Just Like That...

she is nine. I am the mom of a nine year old. Oh how that hurts my heart to type. Nine. The last year of single digits. P has been counting down the days. Me, not so much. She could hardly wait to be 9, and I would have been happy with 8 for much, much longer! But alas...

The celebration this year consisted of a sleepover with a few friends. Bless her, she went back and forth with all the ways in which she wanted to celebrate, one of which included "building" a bear, but in the end, we went with a sleepover with friends. That's right, friendS. Like more than one. Like six. I guess I am a sucker or a glutton for punishment. Or both.

The big day fell on a Friday this year, so it worked perfectly for having friends to spend the night. Six of her pals showed up Friday evening for the festivities. Instead of building bears, we built our own pizzas.


While the pizzas were in the oven we had a riveting game of charades. Oh my gracious, if you have never played charades with 8 year old girls, you are without a doubt missing out. Oh the hilarity. Between the pizzas and cupcakes we also had our very own dance party with dj Dad. I wish we had pics of the oh so stellar dancing, but I guess dj Dad couldn't drop the beats and be the photog at the same time. So, you are just going to have to take my word for it that these girls dance moves were no joke.

Somehow in my planning for this I thought it would be a great idea for the girls to frost and decorate their own cupcakes. Again, sucker or glutton? The frosting. Oh the frosting!





After watching two movies most of the girls crashed with the exception of a couple. Bless them. They were still ready to party well into the night!

In the morning I made blueberry muffins. The girls built a gigantic fort in the family room with every blanket under the sun, and then went outside until it was time to be picked up. I think they had a good time, and we are glad they all came to be a part of celebrating Peyt's day.


Peyt, I love you more than you could ever know. You are my firstborn; the baby that made me a mommy. I love you always! Happy Birthday sweet girl! And remember, this was your last one; no more birthdays for you.

3rd Grader.

Well, here we are. The end of summer. Goodbye summer; hello alarm clock. Boo! We are on the tail end of our first week back to school, and so far, so good.

We did the annual school supply date last Wednesday night and got all of the necessary supplies sure to make 3rd grade a big, fat success. The list was a bit shorter this year than the last two. Which is nice because that means less searching, less fighting crowds, less money spent, but is also a bit sad, because it also means our girl is getting older. We did have a small discrepancy in the folder choosing. Man do 8 year old girls love them some puppies and kitties. But we survived. Choosing the just perfect notebooks and folders makes me a bit nostalgic for my Trapper Keeper days. Man, did I love my purple and pink trapper keeper.

P loves her school and was excited to go back and see all of her friends. She again got the teacher that she was hoping for this year. God has been so good to us in the teacher department. Every year He has given us the perfect fit for P. I pray for it all summer long and try to rest in His plan for our girl, and that His ways are better than our ways.

Here she is on her first day this year...





(Side note: please notice P's friend Janvier in the background of the pic with her and her teacher. Those two have played on the same soccer team and this is their 2nd year to be in class together. She is a hoot!)

Here's to a great year 3rd grade! And P, you can stop growing up now. Thanks.

It's the first day of the 1st grade!

Summer is officially over and now it is time to head back to school. Because of Ryan's change of jobs, P got to change schools this year. This school is a good bit larger than the one that she went to last year. She has one of her good friends that goes to the same school, but they did not end up being placed in the same 1st grade. Bummer! But we are going to make the best of it. So, this Monday was her first day of the 1st grade and needless to say, she was a bit nervous. New school, new teacher, new people, and no Mommy? I mean come on, that's an anxiety attack waiting to happen! But all in all, I think she did great!

We prayed on our way to school that she would be comforted knowing that Jesus was walking with her all day. I'm not gonna lie--she and I both got a little teary. Ryan was able to go along with us for the first day, so the whole clan walked her into her classroom and of course, had to really embarrass her and take some pics of her at her desk. She walked in and sat down in her desk like a champ.




I just love these people!!

P--We are super proud of you our little first grader! We are excited to see what God has in store for you in a new school, with new experiences, and new opportunities for you to show His love to others. Work hard and do your very best as unto the Him and not unto men! Love you little sugar! Let your light shine!

hi ho, hi ho, it's back to school we go!

