Alyvia goes to Kindergarten

Well, my little girl is growing up.....Alyvia started Kindergarten. I never knew this time would come so quickly. I can't believe that she is already growing up on me and going to school. But I know it will mean so much opportunity for her. She is so active and social that I can't wait to see her get to have so much fun learning and doing activities.

She was so excited and ready to go to school. Me, not so much. But she is so independent and excited I can't not be happy for her. A few days before school she had open house. She got to take her supplies in, meet her teacher and see the classroom.
She was ready to go to school the first day. Up early, ready to go. The funny thing was she kept saying "Why do we get up for school in the middle of the night? It's still the middle of the night mom!" I told her it was just foggy out, and early morning. "Ok, but I still think it is night out" she said. She was so ready to go she didn't really even want to take time to eat breakfast. We were out waiting for the bus early and she kept looking down the road waiting, waiting. Asher was excited too. He had to have his backpack on and was waiting to see the bus. He loves busses. When the bus pulled up they were both jumping up and down excited. When we got to the bus she got kinda confused because they had the stick thing come out and it was different than the old busses. She didn't know it was there and almost walked into it not seeing it. She looked at me and I told her to walk around it and get on the bus. It was funny because she wasn't sure what to do so she just looked at me. So I walked around it with her and she got on the bus and said "Bye Mom, I'm going to school". What a big girl.
She had lots of fun her first day and was so excited when she got off the bus to tell me about it. She liked recess a lot, made new friends, and was very excited about getting to go to art, music, and library. They do a different one each day, and she was most excited about art class.
Asher and I really miss her when she is at school, but she comes home so excited. I am trying to get used to it and he is getting a little better at playing by himself. After the first week of her riding the bus I decided to take her in the mornings and let her ride home. It is working out a lot better because she is on the bus for a long route even though we live really close to the school. If I take her she gets to sleep in almost an hour longer. It is working out really good that way, so that is great. She likes to ride the bus home. Some days Shalyn has been riding the bus and Alyvia really likes that.
I guess my big girl is ready for school.
Her classroom at open house

First day of school

Waiting for the bus

Waiting...waiting.....

She jumped off the deck and said "I'm a big girl rock star!"

Asher wants to go to school too

Talking to grandma before the bus came

Pioneer Days

Pioneer Days this year was a big hit. We got to go quite a bit, and Josh even was home at night for most of it. He got to see Alyvia and the nieces in the talent show and even got to see the baby show and Little Miss Pioneer.
First night was the Talent Contest. Alyvia and Regan did a tap dance routine to the song "Banana Phone". They were so cute and did a great job with very little practice together. They won 3rd Place for their age group. Mia sang the song from Annie and got first place. She was the star of the show that night and had people in tears when she sang that song the best I had heard her sing it and she also dressed the part. Marisa was so sweet and cute and sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". So sweet and the perfect song for her. Alexia did a great job playing the trumpet.

Alyvia & Regan-3rd Place

Watching their cousin sing

Mia singing-1st Place

Marisa singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

Asher loves the corndogs. Sometimes eating 2 a night.

The kids were all cute in the baby show.

Little Miss Sassy Pants Lily got 1st Place! Isn't she a doll? Kelley made the outfit.

My handsome little man was very brave as he was the only kid in his category. So of course he got first place. Ha Ha Ha. He was super cute though.

Alyvia was in the Little Miss Pioneer Contest. She was so dang stinkin cute in that outfit I just wanted to squeeze her to pieces. Kelley made the entire outfit with my help. It was a lot of work/blood/sweat/tears. But so worth it. It is one of the most adorable outfits I have ever seen, and I can't wait for her to wear it again.

Alyvia was next to my friend's little girl Karlee. Karlee may very well be Asher's girlfriend someday I hope. She is such a cutie pie. She got 3rd place and was so cute. I just loved her outfit and piggy tails with her red sandals and red hair ribbons. She has the cutest dimples and the sweetest little voice.

My beautiful little girl. I just love her so much.

Awww so sweet.

Such a handsome little man.

Andrew and the kids got to play the day of the parade before the night festivities started. They had lots of fun playing outside and going to the parade.

Andrew, Alyvia, and Asher in the bouncy house

Alyvia loved the big jump slide and wanted to go over and over and over again. She would have done it all night if we let her.

Her and Andrew helped each other up the slide and had lots of fun.

It was an awesome week at Pioneer Days. Can't wait till next year.

The Zoo

Alyvia had an eye exam in Des Moines and it was a early appointment so we decided to take the kids to the Blank Park Zoo afterward. Asher has never been to the zoo...I know poor kid is so deprived. Alyvia has been to a few awesome zoos, but not since I had Asher. Blank Park is a small zoo, and great for an afternoon in the summer. They both loved it of course. I hope next year to take them to the Omaha Zoo.
Alyvia had a eye exam first and here she is in her glasses after her dialtion. Doesn't she look cute???

Red Pandas

One of Asher's favorite parts of the day was the aquariums. He LOVES FISHIES!

They both loved the Jelly Fish

Asher really liked this "Thomas" Fishy as he called it becaue it is blue like Thomas.

My kids both love flamingos and there were tons of them there.

This little guy was just walking around and playing in the grass.

Ever since they saw these they keep telling me that see big tortoises in the yard. If there is a big branch or something they think it is a tortoise.

We all loved the Giraffes. They were awesome at this zoo.

Alyvia is such a big girl she wanted to feed the giraffes.

Asher chickened out so she got to feed them his lettuce too. She thought it was really neat.

Then she decided she wanted to ride the camel. She is for sure a big girl now. Asher wouldn't go near the camel. He just talked to it from a distance. He liked Alyvia riding it though. Maybe when he is 5 he will.

She said it was fun and really high up.

They both loved petting and feeding the little animals at the petting zoo.

The penguins were a big hit and put on a good show. Asher wanted to go swimming with them.

Alyvia must be telling Na Na a BIG story.

The highlight of Asher's day though of course was the train ride. By then we were tired, but had to have that train ride at the end. Then Na Na took them to the gift shop and got them stuffed animals. Asher got a Sea Horse because he and I both LOVE sea horses. Alyvia got, hmm I can't remember and she has so many dang stuffed animals I have no clue. But she knows and remembers each and every one of them so I will have to ask her later.