Wednesday, August 25, 2010

First Day of School!

Monday was the first day of school! Yeah! I don't know who was more excited - me or the kids. They were both ready for their friends and even to get back to a routine. And, luckily, they both really like school.

Will's starting 2nd grade.


Kaity's starting kindergarten. And, she's still dragging the blankie around. But, at least it's not going to school with her. She just has to have it IMMEDIATELY when she gets home.


This is Will's don't mess with me face, I think.



Kaity getting tired of posing.


Obligatory picture in front of the manatee.


Already busy at work at her desk.


Smile!


Will's got a desk and not a table this year.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

New floors!

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Where has the summer gone?

School starts 3 weeks from tomorrow!! Where have we been? Well, not updating this blog. But, we have been busy with summer stuff (and work).

We went to the Young Farmer & Rancher conference in Jacksonville in early July and the night out was a dinner cruise on a river boat. The kids went with us to the conference and had a great time on the boat. Watching the launch out the back.


Pretty girl on the boat.


There were two dance floors and the kids (and their friends) made good use of one.



This is Karly Ann. She's the daughter of one of my good college friends. Her and Kaity are almost the same age and size. They look a LOT alike. It's kind of freaky. But, really, really cute also.


Will's gotten to hang out with his best friend, Dalton, quite a bit this summer. He got to go scalloping with them and had a great time.


The kids have been to lots of day camps and hanging out with babysitters. This is one of their babysitters, Tori, who was helping at the butterfly day camp also. She's Kaity's teen bestie for the summer.


Fourth of July was also very busy for us. We were in the Micanopy parade in the morning, then headed to the Melrose lakehouse to sleepover, and watched the fireworks in Keystone Heights. Saw lots of Alachua County that day. Here's Pales at the parade. Mom said she didn't get a good picture of her dressed up, but apparently I did.


Kaity on the parade float.


Grandpa and Will watching the fireworks. It was really, really loud.


The kids also went to dance camp one week. They learned hip hop, a lyrical number, and a tap number. Will was the only little boy, but seemed to have a great time. The tap number was built around him and he was pretty good at hip hop. Kaity did a great job and has been talking dance ever since. She had some listening issues there (nothing unusual) and at one point stuck a pebble in her nose. This was the last day at the mini-performance. The girls all got their hair done and make up put on. They were actually being very sweet to each other.


They are also taking swim lessons. Will loves them and is the most uncoordinated, but highest level kid they have out there. He's doing great. Kaity is finally getting the hang of it and is old enough to get it. She's taken lessons for three summers, but this is the first summer we've made any progress. We've got one more week of lessons and then Will may take some more in the fall.


For some reason after lessons, Will feels the need to strip on the way home. Notice the strategically placed pentagon.


Besides all that, John's been busy building fence, Will's still seeing his tutor, and I'm rewriting the county fair livestock record books. Plus, we're remodeling Will's room (pictures to come). It's looking great, but we have to have it done very soon since school starts in THREE WEEKS! Kaity will be a kindergardener and Will's going into 2nd grade. Luckily, we've already finished all the school shopping and now I just need to put the house back together (because of Will's remodel) before school starts and get us back onto a normal schedule.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Saying Goodbye is a Hard Lesson


This is Kaity's BFF, Hannasha. Hannasha and Kaity have been in class together since they were 6 months old. They've been through two schools and lots of teachers. Most of the time they act more like sisters than friends - constantly fighting, tattling, and then playing exclusively together. You can always tell when one of them was out of town. The other would mope around and be very grouchy. Well, the time has come for the two girls to say goodbye to each other. Hannasha's dad got a great new job at the University of Wisconsin-Madison so they're leaving today. Saturday, we went to a going away party for them. Kaity had a great time playing with Hannasha and some of her other friends, but mostly they just stuck together the whole time. I don't think either of them really understood that this was the last time seeing each other or playing together. When we left, they hugged and hugged and Kaity sobbed all the way home. She knew she was upset, but didn't really understand. She kept asking for her blankie over and over again (which I had left at home) which is a sure sign of Kaity being upset. She's talked about Hannasha some since then and drawn her pictures like she always does. I don't think it will hit her until she gets to her kindergarten class this fall and Hannasha isn't there. We're going to try to keep the girls in touch through Skype and pen pals, but it won't be the same. I hope Kaity remembers and values this friendship always. Prayers are needed for my little girl as she struggles with the hard lesson of saying goodbye.
 

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