Happy Birthday Daddy and Uncle Jack and Zoey

With Jim's birthday falling on a Monday (a/k/a gymnastics night) we weren't able to go out to dinner as we normally would have done.  We celebrated the "twins" birthday on Sunday then we celebrated Monday with just us.

Helaina made similar birthday cake posters for Daddy ...

... and Uncle Jack.  Give Helaina a pair of scissors, a glue stick and her craft box and she'll create you a custom made masterpiece.

Sunday's celebration.  The best part, in her favorite order:  candles, frosting, cake.

Helaina has a curly hair obsession now.  We let her pick out a package of foam curlers at Target and she wants curls every day.  Unfortunately, even with putting the curlers in her hair when it's wet, letting her hair completely dry, then hairspraying the heck out of the ringlets, they still start to flop after a few hours.  Her hair will absolutely not hold a curl - just like mine.  She doesn't mind, though, she's happy with whatever ringlet, bounce or wave she can get.

Jim took 1/2 day off on his birthday and was home when Helaina got off the bus.  We went to Red Lobster to celebrate.

One of Daddy's presents with his specially decorated card.

"I'll help.  I'll do it."

German chocolate cake after gymnastics.

No, this wasn't a special treat for Jim.  We know that Zoey was born in the month of September but we don't know what date.  Helaina decided it would be nice to celebrate Zoey's birthday on Jim's birthday.  So, here's Zoey's special birthday treat - turkey and giblet pate.  Mmmmmm.

We sang Happy Birthday to her and Helaina blew out the candle.  Zoey wasn't interested in the hooplah - she just wanted to eat.

And then there's another birthday in September to remember.  My sweetiepie Heidi Doodle.  Even though she's been gone since March 2010 I still miss her like crazy.

She was such a sweetheart with a full-body wag that started at her back and went right down to the tip of her stubby little tail.  Just as excited to see you if you were gone 5 minutes or 5 hours.

So, Happy Birthday to all the September birthdays, whether they be human or animal! 

Autumn Festival and Fall Soccer

Last weekend the Fall soccer session started up and we went to Beaver Lake to celebrate their Autumn Festival (which basically was a kids carnival with hundreds of ways to spend your money on them, along with a small craft show and food on the side).

Two ways to spend your money in this picture.  Monkey in palm tree balloon and flower headband.  I tried to talk Helaina into the headband with the adorable hand-made bow on it but no, she wanted the ginormous gawdy purple flower.  I caved when she tried it on, looked in the mirror and gasped "I love it!"

Jumping up and down with anticipation while the magician made her monkey palm tree balloon.

She could hold it or also wear it as a hat.  Oh what style.

I think she's actually mooning the goat?!

Helaina hates snakes - and yes, I use the word hate.  Don't know where the fear came from.  She's only seen them at the zoo in their enclosures behind glass, but she won't even go up to the glass to see them.  "Can they get me?" she'll ask.  So when waiting in the ridiculously long line to get her face or arm painted I asked her what she wanted.  "A snake!" was her reply.  Go figure.

Had to end the day with a rainbow sprinkle ice cream cone.

There were games set up for the kids, like throw the tree disk frisbee in the bucket (which she did, bottom row), and ...

... toss the ring around the antlers, which she also did.

There were scarecrow type people set up all over the place but Helaina liked the bride and groom the best.

Fall session of soccer.  There are only 5 games then she's finished until the Spring.  She'll probably play again next year.  She certainly enjoys playing and making new friends.  I'd like to get her signed up for t-ball too but I think the schedule conflicts with soccer.

 Chasing down that ball.

Clear kick to her teammates.

Always time for a wave to the spectators.

Kindergarten? Piece of cake...

Oh yah, she's a pro at this school thing after only 4 days (and I'm actually starting to get used to it too).  She woke up ready to roll on Wednesday morning, just a bit apprehensive.  Me, on the other hand, I was full blown sick to my stomach - couldn't eat breakfast, kept walking in circles and felt scattered - not knowing what I was doing.  Helaina couldn't wait to get out of the house.  "Is it time to go?  Time to go to the bus stop yet?"  We waited on the front porch and took a few pics and video until we saw the other kids emerge, then "Let's go!"  Excitement (and nausea) was in the air.

Unfortunately it was raining so raincoats and umbrellas were necessary.

The moment of truth at the bus stop.  The open door, the smiling face of the bus driver, the cameras flashing and recorders recording then up those big steps she went.  Helaina was the first one to climb aboard the bus.  I didn't even cry - now how about that!!

Jim and I drove to Helaina's school and waited for her bus to arrive.  She knew that we'd be there but she looked a little apprehensive when she stepped off the bus until I yelled to her and she saw us.  Then the big smile came and Helaina and her pal Jennah skipped to the school doorway.  There were teachers and helpers there saying "Welcome to Kindergarten!", they opened the doors, I yelled to Helaina "I love you - have a good first day and I'll see you when you get home!" and she went through the door - THEN I started to cry.  Almost made it through the morning with no tears - almost.

I was so anxious about her getting on the right bus to come home that I couldn't do much around the house except be more nervous and wait for the 3 hours to be over.  Jim and I were waiting there in our driveway when the bus pulled up and she got off, delivered home safely and totally happy and excited.  Later that day she said that she didn't think the bus was going to stop at our house so she told the helper on the bus "Stop!  Tell the bus driver to stop!  That's my house!"  How hysterical is that!!

