A Blue Day

To help all the kindergarteners learn their colors, each day is designated as a specific color.  Today is blue.  Kari does not have much blue in her wardrobe, but this was a recent addition after finding this super easy pattern.

Kari's looking forward to another fun week at school!

Jokesters, Part II

This past December we came home to our yard accentuated with plastic candy cane lights.  Since then, we've sat back biding our time and letting the perfect prank percolate in our minds.

Both families have discussed on several occasions our annoyance with stick figure families on the back of peoples' cars.  With only a small investment, I was able to create these right at home, only we took it to a whole new level.  We purposely went a bit overboard:

Unfortunately, they discovered it later in the evening so they didn't have the opportunity to drive all over town with it Saturday.

I suspect we're due up for a prank very soon.

First Days

We officially have ourselves a kindergartener.  She didn't hesitate or flinch getting on the bus.  And neither did her mom or dad.

Back to School Neighborhood Ice Cream Social

Last night we hosted a neighborhood ice cream social in our backyard as a way of celebrating the back to school season.  It was great to get all the neighbors together.  We supplied the ice cream and everyone else brought a variety of toppings, from fresh fruit to brownie bites and whipped cream.  It was quite a sugar high hit!

 Everyone's ready for school!

Silly pose!

Last Days

Kari's last day at pre-school was Friday.  We had a great run there and could not have been more pleased with our time.  Kari went from a caring in-home daycare environment with Natalie to another setting with caring teachers and staff for almost three years.  Kari was part of the inaugural class and was there when the center opened- everything was brand-spanking new.  She was one of the lucky ones who got to have Ms. Vicki twice- in the 2 year old room and now again in the pre-k room.

Ms. Carla, Kari and Ms. Vicki

Kari doesn't realize it yet, but she's going to miss this place.  She's too excited for kindergarten to realize how great she's had it.  I'm just glad Bryce is still there so I don't have to give up the center cold turkey.

It's been fun. It's been real.  Thanks, everyone!

Gatlinburg

This trip has been planned for a while now, but it sure felt like it came up quickly!  It seems like only yesterday we were planning and packing for Gulf Shores.  This trip was a reunion with some of my sorority sisters, their spouses and kids.  We loaded up the family roadster and headed south on I-65 once again.

We stayed at a resort within the Smokys and between Gatlinburg and the world's largest tourist trap, otherwise known as Pigeon Forge.

The views were spectacular, and according to the kids, the best part was the water park onsite.  We spent all day Saturday water-logging ourselves.  Saturday night we did what many people do in the area-- head out to one of the dinner shows.  There was a majority interest in seeing the "Hatfields & McCoys" and it did not disappoint!  The show was entertaining for everyone and the food was, perhaps surprisingly, a delicious southern meal of fried chicken, corn bread, mashed potatoes, beans, pulled pork, slaw and Oreo pudding.

We were outnumbered: 9 kids to 8 adults.

 Allison, Angie, Danielle, me and Rachel

I hadn't seen Allison, nor Danielle in more than eight years.  It was great to catch up again.

Sunday morning, Angie's family invited everyone (eek!) over for breakfast before some families headed out to go home.

Sunday, it was only us and Angie's family.  We headed into Gatlinburg to do some sightseeing.  The Ripley's Aquarium was the hit of the day.

The other hit of the day was the rain!  It poured, actually.  It was such a novel thing to see the rain we all really quite enjoyed it!

A Destruction Construction Party

It's hard to believe little Brycie turned three last week.  We celebrated in true little boy style with a construction-themed party.  With all the construction going on around campus this summer and the front-row seat to the US 231 development, Bryce's love for all things construction has been quite appropriate.

A recent trip to Ft. Wayne landed me this construction themed fabric, perfect for making a bunting and matching shirt for Bryce.

As usual, we stuck to the grandparent-only guest list.  Everyone was greeted at the door with a personalized construction hat.

And, of course, construction style food was on the menu.  I gathered ideas from a variety of places.  Chicken salad, tuna salad and a caprese pasta salad were the main items.  We were so fortunate to have a slight break in the weather this day.  It was pleasant enough to eat out on the deck with the umbrella.  It was nice to give the grandparents more seating options beyond the kitchen and dining room.

We rounded out the party with our traditional star cake.  Several months back the Food Network magazine had a layout on how to make a variety of frosting colors.  Without that guide I would have never had the guts to attempt to go that orange.

A few other decoration ideas included using a paint can as a flower vase, a paint tray as a serving tray for the bread and a "Port-a-Potty" sign on the bathroom door.

This week, Bryce moves up to the pre-school room.  We're all hoping behavior and desire for potty training improves in his new surroundings.