Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Memorial Weekend in San Jose: Butterfly Nets

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Memorial Weekend in San Jose: Flea Market

I wish I had pictures of the Flea Market we went to. It was intense! But my battery was dying and I didn't have a charger on the trip, so I had to be very selective on my picture taking. I decided to stick with documenting the treasures the girlies found.

lenless glasses:
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headband & bracelet (pink and sparkly of course):
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peacock ring:
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Memorial Weekend in San Jose: FUN

Nature walk/hike at Oak Park:
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McKenna's favorite "ride" at the park:
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Swimming in the hot spa!:
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Memorial Weekend in San Jose: Cousins

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With the Jensen boy cousins sporting their new bathing suits and sunglasses from Gran.
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So big!

Katie in Kindergarten

Looking at pictures from Katie's Kindergarten graduation, I'm sad that I don't have more written from those months while she was in school.

This year was a wonderful year of learning for all of us. Having a child in school is a whole new world of parenthood, and so fun! I've always known this, but Katie was made for school. She's been asking to ride on that school bus since she was 2. "When you're 5..." I would always say. She has been waiting to be 5 ever since. I admit, I was a bit teary for a few days (maybe more) watching my baby take off on the bus every morning, but so happy to see her so excited about her own little life and world she was creating for herself with her friends at school. And having her run off the school bus and into my arms at the end of each school day was the best.

Katie was in a huge class, (and when I say huge, I mean huge) which was a great opportunity for her to meet lots of new friends and gain more confidence in her independence. Sure, there were tears some days and some struggles with friends, but there were lots of opportunities for amazing conversations between the two of us and opportunities for both of us to grow through these new experiences. I found myself being needed as Mom in a different kind of way.

Katie had a great year academically. She excelled in all subjects without getting bored (thank goodness). She for sure has a love for learning (which we always knew) and it was incredible seeing it in action. She is now reading chapter books on her own - in her head, not out loud! She can finish a book in a day and then tell me what it was all about. This blows me away! She is writing sentences and sounding out every word she can think of. She has started her own journal which is beyond awesome in my mind, and is such a treasure to me. Her own thoughts written by her own hand. Priceless.

Katie loved everyday of Kindergarten, but we sure were ready for summer when it came. Kindergarten is busy! Now we're gearing up for first grade, and I'm trying to be comfortable with the idea of Katie being gone for a full day this year. I am sure glad we had a year of half days to help us transition into full days. I'm sure going to miss her! And I know her sisters will too.

May 2011: Kindergarten Graduation

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Back on the Saddle

Since my last post, I obviously haven't been doing much blogging (at all) here or over at So Buttons. I was really bummed and discouraged about losing all our pictures and all my writing, so I took a break from the computer. A big break. I'm still not sure if and when (if ever) I will get back into blogging full swing. It just doesn't seem as important as it once did. But I thought I would at least start with sharing pictures from our summer - since our summer is almost over - and since I have finally uploaded pictures off my camera and onto the computer.

So...the next few posts will be a recap - mostly pictures - of what we've been up to this summer.