Great Start To Kindergarten

Audrey and Isabelle

Our first week of Kindergarten is complete and we made it! It was an awesome week, I couldn't have asked for anything to go any better than it had! Back to school night was Thursday night and it was so great to finally see all the things Isabelle talks about each day and have some time to get to know her teacher better.

On the first day of school Isabelle made a new friend and they came out of class holding hands. They have been attached at the hip ever since. I prayed on Monday as we drove to school that Isabelle would make friends easily and that I would make friends with the other parents too. Audrey's Mom and I have become friends because of our daughters quick bond last week. What an answer to prayer and so quickly! On Friday after school Sarah and I decided to take the kids out on a playdate, the girls were so excited! Audrey also has a little brother Devin who is the same age as Calista, they have become fast friends too, they love to play together while we wait for the kids. We had a great time at the park, As we were leaving Audrey was sad to leave Isabelle, but her mom told her she had a feeling we would be spending a lot of time together. What a blessing that God answered our prayers so quickly and not only did Isabelle make a new friend, both Calista and I did also!

Calista and Devin

Curious Georgia Fall 2010 Photo Shoot

Last weekend I had the privilege of photographing Curious Georgia's Fall 2010 line. I took some photos earlier this year of an outfit made by Heather, the owner of Curious Georgia, that she was donating to the GreenHouse silent auction. She loved the photos that she hired me to photograph her Fall Collection. We met a month ago and talked about photographing the clothes and she enlisted both Calista and Isabelle to be models and made them each 2 adorable outfits to model and keep.

We went to Capitol Park and shoot 10+ different outfits in 2 hours in the heat and all of the girls did great! They loved being models and were all so adorable at it! Both Heather's husband and Freddie came to help out with the group and they made a changing room for the girls and got along great. It was a fun afternoon for the whole family! Here are several of my favorite photos from the day.

Check out Curious Georgia on etsy by clicking here!

This next dress is my favorite!

Isabelle and Charlotte became FAST friends, they absolutely adored each other and I think it shows in the pictures, it was so fun and so easy to photograph them together!

The beautiful models at the end of a very successful shoot!

First Day Of Kindergarten!

Isabelle was so excited all morning for school to start. She got up and was beaming from ear to ear right from the get go. We had breakfast and I got her ready, it was the first day so I curled her hair. She was ready to go way before we needed to leave, she must have asked a hundred times if it was time to go yet. We took a few pictures and headed out early. I am still not sure how long it is going to take us each morning to get to school. Our good friends live right across the street from the school, so they have told us to park in their driveway to avoid parking on the street like everyone else. We walked over and took a few pictures in front of the school sign, Isabelle was totally annoyed, she just wanted to find her class and start her day!

Isabelle showing off her new backpack.

Posing with her sister.

Once they let us in the gate, we found her class and the teacher gave the kids name tags.

Then Mrs. Gravert welcomed the kids, told the kids to tell their parents they are proud of them and wave and they were off.

There she goes, I cried a tiny bit when she walked off. She is such a big girl and I am so proud of her.

She had a great day, made a new friend and even told me all about the day, every detail. When I would interrupt her to ask a questions she said, "Mom stop asking questions, I'll tell you everything, I promise!"

Can't wait to see what this year brings for her!

Back To School

Well summer is over, I seriously don't know where it went. I know the older you get the faster time flys, but I think it flys even faster as your kids get older.

Tomorrow Isabelle starts her first day of Kindergarten. A day I have been preparing for since she was born. I knew it would come, but I never imagined it would come this fast. Tonight we picked out her clothes for her first day, packed her lunch, which she insisted on making herself and got her backpack ready too. As I tucked her in and prayed with her, I cried as I prayed. She said, "Mommy, don't be sad, I really want to go to school." I am so proud of her, she is going to do great! So many things she will learn and friends she will make. I made one of my very best friends in kindergarten. I just wish she wasn't in a hurry to grow up!

She has been so excited all week, we have had a countdown to the first day of school. We talk about it a lot and every time she gets the biggest smile on her face. I asked her if she wanted to take back to school photos and she was all for it. So we had fun the other night taking photos to mark this special occasion!

They Call It Puppy Love

I finally got Calista a backup puppy after I searched the house for hours last week trying to find him at bed time. Only to have Freddie come home and search for 10 minutes and find him. The new puppy came in the mail yesterday and I didn't think it through when I let her see it. I have heard from other mom's that kids don't usually want anything to do with the new lovie. Calista LOVED it! She was so excited, I wish I would have recorded it. The only problem is, she wants both puppies all the time now. I think I may need a back up for the backup. UGH! Look at the difference between the two puppies, I give the original puppy a bath every other day. He is a different color now, doesn't feel so soft, is matted and just gross. The new puppy, is the softest stuffed animal I have ever felt and he is clean!

Things I Want My Daughters To Know...

Isabelle's Journal is the pink one and almost full,

Calista's is the purple one and it looks like I have some catching up to do...

Recently a friend sent me a link to a blog, 500 Pieces Of Prudent Advice For My Baby Daughter. I have enjoyed reading it, when I found out I was pregnant with Isabelle I started a journal for her. (I did the same for Calista too.) I was never a journaler before, but when I became pregnant, I wanted a place for me to share with her in my own handwritting, a place for me to tell her my story in my own words. Freddie writes in them from time to time too. I have always had this fear that I would die before they knew me, or that they wouldn't have the answers one day she always wanted. I know it's a bit morbid maybe, but I also know that I am a girl who has a million questions, and I didn't want to forget any detail, just incase they have questions. Once I started the blog, I slowed down writing in the journals, only writing things in there on special occasions or things I didn't want to share on the internet. But I have written my own pieces of advice for them, not anywhere close to 500. Yet.

