A Major Accomplishment

Our sweet Samantha tends to suffer from anxiety at the idea of trying new things. As the new school year approached, we began to talk about how nice it would be for her to ride the bus home from school this year. I love picking her up from school, but it can also be a pain from time to time. The school bus drives right down our street and drops off just 2 houses down from ours. Last week I wasn't able to pick her up from school one day, and so we let her "get her feet wet" by riding home with a friend that takes the bus. The experience wasn't so bad, so this week I finally talked her into taking the bus home to our neighborhood. She was much more nervous about this since she didn't have a friend to ride with. I told her I would be out waiting for her to come home. I started to get nervous when the bus was 15 minutes late, and began regretting the decision to not pick her up myself.

Fortunately, it finally appeared...

I got excited as it got closer and closer...

As it pulled up, I started to wonder what I would do if she wasn't on the bus...

And then off she came...

With a little smile and a look of pride!

And I too had a feeling of pride as I watched her conquer her fear.

I love you Samantha!

And They're Off...

So here we are, starting yet another school year. I'm not quite sure I'm ready for the hustle and bustle that goes along with it, but I am ready to be back into some sort of routine again.

Megan and Sammy haven't been overly excited to start this year. Sammy began to get more excited about starting 2nd grade after meeting her teacher a couple of days ago. I took her shopping for a first day of school shirt. We're hoping this shirt brings out her outgoing side! I am hoping to convince her to ride the school bus home from school this year.

Noah has been dreading having his sisters go back to school. When I told him a couple of days ago that they would be going back to school this week, his eyes welled up with tears. I wonder if that says something about how fun it is to be home with me? Things will be better when he starts his preschool in a couple more weeks.

Sammy actually has quite a few kids in her class that she already know from church and from previous classes. Sammy and Abbott went to preschool together, and are now sitting back to back - so fun!

Megan has been nervous about starting the 8th grade. Besides a busy volleyball season, she is signed up for all AP classes this year. It's going to be a hectic year for her, but we know she is going to do great!
Of course when you are in Junior High you can't walk in the first day without a friend to walk in next to you. Megan and one of her best buds Taylor arranged to ride together today.

We're all ready for a great school year!

Another Summer - Come and Gone

Here I am on the eve of the beginning of another school year, wondering where oh where our summer went. I decided I needed a reminder of all the fun that we have had over the past couple of months:

Fun at the Drive-in movie

Watching bird eggs become baby birds

Eating hundreds of popsicles

Swimming lessons

Fun at the lake

Late nights

Being crazy with friends

Just being crazy

Playing with the new camera

Lots and lots of volleyball

Finally going to a Naturals game

Picnics with friends

Experiencing a demolition derby

Back to school breakfast

S'mores on the grill

Goodbye summer 2009 - we had so much fun. Hello 8th grade, 2nd grade, and last year of preschool. Now it's time for me to dust off the project list and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Wicked!

When Megan had her birthday a couple of months ago, she got a gift she hadn't asked for. It seemed like all she wanted was 'things' - clothes, shoes, music downloads, gift cards. I decided that I wanted to give her an 'experience' and not just stuff. I had heard that Wicked was going to be playing in Tulsa, and I knew she had heard some of the music before and had liked it. I got tickets for her and I to go, and wrapped them up for her birthday. I'm not sure how excited she was when she opened them, especially since she hadn't asked for them. But it gave us something to look forward to all summer long. In the weeks leading up to the show we have been listening to the music and getting excited to see it. Even Mike and Sammy have gotten caught up in the music. Finally this past Saturday, our day arrived!

We headed out early enough that we could stop and get some lunch before the show. We went to yummy Pei-Wei, somewhere we don't have at home. Megan was thrilled about me taking her picture in the middle of the restaurant. We really enjoyed our teriyaki chicken and orange peel chicken.

And then I embarrassed her again in front of the theater.

And then again inside when I asked a nice man to take our picture. He was wanting us to say silly things when he took the picture, which caused me to smile extra cheesy and cheerfully.

Now our attempt to take a picture together inside the theatre.

The show was SO GOOD! I have seen several musicals, including 2 on Broadway while in New York. I think this was my favorite one yet. The music and story are so great and fun and entertaining. We stopped for a milk shake and then headed home. It was such a fun "girls day".