I can't believe Hallie is 5! She had a great party with lots of family and friends, and a beautiful sunny day! It couldn't have been nicer (except for the bead up the nose mishap after most of her guests had left! Good thing Poppa was there to get it out for us! I think Hallie thought is was there for life! Her cousin Paige claims the bead just jumped up Hallie's nose! - She does get in real close to smell everything!) thank you all for making it a memorable day for Hallie.
Then on her birthday Claire and I found her at reccess playing on the big spinning tree with all the big kids, and brought in cupcakes for her kindergarten class! She really likes school now- especially riding the bus! If I drive her to school now, she thinks she can go without a seatbelt-just like the bus!
We also have Claire getting big so fast. Another mishap is documented in this slideshow- one involving Claire twisting the top off a jar of diaper cream-and having her way with it! We are learning that Claire's way is always straight to the mouth! She sis crawling all over and standing herself up against everything! She is so sweet and a lot of fun! She loves laughing at her sisters.

Hallie turned 5!

HOME AT LAST!

They did it! They survived the first day of kindergarten and pre-school! Ella's day was much less traumatic, but still she was hesitant to enter her classroom, once in, and found her cousin Parker, she was a lot more at ease. The night before she said "I don't want Mom to come with me, cause I know Parker, and I'm not scared of him." She was so excited, especially to wear her new school clothes! I asked her who else she played with, and she said "I don't tell them my name, I just play with them." There are 3 Ella' in her class, so they wanted to call her Ella D, but I know she sometimes take offense to nicknames, so I tried to clear it with her, and she shook her head-no. Ella boo was a no go too, but she grinned and nodded when I said "Ella Marie". She told me one of the other Ella' cried the whole time "and she didn't even get hurt"! Her only complaint was no snack-Hallie told her all about snack, but it was a short day, so she''ll have to wait for next time!
Hallie was the only lucky girl to have a cute little sister waiting and waiving to her as the bus pulled up. They were excited to see each other after a long day for Hallie. She was all smiles, and asking Ella all about her day at preschool. She said she had fun, "but I did't get much time to eat my lunch, I could only eat my nitchyvan". She was hungry, but happy to be home playing with Ella, and waiting to greet Claire when she woke up from her nap! She later confessed to having a pretty hard day, and feeling lonely at school. Our hearts were breaking for her, but we convinced her to go back, her friend from her primary class will be there next day, as staggard entry days will be over. She had no complaints about the bus, and sat with a new friend on the way home. She has been talking about riding the school bus since she could talk!

first day fo school PART 2!

She did it! I told Peter last night that I was going to be so sad to put Hallie in the bus for her 1st day of kindergarten, but as you can see by the grumpy looks, and force feeding her an eggo on the way out the door- it was a happy success to get her on!
She was so sweet, and exited to go to school last night, layed out an outfit-perfectly, had her backpack packed, and lunch in the fridge-ready to go! Excited, but nervous-both of us.
She snuggled up to me in my bed this morning, and got up cheerfully, went upstairs and got dressed. Then she looked in the mirror, and everything changed! She changed the outfit, changed the lunch snacks, we threw in the "nitchyvan", would not eat breakfast, or drink her choc milk, and said she was not going in the bus! It was falling apart, but I thought, unless she cries, she'll be on the bus!
She slowly treked down the driveway, and told me not to take pictures, but I did, and got her to crack a few smiles! The Karl's puppy followed the kids out the door, and tried to get on, and she thought that was funny. She would not stop and pose for me, and marched on the bus. I asked the driver if she should sit up front, and she said yes, but Hallie had already marched halfway back and slid into a seat with her babysitter from accross the street! I gave her her lunch and a kiss, and it was done! SUCCESS!
I'm nervous for her now, she's gone for the whole day! I hope she's having fun, and happy when I meet her at the bus stop after school!

Hallie taking the BUS to her first day of Kindergarten!

the last of the summer pics!