New Schools, New Kitchen, and some close friends

Delaney's first day of kindergarten at Brennen Elementary School. She was so excited. Looking at this pic still makes me tear up from the memory of that morning. My sweet baby going to big girl school. I don't have a pic of this...but what was even better was picking her up that day. I went through the car line and heard them announcing her name and she was walking towards the car looking like a little lost lamb. She had a dollbaby in her arms that she had brought in her backpack and a crown on her head that she had colored saying "Welcome to Kindergarten". She looked lost and sad but when she saw me she smiled the biggest smile and was so happy. It was a wonderful moment. Additional note on school stuff: I have since started parking my car and walking about half a block to get Delaney at the front of the school versus waiting in the line. I don't know how long she is going to want me to do this but I love it because I have her with me and talking to me and hanging out and in the car before any of the cars in that line have moved. Hopefully we can keep up this little tradition for a while. Plus---I keep getting that smile every day when she sees me waiting for her out front. Priceless.

Ready to work in her classroom for Mrs. Painter and Mrs. Stancill!

A very rare moment. Olive and Mia in the same room and not stalking each other. I think that Mia is a lot more tolerant in her old age and Olive is just appreciative that Mia is not hissing at her. Delaney has decorated Olive with her blankie and Mia with her bunny. It was a lovely moment.

More of Maya "running" on the steps of the pool. She so loves doing this, my weird little munchkin.

A little swimming in the undies for my girls. Love how Delaney is cleaning the pool or doing something like that in her underwear and goggles.

Swimming with Tyson

I can't remember if I have posted pics of our old kitchen before the remodel but here is new kitchen. Would be smart of me to do side by side pics but that requires a certain degree of smartness with technology which I am greatly lacking. Here you can see chopping block countertop.

New fridge placement versus just counters. The old fridge was always in our way and made us crazy. This fridge maneuvering required us to buy a new fridge which was good. The old fridge made us crazy because of freezer drawer at the bottom and almost too much fridge space with the two doors that opened so you had to open both sides to find stuff and AAAAHHHHH!!!!

Our new "eating" room counter area and cabinets. This was where the old pantry was that was enormous and a waste of space. We moved the pantry to the closet under the stairs which now has shelving and plenty of space for pantry items. This additional counter top has been awesome for serving and basically to hold all my crap. :)

Our new eating room with my mom's table that I remember from growing up where I would sit to eat with family and friends and do work on. We passed on our old table to Mom. It was a beautiful tile table from Nana but it just didn't hold all 4 of us and mom really needed a smaller table at her house. Worked well for everyone!

Maya in front of a little garden on her first day of new preschool at Shandon United Methodist. Her teachers are Mrs. Ashley and Mrs. Becky and they love Maya already. They can't believe she is only 2 which really helped confirm my decision to keep her moving forwards versus being held back. There are a lot of older kids in her class, some of which are turning 4 soon, but Mrs. Ashley says that Maya is really doing fine and has a better attention span and focus on things versus most of the older kids. My friend Leila has her daughter Sandy in Maya's class so I am glad that she already has a good friend with her. We are starting to meet the other families and kids and everyone seems really nice. It is an adjustment from her old preschool because most of the kids here leave at 12 or 12:30 after lunch with just a handful staying for after care. Maya and one of her friends from class get moved over to the other building because they are "napping threes" and then I pick her up at 2:40 or so. Maya naps very well at most places other than home and she is already napping well at her new school. She seems very happy at her school and they are already doing lots of cute activities.

My two little worker bees "doing their work" in the backyard.

We invited the Burts over for swimming and lunch. Maya LOVES her friend Lilly and two of them are like two little peas in a pod.

Sarah Beth is one of Delaney's oldest and bestest friends and the two of them are just adorable together.

"It's a potty mommy!!!"---uh....it better not be Maya!!

Maya teaching her friend bad things. :)

Last trip in the boat! That little guy just broke apart after this day. It was at our house when we moved there and has been so much fun for Maya. Sad. :(

Sarah Beth and Delaney

Makes my heart smile.

We all love spending time with this family. Not only do the four girls get together so well, but Randy and I love hanging out with Elizabeth and Travis---and of course little three month old baby Cannon. They are a special family and I am so glad that our families are close.

Last Waterpark, Last TRUMPS, and Kindergarten Open House!!!!!

We decided to go back to Palmetto Falls one more time this season because we had so much fun the first time! Because it is at Fort Jackson it is not open to civilians on the weekends and this is our next to last Friday with Delaney before she starts kindergarten! Gulp!!

Maya once again enjoyed crawling around the baby pool.

Delaney getting dumped on while cruising around the lazy river.

The two bathing beauties enjoying the little fountains at the kiddie area.

