First day of First Grade!!!

First day of first grade!! Mrs. Neely's class.

Not Maya's first day of 4K but she wanted a pic anyway. Her school starts in two weeks.

Delaney and her BFF Sally. They are not in the same class but we got their first day pics anyway!!

Delaney's class is in a portable this year. I was a little apprehensive but when I saw how neat and organized Mrs. Neely was I definitely changed my mind. It is kind of nice that they are isolated from the poor overcrowded Brennen and on their own. Brennen is an amazing school but there are definitely too many kids that go there. People move just to get into this sweet school. It seems like a small school but it is the most populated elementary school in the area. 

Maya had a little playdate with Sandy one day while I took Delaney to tennis. Super sweet.

Maya and I waiting at the bus stop for Delaney. Maya has Bitty on her back like her nanny Jennifer that she has until she starts school. Delaney chose to ride the bus and the bus stop is only three houses down from ours!! She was super excited and the bus driver Ms. Sonja is very nice. The bus experience was short lived. It lasted two weeks. Delaney has become quite a fairy fanatic and definitely loves the tooth fairy. She was talking about her fairy house that we built to capture fairies and the tooth fairy while waiting for the bus at school. Some older kids told her there was no tooth fairy. I stopped that nonsense by telling her that the tooth fairy would never visit mean little boys and girls and was that little girl mean? Delaney said yes. Well of course then she wouldn't visit her! Delaney asked if it was like Santa Claus not visiting the bad boys and girls? I told her absolutely. She is a true believer again. Anyhoo---she opted not to ride the bus soon after that. I think she was intimidated by the older kids. Her riding the bus was nice because Maya and I could just wait at home but I never want Delaney to be scared. Now Maya and I just continue to pick her up. No problem. I love that Delaney can still act like a tiny girl. And speaking of the fairy house---the fairies apparently love honey and chocolate and if Delaney leaves it for them she gets a treat---whether a dollar tree gift or flower. This has become quite a process for the mommy here but Delaney loves getting presents from her fairies. She is going to be a fairy for Halloween and is totally obsessed. :)

Almost back to school and no training wheels!!!

Wearing her new snow boots from Grammy. In August.

I think these two pics were taken more in July but Leila and I wanted to try out a Little Gym class for our little ones. Maya loved it and loved being with Sandy. I ended up signing her up but unfortunately Leila didn't sign up Sandy because she was having a baby in September and it was too much on her plate. Maya had a hard time adjusting and has been iffy sometimes with the class but she is starting to love it more. We have had to switch classes several times due to our schedules and one class being too babyish for Maya but finally found one that worked for both of us. Maya is definitely my shy and withdrawn child (if you are family you wouldn't think this because she never shuts up) but around strangers and when she is out of her comfort zone she shuts down. I want her to be able to do things and I think this gymnastics class is good for her. I hope I am doing the right thing. The stress of being a parent wanting her child to be happy all of the time. 

Delaney at the Back to School Bash at Brennen the week before first grade starts! Here she is with her always BFF Sally. We weren't able to get the two girls in the same class this year (boo), and not for lack of effort on Raven's part. They will still see each other often though.

A little Merida and her assistant at bike time.

We have wanted to get ride of Maya's "baby" bike but the girls still love to play around on it.

Maya and I visited my friend Liz and her new baby Marshall.

Delaney did it!!!! We tried the grass at Dreher field first and she caught on quickly and then could do the street in no time. I need to get a video of her now---she is awesome!!

Riding with no training wheels! This has been a long time coming because Delaney has been very scared and apprehensive. She has done short stints at home and we thought bringing her to the grass at Dreher High School field would help. She did amazing!!!!! As I am writing this several months later I realized I need to take a video of her now. No trouble without training wheels at all now and zooming down the road!!!

Maya has gotten very brave with her bike too. Another huge reason why I love living downtown is we have access to many parking lots on the weekends which are empty and are fabulous places to ride bikes because they are empty. These little ramps are great.

/A little slide into the baby pool time with James Ryan and Evie.

Our sweet Tyson looking a bit pathetic. 

Frozen Dance Camp

Love these little chats. Bobby told her to write four songs for four random sentences for a piano assignment. Delaney doing the ice bucket challenge for ALS.

Just a little princess doing her "work" underneath the table. 

My beautiful girls all dressed up for their last day of Frozen dance camp with their recital dresses on. They were just told to dress like a beautiful princess.

The girls before their big show.

The girls all came out individually to curtsie to introduce themselves before the show.

Never caught a non-fuzzy pic of Maya doing her introduction but you can still see her enthusiasm. Too stinkin cute.

Goofy girl with her tongue out.

Delaney and Maya do a little partners dance performance showing the skills they learned that week at Frozen dance camp.

Goofy two with her tongue out.

Double goofy.

Delaney and Maya perform their big number at their recital for their Frozen dance camp. This was truly one of the best things I've seen in a while. Priceless.

Putting her wand in her toes.

Delaney doing her bounce and somersault at Frozen dance camp. I love her graceful pose at the end. Looks like a real dancer! Maya does a little jumping and then her own version of a handstand and then transitions it into a breakdancing routine. So fabulous. My graceful ballerina with more tricks at the end of their Frozen dance recital. Maya doing some double bridges as her final tricks at the end of the Frozen dance recital.

Maya dancing at the end of the line ready to do her bouncing and then somersault.

The whole Frozen dance camp crew!!!

Last swim lesson for Maya and Lilly. These two girls were extremely excited not to have any more swim lessons with Mr. Greg for this year.