four is big...

on our way

we're here

a bit shy

mom forgot to cut my nails

feet firmly planted

sporting a little fancy

i call her 'nonnee', 'dude', 'ween bean'...

there are many more nicknames but you may not get my humor so i'll keep them private.

however-

i was informed today by little miss sunshine

that i can call her stella now that she's a big girl.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

she's all amped up

ready to walk up that long flight of stairs,

say goodbye to me at the door

and go on with her four year old self.

i deflate thinking it's going to be harder than that but it's not

and alas

i'm alone 

going down that long flight of stairs...

back to school...

back to school.

they were nervous

but good nervous.

i told them the minute they find their desks they'd be all better.

it happened sooner than that.

as soon as they stepped onto the playground they were surrounded by friends -

measuring each other to see how tall they'd gotten over the summer.

all the butterflies went away.

they are lucky...

their school is like a big hug

warm, comforting, safe.

they were all smiles this afternoon when i picked them up too.

it was a great first day back.

Yesterday was the first day of school for all THREE of the girlies!

I had TWO whole hours to myself!

What did I do?

Hit Target and took my sweet time.

Bought a life sized ironing board....what a treat ;)

Well, it is.

Considering I've been using a two foot long one for a year...wtf?

Crazy the things you'll go without until you just can't anymore.

I was sure the big girls were going to have a great day.

They were ready to go back and SO excited!

I truly felt like my heart swelled inside me as they set off with smiles on their faces.

Stella on the other hand woke up crying.

'I don't want to go to Bunnies and Blocks' whhhaaaaahhhhhh.

Ugggg.

This was going to be HARD.

When we got there she put her brave little face on.

Wouldn't talk to anyone.

Had that pensive look in her eye.

I brought her in,

showed her where the potty was (still new at the potty thing),

brought her over to her mat at the circle,

and she cried....a sad, nervous cry.

'Mama, I have to tell you something' over and over again.

It made my heart break.

I handed her off and walked out without even a look over my shoulder.

I knew that would be it if I did.

About twenty minutes later I get a call from the Head Mistress of the school.

She's the quintessential preschool teacher.

Just perfect.

Her cheerful voice calming me instantly...

She said 'Stella is fine, she's talking, playing, having a great time'.

I don't think I took a breath until after I heard that message.

The picture above was taken by Miss Mary Beth while Stella made a sculpture.

Sure looks happy to me!

She hasn't stopped talking about school and is SO proud of herself.

I'm SO proud of her...we all are.

Now.

In other news.

Our computer is done.

Kaaaa-plunk.

Finito!

We need a new one.

Greaaaattttt.

I've got loads of pictures to upload, an ipod to charge, things to print...and can't.

Not to even mention ALL of Craig's work is on that computer.

I hope to God we can retrieve all those documents!!!

:O

My life is revolving around burlap.

I'm in the process of making many, many burlap pillows for L'Andana.

I'm totally allergic.

But.

LOVE burlap.

I've got a million ideas on what to do with burlap, bulap and more burlap.

SO SOON...now that the kids are back in school.

You'll hopefully begin to see my shop spruce up a bit.

I'm really excited.

Ok.

Girl in tub needs to get out.

Later Taters...

xo

Look how well Stella was staying in the lines...she just turned 3!!!

Father's Day was a blast.
Went to the pool with Daddy and braved the AWESOME water slide for the first time!
Zoe fought her fear and Ruby took the swim test without batting an eye.
You have no idea how much MORE fun we'll have at the pool this Summer!!
Then we headed over to Kittery for fried clams....mmmmmm

Graduation day...Stella thought she was all that and a bag of chips...and she truly was!

Oh my...this girl.
LOVE!

Zoe won THREE awards!!!
I loved the surprise and knowing she was chosen to receive them...not everyone does.
I am SO proud and best of all her fragile esteem was boosted!
She got one for her excellence in creativity for Art, the Presidential award for physical fitness (her second year in a row), and a class award for Most Creative.
Perfect way to start the summer.
Oh yeah...she got the teacher we wanted!!!!!!!!!!

