Fall Festival

Matt was in England last week (he's home now, so if there are any Internet weirdos out there...he's back). While he was gallivanting around London, taking in these majestic sights:

 

Big Ben. Matt said London was amazing. I am so jealous.

 

 This is Matt and his boss. They were at a conference at this hospital in downtown London. For you Olympic lovers, it's the hospital they were sining and dancing about in the Opening Ceremony. Pretty cool.

While he was there, we were still here, taking in the sights at the Webster Fall Festival and nearly getting taken out by a deer. Parts of our area are rather rural, and so there are deer everywhere. On our way to the festival, an oncoming car hit a deer right in front of us. We were so lucky. It was as if there was a bubble around our car! The deer went spinning off the Jeep's fender, slid across the street directly in front of us and then alongside the passenger side of the car. Annie said,"Uh, Mom? I just saw a deer roll by our car." Luckily, everyone was ok, and we continued on our way.

As soon as we got there, we ran into Annie's friend Cora from preschool!

This was an old carousel type thing. The kids pulled and pushed to get it going. It was really fun!

Eve is not impressed.

Kate, Cora, Annie and Evie.

On the longest hayride ever. I am not trying to break land-speed records on a hayride, but I kid you not, we got lapped by the other tractors pulling hayrides. Really. The old man driving the tractor was very nice, but he was also into stopping for some Michigan natural history lessons.

And there was this guy.

The girls got their faces painted. For free (obviously). They are supposed tobe butterflies...

Making little colored sand bracelets. (In a tent with a yellow top).

Annie.

Then Daddy came back, complete with presents from England!

Watch out Princess Kate! There's another fashionista in town :)

 

Kate Goes To Preschool

 

 

 

School in Michigan doesn't start until after Labor Day, and preschool usually starts a couple weeks after that, so Kate started preschool today! We were unsure how she'd react to going. I knew she wouldn't cry because she is too stoic for that. There was, however, a definite possibility that she would cling and tell me not to leave.

 

That didn't happen, though! She did so well! She was very quiet, of course. (She did not speak one word at the Open House last week). But she sat down and started playing with a puzzle. She was really happy and proud to be the one to bring the snack for the first day. :) (She chose apples, cheese sticks and apple juice).

 

I love this picture of her. Perfect capture of Kate.

She picked out her own backpack. It is adorned with a little plush of Darth Vader and one of those Julius monkey name tags.

Kate and Daddy

Kate and Mommy. So early in the morning.

Her snack for the class.

Kate and Steve are in the same class. Steve was showing slightly more enthusiasm than Kate. She plays it pretty close to the vest :) But I'm sure they are both going to have such a fun year!

(It was rainy and cold for their first morning, which was a bummer, but they were happy to wear their rain jackets).

 

Kate is in preschool! Oh my gosh! We are so proud of her!

 

 



Happy Birthday Matt!

 

The birthday boy and two of his girls. Evie was sleeping and missed out on the cake. Oops.

Annie and Kate selected the number of candles they thought appropriate and then promptly blew them out for Matt.

Matt got an iPad for his birthday (I actually pulled off a surprise!), and the girls and Pa were the biggest fans of it! They had so much sitting and playing with it and making Pa look up princess videos on YouTube :)

 

I didn't think to get my camera out until later, but we got some great pics of the girls.

 

Kate. She starts preschool tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures. She'll be wearing the same dress. Don't judge.

Eve has a scared look on her face. For good reason.

Crazy Evie.

 

She hates the grass and would not let her feet touch it.

 

Annie did not want her picture taken.

Mama and Evie

Daddy and Evie.

Kate, Daddy and Evie

 

Doesn't Evie look like she loves us? Annie was being a photographer.

 

What it's really like to take pictures of three little girls.

 

Anyway, Happy Birthday Matt! We love you more the older you get :)

Sisterly Love

Annie and Kate are so nice to Evie. Evie is not so nice to them, usually. The big girls are so sweet with her. They share with her so well. A few days ago, Kate patiently walked around the grocery store holding Evie's hand (she refused to ride in the cart) and gently steering her the right way.

 

I did not pose them like this. Eve crawled into Annie's lap while they were watching t.v.

Kate and Evie riding some rides at Chuck E Cheese together. Kate is so good about taking care of Evie!

 

I hope Eve gets the hint soon and starts acting nice to them. Her baby cuteness is dangerously close to wearing off with her sisters!



Annie Goes To Kindergarten

Annie started kindergarten yesterday.

 

 

It's hard to say how I feel about her going to school -- real school! All day long! I am so excited for her. She is so excited! If ever a kid was ready for kindergarten, it's Annie. The little girl who made a point by point argument for why she should be allowed to sit in a regular booster instead of a high back is ready for school. The little girl who organized a group of total strangers into a massive game of tag at the park is ready for school.

 

It's just that there's a little girl who yesterday told me she wished she had magic glowing hair like Rapunzel because then she wouldn't need Band-Aids. And I want that little girl to stay home with me :)

 

Age five seems so, so far away when they are babies, and then it just sneaks up on you and off she goes. I know she's ready, and I know school is going to such a great adventure for her. But for the last five and a half years, we have put in so many tears and worries and prayers for her. We have gottent to spend so much time with her, and I'm a little sad that that phase of her life is ending.

 

I'm so proud of her, though. She told me she was "actually a lot nervous" the first day. But she didn't cry or act it. I think I was more nervous then she was! (And I definitely cried). She did great. Today, on her second day, as soon as she saw her teacher, she took off down the hall, did all her morning tasks at her locker and headed right in. So, I guess the question is more about whether kindergarten is ready for Annie :)

 

My kindergartner.

(With her baby sister peeking out the door).

Sisters.

Kate insisted on a picture. Kate starts preschool in two weeks!

Her awesome new backpack (with matching lunchbox, of course)

Mommy and Annie

At her table on the first morning. She jumped right in!