A full weekend of fun

Since Thursday, we've had a full line-up of fun activities, so we thought we'd share them with you! The fact that the weather has been in the 70's and 80's this week has been icing on the cake.

On Thursday morning I led the SC4 Biology 101 class on a stream monitoring activity at a creek in Marysville. Since I only teach this class once every fall, I took advantage of introducing Kayla to some of my "work". For her, this meant skipping school! When her alarm went off in the morning, I invited her along and she was so excited. You would've thought that she was one of the college students --- she was right there in the middle of everything --- the stream, dirt, bugs, equipment, helping with everything she could. Yes, she willingly - without instruction or prompting - picked through dirt to look for bugs. I was so impressed. She was the best helper ever, and hey, not a bad way to spend our morning together.

Not afraid of bugs anymore? We shall see! She found a walking stick and was moving it to a safer location in the woods.

 

 My future water scientist 

She had so much fun wading around in the creek. It was hard to convince her to leave the water.

An outcome of the day? Kayla requested her own kid-size waders. 

Thursday was also Kayla's "birthday anniversary", a day my mom celebrates once a month with the girls on the date of their birthday. On their "birthday anniversary" they get their choice of doing something extra special. Kayla's choice was to go to Barnes and Noble. And I'm pretty sure a Tim Horton's MSU sprinkle donut was also somehow involved.

 Our favorite book!

Saturday took us to East Lansing for Homecoming weekend to watch an MSU football game with the Thelen's, Heptings, and Grandpa.

Sparty twins

It was a HOT day inside the stadium! Perfect football weather in my opinion!

 "On the banks of the Red Cedar..." Or, in this case, "in the middle of the Red Cedar"

To wrap up the weekend, Kayla saw Annie on stage at the Fisher Theatre in downtown Detroit with Grandpa and Grandma. What a lucky girl to get spoiled that way!

And while Kayla was off doing that, Aaron, Khloe and I went to check out the thick heavy fog lingering in the late morning under the bridges

 A fishing boat drifting in the current

The fog was so thick we couldn't even see a freighter passing right in front of us until it sounded it's fog horn

Fall festival

 Khloe's shining moment of glory, finally riding a pony. She was so excited to do this; it was the very first thing we had to do when we arrived.

Kayla and Lexie are with her in the background

After we got home, Khloe said "Ohhhhh Mom! You forgot to ride a pony!" That's okay honey, I just wanted to watch. 

Today was our township's annual fall festival at a nearby park. Luckily this year it wasn't cold and rainy like last year's event. We enjoyed bouncies, concessions, carnival games, candy, pony rides, and playing at the park. It's a fun -- yet simple event -- that we appreciate our township sponsoring each year. After that ended we kept the momentum going to take advantage of the nice weather and visited McCallum's Orchard for Kids Day - more concessions, face painting, bouncies, carnival games and of course warm sugary donuts!

Just hanging around

 Kayla and Lexie making up dance routines

 Look mom, I'm as long as the couch! Take a picture and I want to text it to Kristi!

Who wants to sit on comfortable cushions in front of the pillows? No thanks. That's so last year. We prefer to sit in the hard corners behind the pillows.

Sunday affair

KidCheck, our once-a-month volunteer responsiblity at church, is a family affair for all four of us. Through teamwork we get dozens of family's children checked-in and headed to where they need to be. It's a special day for Kayla because on our KidCheck weekends, she asks to come into Venue with us and sit through service. It's a treat for her and she loves it.

I had one objective in mind in taking the girl's photo this day while at church... capturing Khloe wearing her dress-up Little Mermaid high heels to church. She loves to wear her "high heels" just like Kayla. Kayla asked somewhat in disbelief, "You're going to let her wear those???" I said "Sure!" Khloe couldn't have been happier.

Hey, at least they're dressy. You've got to pick your battles, and this wasn't one of them.

You can get away with this sort of stuff when you're three... and you're only three once.

First day of preschool!

It's Khloe's turn to have the spotlight because today is HER first day of preschool! She's experienced at the whole morning routine since she's been doing it for so long - wake up, get dressed, make bed, go downstairs and eat breakfast, brush teeth, get coat, shoes and backpack on and out the door! Today was no exception, except after dropping Kayla off at school, instead of coming back home or going to gymnastics, she was off to HER school!

I can't BELIEVE she's in preschool.

Our beautiful pre-schooler! 

Khloe went shopping with Grandma a few weeks back and she got to pick out HER OWN school outfit all by herself. 

And there you have it. 

She assembled her outfit head-to-toe this morning all by herself.

 

 Kayla wanted to be in Khloe's photos too :)

 Khloe was such a big girl today! She just walked right in, dropped her backpack off in her cubby, said goodbye and went off to play! She's a pro on her first day!

 Before today's "official first day", there was a parent-child day last week that Grandma went to with Khloe; kind of a orientation day. It was still like a "first day" though, so here's the "pre-first day of school" photos.

Such a little peanut! I remember these preschool days so well with Kayla! Did I already mention, I can't believe Khloe's in preschool? This takes me back to when Kayla was attending the 3-year old preschool here!!! She reminds me EXACTLY of Kayla!

You had a great first day! You couldn't stop telling people you were "three years old and a big girl now". Yes you are!

This will be a GREAT year of preschool for you, Khloe! We're so happy for you and know you'll do great! We can't wait to see how much you learn and grow this year!!!!

First day of 2nd grade!

It was a great morning! We're so happy and proud of our girls!

 

 Our beautiful second grader!

Kayla has wanted a locket necklace for awhile and found this one while shopping this past weekend. She was so excited to purchase it with her own money. She wanted a picture in it and the first person she thought of was Granny. So Aaron shrunk the picture Kayla has of Granny and fit it in her locket so it was ready for school this morning. Granny is close to her heart on her first day of school!

Khloe wanted to be in all the photos. She will have her official "first day of preschool" photos next week!

 

The girls couldn't stop posing! 

Khloe: "Mom! Take MY picture here like this!"

So excited for her big sister's first day of school

 

All in the front row... together!?? This could be dangerous! Mrs. Schweihofer might be moving them before the week is over!!

 It's official! The first day of school was a success!
(Again, Khloe didn't want to be left out of a photo opp!)