It is our first day of 1st Grade today! Emily was up early and waiting for the house to join her. She must have been excited. Her backpack and clothes have been ready since last week. She picked something blue to wear of course!

Sporting her backpack that doesn’t seem to swallow her as much as it did last year.

Mama and Julia walked Emily to her class. Emily went last Friday to meet her teacher and find out where the class is. Mama asked Julia if she was ok leaving Emily today and she thought it was fine. When asked if she would miss her while playing she answered that "Mama will just play with me instead".

Emily was happy to get right to work on her desk assignment. She was ready and eager to follow the instructions given to her.

Emily with her 1st Grade Teacher. I think they will get along great this year. Both of them seem to have a bit of bounce to their personalities. Emily asked to bring a croissant to the teacher for her first day. Seemed like a great way to start off the year!

This summer the girls took two weeks of swim classes from our favorite teacher set. Both girls ended up with Ms. Kate as their teacher. Julia took the preschool level 2 class this session and when she completed it was told to move on up to preschool level 3 for additional classes. Emily took Ready-to-Learn level 2. The difference in the classes the girls are in is based on age. By being split like this it means more time at the pool, but the girls have really enjoyed the kids they are in class with. Both girls are learning to blow bubbles while under the water. Seems to be a tricky skill for them.

Mama has started some tennis lessons with the girls. So far our lesson are short, but generally loved. We are happy with just connecting with the ball. Julia will hit the ball then run to fetch it. From where she stops she will just hit it again into whatever direction she is facing. So cute! Emily is very intentional about facing the net. She celebrates each successful ball over the net. Here’s hoping for years more of playing together!

We are enjoying visiting Dollywood this year. Julia is taller this year and we have found that she is tall enough to ride all the rides she has an interest in riding. No big roller coasters yet. While Emily is tall enough to ride some of the bigger coasters, she is NOT interested in riding them. Both girls have been brave and tried new rides. They really enjoyed the bumper cars, but it is only fun when both parents are there. The days at Dollywood have been great ones, even the one that rained us out!

The girls decided that they wanted to swap beds in their bunk beds. The only parent rules were that they had to agree to make it happen and the switch was to be long term. They agreed and swapped. This created a problem because Emily now needed a new mattress for the bottom bunk because she was too long for Julia’s. The solution required a road trip to the nearest IKEA store.

What is better than a road trip than a road trip with friends. We talked our friends in to taking a day trip with us. There were some happy back seats for sure. The kids enjoyed some play time in the kids area and pretend play in the kids room models.

Emily is happy with her new mattress. The day was a long, but fun one. Thanks friends for joining us.

The school year is over and the little girl we sent to school so many months ago is now an accomplished kindergartener. We have enjoyed talking to her about the first days of school and all the things she learned this year. We are thankful for the experiences she has had this year. She was blessed with a teacher that Emily loved and who seemed able to find ways to get Emily to perform for her. Emily made friends in her class and enjoyed the class mix with only few exceptions.

We look forward to the adventures this summer will bring us and trying to keep her mind active. A new school year does not seem as overwhelming as sending her to kindergarten was. Perhaps we all have grown this past year.

Maybe our hair is a bit longer . . . but the head cocking, lip chewing, and outgoingly shy girl is still there.

One of Mama’s favorite sights from the school year. The slow walking Emily turning and giving Mama a kiss as she goes into school. Some days it was a wave, a kiss, the sign I Love You, or just a thoughtful look.

Julia loved to accompany Emily to the school building whenever she could. It was the way she could relate to Emily’s school experience. On the last day she insisted that Emily take her doll in for sharing time.

School is OUT – She is an official 1st Grader

To celebrate in style we shared some ice cream at a local soda shop. The girls loved sitting at the counter. The lady making Emily’s milkshake was certain that the girls would share the milkshake. We didn’t share and Emily drank the whole thing!