2nd and Pre-K

We're getting ready for the next school year over at our house. This past week was filled with preparation and we have still got some more prepping to go.

Brady and Lily will be at the same school. Brady will be in 2nd grade and is sooooo very excited to have his first boy teacher. Lily will be entering her first "real" school as a Preschooler. We are so darn lucky that our sitter has a daughter the same age as Lily and has volunteered (yes, volunteered) to take Lily to and from school with her daughter. Lily and her two BFFs will be in the same class and boy oh boy is she super excited!

This week started with me buying loads of school supplies. The nerd awesome person that I am gets most excited for this part. I loved, loved, looooooved school supply shopping as a kid and I love it even more now. I will say, I think the list of school supplies is absolutely ridiculous. First off...kids don't really get to pick what they really want anymore, the teacher's pick it for them. At Brady's school - the parents are responsible for bringing the entire list and then everything is combined and separated out when they need it. So...it very well may be that he will end up with some items/colors that we did not purchase. I don't really care that much about that...but, when Brady picked out red scissors...I'm hoping that he will get those red scissors at school. Secondly...teachers are screwed in today's times. They have to spend so much out of their own pocket and that completely stinks. To help, we have things on our list like reams of copy paper, fine point expo markers, and a $10 Walmart gift card. I absolutely do not mind buying school supplies (remember it's my favorite part) but...it just shows you that we do NOT do enough for our teachers and neither does our state.

I also had a couple dates this week. The first "date" was with Brady. We shopped a bit for some school clothes and shoes...oh and of course, the essentials - socks and underwear. I cleaned out his drawers and closet to prepare for our "date" and so I knew exactly what he needed. Although I'm not much of a character-type clothing person (to me plain is best) I have come a very long way and Brady got to either pick out his clothes or veto items that I selected. When we got home from our date...a fashion show took place in which he showed off his new clothes.

The second date was with Lily. Just like with Brady, I prepped for the shopping outing by cleaning out her drawers and closets. With Lily...typically she like the craziest, most obnoxious, pink frilly, blinged out clothes in the world. If you think something is obnoxiously crazy...she would love it. Well, I had to spot those items from a distance and steer her in another direction. She ended up with a few adorable items (and one really niiiiiiiice looking clearance sandals that I just couldn't hide fast enough). Of course, when we arrived home a fashion show took place.

And today - we all met my mom, along with Ashley and the kids at Kohl's. My mom takes the kids on an annual back to school shopping extravaganza. O.M.G. What a trip. It was like a zillion degrees outside and that just stunk - but, sheesh the kids were loaded up with tons of clothes. Of course the girls were trying to find every school acceptable dress in the store and the boys were....well, just boys. Thanks Mom!!!...oops and Dad! The good news is that my mom did get to rake in on some Kohl's cash :) After shopping - we braved the heat once more and drove over to Red Robin to take my mom to lunch as a thank you. What a day!

Of course...fashion shows took place again tonight. Brady and Lily have picked their favorite outfits and decided to strike a pose for some pictures.

her serious model pose 

hang loose

seriously? lol!

Knock, Knock...

of course adjusted blacks, whites, softened skin, and a little bit of sharpening and noise reduction

Lily and the kids at the sitter must be telling Knock, Knock jokes. And, if you've never heard a 4 year old tell a Knock, Knock joke - well, 1) it basically doesn't make any sense at all, 2) it involves the word booty (or something of the like), and 3) it ends in the biggest laugh you've ever seen.

So cute.

Ridiculous. But, darn cute.

Then, Lily told me this one....

Lily: Knock, Knock.
Me: Who's There?
Lily: Lily.
Me: Lily Who?
Lily: Lily Loves You.

Um...tear! Love her!

added to the adjustments above - the Aged preset which i then reduced the brightness because it was so, so bright, then adjusted the saturation on her cute little lips.