Oh yah, Kindergarten is exhausting.  Helaina has zonked out on the couch every afternoon for a little over an hour since she started school.  She's ravenous when she gets home, scarfs down a huge lunch then grabs her pillow and settles in for a nap on the couch. 

This was day 2 of school and I thought it was a cute pic of her marching to the bus stop with her purple monkey backpack.

Second day of school getting on the bus after a quick wave goodbye.

Friday, day 3, all happy and excited waiting on our front porch.

Another exhuberant wave goodbye.  Man, this kid just loves going to school, as we were certain she would.

One of the coloring pages Helaina brought home on the first day of school.

I just love the "How was my day" traffic light Helaina's teacher keeps in the classroom for good behavior.  There's a large cardboard and construction paper traffic light on the wall.  On the green light there's a wooden clip-type clothespin with each child's name on one.  If they are having a behavioral problem that they aren't correcting after several occurrences they have to move their clothespin up to the yellow light.  If they continue with the same problem even after being asked to stop they have to move their clothespin up to the red light and possibly sit out of an activity.  At the end of each day they color in their circle with either green, yellow or red to show the parents what kind of day they had (Helaina's are all green, by the way, just a lighter shade of green for Thursday and Friday).  At the end of the week the children with all green days get to pick a piece of candy out of the bag.  Helaina came home Friday with an orange tootsie pop that she clung on to like it was gold.  I'm liking this traffic light idea - might even make one for at home!

The big day

"It's not unusual to have some criers on the first day of school.  We just comfort them and tell them it will be ok.  Usually by the time they walk to their cars to drive home, they're feeling better."  A recent newspaper quote from an elementary school principal.  Wise guy, huh, but oh so true!!!

Who knew there was a supply list for Kindergarten.  $24 worth of stuff that also included clorox wipes, liquid soap, paper towels, tissues and ziploc bags.  Anything else?

Orientation included a bus ride around the block.  When the principal said "Ok, all my new friends come with me for the bus ride", Helaina was the first one up and walking alongside the principal, and the first one on the bus!  Excited, oh yah.

Going (sigh) .... bye bye.

Back safe and sound from the long trip around the block!

They each got a pencil topped with a school bus eraser from the bus driver.

At the back to school picnic Helaina found a few boys to do gymnastics with.  They showed her their one-handed cartwheel and she showed them her handstand.

We've been to the classroom and met Helaina's very sweet teacher.  This is her 6th year teaching Kindergarten and she's got some pretty impressive credentials so we're happy with Miss S.

The classroom is big, bright, very colorful and all set up for the excitement to begin.

A little something funny that was in Helaina's Kindergarten packet from her teacher.

Helaina's asleep now having sweet dreams and I'm left wondering if I'll sleep tonight.  Surprisingly enough, she showed a bit of anxiety tonight about starting school tomorrow.  We reassured her that it would be a piece of cake because she's already gone to preschool for 2 years.  She'll make lots of new friends and her teacher is a "nice girl", to quote Helaina!  The only thing different is the bus ride, but she knows half of the neighborhood and will ride the bus with all her buddies.  Well, we'll know how it all plays out at  8:38am tomorrow morning when we see the bus coming down the street for the pickup.  Wow, Kindergarten.  Unbelievable.

The rest of the week...

Our other adventures last week included fishing.  Is it still fishing if you catch no fish??!!

The Dora pole.  It hasn't seen much action.  Helaina's hooked one fish ... ever ... total.

Captain and co-captain.  I've been told I'm the first mate because I'm the dock-grabber when we get back to the marina.

Helaina's patience when fishing is, well, not great.  "This boring" (and her Momma agrees) if she doesn't hook something other than grass pretty quickly.  Going fast and bumping over the waves is her favorite thing to do on the boat.  Her 2nd favorite, snack time.

Helaina was so tired last week (as were we) from being on the go so much.  On our way back to the marina she was wedged in between Jim and I and she actually fell asleep.  I got up, then Jim got up and she fell right over, still sleeping!

First time apple picking this year.  We picked Paula Reds and I wasn't impressed.  The apples were very small and I thought kind of tasteless.  We only picked a partial bag and will head back in a few weekends when there's another variety to pick.

It's not just for the apples, though.  Helaina loves the tractor ride into the orchard, climbing the ladder, picking and tasting the apples right off the tree, the giant pumpkin bounce house they have and all that country fresh air.

Then there are the sugary-cinnamony hot fresh-cooked apple fritters.  Yum.  Helaina takes a few bites then just licks the sugar off of them!

Her absolute favorite part is riding the Apple Ponies.  She waited all week for this ride.  She ran through the gate and headed straight for Butterscotch - an old pal from last year.  Ride 'um, cowgirl.

Our trip to the zoo was fun.  Helaina loves the lions because one of them is usually right up against the glass for a close-up viewing.  The paws on these animals are massive.

Thought this was a funny picture of a lizard plopped in the middle of his salad bowl.

It rained most of the day today - bummer of a way to end the holiday weekend.  We headed out to some stores this morning and made a quick stop at the mall and then putzed around the house the rest of the day.  Tomorrow for Jim:  back to work.  Tomorrow for me:  my last full day with Helaina before the start of Kindergarten on Wednesday.  Gulp.  Where did the last 3-1/2 years go?