School Update

I love being able to see Gianna during the day at school. We sure do miss Elia, but its nice to know that I pretty much know exactly what Gianna is up to.

First Monthly School Assembly, called Huddle. 

Homework face

The Music teacher emailed this pic to me.

an aside: Elia told her teacher that she is 4 and that she has 2 brothers!

Yellow day.  Each thursday she gets to dress up in the color of the week.  Elia always wants to do it too.  I even got in on it when it was purple day.

Matchy Spears Elementary shirts.  Of course Elia got one too!

October Huddle

Another aside: Elia thanks God for taking care of the animals.

Her family picture in her hallway.



 

Going back full time has been super hard and stressful, but I am so thankful that I have the unique experience of being here with Gianna as she navigates through her school years!

Saying Goodbye

I have neglected blogging for a while due to the craziness of school.  That, and we spent every weekend in Irving to hang out with the McBrides.  They have been wanting to move back to St. Louis for a while, and in mid September, Matthew accepted an amazing oppurtunity in St. Charles, which is just outside of St. Louis.  Within 2 and a half weeks, they had to pack up, say goodbye to friends, and move to their new dream hometown. 
This is something they have wanted for so long and I am so happy for them. Rebecca is expecting and she will finally be able to lean on her mom for the support she needs in raising her young family. I was so sad to see her go though. I met Rebecca in high school, doing camps during the summer in St. Louis. We went to college together, lived together, were in each other's weddings, and had kids together. It is really hard to say goodbye to someone you have that much history with, someone you almost consider as a sister. 
Thankfully, they are moving to a place we visit 3-4 times per year.  Maybe someday Sohpia and Gianna will go to UD together!

Sorry my pictures aren't lining up correctly.




March of 2007.  Both pregnant and unable to play whirly ball.

Just a few weeks before Sophia was born.
 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia and Gianna- a few months before they are big sisters.

Fast forward 4 years.  When I told Gianna they were moving, she broke into tears.

 

 

Hair

I think the worst thing about having girls is dealing with their hair.  its always tangled, there is always screeching, and coaxing them to sit still so I can put it in a braid or a bow in it is exhausting.  I often threaten them that I'm just going to cut it all of so they have hair like daddy.  That usually results in more screeching.



Elia's Picture Day.  Yes, I straightened it.

This is G's hair, not straightened.

This is her new hairdo.  Dare I use the word sophisticated to describe the way it looks?

Homework face.

We cut a few off Elia's hair too.

Even with the short hair, there are still tangles and bows and braids to whine about.  Less, but still there!

Car Washing

 

Sometimes we get crazy on the weekends and wash the car.

Labor Day Weekend

One of my teacher friends posted on facebook that as a teacher, Labor Day weekend is like the eye of the storm, craziness last week, a great relaxing weekend in between, and followed by a short but crazy packed week!  Its so true.  It was a fabulous 3 day weekend.  While I spent some time up at school on Saturday, Chris took the girls and Daria for a walk and then Saturday night we had another movie night.
Sunday was as usual- cartoons, church and lunch.  We went to the McBrides for a barbecue and it was great to catch up with them.

Monday Chris had to work (grrrrrr) so I did all the fun SAHM activities I could think of. We went to Tom Thumb and got lunchables,

 

went to the pool, read tons of books, and of course we baked.

We used a cake pop mold to get this shape.  (thanks Aunt Col!)

 

And decorated!

 

 

It was a swell, swell weekend!

First Week of School

A whole week has come and gone!  Dropping Gianna off in her calssrooom Monday morning was so sad!  Its cliche to say, but I can't believe that sweet baby G is a kindergartner.



Gianna's classroom theme is the ocean- her name is on the octopus in the top right corner.

Her little seat.

 

 

 

First Day Pics:

I want to be a gymnast.  (Gabby Douglas, duh.)

Elia hamming it up.

The hardest part has been watching Elia go off to daycare.  Since I went back to work 18 months ago she hasn't really had separation anxiety and I think part of that is due to the fact that she was always with Big Sis.  Now, I am dropping her off all alone and she knows Gianna goes with me and that I get to see her all day long.

Which is actually pretty great.  My break is right around the time G has lunch, so I always get to give her a quick squeeze and that holds me over until I see her again right after school.

Its all an adjustment, I know, so Elia will get through it.  When she tells me about school, it sounds super fun!  Play- dough, coloring, playing on the dinosaur playground etc.

When we get home, the girls play really hard together.  I think they are making up for lost time together because as soon as their feet hit the inside of the house they are running off to find the next imaginary adventure by dressing up, jumping on the couch, or playing outside.



Friday we came home and went straight to the park for a picnic.

And of course, a movie night to end the first week!

A Week without the Girls

After our fun filled camping trip in Colorado, Grandma took Gianna and Elia back to California with them for a week so that I could get work done to prepare for this upcoming school year.  Chris and I drove 17 hours back to Dallas from Grand Junction, CO on Sunday.  Then, while I went to boring trainings and made my classroom look awesome here in Dallas...
 

Leveling and categorizing my library took me all day Saturday!

The girls had a blast hanging out with the Rowles!  I got an iphone (finally!) and so we were able to share pics and of course facetime every day!

Aunties and cousins

Gianna is channeling her inner Gabby Douglas

Crafty stuff

I wasn't at school every waking minute while they were gone, so I managed to surprise them with some crate chairs for the playroom.  Of course I found it on pinterest, and it was surprisingly easy.  Chris and I managed to get out for a few dates too!

Bedtime story.  Elia conked out while I was reading a Care Bears book.  So happy to have them back!

Camping in CO Photo Dump 2

The day before we left, we went on a hike near our campsite.  There was a trailhead just a 2 minute walk away.

Dead trees from that beetle

Elia being the trail leader.  That is definitely an action shot of me looking for
Poison Oak, which thank the good Lord we did not touch any!

Chis switched out little girls in the 1 backpack so they could go longer.

Near a beautiful waterfall.

My pretty pretty little girl.

I found a recipe on pinterest on how to make just 2 cupcakes and Grandma found a tutorial
online on how to bake cake in hollowed out oranges.  Happy Birthday to Chirs!

Chris ate one bite and the girls devoured the rest!

Leaving our camp, this is the view.  Gorgeous!