Emma's first day of Kindergarten

Emma started Kindergarten last month, her first day was August 18th. They split the Kindergarten classes in to thirds (there are 12 classes) with each 1/3 going on one of three days - the 17th, 18th or 19th. I took Emma to school that day at 9, and she rode the bus home that afternoon. She was so excited to go. she woke up before 7 asking if it was time for school yet.

She'd seen this pink dress in the Gap the day before when we went to get her back-to-school haircut. She told me if she could, she would wear her on her first day. So of course I ran out that afternoon and picked it up as a surprise. She was so surprised and thanked me over and over.

I took a lot of pictures. I had to. I probably would've taken more than I did if she'd have let me!

Before leaving for school









With my mom, Grandma McIntyre


With her friend (our neighbor) Caroline. They get to ride the bus together which is fantastic.


First Day of Kindergarten



Walking in to school. I love how they're holding hands.



Her locker


Her table



Please mom, haven't you taken enough?


One more, just one more, Emma! I had to beg to get this one.


The moms after drop off. Surprisingly dry-eyed.


Emma was laughing and really, really excited when the bus pulled up.


Mackenzie was so happy to see Emma!



Ta-da! First day is done!


Daddy was there to see her get off the bus.


Family self-portrait.


Emma loved her first day. Liked her teacher, liked her locker, liked eating lunch, she liked it all. I still can't believe I have a Kindergartener though.

11 months. (10 and 9, too)

Totally slacking on the monthly Ryan updates. I do have pictures now though.

11 months old. We were at Grove City College Saturday and I took these on a bench outside one of the buildings.

He kept yelling. Happy yelling. But yelling and not smiling. Also, he wouldn't sit still for very long.


Instead he made his way over to the side.



@ 11 months, Ryan is adorable. Of course. Crawls fast. Very, very fast. Pretty much wants to just go up and down the stairs all day long. He stands and can bend down and pick something up without falling but so far doesn't try to walk on his own. He will walk with the push-walker though. He discovered he can throw and therefore does so repeatedly. He loves food. Really. You wouldn't believe how much this kid eats. Still taking a bottle, but I'm reducing the amount in the anticipation of being formula-free in less than a month. We call him Grabby-Grabby. He takes everything.

10 months. 7/19/11 @ what used to be Jellystone Campground. Michael and the girls were in the lake and Ryan and I hung out in the shade. No sand for us, as he would've most certainly eaten it.






@ 10 months. First stitches. That's about all I remember at the moment. Must go back through photos and rack brain for more milestones/stories of note.

9 months. Well, technically still 8 as I took this the night before. But no photo from the day he turned 9 months or the days after have him sitting still like this. Too busy exploring.




@9 months. Cute. Skinny. (although I didn't necessarily notice it at the time, he's very skinny compared to the food-chowing baby he is now.)

It's all about the diving board now.

So last week at the pool, Emma decided she was going off the diving board. Something we'd been encouraging her to do all summer since we knew she could swim the distance required to do it. But she wouldn't. Then Monday, there were a lot of friends there, friends who were telling her she could do it and that she was a great swimmer, and apparently she just needed to hear this from them instead of us, because she did it.

Well, if Emma was doing it, Mackenzie wanted to do it too. She needed some practice though. So Michael worked with her, having her jump in off the side and then swim to the end to make sure she could swim far enough to get to the ladder. Once she could, it was her turn to go. This is one determined 3 1/2 year old we have!

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And in the fall she'll be a Kindergartener.

Emma graduated preschool last month, May 23rd to be exact. We had additional excitement in the form of the tornado sirens going off forcing us all in to the hallway to wait it out shortly before Emma's name was to be called. The kids didn't mind though, it gave them time to burn off some energy since they'd been sitting in the church for so long. The program was cute. They marched in wearing their felt graduation caps, sang some songs (or just looked around at everyone and everything) and then received their diplomas.

Our graduate.







I'd meant to get a family picture at the church/school, but forgot. Maybe it was all that tornado siren excitement. Or being on crutches. Or the fact that Emma was pretty much over pictures as soon as I started. She relented at home. That, or I told her she had smile for pictures if she wanted a snack.



Wednesday of her last week was Wacky Wednesday. Really, it wasn't that much different than many of the outfits she puts together. This originally had a grey ruffle vest to complete the look. She's quite the trendsetter.

And for the last day on Friday they had a pajama pizza party. We went to the park with everyone from her class afterward.


First Day (orientation, 9/12/10) and Last Day (5/20/11)

This isn't really school related, but I can't believe how different her hair is now. Last September is was so long and curly and still blonde. It's now to her shoulders, the curls are gone and it's gotten so dark it can't even be considered blonde anymore. The red's really showing, too. And she just looks so much older.

First day of school (9/12/10) and now, 9 months later (6/15/11)