A walk in the park

After dropping off Nicole at school Allyson and I spent the mornings enjoying the Greenway trail near our house.  Yesterday I rode my bike and she rode behind in the trailer.  Now, as beautiful as this trail is, I have had a multitude of mishaps.  It seems every time we make it down the hill to the trail someone starts crying, something happens to a bike, and so on.  Then we have to hoof it back home.  But yesterday was peaceful and without tears.  So, today I decided to try it again.  This time Allyson wanted to ride "her" bike.

Everything was going well until Allyson decided SHE wanted to push and she didn't want any help!  The bike kept going in circles over and over.  Finally, I had to put a stop to it and... tears... all the way home.  Agh!

The weeping willow.  How appropriate.

 

Go Fish!

Britt and I recently left the girls for a few days and, as a reward for being a good helper, promised Nicole a new fish.  We ended up getting one for each of the girls.  Instead of going with a beta (our last one committed suicide by jumping out of the bowl) we decided on nice, simple goldfish.  Nicole chose a gold one, Anna, for herself and a calico, Lucy, for her sister.

Here's the big moment where they are released from the bag into their new home.

We opted for a safe place on the bathroom counter for the fish to stay. And things were looking good... until...

Britt noticed Lucy looking a bit lethargic later that night.  Within 24 hours little Lucy was belly-up.  Nicole took the news pretty well although she did ask whether the fish was in Heaven.  (I'm sure God must have goldfish there for our enjoyment, right?)  Britt took her to get a new goldfish. Since there were no more calicoes she chose another gold one.  And Britt learned that the temperature must be just right for the fish... not too warm or... belly up.  So they came home with ... oh, I forget her name right now ... but the new fish and a thermometer.  So far, so good.

First Day of Kindergarten!

Today was the big day!  She had a rough night sleeping...not sure why. And this morning she was a little nervous because she said she didn't know what she was going to do. We talked about it and soon she was excited. (She'd been excited all week, even telling strangers in the store she was going to "Harrison"!)

The principal and teachers were waiting inside to greet us!

She found her name and put everything away herself.

The night before her first day we read the story of David and Jonathan in the Bible. We asked God to help her make good friends and to be a good friend. We also talked about how she could be a good friend.  She got her chance right after choosing her seat...

The little girl on her left (in the yellow shirt) absolutely freaked out when her mom left. She then decided she wanted Nicole's seat. I could tell Nicole didn't want to move but when her teacher asked if she would move Nicole didn't hesitate. And, as the little girl kept crying, Nicole reached out and patted her on the back.  I was so proud of her for being a good friend in spite of her own nervousness!

Nicole said recess was her favorite part of the day!  (And she liked P.E. where they got to play a soccer game.)

Allyson and I weren't sure what to do with ourselves when we got home. Since it was still early and not too hot, we went for a bike ride. On the way home she decided that, instead of riding in the trailer, she'd like to ride the bike.  This was the best picture I could get while holding onto her.  I helped her ride like this for a while.  She loved it!

Meet the Teacher

David Harrison Elementary

It's a new school near our house but, unfortunately, not in our district. We had to put in a transfer request which was accepted but that means no bus service (Nicole was very disappointed about that). The facilities are fantastic and this school has a big focus on technology with lots of computers, even in the kindergarten classroom.

Her principal, Ms. Mendel

(We definitely like her. She knows the kids by name and often makes calls to parents when their child has been caught doing something good. She has an excellent reputation; in fact, a couple of the kindergarten teachers left their former school to follow her to Harrison!)

Nicole made a picture for her new teacher.

Feeling a little excited!

Time for a Daddy Hug

Nicole signed her name ... complete with smiley face. 

(I'm sure they'll work on the directional thing later this year. What can I say? She's a lefty!)

Her music teacher

P.E. teacher (who remembered Nicole by name on her first day of school)

Art teacher

The Library

The library reading corner

Nicole finds where our family lives in California

This is what is now hanging at the back of her cubby.  She gets to see her family every day!

