engaged in every activity and was such an independent little thing.

She was so proud of this pet rock that she made for her brother while we were away at camp.  She kept telling everyone he was her best friend and would love it.  This little face just screams happiness to me, this girl had fun.

Good ole pie eating contest and no hands were allowed on the table.  It was hilarious to watch these kids participate in this, some of them got on top of the table (ha ha).

Three of my little cabin mates ready for the Hoe Down. Before every activity we had role call and when they would say, "Cabin 3, are you here?"  My sweet girls would yell, "Cabin 3 says HOWDY!"  You would have thought they had been doing this for years.

Emma's 3 favorite things at camp were praise/worship, the hayride and small group bible study with your cabin everyday.

The hoe down was such a fun time with all of the kids and the 77 year old caller that came to teach all the dances, he was such a sweet little man.  I wanted to put him in my pocket and bring him home.

Yee Haw, look at them go.  So many cute dances they learned and so much fun was had the last evening at camp.

Blair and Emma became the best of buds at camp.  So crazy that we learned the Sunday before camp that these two were on the mountain together at ski school in Steamboat last Spring Break.  When Blair's parents picked her, her sister and twin brother up from ski school they kept telling their parents that they saw a boy and girl from church and the parents didn't believe them (ha-small world).

These two are quite the mess together and know how to have a good time.  Of course they were dreaming about Leigh-Leigh during the entire hoe down (silly girls).

This little finger light was a huge ordeal at camp.  The director had it on the first day at camp and she passed it on to someone she saw letting their light shine for Jesus.  Each child had to continue passing it on and tell the other person why they were getting it.  One of the sweet little girls gave it to Emma and she was beyond thrilled, by the time camp was over about 20 kids had worn the little ring. 

The last day of camp we took this group picture of the kids from our church and had a shirt signing.  These little troopers knew exactly what to do and walked around with Sharpies signing and getting signed.

It was an amazing honor to accompany these children to camp, share my love for Jesus with them, teach his word, serve as an example to them through my own actions, listen to their stories and answer their questions about what God has in store for them and their little life. 

To watch my own daughter be so excited about Jesus, share what he has done in her life,  sing with all of her heart to him and to have such a deep understanding of Christ filled me with an indescribable amount of JOY! When we left camp, she started asking me about returning next year and has not stopped talking about how much fun she had, singing all the camp songs and how much she loves Jesus.  No doubt in my mind that Emma Caroline will be attending camps for years to come and her little brother will soon join her. 

Children's Musuem

Yesterday we visited the Children's Museum with our cousins before they head back to Colorado for a while.

 

 

Peyton and Emma are the best of buds and had a blast painting their faces into pink cats.

The sight of these 4 cousins piled in this car made me a little nervous of what is yet to come (ha ha).  I can not even imagine when they are all old enough to be running the roads together, they will keep me on my knees praying!

 

Gavin was in his element all day long and had the best time.  If the museum offered Kindergarten this boy would be enrolled next year, no matter the cost.  All of the hands on activities are right up his little creative alley. 

 

The museum was pure chaos with so many day cares and field trips, so I was unable to get many pictures but we sure did have a great day.   All the kids were sad to say goodbye, but praying we will all be back together soon.  

Frio to the Hill Country

We spent the first part of the week in Garner, traded our river shoes in and headed for the JW Marriott for a little more fun in the sun. 

 

 

View from the balcony, by far this has been my favorite resort in Texas and we will definitely be going back for some rest and relaxation someday soon.   

 

 

I had been looking forward to arriving at the JW Marriott to finally meet my sweet friend Kim Watson and her precious family.  Kim and I met through our blogs and Matilda Jane a couple years ago and instantly connected because of our love for our kids, LV and life.  We had plans to meet this summer and it worked out for us to finally connect in the Hill Country. She is as wonderful as I thought she would be from all of our texting/emails/conversations and her family is as cute as can be.

 

 

We enjoyed spending the afternoon with the Watson family and the kids had fun building a pyramid with the Honky Tonk Kid, Aaron Watson.  If you look closely you will see that all the cups stacked are filled with water, it took them a while to finally accomplish this.   The two little boys by Emma joined us in the pool and the other two are the Watson boys. Not real sure where Princess Jolee Kate was when we took this picture, probably floating around talking to everyone (she is a social butterfly). Jack Jack and Gavin immediately hit it off in the pool and went to wrestling, Kim called this years ago about those two.

After we got out of the pool one evening we made smores and they were yummy we ate lots of smores on this trip.

 

We got to enjoy room service one morning and the kids thought it was the greatest thing ever. They  said it was a "royal feast rolled in on a royal table", again they have seen too many fairy tales. 

 

The kids enjoyed all of the water slides and went down by themselves, in groups of twos, threes and with me.  They also enjoyed the lazy river along with Tedra.

The days were so hot, we kept cool with frozen drinks by the pool and lots of SPF 70.

 

This little boy played his heart out and had a ball.  He loves the water and is close to being a swimmer,  no doubt he will join his sister on swim team next year. 

 

 

These three had a blast together while Tedra and I had some great girl time laying out, talking, laughing, dreaming and supervising.   All in all our trip to the Frio and Hill Country was a blast, relaxing and gave us lots to laugh and talk about.  I love this time away with my two kids and Emma was thrilled to have a friend along on this Texas-cation.  We are already looking forward to being river rats again next year.