BARACK OBAMA???

Last week was Constitution week at Kennedy's school. I was amazed at how much she learned and retained. Maybe even a little too much...we were working on one of her SPARKS lessons tonight and I was explaining to her that the S in SPARKS stood for Savior. I asked her who our Savior was and without the slightest hesitation she said, "Barack Obama!" It was hilarious...not really I guess. I was in Philadelphia for work last Monday - Wednesday and had a little time to take a tour of Phillie! I learned so much about the city and all its history! As we were driving to church Wednesday night I passed my camera to the backseat so the girls could see my pictures. The first one was of the Liberty Bell and Kennedy said, "We learned about the Liberty Bell at school today...it has a crack in it." She also told me about Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty which "Is in New York and you can go inside it." Thursday was official Constitution Day and all the kiddos wore red white and blue. I guess you can't have Constitution week without singing Yankee Doodle Dandy. She learned the song and made the cutest hat! My favorite part of the day is going through her backpack and seeing all the cool stuff she did at school. Thank goodness, she is really loving Kindergarten!

Camryn's 1st day of preschool

Having her favorite breakfast...pancakes and chocolate milk!

She was convinced she was going to wear her socks pulled up to her knees!

We actually managed to leave Ruff Ruff at home and she did great at naptime! Kelsey made Ruff Ruff when she was a senior in high school for one of her Home Ec projects. I went into Kennedy's room one day when Camryn was about 10 months old and she was lying on the floor using Ruff Ruff as a pillow. He has been her best buddy ever since and is truly living up to his name! I am not sure how many days he has left!

Anytime I ask Camryn to smile this is what I get.

She walked right in and started playing kitchen...she could care less if I left or stayed.

"The Kissing Hand" artwork

What we have been up to....

Camryn starts preschool Wednesday, September 9th. She is going to 1st Southern on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays. We had Open House this week and she was able to meet her teacher, Mrs. Stacy, and play a little in her classroom. She is really excited and ask everyday if it is time to go to her new school!

We had a birthday cookout for me, Todd, and Kyle at April and Jaymie's last Saturday night. The girls posed for a quick pic!

Baby Ethan. Kennedy and Camryn LOVE holding babies!

A late birthday present from Reagan! What a fun surprise!

I still can't get enough pictures of Kennedy going off to school. I still get choked up when I pick her up in the afternoons. I don't know why but when I see her waiting for me with all the kindergartner's it gets me every time! Todd is doing Watch Dog Dads which is a program trying to get dads involved in the classroom. He spent this morning in Kennedy's class and then ate lunch with them and helped supervise recess. All the kiddos were grateful for the monkey bar help!

After our nightly Bible story I put Camryn in her bed (Kennedy requested a 52 week break from Camryn sleeping with her!) and came in to Kennedy's room for one last night night kiss and this is what I found!

Kennedy's First Day of Kindergarten

Well, it is official...Todd and I are officially the parents of a kindergartner! Today was her first day of Kindergarten at Hurricane Creek Elementary. We all survived the 1st day! I held up much better than I thought I would. I got choked up more when I was picking her up than when I dropped her off! Something about seeing all the kids coming through the school doors with their teachers and their walkie talkies got to me! Her teacher's name is Mrs. Butzlaff and has been teaching for several years. Todd, Camryn and I dropped her off this morning and she did perfect! She is ready to go back tomorrow. Here is the poem Mrs. Butzlaff had waiting on Kennedy's desk for us...

The First Day

I gave you a little wink and smile

As you entered my room today

For I know how hard it is to leave

And know your child must stay.

You've been with her for five years now

And have been a loving guide,

But now, alas, the time has come

To leave her at my side.

Just know that as you drive away

And tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love her as I would my own

And help her learn and grow.

For as a parent, I too know

How quickly the years do pass

And that one day long ago it was my turn

To take my child to class.

So please put your mind at ease

And cry those tears no more

For I will love her and take her in

When you leave her at my door.

Thursday morning tea

Gram got the girls each a tea set for their birthdays this year and yesterday morning they had a breakfast tea party. They had fruit, yogurt, blueberry muffins and apple juice! I am so glad they have each other and are making so many sweet sister memories!

Traveler's Game

We met Holli, Allen, and Anderson last Saturday night at the Traveler's game. It was a perfect night for baseball and we made it through all 9 innings! We won so after the game there were fireworks and of course Camryn did not like that one bit!!! She kept saying let's get out of here!

"The Jumpy Place"

I took the girls to Party Central aka "the jumpy place" this afternoon. This is one of their favorite things to do and they had so much fun. We were there for almost 3 hours! I put on my socks and played with them for a while and then got worn out so just watched and took pictures! Everytime Kennedy would slide she would want me to video or take her picture and then she would say put it on the blog!

Kennedy is always saying something hilarious. Yesterday she and Camryn were watching The Grinch with Jamie (their summer babysitter) and she said, "I can't wait until Christmas and we are going to get a great big Christmas tree that reaches all the way up to heaven and Jesus can help me put the lights on and then we can have a real angel on top!" I know Jesus is still smiling about that one! She has the sweetest spirit and loves Jesus so much! She tells me all the time how much she loves me and then she will say, "But I love Jesus more!"