Weaving

Working on the potholder kit that Aunt Nancy and Uncle Chris gave her at Christmas time.  Last December this was a little difficult for Grace, so we put it away.  Today, she is doing a great job and won't even let me "help".  I think I have to go get myself one of these looms.  It is very relaxing....

Ready for the first day

Toes polished with glitter and sparkles...check!

Healthy lunch packed with some of Grace's favorites....check!

Turkey and Provolone sandwich cut like a butterfly, S'mores Goldfish crackers, grapes and a cut peach, and juice and a Danimals yogurt smoothie.  Oh, and a cute  note from mom and dad!

First day of first grade

First grade starts tomorrow.  I gave Grace four choices of outfits to wear to school and she chose orange polka dot shorts with a matching top.  We tried it on just to make sure everything fit and was functional for an active day at school.  When I told Grace that I wanted to take first grade photos she said, "okay" and ran outside.  In the time it took me to get over the shock (that Grace was so willing to pose), gather the camera, a chair, and a book she wrote this on the driveway:

I think she remembered when we did this photo shoot last year for kindergarten!

I had another plan for this year, but her writing was so cute and she was so proud of it that I went with it.  (We are working on Silent "e" and "grade" is spelled a lot like "Grace" so she got that part right.) The sun was directly overhead so we worked with the shadows to get these cute first grade memories.

We are so excited about the new adventure ahead.  Grace's teacher, Mrs. Harris, seems wonderful and I know she is going to help Grace grow and learn so much this year.  But....I still want that "stay little" potion.  Six is such a fun age.  I wish it would go on and on for a long time.

From our lake to Bow Wow Beach

Another summer day that didn't feel much like summer....we wanted to go to the pool but the overcast skies didn't motivate any of us to go swimming.  So we took a walk from our lake,

This heron is a frequent visitor.  We often see him searching for fish.

Some of the flowers from Grace's "garden cookies".

...along the bike and hike trail (where I saw this little bird tucked into a flowering plant)...

...to a nearby dog park called Bow Wow Beach.  Daisy had fun swimming and playing with the other dogs and Grace attempted to get Daisy to fetch balls and sticks.

Browns family day

Last week we went the First EnergyStadium for the Cleveland Browns Family Day.  The team practices on the stadium field, signs autographs at the end, and then there was a fireworks and laser light show.  On our walk from the parking garage to the stadium there is a bridge with a football field painted on the ground.  I asked Grace to let me take a photo and she immediately got down like a football player making a touchdown!  Yep....Kyle is teaching her all about sports.  She knows all the home teams and which teams she should not like because they are rivals of Cleveland/Ohio teams.

Pretend play

Grace is very creative when it comes to pretend play.  Being an only child, a lot of the time at home she plays alone - or with us - and it is always interesting to listen to the stories she makes up.  Sometimes she and her dolls are going to the movies, sometimes they are sick, and other times they are having a beach party. Often her pretend play comes from something she has seen on television or something she experienced.  This morning Grace went to the eye doctor for the first time so her play time with Lily was all about all the check-ups she needs before going to first grade - dentist, doctor, eye doctor, and getting a haircut!

Lily got her choice of three different toothpaste flavors, just like at the dentist!

Too busy to take photos

Week two back to work.  We are all exhausted.  Only 210 work days to go until next summer break!

Here is one quick photo from tonight right before Grace's bedtime....see you this weekend when I might have a little more time to play with my camera.