A Four Cousin Sandwich!!!

Maya likes to spend most of her time in the pool running back and forth on the stairs. What makes it better is she talks about it..."I'm running!!!" "I'm running mommy!"

Getting on anyone's shoulders is not Maya's favorite thing.

My silly youngest child just doing some crazy laughing in the pool. Randy and his girls dancing briefly to the end of Boom Boom Pow. The three Roberts girls jam out to Dance Central a little Nicki Minaj Starships. I love Delaney's tongue while dancing and Maya and her little solo jam fest. Please ignore my dancing. It is so not cool.

Maya loves her Uncle Dave!

My two girls on the morning of their last day of Trenholm Road United Methodist Preschool (TRUMPS). Delaney is heading to kindergarten next week and Maya will be attending Shandon United Methodist Preschool (SUMPS) after Labor Day. If I haven't already told the reason, we are moving Maya because TRUMPS wanted to keep her in the 2's class again. Maya's birthday is September 20 and the cutoff for school here is Sept.1 so a lot of daycares have kids repeat a year. I didn't feel right having Maya repeat this year because she is very social and smart and there would be babies entering that class still wearing diapers and I felt like I would be doing her a disservice. SUMPS said she could enter the 3's class and I will keep her there for 3's and 4's and then attend their private kindergarten. She would then be tested to directly enter first grade. Now if she is not ready for any of these levels when getting to that point of course I would not push her but if she is ready then when not!! I think the girls will be happy being two year apart as well as far as friends and interests go. I know we would lose her to college a year sooner but we will be ready for her to leave at that point, right??

Now Delaney leaving the preschool is the moment I have been dreading for 5 1/2 years. It is wonderful to not have that tuition anymore but I feel like my little girl is growing up. I really can't stop crying...even crying right now as I am writing this. She is such a smart and sweet little girl and I know they all have to get older but I am not ready for this!!!!

Delaney and her silly little friends before their ice cream party at the last day of preschool. Hopefully we will be able to keep a lot of these girls together through various activities and get togethers.

Maya had a little party in her classroom too.

Lilly and Maya---otherwise known as Sarah Beth and Delaney Jr.

Kiss Jake Lilly!!!!

Delaney's ice cream party with her teachers Lisa and Sandy

"I have a big cup mommy!!!!"

Delaney giving hugs to Mady----they will be playing soccer together this fall though.

Delaney giving hugs to Anna Leah---not sure if we will see her again unless Delaney does the summer camp at TRUMPS next year. MOST of her friends will be doing it so I will decide later. Put her on registration list already. Not sure if I want to work so much during summers because, as I stated earlier, I cry a lot about my girls growing up and would like to work it out so I could spend more time with them. The TRUMPS summer program is really awesome though and Delaney would have a blast. Put Maya on list to be in 3's room next summer as good option for her with Miss Kim. It's a year away though so I don't need to obsess until at least November or so. :) Blake in green shirt will also be playing soccer with Delaney.

Hugs to boyfriend Roper!!

Delaney and one of the most adorable children ever...Abby. Her mom Heidi is fabulous too and I have loved getting to know them. Abby will be attending summer program at TRUMPS.

Little Libbie in background. Because me and Caitlin, Libbie's mom, are good friends....there are no worries about these two spending time together.

Maya and her teacher Mrs. Caitlyn.

Maya and her teacher Ms. Maritza. I know that her two teachers LOVED them some Maya Waya Presley Roberts and Maya truly loved going to school there. I hate that she couldn't stay but some things happen for a reason. I was not happy with one of Delaney's 4's teachers AT ALL and she actually just got switched to be a co-teacher with Miss Kim in the 3's. Soooooo......things happen for a reason and I am glad Maya is leaving now. Two girls with two new schools.

Mrs. Vickie was always one of our favorites and I and the girls will truly miss her.

There are no words to state how much we all love Miss Kim. LOVE LOVE LOVE her and she LOVE LOVE LOVES my girls. Tears pouring down face now. She is a truly remarkable teacher and person and I will miss her a lot.

Maya's BFF Abby.

Delaney and one of her besties Sally who is in her classroom at Brennen. We had orientation that night and the two girls are in Mrs. Painter's room. Mrs. Painter is actually a friend of Raven's who is Sally's mom. The girls were like Tweedledee and Tweedledum at the orientation....being truly obnoxious. As I am writing this during the second week of school I can say that they stopped their silly behavior during school hours thank goodness. I am so glad Sally is with Delaney. She is adorable and I hope the two stay close for a long time.

Sporting the new Brennen shirts!!!!

Delaney had a little whine about something though...

My big going to kindergarten girl!!!!!!!!!!