To my girls - McKenna goes to Kindergarten

 And just like that, Kaitlyn started 2nd grade, and McKenna started Kindergarten today. The build up over the summer was long and much anticipated. There have been many many thoughts running through my head. From waking up to McKenna already dressed in her uniform, bed made, and teeth brushed to going downstairs to see the back-to-school fairy had left a letter and sucker.

 From the pictures on the front porch to the front of the school building. The tears started as soon as I walked her into school this morning. Down the hall. Past all the parents huddled around. Past the children's name tags on the table. To the classroom door where her teacher shuffled her in to her desk. After all the anticipation, it happened just. like. that.

What a most wonderful summer we had. I was working on a very limited basis at LTU. That schedule allowed me to spend so much quality time with the girls before they went back to school. We went on many day trips and vacations, including the 14 hour girls-only drive to New Hampshire! We went swimming, tubing, boating, biking, playing, pretending, zoo-visiting, greenfield villaging, cranbrook day camping, coloring, hiking, blueberry picking, john- deering, and much much more.

As the days drew closer to McKenna starting school, it became bittersweet. And it really began to sink in.

The sleepless nights and diaper changes are behind us now. We have moved into a new, more complicated stage. The elementary school years. How strange it is to be sitting on the other side of babyhood. I remember thinking it would never end. That we were sure to be stuck in the cycle of feeding, sleeping, pooping forever. I remember wondering if I would make it through?

As I watch these two beautiful girls change before my eyes, I can't help but wonder what the world has in store for them. I don't know for sure but I know we are all in for quite a ride :)

To my beautiful girls, may your eyes always shine as bright as they did today, the love for learning and the love for life shining right through for everyone to see. I can't wait to see what you do with the world at your fingertips. Wait. Yes. I can wait. You take your sweet time girls :)

Welcome to May!

Kaitlyn finally got her Bloomberry reward this weekend (only 6 months later) for her AWESOME job on the IOWA test at school last fall!

And McKenna laid eyes on these pink cowboy boots today and it was love at first sight. She paraded around like this all day kickin up her heels :)

Spring is here!

 Kaitlyn and her new bike! The day she got this beauty those training wheels were history :) She rode for hours that day; and loves to go out daily now to ride up and down the block. It's a whole new sense of freedom for the girls this year. McKenna is never too far behind :)

 Easter lamb shank for Maia!

 Olivia and McKenna in the pre-k room :)

 Gemma and McKenna in pre-k :)

Stopped at Quarton Lake one morning and captured these classics!

 Kaitlyn moved up to the girls softball league this year. Lily and Kaitlyn represent OLQM on the Beverly Hills Badgers. They are doing great!

And speaking of spring baseball, McKenna started on the Mets! Love seeing her in a uniform :)

 Family trip to the zoo. Kaitlyn journaling again :)

 No trip to the zoo is complete without time to pull apart the chains in the birdhouse!

Library, Park, Nature Center - Repeat :)

 Now that the weather is warming up (slowly but surely) we are venturing out!

Gotta love the purple dinosaur at the park around the block!

 Just after a bath and hair cut - love this one!

 This series of pictures of McKenna at the library is just perfect! I couldn't believe when she settled in like this....

 Our first trip to Dinosaur Hill for the year. We went on a guided nature hike. Ms. Kaitlyn took notes in her journal the entire walk. She literally did not put down her pencil!

 Getting a sawing lesson!

Tucker Bass Baumgartner!

 I can't believe Katharine is a mom! We were so excited to welcome the newest member of the family - TUCKER BASS BAUMGARTNER! We cannot wait to meet him!

March 2014 - better late than never!

 

 By March we were definitely going stir crazy from the weather. This was the winter that would never end! Kaitlyn broke out the microscope that she got for Christmas (thanks mom!) and kept herself busy looking at insects, wings, and other specimens.

 The American Heritage Girls went to Premier Pet Supplies in order to earn their pet care badge. They were introduced to so many animals and got to look at each of their habitats. Kaitlyn also held her first snake!

 Kaitlyn never gets tired of reading. She would read all day long if she could. It's moments like these that make all the hard work worth it! Love these two so much!

 So apparently Kaitlyn sneaks downstairs after bedtime and watches herself a little Jimmy Fallon from behind the couch we are sitting on! She gave away her secret with this drawing of the NBC logo and Jimmy Fallon wearing a suit and hat - ha!

The first grade class during the fieldtrip to the zoo! It was a fun day!

 Kaitlyn and Lily