First/Last Day of First Grade

What a difference a year makes!!
My cup runneth over.  She is my HEART!

Last day of First Grade

 First Day of First Grade

Lake Day

Richard has been itching to go to the lake, but the weather has been horrible.  We finally gave in on Saturday despite the dreary skies and rain showers.  Richard promised us that even though it rained on us the entire way there, that it was going to stop and be a semi-nice day.  He was right!  It was a perfect boat/lake day.  It wasn't too hot and the sun was in and out.  We happened to drive by a place on the lake where the fish were jumping everywhere.  It was a perfect fishing opportunity for Kamdyn.  She learned how to cast a real rod and caught a baby fish almost every time she cast.  I finally got up from my towel to try my luck.  As it turned out, I caught the biggest fish of the day on my very first cast.  It was still a puny little fish, but the biggest none the less.  Karcie did great!  She wanted NO part in touching the fish, but thought it was cool as could be when we kept catching the fish.  It was a relaxing, fun-filled, family day.  Can't wait until we get to do it again........IF it ever STOPS RAINING!!

We let Karcie get in even though it made me a nervous WRECK!!

She only got to stay for a little while with Richard close by.  The child has NO FEAR!

They tried to nap!

But, Karcie couldn't be still or quiet.  That planned failed!

Kamdyn was showing me her crazy looking loose tooth!

It was so ready to come out!  She finally pulled it later that day at our pool.  Tooth #7!

I never could get both of them to look at the camera at the same time.  Typical!

Snuggle Time

Karcie is our little snuggle bunny.  She gives the best hugs and loves to sit close to someone on the couch or chair.  She frequently crawls up in Richard's lap for some love.  This makes my heart happy!

Somebody Had a BIRTHDAY!!

Somebody turned 37!!!  WOW!!  How can that be??  We met when I was 18.  CRAZY!!  Anyway, we didn't let his birthday pass quietly into the night.  He received many cards and a traditional birthday cake just wouldn't do. The girls and I went to several stores to look for an apple pie.  He's not traditional.  He has his own ideas of how everything should be.  We love that about him!!  

We took him for a nice dinner at a Mexican Restraurant that we had been wanting to try called Tacos Mexico.  Karcie kept saying, "I go to Mexi-co!"  It was so cute.  :)

After dinner he came home and cut grass!  WHAT?  WHY?  We were all patiently impatiently waiting on him to blow out some candles so we could enjoy some apple pie.  We had multiple attempts at blowing out the candles. The pie was almost a spit pie by the time Karcie blew out the candle five million times.  

Happy Birthday, sweetie!  We love you more than any apple pie could ever express.  We are SO thankful for YOU!!!

Look Who is Trying Out BIG GIRL Panties!!

We aren't aggressively working on potty training.  The potty is out.  Panties have been purchased.  She tells me when she is wet and when she has a dirty diaper.  She wore her big girl panties one night and even went to the potty on her own.  Unfortunately, she didn't get the panties and gown completely out of the way before wetting both of them over the potty.  I was proud of that!  She doesn't seem overly interested, but I'll take her ever so slight initiative at wanting to pull her panties out of her drawer and wear them. Before we know it, she will be using the potty.  I'm not worried a bit about it.  She just has to make up he own mind.....our little independent, head-strong, precious little girl!

Who LOVES Sydney?

My two "K" girls certainly do!  This was Sunday morning.  Kamdyn and Sydney literally play at one of our houses every second that they get.  They spent Sunday morning at our house.  Then, went to Sydney's for lunch.  Kamdyn and Richard went to Lowe's for a Build and Grow project.  When they got back, Stacey and I took these three and Landon to the pool.  Our neighborhood has been a great place for my girls and me to be.  Richard is still adjusting....missing his water view and privacy, but he's getting better everyday! 

The End of First Grade

It seems that Kamdyn has been in First Grade FOREVER!!  I know that our move has something to do with that, but, to be honest, she could just stay this age forever.  It would be fine by me!!  I'm already freaking out that there will only be one week between first and second grade.  My baby is growing WAY too quickly.

Her class put on a wonderful Biome play for the parents last Friday.  Luckily, Ruthie was here to watch, too.  Kamdyn was so excited to perform.  The parents Mom's had to make the costumes and they all turned out super cute!  Kamdyn was a starfish.  We jazzed hers up a bit complete with a monogrammed "K" and everything!!  They just don't do much of the monograms, bows, and ruffles around here...much to my dismay.  But, we still do!!  Her costume wouldn't have been "her" without the "K."  As Sydney says, "Kamdyn wouldn't be Kamdyn without her K!"  So true, Syd!

Sydney was the King Queen Snake in the play and her role was PERFECT for her little personality.  All of the children did great.  After the play, we went back to their classroom for a luau and got to watch a slideshow from the year.  We are so thankful for this perfect little school.  The children and teachers have been so great for Kamdyn!  They welcomed her with love from the start and for that we will forever be grateful!!

Little sis thought she was BIG stuff at school with Kamdyn sitting at her desk.

Sydney and Kamdyn....two peas in a pod!  Would spend every second together if we let them!

Awesome Mrs. Dunn!!  We will miss her so much!  She has been the perfect blend of structure, independence, and freedom.

Mrs. Anderson, the teaching assistant.  She is so great with the kids! 

ZBB!!

As part of Richard's birthday present, I got tickets for us to see Zac Brown Band in Raleigh at the Walnut Creek Pavilion.  It was our first Raleigh concert since moving here.  Our last concert in Raleigh was my all time favorite concert when we saw Jimmy Buffett.  However, ZBB did not disappoint.  The band is awesome and he played some great covers including Metallica's "Enter Sandman."  It was a great show and we can't wait for our next one here in Raleigh!!  Since going to this concert we found out that many of our neighbors are country music fans, too.  Next time we will hopefully have a fun group to go with us!!

Thanks to Ruthie for visiting with us this past weekend and keeping the girls so that we could have a date night!

Trying to take a self portrait with the sun directly behind us.

It was difficult to do.  The weather couldn't have been better.

I don't think he said one word aside from "How ya' doin' Raleigh?" when he walked on the stage.

The rest of the night was filled with awesome music!