May 25, 2016. Last Day of School!

My cute kiddos finished up another successful school year. I am so proud of them! This year wasn't easy, but they handled it so well and thrived! Each one of them is so smart and got such good grades. They all made some great friends at school this year and I love seeing them interact and have fun with them. It's a bittersweet ending. We are so excited for Summer and the fun that we will have, not to mention the break from homework and early school days, but we are also sad to say goodbye to such great teachers. I feel so blessed to have had the teachers we did this year. Cute Ruby cried and cried because school had ended. I love these kids like crazy and I can't wait to spend my Summer days with them!!

And my favorite photo tradition. First/Last Day of school pictures! I love seeing how they change and grow each year!

August 17, 2015. Lyla's first day of pre-school.

Lyla had her first day of pre-school! She was so ready. She didn't even blink an eye when I told her that it was time for me to go! She had a great day and has been singing her abc's ever since! Just like that I have 4 kids in school! That's crazy!!

Aug. 13, 2015. First Day of School.

The kids started school today! The kids and I were excited for the new school year. We got our new school clothes, our new shoes, registered at our new schools and were looking forward to all the adventures that we would have this year. As it got closer and closer to the 1st day however, I had a lot of anxiety about the kids starting school this year. Especially about Sophie starting 6th grade in an intermediate school. I was trying not to project my anxiety on to the kids and instead we would talk about how awesome the school year was going to be. And I really think it will be! All the kids came home and said they had a great day! Sophie didn't get lost going to any of her classes. She likes her language arts teacher the best so far, and she said the day flew by! Collin has a male teacher this year who loves math and science...just like him! His favorite part of the day was getting his own Chrome book to use this year! Ruby has such a sweet teacher. She got to be the mystery student and bring some things from home to share about herself and she is adjusting to going to school full day. She said the day was so long it felt like two! Ha! Love that girl! So proud of each of my kids. I know they will have a great year! Tomorrow we will tackle riding the bus!

June 2, 2015. Last day of school!

Well it wasn't really the last day of school, but our kids didn't actually go to school on the last day of the year and the last day they did go was field day so they wore swim suites, so these pictures were taken three days before school ended!

I'm so proud of my kiddos this year. They all had a great year in school this year. It wasn't always easy,  and it wasn't always fun, but they all gave 100% all year long! I have such great and smart kids. I love them!

As per tradition, my first and last day of school comparison for the 2014-2015 school year:

And one of this cute girl because she wanted a picture too, and who can resist this cuteness!

August 25, 2014. First Day of School!

The kids started school! I for one was so ready. They were ready too although I'm not sure they would admit it! They all seem to have good teachers this year and we are looking forward to a great year full of lots of learning! Sophie and Collin had a great first day. Ruby however was totally disappointed in her first day. She had Kindergarten orientation and was only there a short time. She is loving school now, although I think her favorite part is riding scooters home with Sophie and Collin! Such smart kids I have. I know they are going to have a wonderful year!

We couldn't forget about Miss Lyla. She isn't going to Preschool this year but really wanted too! She was eager to get dressed, pack a lunch for herself, and wear her backpack! Thank goodness she was content with just dropping the kids off at the school.

May 30, 2014. Last Day of School.

The kiddos had their last day of school. Such a bittersweet day! Neither of them wanted school to end, although I don't think they have been too disappointed with Summer yet either. Sophie in particular was so sad. She cried and cried that night because she didn't want to leave her teacher. I am so grateful for her teacher this year. Both kids had wonderful teachers. I'm so proud of these guys for the great year  of school they had and I'm so excited I get to have them home this Summer!

May 22, 2014. Last day of Pre-K.

Ruby had her last day of preschool today! She has had a great year and learned so much.  It's hard to believe that she will be going into Kindergarten next year. I always get a little emotional when my kids move onto a new chapter in their lives. But I know she is ready and will love it!

As always, I like to do a comparison shot of the 1st day and the last day of each year. I can't believe how much she has grown. Such a cute girl!

