5 on Friday

1. I don't remember what we did last weekend.  All I remember is that we were getting prepared for the first day of school!  Oh wait, Ellie had her first professional manicure and pedicure in preparation for the first day of school.   She was grinning the entire time and felt like a little princess.


2. Guess what Monday was... the First Day of Kindergarten (Ellie) AND the First Day of Big Wheels (Neve)!   Both girls were very excited for their special day.   Ellie picked dinner on Sunday night, Neve picked breakfast Monday morning and Ellie picked dinner Monday night.


3. Neither Ellie nor I cried at kindergarten drop-off!   I think all of the excitement and preparation had us ready for the first day.   About an hour before we were going to leave for school she asked me, "Can we just go now!?"   She was ready. 


4. Ellie loves kindergarten!  She loves her teacher.  The neighbor three doors down is in her class.  A girl from her dance class last year is in her class.   One of her friends from day-care is in her class.   She came home and told me that she had two new best friends (the boys that sit on either side of her).


5.  Both girls started dance class on Tuesday!   This is Neve's first year and she could not be more excited.   Ellie is excited as well, but turning into a pro since this is her 3rd year (I cannot believe she has already been in dance for 3 years and still loves it).   They look so cute in their pink dance leotards!   It does make a busy night for Mom and Dad since Neve's class goes from 5:15-5:45 (a rush from school to dance class) and Ellie goes from 5:45-6:45, but we will survive (and it gets it all done in one day).

Almost ready for Kindergarten!

Today is the last day of day-care for Ellie!


I cannot believe how fast the time has gone.  It seems like yesterday that we were bringing our 8-week old daughter to the center for the first time.   I may have checked on her multiple times that day back in January of 2010, but I didn't cry at drop-off time.    I am able to say that when I dropped her off for the last time this morning I didn't cry either (although it was close when I asked her teachers for a picture of Ellie with them--- Ellie planned it and they all wore the same outfit!).   Let's hope Monday's drop-off goes as smoothly!


Last night we went to Back to School night at Maple Grove.   I am completely in love with the school.  The building and classrooms are cute, the principal seems really awesome and our teacher (because let's be honest, she will probably teach Nick and I a thing or two as she teaches Ellie) is amazing.  We are ready.  Or as ready as we are going to be.


So here is how Back to School night went.... We walked into the building, greeted by Waukee Cheerleaders passing out information on their cheer clinic.   Then we hit the PTO table.   Then the WATCH DOGS group.  Then the Waukee Dance team (although they looked very similar to the cheerleaders and I told them we already had a flier, only to be told that was the cheerleaders and they were the dance time with another clinic flier).  Then the nutrition representative with information on lunches.  By this time I had a handful of fliers and hadn't yet figured out where the classroom was!   A few more groups (I don't even remember which ones) and we finally made it to the classroom (after asking for directions a few times).   Ellie's teacher is ADORABLE!  The classroom is ADORABLE!   I am so excited (I hope Ellie is as well).   We did a little scavenger hunt that helped Ellie find her spot, put her school supplies away, pick-up an item off the 'classroom wish list' and filled out a couple forms.  Oh, and we received some more papers to go through (I sort of feel like we took home a small tree after it was all said and done).  Anyway, it was really organized, a little overwhelming, a lot of fun, and we are now ready for Monday.  (We even ordered our item from the classroom wish list and it should arrive on Saturday so Ellie can take it to school with her on Monday.)


This morning I was going through the papers from the night before and one of the papers was titled "In a Million Words of Less" and was a request from the teacher to write her a letter (in a million words or less) telling her about your child- what I would tell her if "we were to sit down for 20 minutes over coffee".   Yup, totally brought tears to my eyes and I realized that Monday might not be as easy as I thought it was going to be.   I realize this might be something all kindergarten teachers do, but it is a really great idea and made me feel like Ellie was someone very special in this teacher's eyes.  I tried to keep it simple, even though there is so much more to Ellie than just what is listed in this letter.  But some of it you just have to experience yourself (which her teacher will very soon).   Here is what I wrote (with review and approval from Nick):

Ellie is:

