Slides, Shopping and Smiles

First of all, today was a day that felt somewhat cool for the first time in weeks and it was WONDERFUL!  Yes, it was still in the 90s but that seems very cool compared to the 100 plus we have had lately!  HURRY UP FALL!

This morning we celebrated Olivia's birthday with a SUPER water slide...I am talking HUGE.   The kids loved it and didn't stop the whole time.

              

Olivia used to be a foster child of my family but has since been adopted by some very good friends of my parents so Karis and Olivia have remained friends over the years.  These are some of my fav pics of Olivia and Karis when they were babies. 

          

I still crack up when I see this picture.  She LOVED food and she snuck these donuts out of the van and was chowing down!
           

            

This is Karis and Olivia today :)

Our friends, Ed and Stephanie have 3 girls and just a month or so ago adopted this sweet Lawson from Ethiopia.  He is ADORABLE and such a sweety!

Brayden had his lunch and THEN about 3 plates like this of watermelon!

The bday girl Olivia

Lucy LOVED this drink.

Brayden discovered this toy Cadillac Escalade and played with it until we left.  I am afraid in about 12 years this pair could be trouble haha!

After the party I went shopping with my mom because it was tax free weekend.  They had some great deals in JCPenneys and we got Karis some school clothes for some as little as a dollar or 3 or 4.  Most of the stuff was 70% off!!!  I LOVE some deals.

Mom got these matching outfits for the girls and this animal print outfit for Karis.

Some of these pants were seriously 97 cents and shorts were $6!

These were legging shirts (long to wear with leggings) and are so cute and the leggings (capri and long) to match.

We are in a transition stage with Karis' hair.  I have always put bows in Karis' hair but she is outgrowing them.  I am fully aware (although I don't like it too much) that she is growing up.  So she is really in to headbands and clips.  So I got her a few new ones to wear to school.

After we shopped we came back to Lolli's house for a while to let the kids play.  Mom had gotten Lucy this adorable new outfit so I attempted to take a few pics of her.

Pop and Lulu swinging....

Karis gave me and Lolli these flowers she found...

I was asking her, "Where's sissy?" And she was signing, "Where?"

Collecting things from the yard (rocks, bugs etc).  All was fun and games until.......

Lucy put a locust shell in her mouth....GROSS!  This is Lolli digging it out of her mouth haha.

Brayden cutting up magnolia leaves...

We got home around dinner and my sweet hubby had cooked dinner for us (grilled chicken, sweet potato fries and lima beans).  Lucy was hamming it up and making all of us laugh!  Apparently, we need to work on the whole manners thing.

It was a great day...looking forward to church tomorrow morning, a relaxing afternoon and the start of our Fall connect groups.

Karis' first day of Kindergarten!

Wow what a day!  I was a ball of nerves from the second I got up but Karis???  She was grinning the second she lifted her head up off the pillow and was dressed and downstairs in literally 2 minutes!  Today was the BIG day she had been waiting for all this time.  She was more than thrilled and I was thrilled to see her so excited!

Before we left for school...

            

I hate that this pic is blacked out but wanted to include it anyway.

All the way to school she was a little quiet and admitted that she was excited but a little afraid.  I had butterflies something terrible and felt like it was my first day of school!   But once we got into her room she put her backpack in her little cubby and immediately starting coloring.  We said our goodbyes and I knew that if I didn't get out of the room FAST I was going to be a snotty mess!  I had to bite my tongue so she wouldn't see me crying and made it out of the building before anyone declared me crazy!  

I stayed busy most of the day so I wouldn't think about it a few times when I did think about her, I got teary eyed and had to snap out of it.  I was beyond thrilled for her but I just missed her and it just hit me so hard she was growing up!  The boys and I made her some chocolate chip cookies for a snack when she came in and we all jumped for joy when we saw her pull up in the driveway.  It was like we hadn't seen her in a week!

I immediately starting asking her a million questions and got very few details.  I wanted to know everything and she just wasn't giving it to me!  I said, "Karis I am dying to know everything...tell me!"  Jay said, "Amanda she is probably exhausted!!!"  And I am sure she was.  It had been a tiring day for me so I know it was for her.