One Picture

We went to Greer last week. I'm still working on the the pictures for that blog. But...here is just one adorable picture I can't get enough of. Charlie loved, loved the bar in the cabin. It had these old cabinets with little cubbies and she would climb right on in. She'd end up sitting right next to a garbage can and a blender. Luckily those puppies didn't show up in this photo. Just my cutie patootie.

just a teensy bit of editing of blacks, whites, brightness.

adding a bit of vignetting.

Adding a preset - Antique Light

Adding a Yesteryear preset...bringing it back to the 70's

Cabining

We went cabining last week.
(More on that soon!!)
It was soooo wonderful.
Here's a little something I brought for each group.

I can't take credit.
It was a Pinterest steal.
I.HEART.PINTEREST.

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha...

It looks like the tooth fairy will be making a visit to our house tonight!!

Whew - thank goodness that tooth is out.

It has been hangin' (TMI) by a thread for weeks.

GROSS!

We've been wanting this tooth out.

But I for sure can't pull it.

(I've got teeth/mouth issues and it literally makes me gag.)

Brady had an appointment today for sealants.

I was planning to ask the dentist to just pull it since it was hanging.

I picked Brady up for the dentist.

We stopped home so he could brush his teeth.

He brushed.

And, he brushed that tooth right out!

Hee hee!!!

Yay Brades!

p.s. it looks like Brady is making out tonight because the tooth fairy

got cash back at the grocery store...but, never stopped to get smaller bills. Oops!

Guess Who's Walking!!!

Yay, Charlie!!!

Yippee!!!

We are no longer worried about her foot. 

She is stumbling along. 

I think she loves walking.

And, she already fell and got her first bump.

Oops!

Lot's more to come.

More pictures coming soon...

Annual We Wish We Were in San Diego 4th of July

July 4th sucks in Arizona. There is no other way to say it. Well, I guess there is...but, seriously - the 4th stinks!!! It is so darn hot. The ONLY, absolute ONLY thing I feel like doing is staying inside or going on vacation. 

The Babcock's have an annual July 4th party. Although it is hot as heck - we always happily go. We have such a great time and somehow forget (as much as we can) about the heat and just enjoy the people, food, and holiday. This year we were even able to swim in their brand-new pool! What a treat!! It sure is beautiful and soooo refreshing after a day of hotness!

Thanks Babcock's!!

Festive July 4th Strawberries I made for the party. Idea stolen from Pinterest!!

Charlie before we headed out.

Charlie mid-cupcake that Ashley made. Yum!

Lincoln in the pool. 

Bart preparing for our Big Brother Fantasy League!! Yahoo!!!

Brady with some sparklers. Sshhh...don't tell the City of Scottsdale!

Uncle Brett and Charlie with a free Lightroom preset that I love.

Aidyn and a sparkler

Some ground fireworks. Sshhhh....

Billy and a sparkler. I think he like them more than the kids! Well...I was pretty fond of them, too!

Funny...and Well Said!

So, I'm sure y'all have been seeing this all over Facebook. But...I LOVE it!!

So stinkin' hilarious.

Learning to Walk

Charlie is 13 months. She's not yet walking. I'm not too worried yet because Lily also took awhile. Brady was such an early walker. Lily...she waited until between 13 and 14 months. And, Charlie - well, she's on that same clock as well. 


Charlie is doing pretty good. She'll take about 6-10 steps at a time and then sit down and crawl the rest of the way. She loves holding our hands and walking with us...or with her brother or sister. Although...Lily tries to literally drag her along because she doesn't understand the concept of walking slow. 


A few weeks ago we noticed Charlie turning out her right foot as she walked. (she's definitely NOT pigeoned toed - um, pretty much complete opposite.) It's kind of the cutest thing. Well...when I'm not freaking out about it and ready to call the doctor - I think it's cute. She literally walks with her left foot angled out a bit and the right foot pretty much angled completely out 90 degrees. 


Too funny! 

She's a Lady

Charlie has this stinkin' adorable habit of crossing her ankles.

All.The.Time.

Seriously.

While she's sitting.

In her carseat.

In her high chair.

While sleeping.

Literally, all the time.

She is so dang cute.

She's definitely a little lady.