• The oldest child and a big sister to Genevieve (Neve), age 3.
• A ‘leader’ at times and shy/reserved at other times.  It takes a little bit for her to get comfortable in new situations.
• Sensitive, caring, sweet (and sometimes emotional).
• A big fan of dramatic play (her words, not ours).
• A lover of babies and playing house.
• Afraid of loud noises (sometimes).
• Left-handed!
• One to play outside with her neighbors any chance she gets.
• Limited on the amount of screen time she gets (the TV may be on 30 minutes to 1 hour a week when she is awake).
• Pretty strong in her math skills (in our opinion). 
• Not as confident in her reading skills (she tends to give up when she could sound the words out if she tried a little harder).
• Slightly uncoordinated.
• Excited to do art projects.
• A slow eater, but eats a variety of foods.
• Someone you can read by the expression on her face.
• Someone who likes to please people and be recognized for it.
• A child that is perfectly happy playing by herself.
• Not someone that has trouble interacting with adults (sometimes she prefers it to other children).
• A Daddy’s girl that loves to ride home from day-care (and now BTB) on the bike with Daddy on Friday’s.
• A Mommy’s girl that likes to follow rules (and let others know when they are not following the rules).
• A fan of structure.
• Sometimes needs to be reminded about personal space.
• Very excited for kindergarten, but also afraid of leaving her day-care where she has been at for the last 5+ years. 

5 on Friday

1. The entire family biked home from work on Friday.  The girls were excited, Nick may have gotten bored having to slow down for me, and I got my workout in.


2. Nick and the girls joined the neighbor dad's and their kids for a camping night Saturday night.  The mom's made the most of it with some shopping, dinner out and a quick stop to the campground to say hello before bed.


3. My friend and I took our girls shopping for dance gear Monday night.  Too cute and I cannot wait for classes to start next week (but it seems like we just finished with the recital!).


4. Ellie found out her teacher on Monday!  And her one of the neighbor kids is in her class.   Should be a fun year!


5. We had Back to School Night Thursday night for Ellie.  She took in her supplies, found her classroom and meet her teacher.   Then we rushed back home to get ready for my Fantasy Football Draft!   Fantasy Football is not just for boys in our house!  Makes me more excited for football season to start!

5 on Friday

1. On Friday night the girls had a sleepover at Aunt Megan and Uncle Mike's house.   Ellie loves it there because Aunt Megan gives her candy and thirds on juice.


2. While the girls were gone, Nick and I celebrated my college roommate's "6th Anniversary of her 29th Birthday" Friday night.  We had a good time and really enjoyed being able to sleep in as late as we wanted on Saturday morning.


3. Nick went to Coon Rapids for the grand opening of a new mountain bike trail on Saturday.  The girls and I braved the mall during the tax-free holiday so they could get some new tennis shoes.


4. On Tuesday night I went to an Introduction to Tea class at Gong Fu in the East Village.  Megan and I grabbed dinner before hand and had a great time.   I learned I like white tea the best and am not a huge fan of green tea.


5. I cannot believe we have less than 2 weeks before Ellie starts school.  I know she is ready for kindergarten, it is just going to be really weird walking into work without her--- 5.75 years of doing the same thing is going to be a big change.

5 on Friday

1. We celebrated my cousin's wedding on Saturday!   The girls loved seeing Sarah in her beautiful dress (her mother's wedding dress with a few alterations and the addition of part of her Godmother's wedding dress!)  We had to head back home before the dance started, which made a few little girls upset with Mommy and Daddy, but they still had a great time.



2. We had an amazing meal on Sunday--- smoked brisket, smoked baked beans and apple pie!   Yum!



3. Monday the girls and I had "cousin day".   Megan, Liam and Alida came over to play in the morning and then after nap (or Alida's nap I should say) we all went to the pool together.  The kids had a blast and I love that we live close enough we can do things like that.



4. Thursday was Adventureland day!   Once I found out the log ride was going to be closing I knew we had to go on it one last time.  Not to mention that Neve was free this year (that will not be the case next year.)   We had a great time and four very tired people by the end of the day.  We loved that Megan and the kids were able to join us out there for a short period of time.



5. I have been keeping very busy at work co-chairing our company's United Way campaign on top of my regular work duties.   We have changed up the campaign this year and I cannot wait to write a longer post about all the fun happenings.