Happy...Sad

Today I received a phone call I've been waiting for since early this year.  It was from the principal of Harrison Elementary school.  We'd put a transfer request in a long time ago hoping Nicole could attend here since it's brand new, closer to our home, and has a technology focus.  (One computer for every four kindergarteners.)  Also, we loved the principal and everything we'd heard about her.  I got to meet some of the kindergarten teachers and was very impressed with them as well.  Anyway, the principal assured me that Nicole is now an official Harrison Husky!

But I have to admit, in the midst of my happiness, I am grieving the loss of having Nicole all to myself.  Never again will she be with me all day long.  I feel as if I'm throwing her out in the world to be influenced by who knows what.  When did my baby grow up? 

Voices, Violins, Cowboys, Paddlewheels, and Pontoons

The last three days have been non-stop for the Davis family. We've experienced lots of new things and had so much fun! 

Tuesday we went to see a vocal band called "The Cat's Pajamas."  There wasn't a musical instrument in sight.  Everything was done with voices!  Later that night we sailed on the Branson Belle Paddlewheel boat where we had dinner and watched another great show.  Meeting the captain of the boat was a highlight as he introduced himself as a Christian and shared many experiences similar to ours.

That night we enjoyed one of the nicest condos we've ever stayed in.  I guess Allyson decided she needed to fancy herself up, too!  She helped herself to mom's mascara.  Thankfully she didn't get to the waterproof!  This kind was pretty easy to wipe off, although we did have to go inside her nose and mouth. 

Wednesday Mommy and Nicole went to a show while Allyson (and Daddy) napped.  Or that was the plan but Allyson figured out how to get out of the lodge's crib and he found her jumping on the bed when she was supposed to be sleeping.  Meanwhile, Nicole and mom were enjoying The Duttons...finalists from "America's Got Talent".  They play violins, fiddles, banjos, bass, anything with strings.  And it's all family...lots and lots of family.  Very fun!

That evening we all went to The Circle B Chuck Wagon Supper Show.  It's pays homage to the cowboy through music. Nicole was "deputized" along with the other kids to help track down the "Cornbread Bandit".  She didn't end up sticking around, though.  She made friends with the owner's little girl and they went in the back and watched a movie together.

We ended the night with Bill Medley from the Righteous Brothers.  Wow, this was definitely a favorite show!  We heard "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" and "Unchained Melody" and others from the man himself.  His daughter was also an amazing singer.  Our favorite part was the second half when they "unplugged" with the band and we got to hear the old war stories of Bill's time with Elvis, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and more.  It was great!  Of course, now we're close friends with Bill:

We stayed Wednesday night in a four-bedroom house on Indian Point right on Tablerock Lake.  The owners took us to lunch the next day on a floating restaurant and then let us take a pontoon boat for the rest of the day.  This is the part where Nicole went nuts.  She got to go tubing for the first time and kept saying it was the most fun she'd ever had.  Here's a little video clip of her in action. 

 

Allyson wasn't as impressed with the whole lake experience.  She wanted nothing to do with the inner tube although she did go for a swim.  And, like our Allyson, didn't hesitate a bit when told she could jump off the boat.  For the most part she stayed in Dad's lap while he drove.  And she dozed a little in between her favorite pasttime... taking ice out of the ice chest and throwing it, piece by piece, into the water. 

Nicole's love affair with tubing ended on the last run of the day.  Dad was driving and Nicole and I were riding together.  We hit a huge wake and both of us flipped off the tube.  I swam to her as fast as I could but there was no way around it.  We were both a little traumatized (her body hit my head as she flew off).  We talked her into getting back on and going on a slow ride back to the dock with mom.  But only time will tell if she'll ever have that same enthusiasm again.

Of course, our outdoor excursion wouldn't be complete without a little break for fishing.  The locals here use canned corn for bait (I'm not kidding).  And, eventually, they did go for it.  Everyone caught a fish.  Britt threw his back before getting a picture but here is Nicole's...and mine... who hadn't quite finished his corn.

We're all exhausted but, if we had to describe the last few days, we'd probably quote a Bill Medley song: "I've Had the Time of My Life."