Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

On Monday, Bryan took the girls to the zoo. Our zoo has a brand new exhibit with Lions. I can not remember our zoo ever having lions. I was unable to go due to work, but the report from the family is that it was pretty great! The animals were easy to see and the lions would come right up to the glass. I am looking forward to seeing it sometime soon. But, for now here are the pictures of their fun day.

The tigers were even out today. They are usually hiding.

One of the new lions. Looks a little like she is hunting... my kids?!

Hummm??

This was the way Maddie let me know that Peyton was in need of a diaper change.

Little Miss Sunshine

The futures so bright...she's gotta wear shades! Even if they are upside down.

GO CAVS!

Maddie went to a cheer leading camp put on by the Clackamas High School Cheerleaders. Then, at the first home game of the season Maddie and the other little girls got to cheer with their "big cheer buddy". Jordyn, my niece, is on the squad. Maddie and Jordyn were cheer buddies. It was fun to see them do their thing. The girls had a great time and Clackamas won! Jordyn and Maddie ready to go!

Maddie and her friend Rose getting ready to go out on the field and cheer on the team. It was pretty cute!

The Big Yellow Bus

Maddie rode the bus to school for the first time today! She was so excited! Here are some pictures of her first day riding the big yellow school bus!Waiting with friends at the bus stop.Hopping on...See ya soon!

Madison's First Day Of Kindergarten....Take 2!

O.K., we received a call on Friday morning to let us know Madison will be moved to AM Kindergarten. YIPPEE!! I was so happy she will now be in morning and a little sad because she will not have the same teacher. But....I will pick my battles, and it is AM that I wanted. I now know I can get her off to school and volunteer some days too. It all works so much better with Peyton's nap schedule as well. In the end really one of the best things is there will not be 34 kids in her class since adding another session of kindergarten.

It was like day one all over again (but I got to be there). New classroom, new teacher, and new classmates. SO...I was able to walk with her to school today and see her first day again. Here are some pictures of her 2nd first day of Kindergarten! :)

Waiting with a plate of cookies for her new teacher!

Mrs. Birdie, her teacher, and Maddie

Funny

Maddie was yelling for me from upstairs... over and over again. I was not answering because I am tying to get her to stop yelling my name and come downstairs to talk to me. Anyway, here is what I heard, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" pause "Mommy Grace!" I could not keep from laughing at that one because Grace is her middle name and when she is ignoring me or is in trouble I will call her Madison Grace! It did get my attention. ;)

Happy Birthday Bryan!

We went over to Bryan's parents house to celebrate his birthday. It was a good time visiting with family and his brother Eric and wife Heather who are visiting from Texas. We had a yummy dinner of BBQ London broil, and played tag, hide and seek, and lawn golf in the back yard.

Happy Birthday Bry!! I love you! Only 3 candles?
The girls with Uncle Eric

The MacKender Guys!
The Birthday Boy!

Madison's First Day of Kindergarten!

I was so sad I had to miss Madison's first day of Kindergarten because they put her in PM K. I teach PM K and I am at work the same time she is in school. So, we are trying to get her put into AM K, but will have to wait until Friday to find out if she is moved. The problem was they had to hire another teacher because the 2 current K classes had 34 kids. We have made a request to get her moved to the morning class and that would make me VERY happy! But.... because they are still trying to work out the classes, Maddie had to attend PM K for her first day of school. She only goes one day this week and then will go 4 days next week. The first day of school is mostly assessment. Bryan so sweetly took the day off to take her to school.

It sounds like she had a great time and did really well. Bryan said there were no tears and she was excited to go! I am glad she had a good time and she is looking forward to going back next week! Here are some of the pictures of her first big day of Kindergarten. Ready to walk to school!
Sitting at my table! Ready to be a big Kindergartner!

My Crazy Girl

And you thought you had bed head in the mornings! I love how she is thrilled to have her picture taken. :)

Dahlia Festival

Bryan took the girls to the Dahlia festival on my first "real" day back at school with kids. I have always wanted to go, but had to miss out this year. It looks like they had a good time and the fields were beautiful. It was so nice of them to bring me back a bouquet of purple flowers. Maybe I can go next year.

Little Artists

I brought home an easel from my classroom that I no longer use. The girls were so excited to be little artists and spent a lot of time painting and making masterpieces.

Madison made a picture of a cat for her Kindergarten teacher.

Oaks Park

To end our Summer Vacation we went to Oaks Park for the Toddler Time. They open the park for ages 6 and under. It is $6 for unlimited rides for 2 hours and parents are free. We had a good time riding on all of the kiddy rides. The Merry Go Round, frog hopper, and little train were a few of the favorites. Here are some pictures of our fun day! Peyton on the train.
Maddie with Bry on the train.
The Frog Hopper
Merry Go Round

So Sad To See Summer Go!

I have been very busy lately because I have gone back to work. I have spent the last week, and a couple of days the week prior, getting my classroom ready and going to many meetings. It is always hard to see my Summer vacation come to an end. I so enjoy being home and having warm days open to do as we please.
With the Summer ending and school starting, it means that Madison will be starting Kindergarten! She is very excited and can't wait to ride on the big yellow school bus (that will happen a couple of weeks into school...for Mommy's sake.) She was such a good little preschool student that I do not worry at all about her. She will do great! I just can't believe my baby is starting school. Wow...where has time gone?

Wish me luck...on Tuesday I will have many smiling little faces entering my Kindergarten class, all excited to start their school career. I will also have parents with tears in their eyes to see their little one start school for the first time. I am on the same page as they are this year. The tears are not because I/they feel their child is not going to be safe or not do well. The tears are because this is a milestone in our children's lives that says they are growing up and are not so "little" any longer. It is the slice of independence that we are allowing our children being away from us for just this short time each day. It is just one of the many adventures yet to come.

School Clothes Shopping!

Jan/Grandma offered to start a tradition of taking Madison school clothes shopping and buying her an outfit to start off the school year. Madison was very excited and we headed to the mall to find some school clothes. Waiting while Grandma and Mommy pick out some clothes to try on.
Silly girls. First try... a pink shirt and jeans. Peyton even tried on a little t-shirt.

Here is the outfit we decided on. Super cute! :) Thanks Grandma (and Grandpa)!