Day two of our back to school week was Maya's turn! Maya was in my Preschool class 3-5 days a week for the spring semester last year.  She did great, but was often shy, watched others, and was with me all day.  I've been very curious as to how she would do, alone,  on her big day!

She had been excited, and talked positively about all she thought they would do.  She was up and out of bed, excited and ready to go.  Much more wide awake than tired-eyed sister!

 Papa also had his 1st day today. 

 The girls and I headed to GCS, where we went to Maya's room, and dropped off her stuff before going to assembly. 

You can tell she is getting nervous here as she starts picking her nails!

About half way through assembly, my little one ran to me, and wasn't quite sure about being alone.  After many great hugs and snuggles, her class started to head back to their room.  She joined right in line, and I slowly snuck out the other door. Now, we all know this mama well enough to know that I hung around, lurking around the edge of the door, watching, listening and waiting to see if she was going to be okay (with tears streaming down my cheeks!) OF COURSE she was....

Maya had a great day.  She got a super cute report from her two sweet teachers, and seemed happy and excited about her adventures! Yeah for success!

Molly's 1st day of Kindergarten!

Molly has had mixed emotions about Kindergarten.   We had all summer, but didn't talk too much about what Kindergarten was going to be like- a little here and there, now and again.  At one point, when someone asked her if she was excited, she said..."ah, a little, but mostly nervous!" YIKES! We started excitedly prepping her for all the great things she had to look forward to, and how great she was going to be!
For days before the big day, life was a bit hectic.  She and her sis sassed and grouched at each other horribly.  I cried at the drop of the hat, feeling like I was losing my baby girl.  Really...all silliness as we coped with the big day that was around the corner.

Monday morning, she wakes, excited, and seemingly ready to start the school year!  She looks like such a big girl with her sweet dress.  I held back tears as Papa snapped off the traditional 1st day shots! Then off to school we went- Since Papa is half time this year, he was able to join us for an additional treat!

She looks so big, and yet little at the same time.  Such a sweet shot that to me captures her confidence and curiosity!

Molly in front of Georgetown Charter School's front doors

 Having a bit of time together before school starts, taking in all that is going around us!

 Holding on for dear life...me, not her!

 Papa describes this photo as- "One of these two is having a hard time letting go- NOT the one with the backpack on!"
And then off she goes with her class...as confident as can be! I worked really hard to keep the tears at bay until she was off.

 Papa, Maya and I went for a great hike and ran some errands, and then came back to meet Molly and her class (all the classes) for lunch at Foster's Place.  What a great spot for lunch. I couldn't wait to hug that sweet girl, and see how the morning had gone.  It was great, she was great, and had such a sweet smile on her face. 

Molly and Ms. Williams, her Kindergarten teacher

It was a wonderful 1st day.  Molly had a blast, and loves her new teacher.  She had great stories to tell about how great her classroom is, and the fun things that they are going to work on throughout the year. 

Molly's Kindergarten class

I am so happy for, and proud of my little girl.

Entering a new phase...

This summer has been a great one.  It was filled with all the things I love- family time, lots of laughter, adventures big and small, and quiet time at home.  It was just good... There have been other summers where I have felt too busy, too rushed to accomplish all that was on our family's plate.  This summer we did JUST what we wanted to do.  There were no feelings of obligation or "must." So as a result, everything we did, we truly seemed to enjoy at a pure level.

And now, here we are at a sort of gateway....life as we have known it up until now is going to shift.  My husband laughs and teases me for being emotional or silly- but I feel like this is a big thing we are about to embark upon.  The girls who are currently running around the house, getting out their morning crazies have had the same home base for their entire lives.  Even with Pre-school being introduced over the last few years, there was still more home time than anything else.  Still more days where we go on walks together with the dogs as the three of us, not only two.  More days where we do projects together, eat lunch together, and take turns reading books before nap and quiet time-together.  Starting Monday that changes.  It isn't bad.  It is great really....but it is SO different than how life has been for the last 5+ years. 

I had a hard time with Molly starting Pre-School. Anyone who went through it with us remembers how hard I cried; how hard it was on me.  She on the other hand was ready, excited, and faced her new reality with chin held high and excitement in her eyes.  I struggled with the idea that someone might know more about her day than I did.  That was hard for this mama who has spent her life caring and knowing about her every little detail. And Pre-School was only two mornings a week! Thank goodness this whole system has been built to help transition silly mothers like me!

Here we have arrived- Monday starts Molly's first day of full-day Kindergarten.  I know she is ready; I know it will be great for her.  I know this is a wonderful thing for all of us...I also know that it is a sort of major transition, and that I am equal parts excited and sad.  Bittersweet truly covers how I feel right now.  I will miss her- on a moment to moment basis.  I will miss the liveliness and giggles she spreads throughout our day.  Her questions, and constant sense of curiosity in the world around her.  And in some ways I am envious that someone else gets those gifts.  But I am also SO excited about the world that is going to open up in front of her eyes.  She loves her friends, and loves learning.  She already loves her classroom, because her sweet teacher has a dancing solar flower. 

