First Day of School

Sorry it's been so long. What a fun day and way to start blogging again...the first day of school =)

McKenna started Kindergarten today, and I just can't believe this day has arrived. She has been so excited to start school and it couldn't have been much better! I thought I would be so sad, but she was so happy and excited to be going, I couldn't help but be happy and excited for her.

Caleb had been dreading going back to school all summer. We don't know what happened, because he's always loved school. Somehow his attitude toward it changed in the months off. But, at "meet the teacher" day last Thursday, he noticed that he would get to have science this year, and that made all the difference in the world. Ever since that day, he's been so excited (and I've never been so thankful for a science book! =)).

Both kids had great first days. They started it out walking in together, which was so cute. Caleb dropped McKenna off at her classroom (wish I could have been there for that) =).

McKenna says that they did the Pledge of Allegiance outside at the flagpole, went to an assembly, got to sit wherever they wanted in class, and had library. That's pretty much all I could get out of her on the first day. But she said it was "GREAT!".

Caleb loved it as well. Not too much to report. He's sitting by 2 of his friends, he could understand his teacher just fine (which I was a little concerned about b/c she's speaking Spanish and I've heard she's a "fast talker" =)), and he also got to have library (his favorite special). Here are some of the pictures of their first day:

missing you daddy...

Today's post is more for me than for anyone else, so, I'm just warning you ahead of time, it may be too sad/depressing to read and please don't feel that you need to. Today, my daddy would have been 59 years old. He battled cancer for about a year before the Lord decided it was time to end his pain and suffering and take him Home. I had the best relationship with my dad during this past year than I had probably my whole life. It is never fun to watch someone you love go through what he endured his last year, but I believe a lot of good came out of his sickness. The greatest outcome of his illness was that I know he was sure (and now I am too) of where he was (and now is) spending eternity. Another blessing is just how much closer to two of us became during that time. My dad and I never lived together, which is something that was both good and bad (I won't go into all that here). But, the best part of that, was that we only really ever saw each other at our best. Throughout this past year (well, 2008), we saw each other more than we ever really had, spent more quality time together, he came to visit me twice at our home, and once with my wonderful little (BIG =)) brother, John, and just had some really special moments that I will never forget. I am just REALLY thankful that the Lord blessed us with a year to say goodbye. I am well aware that there are so many families that don't get that opportunity, and I have no idea why HE chose to bless us this way, but I will be forever thankful.
I really just needed a way to express how much I loved (and still love) my Daddy, and wanted to remember him on his birthday. I love you so much, Daddy and I miss you!! But, I am filled with joy in knowing that I will see you again someday, and that we'll be together in eternity!

McKenna's Birthday

McKenna's birthday (May 12) is right around Mother's Day every year. So, this year, we combined the two and celebrated together...just us girls! There is a store near us called Sweet and Sassy, it's like every little girls fantasy store! =) I made us an appointment to get mini-manis and mini-pedis together.
On our big day, I decided not to tell McKenna where we were going...I wanted it to be a suprise, plus she'd never been there before, so she wouldn't have known what to expect anyways =) Once we got in, she was so excited...it's like pink world (which is her favorite color...at least it was that day). First, they wrapped her up in a luxuriously soft and pink robe. Then, they let her pick out some nail polish for her toes, they put her feet in the spa tub full of bubbly warm water, propped her up with several big, puffy pillows, massaged her legs and feet with sparkly lotion, gave her a magazine to "read". After her mini-pedi, she got the same royal treatment for her mini-mani too...what an experience! Mind you, I got all of this too, but it was just sooo fun for me to watch her just loving every minute of it! I hope the pictures, even slightly, capture what a fun day we had!! =) Happy Birthday baby girl! =)

If You Give a Caleb a Chip...

...he is going to want a jar of salsa to go with it. Seeing the cactus on the salsa will remind him of where he was born. So, you will have to take him to Montana. When you take him to Montana, it will remind him of his family. Being reminded of his family, he will want to visit his old house. When you take him to his old house, he will want to visit the refrigerator. When you take him to the refrigerator, he will ask you for some salsa. And chances are, if you give him some salsa, he's gonna want some chips to go with it! :)

This is a story Caleb came up with this afternoon. He really likes to make up his own stories (sometimes, he even illustrates them too). Today, he had some chips and salsa with his lunch (he really takes after daddy in a LOT of ways)! =) All of a sudden, he says, "we should write a story about if you give a Caleb a chip..." He and McKenna both really enjoy the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (as well as, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, If You Take a Mouse to School, pretty much all of the other books in this series--thanks Annie =) ). Anyway, this story is what he came up with. I thought it was too cute...just had to share =)

**Beth, sorry I couldn't underline the titles...it bugs me too =)**

Friendship

I just saw the sweetest thing this morning when we dropped Caleb off at school!! As Caleb, McKenna and I approached his school, I saw some gitty little kids coming toward us down the sidewalk. It was 3 of Caleb's friends from his class...they must have seen us when their bus drove by, and they waited for him so they could all walk in together. They were just so sweet and excited to see him (and McKenna). Maybe it was a "you had to be there" moment, but it really warmed my heart, so I thought I'd share!! =)

New Pictures

Here is a slideshow of some recent pictures of the kiddos. If you just want to see them all, you can go to our Picasa page and view them. The link is: http://picasaweb.google.com/aaronsarahp/May2009?feat=directlink

Little Ballerina

McKenna and I have no set routine to what we do with our time while Caleb is in school. One day last week though, she decided she wanted to wear her ballerina tutu =) Neither she, nor Caleb, are usually ones for playing dress-up, so I decided to have a photo shoot while she was all decked out. Enjoy!!

There are 3 new posts, so keep looking =)