One funny thing I got out of her though was when I was asking her what her friends' names were and she said she made two friends but couldn't remember their names.  She told me one was a girl and then said, "I don't want to tell you the other one!" She finally told me she didn't want to tell me because it was  a BOY! She gets very embarrassed when people say she has a "boyfriend" so we explained to her that it was ok she was friends with a boy, that it didn't mean it was her "boyfriend."  

This was her homework about her first day of school...

The note I put in her lunch box.  I had to keep it to put in her memory box.

She got a "happy" note today.  Hopefully we will have lots of these!

She was so excited about going back tomorrow that she asked if she could hurry up and go to bed so she could wake up and go to school haha!  I hope she will always keep this enthusiasm!  :)

First day of Kindergarten

Dear Karis,

It seems as if it was yesterday that you were born and made your daddy and I the happiest parents alive.  You melted our hearts from the moment we found out we were expecting you and the love we had for you exploded the moment we saw your beautiful little face.  I have enjoyed getting to watch all of your firsts, see you crawl, walk, try new things, make friends, and grow up.

Today you start Kindergarten and you are SOOO excited.  We have talked about this for months and dreamed of what it will be like and how fun it will be.  I have no doubt you will be a great student!  You are such a good helper, polite, respectful and you love to make people happy.  I know Mrs. L will enjoy having you in her class and I do hope that she adores you as much as we do and appreciates the moments she has with you.

I look forward to seeing your face light up as you learn and try new things.  I long to see you succeed in things as well as not succeed, knowing that you will not give up but get up and try again.  It will be the hardest thing for me to let go and not "help" you through every season of your life.  I know you have to learn on your own, it is part of growing up.

I know you will LOVE school and I can't wait to hear all about your day.  You are not my baby anymore and today is a big step of "growing" up.  I relinquish my mommy grip of you knowing that you are in the best hands possible...the hands of Jesus.  I can only hope and pray that you recognize that I can't protect you every step of the way, but HE can.  In HIM I put my trust.  I pray that He will protect you, guard your heart, and teach you to trust in Him when we can't be there for you.

I love you Karis and want you to know that your daddy and I are SOOOO very proud of you and always will be.

With all my heart,
MOM

(Now I must go take a steamy shower because I am a snotty, cry baby right now!  I must get it together before tomorrow!)


To My Sweet Karis,
I too remember the day you were born.  If seems like only yesterday that your mom and I were bringing you home from the hospital.  (Your mom was SO NERVOUS to have you home all to ourselves..... afterall, you are are first child and we weren't sure how to take care of you :).

You have been such a special little girl.  But your growing up.  Your heart is so soft and tender and you always look for ways to please mom and I.  You are a GREAT helper with your brother and sister and you make the best Play-do meatballs' ever!  You rarely need correcting and you make us so happy.

So, tomorrow, I have no doubt that you are going to have a GREAT first day of school.  I know that you will "see" the other boys and girls in your class the way Jesus does and love them in-spite their differences.  My prayer for you continues to be that the Lord would mold you and shape you into the young princess the Lord wants you to be.  Tomorrow, for mom and dad, is a big day because we are "releasing" a little bit of control and protection we think we have right now for you........but tomorrow is really just another stepping stone in that journey for you.

I love you sweet heart and am so proud to be "Karis' Daddy"

(PS- your mom is really crying right now.....hehe)


DAD

Kindergarten Open House

Tonight is something that Karis has looked forward to for weeks...getting to meet her teacher.  She talked about it all day and was counting down the hours.  She and I painted her fingernails and toenails this afternoon so she would be "ready" for the big night.  

          

Lucy chillin' and waiting on us to go!

In Karis' room we found her name on the "Monkeyin' Around" wall.  I hope she doesn't have to pull any of those bananas! 

Karis and her teacher Mrs. L

Her hallway

Brayden was there for moral support and he carried sissy's backpack for her.  Sweet brother!

Lulu was along for the ride...

Around the school...

Karis going through her packet of Kindergarten stuff...we went over all the rules and such with her.  She is scared to death she will have to go to the principal's office haha.  Healthy fear is a good thing!  I wonder if she can get that to rub off on her brother when it is time for him to go to school haha!

After we left open house, we went to Baskin Robbins to get ice cream and celebrate the big day tomorrow!  She is thrilled about school!

Lulu LOVED the ice cream!

The Kindergarten girl is asleep now...hoping for good rest and a wonderful day for her tomorrow.  She will do great but this momma isn't doing so well.  Prayers please!