Ear Plugs Anyone

About a month ago Kennedy came home with a letter saying that Orchestra would be starting for anyone interested. Fourth grade! Are you kidding me? Well, she has heard that Greg used to play the violin and for a few years now has wanted to play it. She was so excited when we told her that she could give it a try. Thursday was the first lesson. She will have practice for it every Thursday at her school, during the school day, for 30 minutes. They will also have three concerts throughout the school year. Starting the end of October they will also be having a 1 hour practice BEFORE school each Thursday morning to prepare for the concerts that will take place with the 5th graders. Below are some pictures of what took place Thursday after she brought the violin home for the first time.

Greg had to give it a try to see if it was like riding a bike. Once you learn you never forget. I don't think that is true with violins!

Then Kennedy got out her book and stand and gave it a try. It was her first time using the bow. They had not even picked them up in their first practice, so she was having a great time making noise!

Poor Mackenzie! While Kennedy was playing around with it I looked over to the couch to see Mackenzie looking like this. I don't think she is a fan of the violin!

Daddy's Little Helper

Last week when Greg went to mow the lawn Mackenzie went out to watch. As she sat in the garage waiting for him to start she spotted the backpack carrier. I don't know if it was the curls or the big blue eyes just like his or what it was, but this is what I saw when I looked out the window. Boy did she have a great time. It was also most likely her last time as she it getting way to big for the carrier. I am pretty sure if I look hard enough I will find pictures of each of the other girls doing the same thing.

Apple Picking

Kennedy and Madison had the day off of school on Friday, so we headed up to Hebron, IL to go apple picking. We went with the MOPS group from our church. Kennedy and Madison each brought a friend, so I had five girls with me for the day. They were all pretty good. Mackenzie was a little naughty with not listening, but what is new!

Our gang picking apples!

Kennedy had a great time finding just the right apples.

Madison enjoyed it, but the bees were pretty bad, so that took some of the fun away for her.
There were not very many good apples within Mackenzie's reach, but she was determined to get some anyway.
When she did get a good one, she ate it immediately! I am hoping that I got them all wiped off before she started eating them, but I cannot be sure.Here is our group. Mackenzie, Brooke Swanson, Madison, Kennedy and Macaela Silva.

After apple picking we headed down to their petting zoo for a little break before having lunch.

Madison and her buddy Brooke! Boy, apple picking is hard work!

First Day of Kindergarten

Madison had a big day today. It was her first day of school at both schools. Madison will be going every afternoon to Countryside, Kennedy's school, as she calls it. She will also be going two mornings a week to St. Marks for a math and science class. She is very excited about that one because our Pastors wife, Bonnie Barber, is one of the teachers. After two years of doing five half days for preschool, she was ready for something more. This seemed like a great addition to her Kindergarten. It gives her a little something more but still leaves her a few morning a week free to sleep in and have play dates with her new friends from Countryside. I know she will have a few new ones already when she gets home today. She is the one that makes friends easily. Madison was so excited to go to school until a few days ago. This morning she got out of bed and came to eat breakfast. She wasn't eating, so I sat down next to her and asked her what was wrong. Wrong question! She put her face in her blanket and started crying. She said she was scared to go to school. After a nice long talk from both Greg and I, she was ready. I am sure it helped that she started her day off with Mrs. Barber. A familiar face is always nice to see in a new situation. Things got mixed up with the buses, so this week I pick her up and take her to her other school. However, next week, the bus will pick her up at St. Marks and take her to Countryside, so it will truly be two FULL days for me too! She thought is was pretty cool to eat lunch at St. Marks with some of the other kids. Lunch Bunch is apparently pretty fun!

First Day of Kindergarten. Mackenzie the ham can't be left out of a single picture.

Trying to act all sad!

There's her cute smile!

By the tree outside of St. Marks Day School.

Outside Countryside waiting for the buses to arrive. Her teacher told all of the kids to bring in their favorite stuffed animal. She brought in Snuggles her horse that she was bribed with at Shawna's wedding.

The buses were very late today, so the girls waited on the benches outside the school. I can't imagine why they would be so late! Imagine all the kids riding the bus for the first time and most of them probably scared and some crying. Mom's taking lots of pictures of them next to the bus, getting on the bus, buckling them up, crying as they wave their kids off to Kindergarten. I can picture the scene. In fact, I am sure I was that scene at one time. Now do that for each kid riding. Oh, boy! I am sure it will be much better tomorrow.

Madison somehow made it to the front of the line even though when they first lined up she was about fourth in line. Anyway, here is a, not so great, picture of some of the kid in her class. It is really nice, the kids get off the bus and the teacher is waiting for them. They have a door in their classroom that goes directly outside, so the kids don't have to go through the somewhat confusing hallways. At the end of the day, each kid riding the bus will have a fourth or fifth grader that will pick them up from their class and walk them to their bus. Most likely it will be someone on their bus so they will help them get on also, before the other kids are allowed on. Not that I am a worried/nervous Mom, but for those that are, these are some great safety features they have for the little kids.

First Day of 4th Grade

This was supposed to be a combined post of both of the girls first days of school. However, as I was putting this together I decided I had to many pictures for one post, so they each get their own. Here is Kennedy's.

Last Tuesday was Kennedy's first day of 4th grade. I just can't believe that she is old enough to be in 4th grade. I certainly don't look old enough to have a 4th grader, right??? Anyway, she was very excited to go to school and even woke up around 6am to take a shower. I had to tell her to go back to bed for another hour. The bus doesn't come until almost 8:30am. She got the teacher that she had wanted, so that helped. On Monday, the day before class started, she had meet the teacher day. Not only did she meet her teacher, who seems very nice, but she was also able to visit her teachers from 2nd, 3rd, and the resource teacher. She had a fun time seeing them again. We just loved both her second and third grade teachers and they are both teaching different grades this year. I am a little excited for next year already because Kennedy's second grade teacher is now doing 5th grade. I am certainly going to try to get her again next year. Also, her third grade teacher is now doing first grade, so I am going to try to get her for Madison next year. Heck, maybe Mackenzie can even get Madison's old preschool teacher! Wouldn't that be fun!

My big fourth grader!

Mackenzie is sure going to miss Kennedy. They are the best of buds and had a great summer together.

Sisterly Love!

Mackenzie was so excited for Kennedy to get home from school. We had to go out to wait LONG before the bus was supposed to arrive.

Here are the three girls that get off at our bus stop. Believe it or not, Ally, the one on the left is two years younger than Kennedy. She is going to be one tall girl. The one on the right, Kate, is a grade older. They are all good friends. This week, Madison will join them on the bus on the way home.