School Time

Naomi, Kayli & Tori

The girls started school this past week, except for Sydni. As a kindergardener, Sydni had to do a staggered entry where she only went for one day last week to be tested and meet the teachers. So today, she began her true first day with her teacher Ms. Monroe who called on Sunday to welcome Sydni to the classroom, answer any of my questions, and to "bless   heart" for packing Sydni's lunch everyday instead of having her buy it! I don't think I'll ever understand the sweet-talkin' south folks 'round these parts, must be the Yankee in me! ;)

Sydni was so excited but a little nervous. She did so great!

Kayli was less than thrilled that her father was taking her picture boarding the bus to the middle-school. She even told me later how a boy seated behind her gave her heat about it saying, "Is that your Daddy?" Kayli meekly responded "Yeah," to which the boy scoffed, "Ahh, Daddy's little baby is going to school." And so we really have come to the point of middle school and a loss of innocence.

Resilient little Tori loved riding the bus and now "helping" Sydni ride the bus and going to their new elementary school, which she now knows the ropes. Bryan took her to the open house and Tori had to wear her nicer dress and shoes because she's "just so sick of wearing this babyish outfit, it's just so blah" even though she picked it out for school that very day all on her own! She really likes her new teacher, Ms. Campbell, even though she continually jokes that her name is really "Ms. Camel" and she insists that she has 2 humps on her back. She jokes all the time about it, at least she did until I said, "I'll ask her at the open house if camels really do spit and if so, maybe I should keep my distance from her!" Then Tori's face flushed white and her eyes bugged out and she said, "Oh no, please don't say that Mom, you wouldn't!" And then we had a good laugh!

Sweet Tori starting Kindergarten in 2006

MPact Move Up

The girls all celebrated their graduation from the MPact (Missionettes) program at the local church they have attended for the past year. They all moved up to the next levels and Naomi just started attending in the Rainbow's class. She was so excited to attend her first meeting that she had to wear Sydni's old Rainbows shirt (which fit her more like a dress). She ran to me, put her hand on her hip, her thumb up in the air and proclaimed "I'm stylin'!" and gave me a click with her tongue! 

Tori told me that in her new class, her carefree teacher was calling attendance and casually called out, "Hey Tori, are you really standing up behind that table or are you still sitting...cause it really looks like your still sitting down. Are you really that short?!" Tori was quite upset but realized how funny it was as she was relaying the story to me. We must have laughed for 5 minutes! She does not like being small (she's smaller than Sydni now) but I told her that the best gifts come in small packages. Her enormously beautiful and funny personality surpasses her small little frame and I keep encouraging her so that hopefully someday soon she'll also discover that truth!

Hair-Do or Hair-Don't

After wrestling back and forth with the thought for weeks, I finally decided that it was time. I had enough with Naomi's hair in her face, constantly covering her pretty blue eyes! I whisked her into the bathroom on afternoon in July and told her to close her eyes and sit still. With the first snip of the scissors her little eyes popped open and as she looked down at the dusting of blonde hair, she cupped her hand over her mouth and giggled. I must say that I do enjoy her no-bang look more, but for now this will have to do until she can keep a barrette in her hair! Besides, the bangs looks especially cute with pigtails.

Sydni and Naomi sporting her new do!

Naomi is such a sweet little princess.

 With her new hairdo, she reminds me of how Sydni looked at this age even more.

Sydni in August 2006 (age 2 and a half)

We love Gramma + Pa!

Guess the dance...

Macarena!

Cha Cha Slide

...and the famous end-of dance pose!

Livi chillin' with Pa!

Grandma's Girls!

Little Monkey Grew!

Naomi - 2009

Here are pictures of our recent Smithsonian Zoo trip where we reenacted the monkey scene from last year with Naomi in the exhibit. I can't believe how much older she looks after just one year. My little monkey is growing up!

Naomi - 2008

Sydni wanted to be a part of it too! She's growing into such a beautiful young lady.

Sydni and Naomi watched the seals do their tricks for about two minutes before deciding it was boring. I think they exhausted their attentions spans with the 15 minutes of waiting before the trainers came out! At least they had fun hanging in the trees. It's funny how kids remember the things about special events that don't really seem special to adults. They'll probably remember the hanging in the trees part and not seeing the animals.

(and the true Sydni is revealed!)

We also saw the most scariest animal ever this year at the zoo. I have no idea what it is but it must come from Madagascar because everything scary comes from there! Click the picture to enlarge it and see every little creepy hair poking from his face - yikes!