still here!

Phewwww...coming up for air! The last two weeks have been a blur! Between the girls start of school, starting Sunday School teaching duties, dance classes, and at work--Arts Center gala all the time...I have been a bad blogger!

Sometimes lately, I admit, it seems easier to just upload a photo and status update on facebook! But, blogging is so much more personal for me to leave my thoughts... so thank you for still reading my little blog, my faithful readers!

Catie lost another tooth! That gives her a jack-o-lantern smile just in time for Halloween! Catie thought the tooth fairy forgot "again"---but it turns out that her little tooth box with the money was just wedged down between the matress and the headboard! mommy to the rescue ;)

So, since Catie's 7th birthday is just over a week before Halloween --we decided to have her first party with a bigger group of friends! She is having a "Hawaiian Halloween" theme...a local gym has a party deal where you get an hour of swim time in a 90 degree pool (it is small--a therapy pool) and then 2 hours of play time in the big gym where we can do cake, presents and a pinata! So, swimming near Halloween? Why not a Hawaiian Halloween luau type theme! I had fun with it...I'm creating the invites now....what do you think of the cover below?

credits: Shabby Miss Jenn Hoot Hoot and Little Kahunas kits;
font: Hawaiian lover font

Anna's Nursery School Album

credits: thanks to the fabulous Shabby Miss Jenn for the School Time Album kit!

I did a special nursery school album for Catie, and here is the start of Anna's! I have a ton more cute photos of the day...I'll have to do more pages! :) I was up until 12:30 a.m. as it was, so they must wait for another night!

Glee is on tonight...can't wait!

ooh...and I just booked a FUN place for Catie's 7th birthday party...it is the first time she is having a big friends party! She will be so excited she can SWIM!!!

Our Baby Goes to Nursery School!

Rob and I can't even believe it...our little baby, who somehow turned into a 3 year old on us...it officially a nursery school girl! She began today...at the same place I went when I was little, and then Catie spent two years, too! Anna just loved everything! She was so ready...she did her little welcome to school routine, and sat on the alphabet rug, gave us a kiss goodbye and never looked back! Rob and I looked at each other and said "I guess we can leave!" (sniffle...) I have to scrap the photos...but here is a little video!

Catie is a First Grader!!!

credits: Shabby Miss Jenn School Time kit and quick pages!
click to enlarge all images

phew....11:37 pm...I need to go to bed, so I can get up and get myself ready and Catie, for her 2nd day of first grade! Rob and I had fun walking her to school...after a photo shoot in the front yard! Gramma G. came over, and then she stayed to play with Anna while we went to school. Catie found the door to go in every day, and she walked to her room with us! She was so cute...all business, ready to start! Then on the way home, she admitted she was nervous when Daddy and I walked out of the room! I told her that she seemed ready for us to leave...that she was excited to start the day! She said "kids sometimes act like that, when they want their parents to think they are proud!" She had a great day! She had music today...tomorrow is Art and Library, and this year, they have gym 3 times a week. She is excited about that! So...here is to a great start to the school year!

Rob's Excellent Adventure

look at this photo.....a Daddy truly in love with his "girls!" I just love it. Rob turned 36 on Monday...(guys don't have a complex about revealing their age, right?!) I actually took the day off, and we had a wonderful celebration for my hubby. It started out with breakfast at a wonderful little restaurant in our village, an old train station renovated into a restaurant...and it's become a yearly tradition on Rob's b-day. Coconut encrusted french toast for Rob and Catie, crunchy french toast for me, and choco chip pancakes for Miss Anna. Delish! We then went home for his "prizes" and he was really surprised to get his Canon zoom lens!

We went to the county park, found a new playground, and had fun taking photos and playing! Oh, almost forgot...we also went to Catie's elementary school, met her new teacher and brought in Catie's supplies! She is really excited now--she knows where her room is, where her cubby and desk are, and who else is in her class! Next Wednesday is the 1st day of school!
Here is Miss Anna enjoying her little snack of Princess chewies on a bench at the park...I just love her little heart shaped face and golden locks...

As the food fest continued...we ordered takeout from our favorite Italian restaurant and had spaghetti and meatballs...and then topped it off with homemade chocolate cake with peanutbutter frosting! (thanks Anne for the yummy cake recipe--it came out perfectly!)

Gramma G, Stacey and baby Olivia came over--and then Matt joined us for the post-celebration when he got out of work....Olivia's first visit to Uncle Rob and Aunt Julie's house...it was very exciting! I just love snuggling my tiny niece.

Then Rob and I got to watch the season finale of Weeds...WOW, what an ending! All in all--a perfect day.