So, here we go! One more phase in this world of motherhood- where we all to adapt to a new reality.  I know it is a good thing- the start of an amazing time.  But I am also allowing myself the bit of nostalgia that I need through the beginning of this transition.

Maya...

Maya is becoming a new creature.  She has always been quiet. She is the one that is sitting back, not saying much, and soaking it all in.  She is often in my arms, and isnt one to try to grab attention, act wild, or do silly things....

Can't you tell? I think she is starting to come out of her shell folks!

Easter '12

 We had a GREAT Easter.  Just how every little kid (and their father) dreams it should be! Of course, EB made a stop at our house, and as always, hid things in CRAZY spots!

 There was the hunt at the park for all the kiddos in Georgetown...

 There was the hunt in the backyard at our house for the papas and the adult friends, of a different than traditional sort!

 To be concluded with yet another hunt on the hillside at the Panelo's house.  All had fun...

 Truly....everyone!

 Happy Easter Everyone!

You create the title to this post!

What do you say to this? I don't even know! Nothing quite explains what in the world is going on in this photo or what moments led up to this point.  I'm glad she knows it is still chilly enough that she should have slippers on....

Meet my sweet Tomboy

Meet Molly! For those of you that don't know her well, let me assure you she is quite the little tomboy.  Doesn't look like it here? Well.....how about.........


Here.....

Not a puddle this girl wont jump into with wild abandon....Yup...why waste a good snow melt living in the high hills, missing the opportunity to splash in the muck?

I love the facial expressions, I love the determination....I LOVE how much she LOVES playing outside!

Yup....that's my Molly!

Skiing with Nana

 Georgetown Community School started a program this year where ever student that wanted to had the options to take ski school classes at Loveland on Tuesdays for 6 weeks.  By the end of that time, Nana came out for a visit and Molly was able to show Nana how much she had learned, and what a little "ripper" she was on the slopes!

 It never ceases to amaze me how Molly can do such a "big girl" thing.  Skiing, controlled down a slope is a challenging thing for someone her size to learn, and she does a great job.  She is such a big girl...

 But so many of these shots show what a little person she still is.  She is at that age that is so caught in between.  No longer a toddler, having moved on to such bigger girl tasks and projects...

 But still so tiny in our arms, or next to us on a chairlift!

 She ended her lessons so confident.  So sure of herself as she headed down a slope. She knows how to make turns both directions, and to slow down, by making large sweeping turns across the slope. 

Try and keep up Nana, okay?

 These are the wonderful things about where we live.  A local resort that is willing to create this partnership with little bitties who benefit so much from getting outside to play in the Winter.

 Thanks Nana for joining us this trip and seeing how well Miss Molly can ski down the slopes at Loveland!

Sledding

Winter is a beast on our mountain top. There is no doubt about that.  There are those days however.  Those few days...with twinkly white snow, that peacefully falls without a malicious care in the world.  The wind is off haunting some other poor mountain top somewhere else.... and for a few hours, we feel more than lucky about the amazing play land that we live in.  We have what city kids dream about on snowy days, right outside our door- our driveway!

This was one of those days...great sledding, lots of giggles, followed by- "Papa, go faster!" Rio, getting his workout chasing us up and down the slope.  When perfectly satisfied that we completed the best runs possible, we headed inside for hot cocoa.  Somehow, something made these girls giggle...and thank goodness the camera was near by. 

I love my girls.

She's a swimmer!

I often feel that there isn't much offered in our little county for little ones to get involved.  When we saw that there was swimming lessons, it didn't take a second thought to enroll Molly- and what a great choice that was! She took to them like...well, a fish to water!  She is a great little student that listens well to her swim coach, and loves to learn and try new things.  By the end of the 5 week class, she was swimming several feet on her own, and not shy at all about putting her face in the water!

Go Molly!

San Diego Sunshine!

 Nana had a grand plan to surprise Boppa for his Birthday, but having us ALL meet in San Diego.  I wasn't sure what to expect weather wise, for a weekend in February, but what we got was absolutely amazing.  She rented a small VRBO that fit us all, only a few blocks from the beach, which we visited each day, even if for a little while.  

As always, there was amazing times together...hearing the laughter of little girls ringing through the house.

 There were snuggles with wee 6month old nephews, that I couldn't cuddle enough

 And there were these girls...cute girls of all ages, just loving attention and time with their family. What more could you want out of a vacation? I can't think of much!

Thank you Nana, for all you did to make this vacation as amazing as it was.

There is so much love between these three identical noses! ; )

It was a vacation that we didn't want to come to an end.  We loved time together with family, relaxing, and laughing.  We wish it could happen more often!