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.