We just returned yesterday from a little get-away to Nana and Bapa's house! Uncle Jon and Aunt Holly were visiting, so we had to take some time off to go and see them! (Avery's teacher excused her with her blessing!)

The girls and I went and visited Aunt Rachelle in her Kindergarten classroom. The girls had a fun time looking around, and Liv especially liked playing in the kitchen area!


Look what I found in her class?! Please tell me you remember Kid Sister and My Buddy! It was so neat to see these little reminders of my childhood in Aunt Rachelle's classroom!


The weather was so nice that we were able to enjoy the pool!

Daddy was finally able to see Avery go under water! Nana Judy bought a fun slide for the pool, and surprisingly, Avery and Livie both tried it out!

(i love how Piper is watching Avery in these photos!)








Liv is also a little water bug! She loves to jump, float, swim, and kick! She hasn't figured out how to close her mouth under water yet, so she still does a fair amount of coughing!

She loved the slide too! Look at her face as she's going down!


Weeeee!


Right before we left, we had lunch with Nana Judy, Aunt Holly and Uncle Jon. Liv really developed a liking for Holly this trip. She called her "My Ho-wee"...






Avery was feeling extra creative while we were there, and wanted to make door signs for all of our family. It started out with this one....


and then, she was like, "Mom, what do you like to do?" I told her I enjoyed swimming, and so, this is what my door sign says....

(guess i'm an Olimpic Champoein now!)

I LOVE what she chose for Daddy's sign!


and this was one she made for Nana and Bapa...

"OffaSir"...I just loved it!

So, now we're back home, and back at normal life! It was so nice to have a little bit of a vacation!

our family went to a wedding here in town on Saturday!

I'm not sure if I've mentioned here that Avery has requested that she and Livie no longer match with their clothing. It's such a sad sad thing, but I guess we have to respect her need for individuality!

This has been one of my favorite summer dresses....and, it's from TARGET!

that sweater Avery is wearing is a size 2T...funny that she can wear it when she's 7!

the dance was a highlight of their day! Avery "moved and grooved" a lot!

...so much so, that when we got home she had to have a nebulizer treatment because she was so wheezy!

how adorable....

awwww.....

can they get any cuter?

love my sweet, sweet girls....

on the 1st day of 1st grade, here is what Livie did a lot of! That's right, back at it. Nana Dianne was here last week and jump-started us again! Liv has been doing wonderful with about 1 accident a day so far. She is really good at "holding it" so I think that will be to our benefit!



back to school things....
Liv and I went and picked Avery up from school today! Here she is leaving for the day!


I just can't get over how small she is in line with the other kiddos...and, she is probably older than all of them!!!


Again, she doesn't look especially happy coming out of the door. Her mind was consumed with trying to find her friend Abby who was in the room next to her. It is Abby's birthday, and she had a note to give her!!! (I caught Mrs. L in an odd look...rest assured, she is fantastic and wonderful)



Liv was so happy to see "Ya Ya!" She had a hard day at home with lots of crying. It will be an adjustment for her....



And, since photo #1 didn't work this morning, we took another one! much better, Avery!



Liv was a terror in Avery's classroom, getting into everything she could. She finally sat still for a minute on Mrs. L's chair, and had to get a photo of my little smirky girl....



all in all, it was a great 1st day of school for all of us! August 19th still seems way too early to start school, but it does mean we'll be out on May 19th....I guess that's a positive...

*****as I'm typing this, Liv is watching me. She just said, in her own little words, "i wuv ooh too, ya ya!"....melt my heart....

Avery and Livie enjoyed a leisurely morning on the couch, having some breakfast and watching Playhouse Disney.


but before we knew it, it was time to leave for school! i had to get the signature "1st day of school" photos in for sure!



can't believe i have a 1st grader....


here is what she looked like last year on the 1st day of Kindergarten

sassy pose...




i'm sure Avery is thinking here, "I can't wait for a day without LIVIE!"




walking around school!


notice how the hall is empty? yup, we were a little behind schedule. we had to walk the whole length of the school to take her lunches to the kitchen, and then across to her room...long walk!


she HAD to stop to see Mrs. S! she promised her that on the first day of school she would come and see her!


and then, finally, to her classroom (notice how the kids are all in their desks already???)


she looks less then enthused to be there, but really, she was rather excited! (i think those ladies are classroom aides...i have yet to find out)


here she is last year at her table on the 1st day of Kindergarten...


here is Avery with Mrs. L! Even though class had kind of started, she was very willing to pose with miss Avery for a photo!

(I'm going to try to get a better one after school today!)

tonight was open house at Avery's school! the whole family got spiffied up and went on over to check out Mrs. L's classroom!

here's the 1st grader....


I am LOVING her backpack! I got it on ebay this year, but if you want one, they are selling them here.Avery gets her own desk this year, which makes me feel really old.... Here she is putting her supplies in, and out, and in and out....


they had to be in her desk just right....


school starts on Wednesday morning at 8:22, and I don't know if anyone in our house is ready...

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after open house, we came home to celebrate Piper's birthday!

the girls sang to her while she waited patiently...


they gave her some sort of "puperoni" dog treat! it was a hit with Piper!

(p.s. are my photos taking you all forever to load???)