Sending her off...

Today was the day. My first born child went off to her first day of First Grade. She's a "Grader" now! I can hardly believe this day has come.

She was up and dressed and ready to go by 7:00am (I have a feeling this may be the only day that this happens!) She asked for waffles for breakfast and piggy braids. We went out to take some "official first day photos" and to find the perfect flower for her classroom bouquet.

The first day of first grade is a big deal at her school. We arrived, brand new lunchbox in hand and found her new cubby. I then handed her off to her Kindergarten teacher, where she waited with her classmates to be presented to her new first grade teacher. Parents lined the hallway between the kindergarten and first grade rooms holding branches to create a green archway. The two Kindergarten teachers walked their students, one by one, through the archway, past all the parents who were now singing 'Tis a Gift to be Simple and led them to their new classroom door. "Mrs. L, Hannah is now ready to begin first grade" And Mrs. L greeted Hannah with a handshake and welcomed her into the classroom. It was so sweet to witness each child as they passed through. Each child's personality guided how they made this meaningful transition. Some were hesitant, others observant. Some were hasty and others proud and confident. It was hard not to cry as I watched all these children - so small, yet so ready, begin this new phase in their childhood.

And with that handshake, the first of thousands, her school day began.

waiting

trying to be patient...but am so excited. Can't wait to share my exciting news with others....

hopefully, I can share more tomorrow.

ETA: I guess I forgot to come back and share the news. This is what I was so excited about....

Took longer than I expected but was worth the wait. Wendy Schulz was the teacher of the photography course I just completed. It was a huge thrill and ego-boost to be selected as her featured student!

Look Mom

H: Look what I have.

M: Wow! What are you going to do with all those?

H: I'm going to make the world more beautiful...

the lake top 5

So we're coming up on the end of this year's summer vacation...a lovely 11 days at the lake. To get Hannah's mind off of the unfortunate and premature ending of our very first ever Chinese Checkers game (picture lots of crying, a bit of screaming (her, not me) and a few unwelcomed threats {I'm going to wake up in the middle of the night and play again}, I asked her what her five favorite things have been about our time here. And here they are:

1. the ice-cream shop
2. going fast on the waverunner, getting splashed, and doing all the doughnuts (I have pics to prove this one!)
3. collecting shells and pretty rocks and things on the beach
4. playing "pretend driving" on The Going Boat
5. going to Norwegian Bay and having a picnic {Can I have 6, Mom?}
6. being a Spotter

She asked what my favorites were...

1. floating
2. Alex and the "Birthday Shirt"
3. spending time with good friends
4. going on the waverunner with Hannah
5. all the boatrides we went on (I especially enjoy the one to the ice-cream shop. It almost seems like tradition now.)
6. having time to sit and read
7. and everything about my birthday day - waking up to Alex in the Birthday Shirt, the smell of my latte as I come out of the shower, birthday secrets, my own quiet time as the preparations were being made, dinner with the family (Alex's neatly combed hair), all three of them singing as they bring in the blueberry cake.

Later that night I asked Andy what his favorites were. And they are:

1. riding with Hannah on the waverunner (boy was she having fun...bouncing when we hit the waves, loving getting splashed)
2. the fishing boat ride (Kevin & Andy, 4 kiddos and the radio blasting) {the Mamas enjoyed some peace & quiet back on the dock}
3. my birthday
4. going as fast as the Going Boat will go
5. taking the boat out one night by himself
   

I'll have to remember to ask Alex for his faves in the morning.