September 3, 2013. Ruby's First Day of Pre-K!

Ruby had her first day of her second year of preschool! She was so excited. Since the big kids went back to school last week, she has been dying for her turn to go back too! On the way there I asked her if she was nervous, and she told me she wasn't. She however ask me to walk her in and she took tiny, timid steps all the way into her classroom. She was happy to be greeted by a neighborhood friend that is in her class this year. The first thing she did was practice writing her name and she was excited to tell her teacher that she already knew how! I think it is going to be a great year! Love your Ruby Jane!

August 26, 2013. First Day of School.

Sophie and Collin had their first day of school today. Such a bittersweet day for me. On the one hand I hate to see them go, but on the other hand I am ready for the routine and the structure that comes with the school year. My kids are getting so big. Sophie started 4th grade and Collin started 2nd. Can't believe I have a fourth grader! Both kids had a great day! Here's to a great year!!!

June 7, 2013. Last Day of School.

The kids had their last day of school and Summer is here! Yeah!!!. As per tradition, I took a picture of the kids in the same outfit they wore on the first day. I love to compare them and look back to see how they have changed and grown over the course of the school year. For some reason this morning was an emotion one. Sophie was upset that I was embarrassing her by taking pictures in the front yard and then Collin looked at her wrong. Soon both kids were crying. Unfortunately, I hadn't taken Sophie's pictures yet, so she looks like she has been or is about to cry to in her pictures. Oh well! She's still cute!

May 15, 2013. Ruby's Last Day of Preschool!

Ruby had her last day of preschool for the year (she still has one more year before Kindergarten)! She had a great year with a wonderful teacher! She made many new friends and looked forward to going each time! She liked everything about school, but I think her favorite part was earning gum-balls! She was always so happy to announce when it was gum-ball day!! I am so proud of my sweet girl! 

She had a fun little picnic/graduation at the park. The kids ate, played, and sang some super cute songs! I couldn't be more ready for school to end for my big kids, but I always feel a little sad for preschool to come to an end. Maybe because it is a little like a play date with some learning thrown in there too! And maybe it is because it makes me realize my babies are growing up!

I did some comparison shots from the first day and the last day! She is definitely growing up and looking older! 

The first day shot are on the left and the last day shots are on the right.

homework

I like to try to document our day to day activities. I tend to be more drawn to those real life portrayals than portraits. Although lately, I haven't been really motivated to use my camera at all and tend to leave it to gather dust. But yesterday as we were doing homework I decided to pull it out. I remembered a picture I took last year and though it would be fun to recreate it. It's amazing just how much the kids grow and change in a year.

February 2012 

April 2013

September 5, 2012. Ruby's First Day of Pre-School!

Ruby had her first day of pre-school today!  She was so excited. She couldn't wait to wear her heart shirt, put on her new backpack, and meet her teacher. I LOVE how her backpack is almost as big as she is.  

The hour between when we dropped Sophie and Collin off at school and her school started seemed like an eternity for her.  She was so happy when I told her it was time. She went right in and sat down to build her marsh mellow tower. She wouldn't even look up at me to say goodbye.  I am glad it was so easy for her.  

She came home with a ribbon pinned to her shirt that said "Ruby had a great first day of school!"  What a big girl.  Love her.

September 4, 2012. First Day of School!!

The kids started school! Collin wasn't even nervous to be going to school all day. He has come so far. Not too long ago he struggled going to school so much and now it is no big deal. I sure am proud of him.

I can't believe how big my kids are getting. I look at these pictures and wonder where the time has gone. It doesn't seem like that long ago I was taking Sophie's pictures on the first day of Kindergarten.  Now she is in third grade.  Yikes!!!

They both had a great first day. Sophie was excited about writing in cursive and doing multiplication. Collin was excited about a reward spinner he has in his classroom.  It is so good to hear them excited about school. I hope they have a great year!

I love them!