1st Day of Kindergarten!

C started his first day of kindergarten today. I wasn't sad at all this morning, wasn't really nervous either. But, when I saw another little boy crying I started to get some tears. Then, I looked at C, still all teary eyed, but so thankful that I made the decision to keep him out of school for an extra year. (He just turned 6.) There were no sad or scared feelings from him at all. It was amazing for my shy little boy.

Not so little anymore!

Off they go.

It is so awesome what his school does for the kindergarteners first day. The first day is 2 hours and 20 minutes. A parent or special adult spends the 1st day with the children. It was so incredibly special for the first day. It's such a big transition for kids and it makes it so easy for them. After they had their rug time, we got to go to all the centers in the classroom and do them together. I loved it, because it is so rare for C to have my undivided attention and for it to be in his new classroom really made the transition fun for him. His class room now is a special place. We explored the whole room and playground together today, now tomorrow he knows what to expect. After the first 2 hours, the parents went to listen to the principle for 20 minutes and the kids stayed with teacher. At the end, we picked them up from the door, just like we will every day.

Here is C drawing his face on a plate at one of the centers.

Isn't he handsome? He even has nice eyebrows. He tried to color the teeth white, but it didn't show up so he had to switch to yellow.

As we were leaving, I asked, "So, what did you think of school?" He answered, "I like it!" I was so happy. Our life has now changed to school night routines.

Birthday Present

We have another birthday party to go to Friday and it's for a little girl just a bit bigger the L and I have had this cute, cute fabric I have had for a while. What a perfect time! I did need to get a little coordinating fabric to go with it, but here is what I came up with...

I think I thought about how to make this skirt for months and it FINALLY came together this week. I'm so excited how it turned out and the little top to go with it is so simple! Just a tube of knit with little ruffle straps.

L loved it and modeled it for me. It's a bit big for her, but the little girl is a little older then L, so hopefully it will fit her.

She had to dance all around in it, I could hardly take it off her.

Backyard Camp-out

Well, the party is over and I need some sleep. L's nap is going on her 3rd hour. The kids all went to sleep in their lovely tents at 10:15 last night and they were all up by 6:15 this morning.

Here is the cake. Cole picked what he wanted on the top and I decided on cake and icing. (Chocolate with cream cheese and marshmallow mixed for frosting.)

Here is all the food, cake table and goodie bags. The kids LOVED them. I will never again put whistles in a goodie bag.

Here are the sleeping quarters.

Here is the gang going on a hike. I'm taking the pictures so it looks like mom never made it to the birthday.

After about 2 hours in the morning of running around, playing kittens, and all kinds of stuff, the kids settled in for a board game.

This group of kids is just amazing. They all play so well together and they all play together. Sometimes you will see them split up in little groups, but for the most part they are all having so much fun as one big group.

Birthday Time

Today is C's birthday. I can't believe he is 6! Six is a BIG birthday for me. I don't know why, I really didn't expect it, but it's huge.

Both my parents growing up always made us feel so special on our birthdays. My dad would always sing to me first thing in the morning even as I grew up and moved out, he would call me bright an early, I would answer the phone to singing. My mom always made it such a huge deal that I was another year older. Those are just a couple of the little things that stood out to me.

For my kids birthdays I like to do the same. I always make birthday pancakes for C because pancakes are his favorite. He also loves hearts because they mean love. I also let him choose dinner and he picked individual pizzas. I don't have any pictures because L was the photographer and she got video instead.

C got as many pancakes as he wanted and he couldn't finish them all. He had one with peanut butter and agave, one with powdered sugar and cinnamon and one with just agave.

After breakfast and a little last minute shopping for his party tomorrow, we went to the park with some good friends. They made the day special for him by bringing some ice cream and candles. We sang happy birthday and he ate it before his lunch! That is a huge deal for me. He will probably never forget that!

After the park we came home and had quiet time for C and nap for L. Then C got up early to help me stuff the goodie bags for the party tomorrow.

The hiking essentials are going in the re-usable hand made sacs. I don't like extra trash or junk so this is what we came up with.

Tomorrow C is having a backyard camp out with what should be the most amazing cake. It's something C and I came up with together (he the decoration and me the recipe). I sure hope it's good. I will be sharing all the campout fun with you Sunday. Tomorrow we will be camping in the yard.

Kristen

A Perfect Day

A perfect day with my favorite people!

I love this beach! It's so peaceful.

The kids have so much fun making their tracks and bridges in the sand.

Mr. C's board surfs! :-)

One reason this beach is so peaceful is because all the people there are in the water, not on the sand.

It's so nice to see such clean sand. The people that go to this beach really care about it. You will often see people walking along picking up trash. My kind of place!

So sweet.

The reason this beach is so empty on the sand is because it's such a long trek to get down there. But it is SO worth it! Here is the bike ride home. I didn't know the picture was being taken so I don't have it to actually give you a big one.

Fabric and lots to do!

C has a big birthday coming up and I have a lot to do for it! We decided on a backyard campout for his party and I thought it would be fun to make the kids little sacks to take along on their hikes with snack packs for their trail mix. Look at all the cute out doorsy fabric I got.

Too bad I procrastinated! My husband and I are going to be gone for the next 4 days celebrating our 10 year anniversary and C's birthday party is 4 days later. That means I have 4 days to get everything done. At least I did manage to get to the fabric store today. That's one thing off my list. But after the party C starts school in a week. Oh my goodness! That's what I think every time I think about it. My little baby boy is going to kindergarten. It's so weird.

Well, onto what I have today, this is a girl scout fabric for the girls. The checkered is going to be the snack pack and the solid, the straps.

Here is a boy scout fabric. The red seems to look best with all of them. I should have listened to C when he said not to get the green checkered.

And another boy scout fabric. C couldn't decide between the two. That's ok, we'll use it all.

Of course I couldn't leave without a little something for me. The striped ribbed knit was $1.97 a yard! I thought the brown and white would go with a sear sucker that I have, but it didn't. Oh well, I still like it.

After about 12 bags and snack packs, 1 table cloth and a YUMMY cake that I will share later I need to get sewing for school.

Kristen

Yes, I have used my serger

I know, I haven't posted in a while and I haven't posted anything from my serger. Well, I have been using it and I LOVE it. I was using it even when I didn't need to. It's so fun to have the seams sewed and cut for you. Nice! Just look at these seams and edges.

It's so nice to sew on knit too. Remember this green jersey cardigan? (I have no idea what to call it.) Well, my sister-in-law wanted one in white, so she got one that looks all professional.

Here is the cardigan...

It's perfect for a cool summer night.

Here is C testing out his photography skills. Yes, I know it's a bit wrinkly, but it was all crinkled up and it will smooth out in a few minutes.

Kristen