Playroom

Finally! I made a decision about what I wanted to do with the girls' playroom (actually a dining room but we use it as a playroom). It had been a combination of browns since we moved in and I was never happy with it. I finally decided to keep the brown on the bottom and do pink stripes on the top.  We are so happy with it!  More pics to come.

Nicole Loses Her First Tooth!

The other day Nicole was complaining of a loose tooth. It seemed too early to actually lose a tooth. Doesn't that happen when you're six or seven? But she was pretty upset about it and afraid when I explained to her that baby teeth will all eventually come out. Several days later I let her have an apple for a snack (not even thinking about her tooth). That really made it loose. But Nicole didn't seem upset about it. The next day at school it came out with no pain (yeah!). Unfortunately, she lost the tooth in the school hallway. But we read about the tooth fairy that night and hid a note in her tooth fairy pillow. Sure enough, there was a dollar there the next morning. Nicole's pretty excited about the whole thing now and losing teeth doesn't seem to bother her one bit anymore.

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?