Two Cool for School

Alison started a new 2-year old program at school last week called, "Parents and Two's." It meets once a week on Tuesday mornings, and they get a chance to interact with other kids, work on motor skills, have a snack, and listen to a bible story. Alison had a lot of fun, but she did have a couple minor tantrums. (She didn't want to wait until "school started" to go in, she didn't want to wear a smock while painting). She's looking forward to going back next week.

On the way to school, in her new "big girl" car seat....with a "big girl bee-belt" as she calls it.

Waiting in the lobby for school to start.....

......and throwing the tantrum when finding out school won't start for another few minutes.

Painting a leaf several different colors....

Alison with her "parent" to qualify for the "Parents and Two" portion of the program... Alison and the rest of her class.....there's only 4 of them and one kid was sick.

A couple of random photos....here's Grace and Alison have a sleepover Friday night.

Grace and her friend Samara before passing out flyers to Trunk or Treat at our church.

Our friends the Williams' had an Oktoberfest party yesterday.....I thought this photo was going to be more zoomed in, that's why I'm hunching over like I have severe back pain. Just focus on the three pretty girls to my right.

Fall Pictures

Summer, if it was really ever here, left quickly.....the girls have turned the calendar and started getting ready for Halloween and fall activities.....here's a few photos from this past week.

Alison broke out a Candy Corn shirt....
She's turning into quite the ham for the camera....

Ashley and Alison have matching pumpkin shirts and they wore them Saturday to go garage sale-ing.....Ali's shirt used to be Grace's.

Our work had a "Western Round Up" and we went with our friends, the Williams'....Here, Grace and Emma ride the ponies.....

Alison was not so much a fan of the ponies.....I guess I can never bribe her with buying her a pony......she did sit on it real quick for a photo op.

Usually she plays this bean bag toss game with a beer in her hand, so her balance was a little off.

Left to right, Gretchen, Alison, Emma, and Grace pose near the pumpkins....

Face painting......Grace picked a pink kitten.....

Alison wanted flowers on her face.....

The finished product........

All the girls with their faces painted....

Alison trying to keep her cowgirl hat on......it was cold and windy!

Cuz They Like New Clothes

The girls have gotten new outfits and PJ's recently, and it seems every time they put something new on they want a picture taken!

Alison in her "Daddy's Little Girl" jammies.
Not really new clothes but she asked to have her picture taken.....

Alison in a new dress we bought on a recent trip to Chicago!

Grace posing in a new shirt that she got for her B-Day.....

We were bored the other day so we started a Cirque de So Lame club.....

.....I'm trying to mask the pain in this one.....

Grace in her new Little Miss Sunshine shirt from Aunt Lucy, Uncle Bud, and the boys!

Double Stuffs

Ashley picked up some Halloween-themed Double Stuffs last weekend, and Alison got a big kick out of the orange filling in the middle.....she kept laughing and so we grabbed the camera.

Grace turns 6?!

Grace turned Super Six about a week and a half ago! I'm not sure where the time goes, but she is growing up to be quite the little lady.....She's loving Kindergarten so far, and seems to be making a lot of new friends. Swim lessons started back up a few weeks ago, and she seems to be doing really well with that too. Ashley put together a little combo family/friend party on Grace's actual birthday, and here are a few pictures....

Grace standing by the gift table with her balloons....
Opening some Build-a-Bear accessories from Grami and Pop Pop......

We bought Grace some Speedo swimsuits for her swim lessons....official race gear!

Aunt Vicki and Uncle Ted sent Grace "Operation" as part of her gifts, and she loves it...future othro surgeon???

Alison received some presents, too, so that she wouldn't feel left out.....

Grami found this outfit.....the pants are "pleather" looking......cute and funny!

The kids got to do a "decorate your own cookie activity"

Grace very proud of her decorations.....

Alison was a little under-supervised during her turn and she dumped a LOT of purple sprinkles on her cookie!

Grace and her Barbie pinata.......

Showin' Barbie who is in charge!

Opening gifts from her friends......

Grace's princess cake.........

Grace listening to everyone sing Happy Birthday!

Makin' a Wish........

It was a busy day and the party wore out the grandpas!

Grace's First Day of K

Well, after years and months and weeks and days of waiting and counting down, Grace started Kindergarten today.....she woke up at 6 and was super-excited that the first day of school had arrived. Here's a few pictures of her morning -

Grace had a new t-shirt, skirt, socks, sneakers, and backpack.......
The side view of her backpack and a stance that would give me a torn ACL......

It was 6:30 and she was ready to go.....school didn't start until 8:15!

Alison wanted to get in some pictures too....she was a little sad that Grace wasn't staying at daycare, but the sitter said she did just fine all day!

Grace and Mommy posing for the first day.......

The long view of the Grace and Mommy......

The Three Amigas........

Me and the girls.......

A close-up of Grace and one proud Dad......

Grace took this picture of Alison and Kiki.......

Grace out in front of the school.....

Grace and one of her classmates, Juliana.....

Group hug with Grace, Juliana, and Emma.....I'm not sure Juliana can breathe.....

Grace after she put her iCarly backpack in her cubby....

Grace in her "spot".......

Grace gets to sit next Nathan who was in her class last year.....

Grace and her teacher, Mrs. Dietsch......

This how we "left her".....working on an art project.....

Grace called me at the end of the day and said she had a great day.....she got TWO recesses, made a new "best friend forever" named Nola, spilled some syrup on her skirt (she cried and the principal helped her clean up mess), fell asleep at "rest time" (can't call it nap time), and can't wait to go back tomorrow