Lunch with my 1st Grader

I had lunch with Karissa for the first time this school year yesterday. It was my day to be the library volunteer and so I kept the tradition we had started last year and also had lunch with her in the classroom. It's a fun time for us to chat and she can show me all the things they do each day.

She is especially fond of the class bunny, Daisy =)

Gymnastics

The girls start up gymnastics again this afternoon. They are excited...especially Kyleigh! We watched a gymnastics tournament on tv over the weekend and they loved watching the big girls =) I'm secretly hoping they DON'T want to compete one day but it's cute to watch them learn right now.

Cades Cove

We drove out to Cades Cove one day while on vacation. It's a scenic drive, once you get there. We stopped and walked around some of the old homesteads, churches, cemeteries, and the mill. I should have taked more pictures but trust me it's beautiful!

Horses are a girl's best friend?;)

We took the girls horsebackriding while on vacation in Tennessee. They both LOVED it! Kyleigh was too young for her own horse so she doubled up with her daddy. Karissa was nervous at first, but got the hang of it pretty quickly! Kyleigh talked to her horse THE ENTIRE TIME ("it's okay Sydney ... you can go now", "Sydney!" What did the man say about eating the grass!" etc) It was hilarious!

(Karissa rode Dolly, Kyleigh had Sydney and I had Biscuit)

First Day of 1st Grade

Today was Karissa's first day of school. She has been looking forward to this day ever since the last day of kindergarten;) It was MUCH less emotional for Jeff and I to drop her off for 1st grade than it was last year. She has a great teacher, Mrs. Reichard.

We started the day with Krispy Kremes for breakfast and will take her to her favorite chinese resturant for dinner. She has had nothing but good things to say about her first day. She is especially excited that they have a bunny in their classroom =)

Last Day at home...

Tomorrow is the first day of school! I can't believe it's here, already!! We went to Open House last night to meet Karissa's new teacher, Mrs. Reichard. She seems really great. We didn't stay long since Karissa wasn't supposed to be out and about (to keep her from catching anything.)

I had planned to take the girls to do something FUN today, since it was our last day together before school starts up again but since we needed to stick around the house, we had to improvise. The girls drew some pictures. Then we made some yummy brownies and took them to the firestation to thank them for all they do (I stole the idea from a friend who had done it with her kids). Then, we finished a cute movie, "The Tale of Despereaux" that we had checked out from the library last week. The girls have also had fun playing "house" together ... despite Karissa's sore bum=)

Maybe we can find something else special to do this evening after Daddy gets home from work...

Happy Tuesday!!

Last Camping Trip...

This past week was the LAST camping trip before school starts up again. We relaxed and didn't do a whole lot but enjoyed the pool, cooler weather, and more time with friends :)

More Tennessee Vacation Pictures ...

We spent one day "hiking" in a section of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The trails are BEAUTIFUL but it was hot and we had seven kids with us that were 6 and under so we didn't get too far! Then, we stopped for lunch ... as Jason (Kate's b/f) was throwing his trash away, he spotted a bear! He and some of the other guys took off chasing it to try and get a photo... the bear wasn't thrilled and growled at them so they decided to leave him alone!;)

Tennessee vacation

For the fifth year in a row, we have picked a destination and camped there for a week with Jeff's family and whoever else wants to tag along. Our trip this year was to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. We stayed at a campground in Sevierville, just outside of Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg. This year, there were 20 of us...Jeff's parents, my parents, Jeff's brother and crew, Jeff's sister and boyfriend, our friends Tim&Christina, and us. Other that it being unseasonably hot, even in the mountains, we had a great time. We arrived on Saturday and left the next Saturday.

We spent Sunday at the waterpark next to Dollywood called Splash Country. Kyleigh LOVED the wavepool! Karissa liked the slides and even braved a couple of big ones with her daddy!