Second day of school = success!

First day of school, first day of school...

That's what she was running around saying this morning... just like NEMO...

The plan today was for Victor and I both to take her to school...

She ate a good breakfast, we took some photos out front and saw the little neighbor girl Sage (who is going into 3rd grade)...she asked Charlotte if she was going to ride the bus...more kids starting showing up and when the bus pulled up, Charlotte asked if she could ride the bus...Sage said she could sit with her...Charlotte didn't even give us hugs, she didn't look back...she just went with it...YES, Victor got teary eyed, but it's ALL GOOD!

The last photo is Charlotte after she got home...she said she told the bus driver how to get to her house!

First day of school = SUCCESS!

A letter to Charlotte...

Dear Charlotte:

I’m not sure how this happened, but we blinked and today you are starting Kindergarten! Seems like just yesterday Daddy and I were finding out we were going to have you....

We decided to start writing you a letter every new school year to help capture the NOW of what was happening in our lives as a family and just how blessed we are, because YOU are such an amazing little girl.

Since before you were born, Daddy and I wondered what type of kiddo you would become and I’m happy to report that not in a million/zillion years did we ever think being YOUR mom and dad could be so amazing. You test us daily with your questions and your stubbornness and then you SMILE and LAUGH and it just fills our hearts with LOVE!!! There is nothing so wonderful as one your hugs. It warms our hearts watching you experiencing life and learning to like all that the world has to offer. We can only hope that we can help shape you into a person that loves life like your dad and I do.

This summer of 2011 has been a challenge due to Grandma Green’s crash in early June and we are amazed at how well you took it all in. You prayed for Grandma to continue to heal and recover and how you are NEVER afraid to see her and spend time with her, despite the somewhat scariness of the hospitals are rehab centers she has been in. We also didn’t exactly spend all the time we would have normally spent as a family taking mini-trips around Oregon and spending not as much time with our friends so we can be there for Grandma. You never complain or ask WHY...family first, that's just how we all roll with it!

You still enjoy your gymnastics classes and we finally got you enrolled in swimming and will continue that too. I wish we had the bandwidth to do more, but with school starting and you learning to read....a whole lot more school work, we are learning together as we go....

We are both SO PROUD and honored to be your parents and our hearts BURST with LOVE knowing that this is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to your AWESOMENESS!!!


We only hope we can do you right as parents and continue to teach you that if you keep your heart OPEN, amazing things will come to you and all those around you.


We love you more than life itself! THANK YOU for being the best gift two parents could every dream of. We love watching you grow, learn and become the awesome person that you continue to blossom into!


Hugs,
~ Mommy & Daddy
September 8, 2011

Kindergarten is gonna ROCK!!!

I took Charlotte to her class orientation this morning. She got to officially meet her teacher, Mrs. Davis and about 10 of the kids in her 25 student class. She's SO excited! We turned in her school supplies (they get all grouped together) and she found her cubbie. She's SO excited....this is gonna ROCK. First day is on Thursday, two more sleeps, she can't wait!

She's signing the letter "K" as in Kindergarten! :)

Daddy and Me lunch...

Charlotte's Pre-K graduation on Friday 6/3/11..

I'm finally blogging about this....Mom, Victor and I went to Charlotte's graduation ceremony on Friday afternoon. It was fun to see the kiddos walk down the aisle to Pomp and Circumstance. The kids sang 2 little songs, then each was brought up front and their teacher read what they wanted to be when they grown-up and their favorite part of school was this year.

I don't even remember what was said for Charlotte, I was too busy grinning ear to ear at her and all her little classmates.

After the ceremony, we all enjoyed cake and milk in the outside play area.

The four of us went back to our place, my mom helped by taking a photo of the three of us and then she left to go home...the last photo was taken about 30 minutes before mom's accident...I don't know WHY I didn't take a photo of mom & Charlotte on Friday, I normally do...

Thankful Thursday...

She "graduates" from Pre-K tomorrow afternoon. So thankful that this kiddo loves school so much! Can't wait to see what the next 13 years have in store for her (before her next "REAL" diploma)...

Just love face painting....

and the last time she did this at school, I gave her a heads up..."you put it on, YOU take it off"...she scrubbed for over 30 minutes...we are taking a break....this is the BEFORE photo...

C & C...

Little best friends at school. My smaller camera was acting up, so this is the only photo I managed to get today at the Mommy & Me lunch.

Little Cassandra is SUCH a sweat heart. These two just adore each other and are truly best friends at school! ;) Makes my heart smile.

Kindergarten Orientation...

Why I smiled today...Great time tonight at Charlotte's new school come this fall...She was so excited to meet the new teachers, see her classroom and meet some of her new classmates. We won't know until late summer which class she's in, but she's pumped up!

I was personally THRILLED to find out that the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) doesn't believe in selling stuff (magazine subscriptions, candy bars, wrapping paper) to fundraise...they do family oriented events like Bingo Night, Fall Festivals, Read-a-thons and more....I met the PTA VP and chatted with her about getting involved and will join, just NOT be in charge of anything....I wanna be a worker bee and help out where needed...

So excited about the new school and the next 7 years of her education!!! Learning, it's an AWESOME thing!!!

Face painting at school...oh boy!

I really wasn't planning a bath for her tonight, might just do a facial scrubbing...

Daddy and me lunch...

Charlotte and Victor attended it today at Charlotte's school. Both of them had a very nice time and Charlotte gave Victor his early Father's Day gift that they made in class. A popsicle frame with her photo...very cute!

A day at the zoo...

Charlotte and 20 of her classmates, along with 11 parents and two teachers went to the zoo today! The weather was great, all the kids were pretty darn good and Victor was totally pooped out when he got home!

Not sure how it happened, but Charlotte and Cassandra got paired up again on this field trip. They make a good team!

YEAH for field trips and happy little 3 and 4 year old kiddos!

Charlotte's new class...

Why I smiled today...Charlotte got moved up to a new class at school and had a wonderful day...THANK YOU Teacher Tyna for taking such great care of our kiddo for the past 8 months in school...the letter you wrote her made me cry (happy cry)...

Here's the front cover, inside page and letter from Teacher Tyna.

My Daddy and I...

Fun times this afternoon for Victor & Charlotte. Her school was having a Daddy & Me snack time for the kids.

Charlotte got to get her Valentine box and all her Valetines from classmates and teachers.

Then they ate pretzels that the kiddos handmade Thursday and enjoyed a little root beer. Both of them had a great time!

Totally random Wednesday...

Last week in school they focused on the letter "K" as in king. They made crowns, but she's a princess not a king!
























Dancing with her Cinderella dress on IS the best!



















My mother-in-law had inquired about the status of these little guys....48 granny squares..I still have a long way to go...

Art projects and the number 9...

While she was busy stamping up her #9 and other pieces of paper, I was busy stamping her name out...LOVE the set of 6 self-inking stamps that I got at the $1.00 bin at Target! SO worth it..she loves to stamp, hhmmm..kinda like her mommy!

























Art projects from school. She missed last week, so we got all her Christmas art projects, lots of great stuff! She had a great first day back at school. Teacher Tyna said she was really good, took a nap and had FUN! This week is all about the letter "J"!

Best Christmas gift...

We got this a few weeks ago, but it was wrapped up all nice and neat from Charlotte (made at her school). We put it in the office, so Charlotte wouldn't think it was a gift for her and then we forgot to put it under the tree. Not sure what triggered me remembering it last night, but we opened it up (after she was asleep) and we SMILED!

This was without a doubt, the BEST Christmas gift Victor & I got this year! Handmade by our little Charlotte, hand prints and all!