Here are a few of the things I wrote to my girls.

No time spent with the Lord is ever wasted.

Laugh often, it really is good medicine.

Not everyone is going to like you, and that is OK. I promise!

God isn't a genie, he doesn't have to explain himself to us.

It's better to have a couple close friends, than lots of friends.

Don't let insecurity become low self esteem.

Check in with God everyday.

Live simply.

The more you talk, the harder it is for you to hear God.

Don't ever change to be somebody someone else wants you to be.

Don't run out in front of the Lord, stop and pray about everything.

I think I will share more from time to time, just in case the house burns down and the journals aren't salvaged, I know, I know morbid.

The Funny Things Kids Say

Here are some of the funny things our kids have done this week...

Mommy: Isabelle why are you screaming?

Isabelle: Because I saw a spider.

Mommy: We don't need to scream when we see spiders.

Isabelle: You do.

Mommy: Calista, I love you.

Calista: Love me do!

Isabelle: Can we go to Chick-Fil-A for lunch since it's Calista's Birthday?

Mommy: Do you think I'm made of money?

Isabelle: No you are made of Mommy, was that a yes?

Last but not least, this week Isabelle drew a picture of me, she said, "This is you Mommy, with your one mixed up teeth." Totally made me laugh!

Happy Day Do You Calista!

Calista loved being sung to today! She says, "Happy day do you!" Every time we sang the Birthday song today, she grinned from ear to ear. If you asked her who's Birthday it was, she said "ME!"

This morning I took the girls to Funtastick, we were there for almost 3 hours, they played happily the entire time. They had a Play Doh station and Calista played there for an entire hour all on her own. We have Play Doh at home, but I guess it isn't as fun. Calista wanted Pizza for lunch so we went to Costco and the girls shared a slice. I didn't make her take a nap since the girls were having to much fun playing on her new chalkboard at home. When Daddy got home we had Dinner and cake and then played outside until bedtime. Calista was so tired she didn't notice that I couldn't find puppy... I think he is in the car, and Daddy took the car out tonight. I sure hope puppy snuck along for the movie, cause I have no clue what we will do if I can't find him... Other than a missing puppy, I think this birthday was a success!!

Happy day do you sweet Calista! We love you!

Happy 2nd Birthday Calista!

Calista,

Today you are two! It feels like yesterday that you were just born and at the same time I can't remember life without you as part of our family. It amazes me how God could pack so much into a little girl, you are sweet and spunky, shy but outgoing, affectionate, possessive, imaginative, and independent. You know what you want all the time. You make me smile everyday! I love you more than you will ever understand! Happy Birthday Sweet Calista!

Love, Mommy

This year with the duck! I forgot to add this photo to her collage of duck photos, I will do that later and add it to this post. ;)

Reno

Last week, the girls and I went to Reno for a quick visit with Nana, Pops, Grammy and Gramps. Nana and Pops got Calista her very own Harley for her Birthday that matches Pop's blue Harley. Nana brought it down in April so she could enjoy it this summer, so I brought it with us. Pops made Calista a Harley owners shirt to match his vest. She rode her bike just fine until Pops fired his Harley up and she was scared of the noise and ran in the house. His bike is LOUD! Isabelle on the other-hand was fascinated with it and wanted to ride on his bike! Pops took her for a very careful, short ride from the corner of their house to the driveway, not going fast and never taking his feet off the ground, just to say that she had ridden on Pop's Harley. She LOVED it!

Grammy and Gramps came over to play and have dinner with us, then we took the girls to the park around the corner. Then back the Nana and Pop's house for cake and ice cream to celebrate both of the girls birthdays.

Here is Calista in her Harley owners shirt on her Harley.

Issy and Pops on his Harley!

At the park, Isabelle and Calista had Pops and Gramps wrapped around their fingers, they pushed them on the swings and chased them around the park. I wonder who slept better that night... the girls or Pops and Gramps?

Cake time!

California State Fair

Last week we went to the CA State Fair with some friends! My friend Rose and I started out after lunch with 8 kids! (What were we thinking?) It actually went real well with 4 of them being older kids it totally helped! We started off with the livestock and made it just in time to see a mama goat give birth! So cool! Later Bethany and Robbie's parents joined us, then Freddie and Eric after work, then Erik and Coin, then Tommy and Melissa and their kids. We also ran into our good friends Jenn and Joel and their two girls. The group got bigger and bigger as the day went on, it was great!

Here is a photo of the 8 kids we started off with when we first arrived. Brooke, Ashley, Calista, Robbie, Issy, Jack, Beth and Abby.

Here is the brand new baby goat, just minutes old!

We went on kids day, so the kids all got in free and rides were just a $1 each and there were a few fun activities for the kids to do. The girls enjoyed painting their handprints onto a horse.

Abby and Issy on the kangaroo ride.

Calista wasn't a fan or the loud fair noises, live giant to her animals or fair rides. The only thing that made her happy was Bethany and I was grateful that Bethany enjoyed playing with her.

I had fun taking pictures at sunset of course... I didn't get a chance to take many, but I grabbed a couple. I brought the wrong lens, trying to pack lightly, so all of my shots were real close since I couldn't get back far in the crowds. Oh well!

Melissa taking the girls on a ride.

The big kids had a blast riding the big rides.

What's a trip to the fair without riding the carousel?

A pic of us before Freddie headed home with Calista. Isabelle and I got to stay longer and go on some rides together with our friends. That's Calista on her third change of clothes, good thing I overpacked clothing wise.

Our partners in crime, the Adamson's