Our Kindergarden Graduate!

This morning was Sofia's Kindergarden graduation ceremony. I can't believe this year is almost over. All the kids wore one of their dad's white dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up and backwards so it looked more formal. With the white mortar boards the kids really looked great! The three Kindergarden classes filed into the cafeteria where all of us parents were sitting around with cameras as they took the stage. Luckily, Sofia was in the front row right in the center so we had a great view of her and I took some video and photos that turned out well.

The principal Mrs. Richlan, gave a short speech and talked about all the tears she could see from the parents and the big step the kids are now taking into elementary school. To be honest, I couldn't be more excited that Kindergarden is over. It's been fun and Sofia has really thrived in school, but I'm tired of getting her up, ready and out the door by 7:35am so we aren't late at 7:45am! I also think the summer will be a good break away from her classmates, who it seemed acted more like siblings the past several weeks than friends. Of course we'll try to get together with those she's closer to but it will be a good break. Mostly, I'm looking forward to just having her around! School takes up so much of her day and even once she's home, she's often too tired and cranky to be fun sometimes. It will be great to have her around and do a few fun things, travel, and relax.

After Mrs. Richlan's speech, the kids sang a few adorable songs and then took their seats to accept their "graduation certificate" from Mrs. Richlan and pose for a photo with their teacher. It went very smoothly and Sofia was so happy to get her certificate and give Mrs. Patterson a hug. After, the kids walked back to their classrooms where we joined them. We took a few pictures with Sofia before we headed out. It was such a nice celebration of the end of her Kindergarden year.

Last week, I met with Mrs. Patterson to talk about Sofia's progress and she had nothing but glowing remarks about her work ethic and her reading ability. She's at a 1st grade reading level and loves it. Mrs. Patterson also remarked how she can tell that Sofia has structure and discipline at home since she's well mannered and follows directs well. She also showed me a story that Sofia wrote that is used for her assessment into 1st grade. She said the kids were asked to draw a picture and write a store explaining a fun time they had. Mrs. Patterson said they were looking for a beginning, middle and end to the story and Sofia did an outstanding job in ending her story with a thought for the future which she said they haven't really taught yet but she loved that she used that. It was great to see her story and I asked if I could take it home but they apparently need it for her file, so I took a picture of it.

Sofia's assessment story: "I went to Jump Street and jumped on the trampolines. And if my little sister had a na-"

"me tage she can bouns whith (bounce with) me! And we bouns and we bouns. Then it was time to leve and we had fun at home. At home I played whith my toy horses. At night I demed (dreamed) that what it would be like to have a jump party at night."

Olivia and her Papa are ready to watch the kids walk

This year's CES Kindergarden graduating class!

Sofia was front row right in the center!

Singing

More singing...she was really into it

Getting ready to get her diploma

Sofia accepts her diploma from Principal Mrs. Richlan

So exciting!

Sofia and her teacher, Mrs. Patterson

Sofia and her class after they get their diplomas

Heading back to class

On to 1st grade!

So proud of our little graduate!

Such a big girl

Sofia and her Papa

Sofia and me

Summer Fun List

Summer is nearly upon us and I've asked Sofia several times about what fun things she'd like to do over the coming months. This is the first summer that I haven't signed her up for art camp, science camp, gymnastics, etc. I've just really missed spending time with her this school year and feel like summer will race by and she'll be back in school once again, so I decided instead to make a list of fun stuff we want to do and plan on doing at least one fun adventure a week.

Not that our summer is going to be boring! We actually have quite a lot of travel planned already, which I know will be fun on it's own. We're starting off our summer with a week at Grandma and Grandpa's farm while CK and I go to Key West for a few days of kid-free time. It will be a great chance for the girls to spend some one-on-one time with their grandparents too. In July we'll be going to Santa Fe over the 4th of July to see Aunt and Uncle and will also be going to California for 10 days to visit family and friends! Then, in August we will all be going to Cabo San Lucas with our friends and neighbors for a week of swimming and sun. I can't wait for all of our fun travel plans! But, we also plan on doing some, maybe even all, of the following while we are in town. Hopefully I'll be blogging about each fun event over the next few weeks.

Our summer fun list (in no particular order):

1) Ride the train to the Dallas Zoo

2) Visit Fossil Rim

3) Camp out in the backyard

4) Go to Medieval Times

5) Visit Knott's Berry Farm (hopefully with CA cousins)

6) Legoland (in California)

7) Host a pool party

8) Have a sleep over at our house

9) Have a picnic at the Arboretum

10) Visit a local swim park

11) Go for a hike

12) Ride horses

Meeting Jackson

We arrived in Atlanta around 7pm Friday evening and drove into the city to Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Jay's house so we could meet little baby Jackson. Sofia was so happy to see Chandler, Jillian and Grandma and the kids immediately started playing. We ate a quick dinner at the house and said our hellos and held the baby before we headed to our hotel for the night. Sofia decided to spend the night with Grandma.

Throughout the weekend visit, both Sofia and especially Olivia kept asking to hold the baby. Olivia would hold out her hands and say "baby?" As long as they sat on the couch, the girls could take turns holding Jackson. Sofia was really great holding him and was so happy to have him in her arms. For her age, Olivia was also very good with Jackson and kept kissing his forehead and pointing out his nose, hands, feet, belly, etc. She only had trouble when she would point out his eyes, but she only lightly pressed on his eyelid. I was surprised at how much both girls wanted to hold Jackson and admire him. He's such a sweet baby and so little - I can't even remember either of our girls being so small, but they were not all that long ago.

Olivia holding Jackson for the first time.


She's SO happy to have him in her arms


Sofia with Jackson - such a natural at holding a baby


She's so happy and relaxed with him.


