Katie was so excited that her friends from the court, Megan and Sydney, have joined ballet with her. They were all talking about it on the way to Mindy's ballet.

We don't get too many moments like this, but this will melt your heart!

Well I'm writing this because I am a mother that gets sad when I send my kids to school and in 2 weeks Katie will be in preschool. I know she needs to go, but now what do I do? I quit my job to stay home with her and now I'm not sure what to do with my life. I don't want a job at the moment because I worked the first 6 years of Karissa's life and the memory of it all is still fresh in my mind.
I did pull all of my scrapbook stuff out and so I guess I will get started on that. Well thanks for letting me rant.

Here is our 5th grader! She loves riding the bus which I find funny. I walked to school until 6th grade and I hated riding the bus. She likes her bus driver too. So far she likes 5th grade and she loves Mrs. Coy. Her best friend is in her class too which helps.

Katie started ballet again and she loves it. She was so excited to go and see Mrs. Mindy too.

Karissa's first day at school and other happenings in our house!

Karissa started 5th grade yesterday and she was so nervous. I know she will have a great year because she has a great teacher who is a friend of mine from church- it's nice to have connections-thanks Emily! I'm a little sad because summer is over and in one year she will be in middle school which terrifies me. I want her to keep her innocence! Karissa isn't much of a talker so I at least got out of her that she ate lunch with Zebbie and sat on the swings and talked to Jen, Mia and Pam at recess. I hope this year Karissa's attitude will change and she will start to love school. I loved school, I loved the social part and hanging with my friends so I hope that for her too. I will post pictures later!



On Sept 8th our baby will start preschool and I'm going to be a wreck because for 4 years it's just been me and Katie- I was able to quit my job afte having her. I know she will love school and I know she needs to go, but it's so hard. Katie helped me walk Karissa to her classroom and she had her backpack on too and when we left she goes, "when do I go to school". I already have a feeling that things will be different compaired to Karissa. My girls are the opposite which is how my sister and I were so they will survive!! Chanda hated school too! I remember mom having a time with Chanda.


On a praise note Jason passed his last part of the CDL so now he can drive the big rigs for UPS. I'm scared and I'm not ready for this change of jobs. He just got his own route after 8 years and I wanted to just relax in knowing that. He's so excited and his whole outlook has changed so I know I have to accept this but the trucks are so big! I like the package cars! So now he waits to sign a bid which the last time he had to wait 8 years so who knows what is in store for us.

After the horrible vacation we had we decided to take the girls to the Pittsburg zoo. It was hot, but fun. We went with Jason's parents so it let us all focus on the girls instead of his grandmother. My favorite picture is of the girls squatting down with their dad looking at the deer- I know Jason had other ideas for the deer though! Our favorite part of the day was petting Shelby the kangaroo. She was so funny- Jason was scratching her neck and then she stood up so he could scratch under her arms. We also got to see a 3 week old elephant- so cute!!!

We went on a vacation with my mom, Ben and Chanda and Jason and all her kids. We had a great time, but it was cut short. We arrived on Sat at 4:00 and then we had to leave on Tuesday at midnight. Jason's grandmother, Christina Carolyn Pascoe (who he is very close to) passed away. She was very sick for the last month and had developed MRSA. She died on Mary's birthday too.

My girls were sad to leave all their cousins and for losing a great grandmother.

We did get to go out on a date night with my sister and her husband, Jason and we had a blast. Mom and Ben kept all of the kids.

My sister is my best friend and I hope Karissa and Katie will be as close as we are. I wish Chanda lived closer.

The one picture with all the cousins laying on the beach was a stressful one. I had my brother-in-law get Madison's attention (who is 9 months old) and Hannah's too. It basically was I got two shots and I'm so glad one came out. It is my favorite picture ever(or at least so far). My camera which is my pride and joy was destroyed by salt water on Tuesday and I at least saved my memory card. You can always by a new camera but I can't replace the 104 pictures I took of the 3 days we were there. I'm looking into getting the camera fixed now.