The first day of school means new friends, new teachers and for Adiah a new school. This has been a year of firsts for all of us but especially Adiah. Two new schools in one year. Who wants that? Well, Adiah didn't know if she wanted it on the way to school the first day. Her little chin started quivering and her eyes got all watery and she said, "Momma, I wish I didn't take that test." She was so sad and so afraid of what she was about to walk into. She was worried about not seeing her old friends anymore and having to "learn a new school all over again". Well, she survived. She was so excited about her new friends and her teacher. As soon as she got home she ran to do her homework. I haven't seen her so excited in a while. She has actually carried that excitement through this whole week. I am so happy for her and feel so fortunate that she has an opportunity to learn at a school in a way that is more suited for her.

Ava on the other hand had no worries. She kept the same teacher and 6 of her friends from kindergarten. She still insisted on going to meet the teacher and hanging around as long as we could stretch it out. She is also very excited and happy about what this new year holds for her. I love her school and her teacher. She is getting ready to start T-ball next month and girl scouts as well. She is very social and loves to be the center of attention. Well, that is until someone points it out. She is always laughing and loves to play hard. I am so proud of her and can't wait to see what she will become.

Adiah has started ballet. I am very excited about this because she has not been very interested in much of anything other than video games and TV lately. She attends twice weekly and this is real ballet. Her teacher works them non-stop for 45 minutes. She actually works up a sweat in ballet. Never before. I can't watch her much while she's in class because she looks very bored and tired and that frustrates me. She says she is just trying to focus because her teacher is speaking French and she's trying to understand her. I get that. I would probably be the same way but my instinct is to try to make her better. Which I am learning is my issue not hers. She looks beautiful when she gives it her all and I can't wait to see what she will become.

End of Summer Fun part 2

Back to school party!!!! Lots of fun at the back to school party. We painted with pudding, made banana caterpillars and played with spaghetti. The kids loved it all and had fun with their friends. Nothings better than painting your friends with pudding. Right? What a great way to end the summer.

Just the Girls

Before school started I wanted to have a special day for me, Adiah and Ava. Yes, we were together all summer but, making a day especially for them meant a lot. So, the Thursday before school started we decided to have a "Girls Day". We started off with frappachino's from Starbucks. Because every little girl needs her Starbucks before her pedicure. So, you guessed it, next we went and got relaxing pedicures. Adiah and Ava were so funny. They didn't know what to think about someone they didn't know rubbing on their feet. They were both grinning from ear to ear. Ava's legs weren't long enough for her feet to make it into the spa water so they had to prop her and she had to slump a lot. She didn't care though, she was having a great time. After our pedicures we went to the mall to Forever XXI. They love to try on the jewelry, scarves and hats there. So, we played there for a while but couldn't find anything too special so we went to Claire's to find some jewelry. Adiah picked a gold necklace with an A on it and Ava chose earrings that are rainbows. After the mall we had to go eat. Adiah chose Jason's Deli because she wanted to eat healthy. Ava needed a little convincing but we finally agreed that Jason's Deli was where we were going to go. We had a great lunch and a fabulous day. I love my girls and I love doing girly things with them.

End of Summer Fun part 1

In all of this end of summer fun, Ava lost a big tooth. She is so proud of her snaggle-tooth smile.

Ok, this picture was supposed to be focused on Cole.

Sadie just chillin' in the pool.

I almost blinded them trying to get the perfect picture. Well, they arent blind and I didn't get the perfect picture.

Loving the sun.

Amber, Cami, Karston and Kayden came to the beach with us.

Ava's amazing sandcastle. She did it all by herself. And that's the way she wanted it.

Aren't they sweet?

Wow! Hubba hubba

Handsome little man

Heading out to the waves.

Look! She has all of her teeth here. One day later, everything changed.

The end of summer means squeezing in all of the fun you can in a short amount of time. I think we did a pretty good job of that.

Amanda, Matt, Cole and Sadie came for a visit. We had a great time. Of course, we went to the Texas State Aquarium. I don't know how many more times I can see the same fish and birds. But, the kids love it and that makes it all worth it. We spent a day at the beach too. That never gets boring. No visit is complete without a visit to the two story Whataburger on Ocean drive. They had fun teasing the seagulls out on the deck and scaring me when they climbed on the rail.

Weekend with the girls

Jane, Alesha and I got together for the weekend and had a blast catching up. We talked and laughed and stayed glued to the computer most of Saturday night. Yes, I know, boring. But, no, it wasn't. We had so much fun talking about (updating Alesha) everybody from high school that Jane and I had been keeping up with on facebook. Alesha hadn't been on facebook so we had to hook her up. Of course we went shopping, swam and ate and ate and ate. Oh yeah, and ate. Did I say we ate a lot? And no weekend is complete with the girls without a midnight run to IHOP.

It's so great to have such wonderful, loyal, non-judgemental friends to hang out with and just be myself. We are all so different but have a common bond with each other. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful, caring friends that have stuck with me since I was a little girl. Growing up we weren't always together but we knew we could always call on each other for anything and we would always stand up for each no matter what. Jane was on the drill-team and eventually cheerleader, Alesha was a cheerleader, Jennifer was student concil and I was in athletics. I really never realized that everybody didnt have friends like us until I was talking to my friend Amber about the upcoming weekend with the girls and she told me how lucky that I am to have lifelong friends. She told me that she moved around so much when she was young that she wasn't able to form lifelong bonds with her childhood friends. Wow, I can't imagine making it through life without them. How do people do it? I love having friends that I can cry on, laugh with, complain and vent to, yell at, get iritable with and continue to be loved by them. I love you girls.