Cousins


Kisses!

Weekend with Cousins

On Saturday morning we woke up a little late thanks to our hotel's blackout curtains (Olivia woke up at 7am, which is 6am TX time, but CK cuddled with her in bed and in no time she was back asleep). On our way to Cynthia and Jay's house we picked up donuts which the kids were dying to eat. After donuts, we tried to decide what to do with our day and figured we should get a good meal in us and then go to the park. After driving around and looking at the outrageously long waits at the restaurants around their house, CK finally asked if we could go to one of his favorite Atlanta haunts, OK Cafe. Surprisingly there was absolutely no wait even with four adults and four kids in our group! The food was really outstanding and such a great brunch!

After OK Cafe, we decided to go to one of Chandler and Jillian's favorite local parks to let the kiddos run out their energy. The kids had a great time and the weather was absolutely perfect to be outside. Somehow we had the entire park to ourselves which made it even better. After the park, we returned to the house so the kids could get naps, which they all needed. After naps, it was so nice outside that we decided to go to Atlantic Station and walk around. The kids loved it and ran around and played tag with some other kids on the grass after we finished off some Italian ice. Then we rode the train around the outdoor mall before we loaded up and headed back to the house. That night we had pizza that was amazing and hit the spot! Sofia really needed a night of sleep, so we headed back to our hotel a little early and swam in their indoor pool before giving both gals a bath and putting them to bed. Somehow it wasn't all that early by the time Sofia went to sleep around 9:30pm.

On Sunday, we made it to the house and headed to Meeting after donuts. We returned to the house after Meeting for a great meal made by Connie. The kids took naps and after they woke up we went to another local park and Cynthia and Jackson went with us to get a little fresh air. It was another gorgeous day and felt great to be outside. The kids had a great time and Chandler and Sofia loved climbing onto the play structure. We headed back to the house and Jay grilled burgers and hot dogs which were great and the perfect end to a fun weekend.

Sofia decided to stay the night with her Grandma and cousins on Sunday night so we packed up and on Monday morning we headed back to Cynthia and Jay's house to spend a little more time and say goodbye. We took pictures and both girls held Jackson one last time before we headed to the airport. We stopped for Sonny's BBQ on the way, which was perfect. Then, we loaded up in the Baron and headed home. It was a smooth and easy flight and both girls slept for over half of the trip. It was a fun weekend meeting sweet baby Jackson and it's hard to imagine how much he'll change by the time we see him next.

At the park on Saturday - Papa and Olivia on the teeter toter


My turn with Olivia - she loves it!


Jillian and Sofia take a turn


Chandler and Sofia's silly water break before heading home


At Atlantic Station


Playing tag


Everyone gets into it


Olivia tried to keep up most of the time, but also got distracted by practicing her jumping


The train!


Everyone is ready to go!


The only thing better than Saturday morning donuts? Sunday morning donuts!


At the park Sunday afternoon


Olivia and Jillian


Silly faces!


Chandler and Sofia climbing on the play structure


At the top!


Cousins!


The four of us


Jay, Cynthia, Chandler, Jillian and Jackson


All of us!


Grandma and her grandkids


Drawing together at Sonny's BBQ


Sofia practices her writing


Olivia practices her scribbles

Olivia at 21 Months

Olivia is really becoming such a big girl before our eyes! She's now 35" tall and weighs 30.2 lbs!! She's a hefty girl, but also seems to be growing up and her little basketball belly is slimming down. She is still working on her words and instead of trying to say her animal names like "cat" or "cow" they are simply "meow" (sounds more like "maaw") and "Booo" (she used to say "Mooo" but it somehow is now "Booo"). She still doesn't say yes, but will sometimes shake her head up and down and will say "uh huh" but usually after Sofia has said it. She does still love to babble and "talk" and will usually disappear into her room every day to sing, read and be by herself for a bit. It's so cute! She runs everywhere and is pretty sturdy and coordinated and jumps off curbs and can jump in the air. She still doesn't like having things - food, dirt, sand, leaves, on her hands and always wants them cleaned off. One of her favorite treats, which she's enjoyed for months now, is little Altoids! She would eat the entire box of them if I let her and she always sees them when we are in the grocery store checkout. She also loves chewing gum and will dig through my purse if it's on the floor and find gum for herself. Thankfully she's very good at giving me her used gum once she's done. She loves to plug her ears, usually when we are in a public place or somewhere new so she can hear the difference in noise with her ears plugged and unplugged. She also absolutely loves pointing out what she calls "Papa"s - airplanes! She can honestly spot them before CK can and usually will point them out as we are driving in the car.

Just in the past few days she's started saying "I do" when asked a question. One afternoon I said "Who wants to go swimming?" to Sofia and after Sofia said "I do!," Olivia repeated a cute little "I do." It was adorable. Now, before I pick Sofia up from school I ask "Who wants to go get sister at school?" and Olivia will get a cute little smile on her face and then say "I do." She's very proud of herself.

Olivia is really becoming a sweet little girl who loves to laugh and be silly. She is absolutely fearless and loves to swim. So far she's great at staying on the swim step and will just fall over and splash. It doesn't look like it would feel that good, but she loves it. I can tell she's already eyeballing Sofia and wishing she could swim like her big sister. It's so fun to watch her grow up and change.

Playing in the pool - she's fearless


What a cute, sweet girl


She loves to read, just like her sister did at her age


Sisters, after a swim


Olivia at 21 months - reading "The Little Red Caboose" which was given to me by my Grandma Fulton. She's wearing a dress her Aunt Cynthia gave her that was passed down from her cousin Jillian.


She loves her books - she won't even look up for a smile


Such a big girl


Such a sweetheart!