AnnaKate's First Day of Pre-K

Almost everyday since Emma started school two weeks ago, AnnaKate has been asking if it was her first day of school. Well, today finally came and it was! She started Pre-K today, and she loved it. She walked right into her classroom and started playing. She said she colored, painted, played outside, and had a snack. Sounds like a good day to me! She is excited about this year and can't wait to go back tomorrow.

Dance Recital

I am now going back a couple of months to post a few things I just didn't get around to! How could I not post pictures of our two little ballerina's dance recital??? The girls had a wonderful year of dance in St. Louis at the Dance Center of Kirkwood and are turning into good little dancers. I noticed a huge difference in Emma's dancing from last year to this year, and it was so much fun to watch AnnaKate taking for the first time. Getting two little girls all dolled up for a recital took me so long that I didn't get my make-up on for the show. It was a good thing...I cried through both of their dances! I wasn't sure how AnnaKate was going to react to being on stage in the bright lights, but she did great and was ADORABLE! I knew Emma would be okay on stage, but she looked like such a big girl up there. She was a BEAUTIFUL ballerina! They just had their first classes this past week here in Oklahoma, and Emma is trying hip-hop this year along with ballet and jazz. I have a feeling I might be laughing through that dance at the recital instead of crying this year! I just can't even picture it. :)


The girls before the show. The dance studio was very specific about hair and make-up! They were right though...it looked really good on stage.


AnanKate and Grace


Emma with Kendall and Kate


Emma's ballet dance was to "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music.


AnnaKate's tap dance was to "Zippy de doo dah", and it was so cute!


Emma and AnnaKate with their teacher, Ms. Kathy.


We were so glad Marmee and Poppa came to cheer the girls on!


The girls with their proud Mommy and Daddy. (notice...NO MAKE-UP for Mom!)


Showing off their flowers after the show. Looking forward to the next recital!

First day of First Grade

Emma had her first day of first grade today! I still can't believe that she is that big. I didn't cry today, but I did last night as T.R. and I were going to bed. It just hit me as I lay there praying for her that she would no longer be at home to have lunch with me. I realized that my long days with her (besides summer, of course) are up. It was hard to think about, but it is also exciting that she is able and excited to go to school all day! The one thing she was looking most forward to? Eating in the cafeteria! I tried to get her to let me pack her lunch in her cute new lunchbox (thanks, Marmee!), but she wouldn't have it. She wanted to go through the line. :) We decided that she can eat in the cafeteria a couple of days a week and take her lunch the rest. I asked her how her day was when she got into the car this afternoon, and she said, "Awesome!". I am so glad. Here's to a great year of first grade!

Meet the Teacher

Here we are again...another school year and another new school! Emma is so excited to be starting first grade and getting to go to school all day! Here are some pictures of going to her school for the first time for "meet the teacher".


Our little "wildcat"...the girls thought it was cool that Emma is a wildcat like on High School Musical. :)


Daddy made it!


AnnaKate and Emma in the gym.


Sitting in the reading area in the classroom.


Emma with her teacher, Ms. Tracy. She was so excited to meet her, and we are looking forward to her first grade year!

Back to School Tea

The girls have been asking me if we could go to the "fancy place with the hats" for the past few weeks. It was one of the things they really wanted to do when we moved back from St. Louis. I couldn't wait to go back either! I thought it would be fun to make it part of our "back to school" tradition, so after meet the teacher at Emma's school we headed to Inspirations Tea Room for a yummy lunch. We decided to invite our friends, Ms. Tracy, Abby, and Haley to come along, and we had a wonderful time!


The girls love picking out hats to wear for tea!




AnnaKate checking out the goodies on the tiered plate...she looks hungry!


Pouring the "tea" which was lemonade. The girls couldn't get enough of pouring their own drinks.


Good friends. So glad we could share this day with Abby and Haley.




Can't wait until next year's "back to school" tea!

Hawaii and a Surprise

T.R. told me a year ago that he would have to go to the annual POSNA (Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America) meeting when he did his fellowship in St. Louis. When he told me where it was (the Big Island of Hawaii), there was no question that I would be going with him! This is the year of our 10 year anniversary, so we made it a trip to celebrate. We had a wonderful time! T.R. had meetings to go to and a presentation to give, but in between we rested, relaxed, had mai tais, ate a lot of wonderful food, went on a snorkeling tour, and relaxed more. It was a much needed vacation, and looking at the pictures makes me want to do it again! We will have something to remind us of our trip forever....we have a baby #3 coming in January! We were thinking we should have a Hawaiian name....or maybe not! :)

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