The Pearl is back on the court for the fall!!!!  This time she is sporting #9 for her school..  She's back together with some of her favorite pals which makes practices and games more fun!  We are really seeing Ainsley improve in her volleyball skills.. She worked hard over the summer!!!  She's been given the opportunity to play outside hitter on her new team!!!  It was pretty exciting to see her record her first "kills" at their first match last week... ( I am not sure if Ainsley or her Daddy was more excited!!!)  We love watching our girl play!!!

Wednesday it was finally her turn...  The one hour open house did not cut it on Monday...  She was ready for the real deal..  Pre-Kindergarten..  All day!  Three days a week!  She had her book bag, her lunch, and her cuteness..  She could not wait to get in the car..  For our 15 minute drive she kept asking me how much longer...  She asked me so many sweet questions...  "Will I make new friends?"  "Will my teachers like me?" "What are we going to do all day..."  Her new school encourages drop off..  Even the first day..  So, that is what we did..  I coached her to say "good morning" to who ever greeted her at the door...  When it was her turn, she kissed me on the cheek and said, "I gonna miss you Mama.."  Then she jumped out of the car, and I heard her say with her sweet raspy voice.. "good morning!"  And, then she skipped along, big smile on her face,  right into the new exciting chapter of Pre-K...  She left me in the rearview mirror with a thankful heart..  Thankful for this little girl who brings us all so much joy..  How can it be that just two years ago she was in an orphanage waiting for her forever?  

I can't believe it is September 2nd!!!  The girls (except for the Little Bean) started school on August 26th!  We officially have a girl in Junior High!!!  The Pearl started 7th grade, and so far she loves it!  While she is still at the same school, Chapel Hill does a great job of making the middle schoolers feel like the Big Kids on campus!!!  It's so fun to see her excited about being back!!! Ainsley also made the Gold Volleyball Team for fall at her school!  We are so proud of her..  She is one of three 7th graders that were selected for this new team!!  Practices are underway and we are ready to cheer them on!!!

The Middles are in the same class again this year!  We were thrilled when we got their class list.  Their second grade teacher was Ainsley's first grade teacher.  She is amazing!!!!  I just know they are going to have a special year!!

The "Little Bean" was sad to see everyone but her start school last week...  Her BFF Bella did start Kindergarten at Chapel Hill...  Emme was not happy about being left behind... She was excited to see Bella in her new classroom though, and to celebrate day one with her after school!   Soon she will start at a new school as a Pre-K student..  We/She can't wait!!

The pictures from the first day make me smile...  Note Ainsley walking in front of Jeff this year...  It's definitely a new day and the "cool factor" has set in...  She may admit she was happy that her Dad was there to help her and her friends get their lockers open on the first day though..  Combination locks are a new thing in Junior High!!!!

A few photos from Day 1, 2013/2014:

Emme shares a special anniversary too.  Today my parents celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary!!!  We have much to celebrate in our family this evening!  Two Forevers!!  Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!  And Happy Forever Emme Jade!  We LOVE you!!

Well, if you know us well, you know that July is the busiest month of the year at our house... Busier than December, and busier then the end of the school year...  We packed in 4 birthday celebrations, cabin time, a weekend retreat, volleyball camps, swim team practices and the swim team Championships...  Ruby closed the month on the 31st by turning 7 on us!!!  Jeff and I left the same day for a long weekend in Aspen..  It was a crazy and special month!~

So, this post will really be a scrap book of the miles we traveled!!

Starting with Mr. Handsome's Birthday...   I could not top last year's 50th celebration.  Honestly, I couldn't even try...  So we celebrated 51 with the kids and "Camp H!"  I think he was OK with that!  We even got a family photo..  A rare thing around here!

Next we headed to Stockholm, WI for an awesome weekend with our family group...  We had no idea what to expect..  We were blown away by the beautiful retreat center we shared with our special group of friends.  We spent Sienna's birthday on "the farm!"  It was a two day celebration...  Some of my favorite photos from our weekend in WI!





OK - I am not done yet..  One more birthday to go!!!  Our sweet Ruby Mei closed the month by turning 7.  She and Sienna decided to do a party together this year.  We did it at a local art studio.  They loved it!!  (And, so did I!!!)