Ruby-Doo received an award too!
For her 'Outstanding Artistic Skills'...she really is SO artistic...I love all her drawings...SO CUTE!

Look at her trying to read the awards...so funny!

She's a big kid now...the lockers are all cleaned out.

Ready for first grade!

Can you believe how much she's hamming it up for the camera?
SO unlike her!

See ya' Kindergarten!

A lick for me a lick for you a lick for me....
Now this is hilarious.
I don't even think they even realized I was recording them.
Zoe had given them a lollipop to share...and that they did.

Worked last night.
Woke up with a start.
HAD to make a little outfit for Ruby to show off on her last day of school tomorrow.
Found the cutest rainbow fabric at......cough, Walmart.
Found a basic pattern which made NO sense to me and took it's measurements and added a couple inches.
Love the white eyelet ruffle.
HAD to make a little tee to go with...
Love.
A little funky and VERY Ruby.
For her last day of Kindergarten.

Don't think many Dad's read my blog other than mine :) But if you're a Dad and reading...thanks! Happy Father's Day!

xoxo

Don't cha...

Just love 'doing' school projects?

Here's Zoe's finished family tree.

Came out cute, right?

***

I've been playing around with my blog here and there today.

I can't decide what I like and what I don't.

If you have any feedback...I'd love it!...good or bad!

***

We're on our way outdoors!

Bye!

xo

whewww....

it's been a crazy couple of days!

i've been on this cleaning kick for about a week now and these past two days have been no exception. we've talked about making S's room Z's room and moving R to the top bunk and S into the bottom bunk. being the control freak i am everything must be done before the actual move. meaning: i want to paint Z's new room, have the furniture we've been storing in the basement painted, swap out the girls clothes and toys and redecorate. C brought the furniture to his friends cabinet shop this morning to be professionally painted (thank you for this...takes a ton of work off my shoulders!)...so, at least one thing can get checked of my long to-do list!

so, i've been slacking BIG TIME on my plum treats! i just can't create comfortably when i know there's a mounting mess growing around me. i'm definitely feeling like getting back into the swing of things. i've been going back and forth with the idea of doing a craft fair or not. i did them a couple of years ago but that was when i was peddling SOMEONE else's things. the whole thing ended up leaving me with a bad taste in my mouth so that's why i hesitate. i know this time around i'd feel differently i'm just SO nervous!

okay, today's sparklies:

• got a ton cleaned and organized this morning.
• picked up mums and a couple of pumpkins after dropping the girls at school.
• had a nice time at the park after school.
• fall is definitely here.
• going out with friends tonight and introducing them to my current fave: brazo.
  

today's cuties...

not too much time today with the girls having only a half day and a school picnic at 5... but i was able to whip these cuties up in between wiping noses and packing a dinner.

r was back at school and has her first kindergarten friend coming over to play tomorrow.

z ran the mile at school today and according to my friend deb who happened to see her while running, said she was doing it with a smile...phew!

s still has a runny, runny nose but her spirits are back to silly.

i'm waiting patiently for my second batch of labels to arrive...i can't believe i've gone through 90 already!!! i'm also waiting for some yummy scraps from lassiegirl...soon i hope!

okay, off to get everyone ready...we have to leave in 45 minutes!

xo

two posts ~ part one...

does this girl look scared or what?

come. ON. mom!!!

she's really making an effort to smile, really.

r and ms. wright

maybe if i run as fast as i can they won't catch me when i try and leave.

this poor girl looked so scared going to her first day of kindergarten. my heart ached for her and i just prayed that she'd come out of her shell. thankfully her teacher took her hand and kept her close.

waiting for the bus to bring R home seemed like it took FOREVER! finally it rounds the bend and i see R sitting in the middle of the bus, surrounded by her new friends. she was like a different kid than the one i had dropped of less than three hours earlier. she bounded off the bus confident and with a light in her eye that wasn't there this morning. she yelled goodbye and waved after her friends...so excited for tomorrow...YEAH!

quick! she's smiling!