This past weekend we took P on our second annual "back to school date." This is a little tradition we started last year with her where we take a night and make it all about her and getting her ready for school. We get the school supply list, get a sitter for Mason, (to which this year she replied--YES!), and hit the town. And then we take her to eat at any restaurant of her choice. So far we are two for two with OG. I'm not gonna complain! My girl knows good eatin'!

This year's list included but not limited to:

• 24ct. #2 Pencils – Wooden unsharpened, Made in the USA
• 1 Pack 24ct. CRAYOLA Crayons
• 6 (1 per color) Folders – Heavy vinyl, 2 pockets, 3 brads/prongs (Red, Green, Blue,
Yellow, Orange, Purple)
• 2 Writing Tablets – ROSELLE 3rd Grade Primary Tablet, 3 tablets x 40 sheets per
tablet, D’Nealian 1⁄4” ruling on both sides, broken midline, red baseline, 1⁄4” skip line,
81⁄2x11” (Portrait)
• 2 MEAD Composition books for journal writing – hard cover, wide ruled (100
sheets/ea.)
• FISKAR 5” Blunt Scissors
• 6ct. Glue sticks – ELMER’S clear (.77 oz)
• 1 Clipboard with flat top clasp
• 1 Plastic White Vinyl 3 Ring Binder - 1” with 2 pockets - (clear view to slip paper on
outside of cover)
• 1 PAPERMATE Pink Pearl Eraser – medium
• 1 Pack 24ct. Wedge Cap pencil tip Erasers
• 2 Tissue Boxes – KLEENEX (120 ct.)
• 1 Pencil box (vinyl with zipper)
• 4ct. SANFORD EXPO 2 Dry Erase Markers – broad tip, black
• 1 Pack CRAYOLA Markers – washable, 10 count, classic colors
• 1 Pack CRAYOLA colored pencils, 12 count
• 1 Set Water color paints
• 1 Yellow Highlighter
• 4 Red ink pens for correcting papers in class

Lookout Target and Walmart...here we come! Can I just say, we opted to do this deal on tax free weekend. Totally will never do that again! My word were there a lot of people out there in tax free land! As you can see a pretty extensive list, but we knocked it out for the exception of a 10 pack of washable markers. I am convinced that these are not on the market. There are 8 count washable markers, 12 count washable markers, and then a regular 10 count of markers that are apparently not washable. We opted for the 8 pack. We did have a bit of a meltdown when we had to purchase folders in specific colors, and she could not get the pinks one with the dogs on them, but we recovered.

All in all it was a success and a fun time for Ryan and me to get to spend some one on one time with just her. She really is a pleasure and a lot of fun to be with. She and I had a little photo op before we left the house. So for your viewing pleasure (or not so much)...

To help, or not to help

Mommy: Peyton, my phone is ringing. Will you bring it to me?

Peyton: (Ignores mommy.)

Mommy: Peyton, my phone?

Peyton: (Still ignoring mommy as mommy misses the phone call.)

Mommy: Peyton, I thought you were going to bring me my phone. I thought you were going to be my helper today.

Peyton: Oh, I'm not starting that until after lunch.


Okay, good to know.

Goodbye Kindergarten... Hello First Grade!

Well, we no longer have a kindergartener in our house... we are officially on our way to first grade! What a year... and how quickly the time has gone. (I feel like such an old person when I say that, but it is so true!)

This is Peyton on her first day of school in August...

And this is her leaving for her last day of kindergarten last week...

So many milestones for this soon to be first grader this year but the highlight for us was in January...

On January 22, 2008 to quote P, "I asked my Heavenly Father into my heart" What a pleasure that was for Ryan and me to see her choose to believe in and follow the God that we know and love and strive to teach her about daily. She prayed and asked Jesus into her heart by herself at nap time and came out to share her decision with us. Whatever it takes to keep from taking a nap, right? We have watched her little personality and have seen her truly begin to try to make choices in light of being "God's little princess". She has such a sweet spirit about her and a true desire to learn when it comes to Jesus and what He asks of us as His followers.

P--may you always seek to love, honor, and serve our Savior. Seek after Him like the air that you breathe. I pray that your Dad and I will always teach you the love and complete acceptance of Christ as well as His love and desire for those who do not know Him. We are so proud of you! And we have "No greater joy than to know that our children are walking in truth." III Jn 1:4

How Boring Is Computer Class?

...this boring.

School NOT Closed!?

One of the best perks of being a teacher is the fact that schools close for bad weather. Well, most schools... just not mine.