Picture Day!

Since the hair will most likely be cray and the smile unpredictable, here's a few juuuust in case....

First Day of First Grade!

Welp, six, 4 baby teeth gone....first grade.  That clock just keeps a-tickin'. 

I made Maddie a shultute. It's tradition in Germany when a child begins first grade they receive this cone shaped object full of goodies, school supplies, small toys etc to calm their nerves about school. 

We're so happy to be back at our old stomping grounds, Edison Park! Last year was a bit chaotic with teacher/admin changes but hoping for a bit more stability this year! Plus, I'm totally gonna be a PTA mom....already have 47 ideas! Hopefully they won't boot me out;)

Maddie is so excited about her new teacher, Miss Stabnick! She was her friend, Addison's teacher last year and knew her from across the hall! I think they'll be a great pair! When Miss Stabnick told me she doesn't expect kids so young to sit still all the time and not be kids, I had a good feeling about her....

I'm officially in my forties. Ew/

I had so much fun celebrating the big 4-1 with my fave peeps! I almost forgot I'm in my forties. What does that even mean? Am I supposed to be grown up and mature now?! Ugh. 

It began with a surprise from Garret and the kiddos.....a decorated door, breakfast in bed and lunch!

Since Trisha, Colleen and I all have birthdays in August and didn't want to force our friends to attempt three different shindigs we just combined into one amazing part-ay! A Japanese steak house and some karaoke. Really, what more could a gal want? Besides not to have to fiercely suck in her food baby all night (really, the shirt was NOT this short when I tried it on....). Ah well, the hubs liked it, even if I did have sore, ahem, "abs" for the week after....

  

Summer...in a surprisingly not too lengthy video....

Since Summer was SO fabulous and there isn't enough room on this blog for all the photos, I made a movie with my latest obsession, Magisto! 

I had a summer off for the first time in my adult life and it was kinda fabulous. I mean, we were super poor but the jewelry biz sustained us enough to not starve to death! It's amazing how many free/super cheap things you can find to do with the littles! I was pretty proud of how creative we got, we were able to do things we hadn't ever tried!

 Hoping to be able to do this every summer! Shoulda been a teacher after all....