Kindergarten - It finally came

The day had finally arrived. I had prepared and then prepared again. Thanks to the Lord's help we dropped him off before I lost it. There we sat in the parking lot, both of us, trying to avoid sobbing in front of Ella. You would have thought we attended a funeral. I don't know if it is because he's our first and this is the first of firsts for separation and sending him out into the world or if I will truly miss him.

These are just 2 of four of the pictures I took of that "great and dreadful" day. I had brought the camera to class to take pictures of the classroom and his newfound friends, but that never happened. And it still didn't happen until I finally brought cupcakes to his class for his birthday - in October. I still have a hard time sending him out in the morning, waking him up, waving goodbye. Heavens knows he is an involved child when it comes to staying home with me, needing constant entertainment. Who knows? Maybe I am more of a mother than I realized.

Ella's first stacked haircut. She looks so cute with short, trendy hair.

I love this picture because it looks as if Lucy is saying, "help me" in a low, husky voice as Ella "lovingly" hoists her back to her to get in the shot.

Like Old Times - But with Babies

This year, Jackie (Behymer) Smith came into visit around her birthday so I had to make sure I went to Bristol, VA to visit. Then Shayleen came in with her girls as well and Jenny and her new baby. It was wonderful to see them again. It really was the same but different. Epilogue stuff really.

My little Fraggle Rock.

Sis. Behymer, Betsy (a high school friend of Shayleen and Jackie's) and Jackie Jack with Iris.

Jenny and Sis. Bausermann hold her baby. So cute and so new.

Lulu posing with Rhett in the background. The playground area was perfect. All the kids also waded in the creek, but I didn't get any pictures of that. Darn it.

Cute baby Iris.

Me and my girl, Jackie. I love you, Jackie!

Shayleen imparting words of wisdom. I was so glad to see them and I am so grateful that we have stuck to each other as well as our beliefs. Thank you for your examples!

Bloody Grin and Goggle Fun

He was so proud he pulled out his tooth and when he returned to show us this is what we saw. I don't think he saw himself, though, because we might have gotten a different reaction. Something more like Ella's face.

Ella's Happy 4th Horsey Birthday Party

We have officially turned 4 and had been waiting and waiting and waiting for her birthday party and it finally came. We had a great turnout and she loved seeing her friends from preschool. The theme was "Horses" and it has been that ever since.

Ella and Olivia: once horse rivals, now bubble catching buddies.

Super, super cute! Can't stand it.

We were very lucky to be able to have Aunt Jessica and Uncle Jamie attend the birthday with cousins Asher and Soren. Thank you for taking the extra trip down!

For the love of a horse (and one of them is taking a nap).

James pushing Soren and Granny pushing Lucy. A little bit of a generation loop.

Rhett being adamant about including himself in this picture with Ella and Olivia. Ella's face is the result.

Awwww....

Ella, Asher and a bit of Lucy.

Ella giving her trademark "mean face."

I crouched down to try and capture a more eye-level picture. I guess we were playing Simon Says. Ella, no doubt, has to go potty and is in the middle of refusing.

I can't believe she's four!

My 4 year old cowgirl. Someday we will get horse lessons, but for now we will just beg to buy a horse (toy) everytime we go to the store.

Peepye and Ella enjoying a little girl time.

Ella's face upon receiving the horse from Uncle Ken and Anna Barb (love how the bow matches the boots). Uncle Ken and Anna Barb are always so gracious with their time and travel 5 hours to make sure they are there for each birthday party. We are so blessed to have such wonderful grandparents in the lives of our children

"Grey" now sleeps in bed with her every night.

Sidebar: Popeye's hairpiece (Joe's Dad). I think the type of hairpiece one chooses depicts a persons inner personality. So watchout Peepye! (Disclaimer: really just a visor with a fun wig, otherwise I might not be seen around with him had this been fur real. I love you, Dad!)

Ella's 4th Birthday Cake

A little tradition of ours to celebrate birthdays is to bake a cake (birthday kid helps only) and then decorate it with whatever we find around the house (cleaned, of course) and whatever kind of candy that might go well on a cake (or not). But the birthday child helps from start to finish which even includes picking out the kind of cake. This year Ella went with pink . . .

Ella's finished project. Sometimes we end of with sprinkles in one spot or perhaps even a backwards number but in the end the cake is gorgeous!

Shady 4th of July

This was us after we decided to go on a 4th of July hike. The weather looked shady, but then that never stopped hard core hikers like us.

This is the O'Neal family that also decided to tuff it out and go hiking on a shady day. Amanda, Shaun, Lierin, and Kellen. Really great friends of ours.

This is my tough man who pushed the stroller and held a 4 year old while I bundled Lucy up as much as possible. It was chilly with the rain.

She's always after my buns.

Soaked to the bone.

Ella, Rhett, and Lierin having a good time wading in the Little River.

And my Lulu. I could just eat her sometimes.

We really did have a fantastic time, weather and all. We really love spending time with the O'Neals and we are very greatful for such a wonderful friendship.

Preschool Graduation

The preschool that Rhett and Ella attended "My School" (and Ella still does) was fantastic. Very involved with activities and lots of great teachers. This was the day that Rhett graduated. Joe tried to get in the picture with us, but I said nope, preschool was all mine. Activities, field trips, dressing, feeding, and barely getting out of the house in time all with a baby in tow. I was proud (as silly as that sounds) and I wasn't letting that get away from me.

My big man . . . ready for Kindergarten. Not me, though.

She is so cute and so photogenic! Where did she learn how to smile and tilt?