Kaelin's first mani/pedi

Jecca took K to get a pedicure and her nails painted on Friday for part of her birthday gift.  She really enjoyed it!  She thinks we should go all the time now :).  She chose a light polish and a golden crackle top coat ('Golden' is her favorite color right now).  The pictures aren't the greatest, because they were taken with Jecca's phone, but here they are:

In this last one she is wearing Uncle Chris's hat and sunglasses :).

Kaelin's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Kaelin's first day of Kindergarten.  She goes to a full day district, so the bus picks her up around 8:20 and drops her off around 3:45.  It is a LONG day!

Last night before bed we were saying prayers and good night, she came to me last and said, "I'm gonna miss you tomorrow Mommy."  I might have gotten a little teary :).

This morning we woke around regular time, but she kept saying she was tired.  I think it was the change from a relaxed morning to a gotta get ready and out the door morning.  She was excited to go though, especially to ride the bus with her friend Abby from next door (who is in 2nd grade this year).  There is also a little girl 2 houses down, that started Kindergarten this year, named Emma (she also has a little sister Hailey's age, and a 6 week old baby brother).

We let her pick her back pack (Fancy Nancy) and lunch box (Hello Kitty - with the pink bow).  

She was very excited to take her lunch to school!

She has to wear this name tag for the next 2 weeks.  It also has her bus number and address on it.

Hailey, Abby and Kaelin making silly faces while waiting for the bus.

SO Excited!

Right before she left she said goodbye to everyone.  I gave her a kiss in her palm, and she kissed mine, so we would have them all day. (If you haven't read the children's book The Kissing Hand, you should - my mom sent me to college with it :) ).

This picture is of Abby and Kaelin on the bus and it seriously makes me cry! I did good (I think).  I didn't tear up until they pulled away, and then only for a minute.  

Hailey said she missed her big sister about 3 times today. I think the Kindergarten day is much longer for her than the preschool day.  We did try to break the day up with a trip to the library for some dvd/book borrowing and a Move & Groove class.  She was pretty impatient when she woke up from nap, she thought K would already be home (but she had another 45 minutes to wait).  

Today was a screening day for K, so she doesn't have school tomorrow.  Tomorrow afternoon we will get a call telling us who her teacher is, then Monday starts her first full week with her teacher for the year.  

I tried to get a picture of K getting off the bus but it didn't work out, maybe Monday.  As she got off the bus and I got a hug, she said it was a good but long day! She said repeatedly that she was tired and needed a rest this evening, but she was a trooper.  She told us about lunch, rest time, play time and recess, and about a girl she met named Abigail...oh and 'some other girl' :)  She liked her lunch, but didn't get enough time to eat it (maybe this will teach her to eat at meal time instead of playing/talking - but I doubt it). :)   All in all, she enjoyed her first day, and I think she will be excited to go back Monday.  We'll see how next week goes with the sleepiness :).  

I am sad to see her so grown up, but excited as well.  K is so social and smart, I know she will do good in school, and that she will LOVE it!  Hailey is also getting so big.  She is very excited to become a big sister herself soon and keeps telling me how she is going to help with her baby brother.

Tomorrow is another adventure for K.  Jecca and Uncle Chris gave Kaelin a certificate to get her first real manicure for her birthday.   Is it bad that I am jealous of my 5 year old?  

*Kaelin has always loved Jecca's long nails.  So - tomorrow, Jecca and Kaelin are off to the salon!  (and of course I will paint H's nails at home...because she asked, and because I think she is a bit young for a trip to the salon at 3). 

Corn at the Farm

Today (after K got home from school) we went into Grove City to pick corn at Papa Tom and Grandma Barb's and to help get it ready to freeze.  Amy had gone in earlier in the day, so by the time we got there, she and Barb had gotten 24 qt. bags ready to freeze.  By the time we left, we had 54 qt. bags and 2 gallon bags all ready to freeze (Thats A LOT of corn!).  Our deep freeze now proudly holds 27 qts plus 1 gallon of corn.  Plus we brought home a dozen fresh to eat.

Ray picked his first ear of corn :)  and took some pictures of the girls picking corn.

Biakis Pool Party 2011

Sunday was the annual pool party at Angela and Bill's home.  Unfortunately it was a stormy night that led into a storming morning - complete with thunder and rain.  Everyone braved the weather and Thankfully by the time we arrived (around 12:30-1) the storm cleared!  It was still cloudy, but warm/dry and no signs of lightening or thunder, so we enjoyed an afternoon by the pool and a potluck/BBQ.  

The night before the girls HAD :) to have their toes and nails painted.  K picked pink and H picked blue - shocking, I know. 

Hailey ended up being our little fish.  Kaelin has become a little leary of putting her head in the water and chose to stay on rafts mostly or hanging onto an adult.  Hailey on the other hand went down the slide 3 times, and swam from one end of the pool to the other endlessly!  The only think we couldn't talk her into was the diving board.  Maybe next year...

Hailey taking a moment of rest.

 Dominic and Brad

I am choosing to believe that this is all in play, but really am not sure what Trey was doing to Dominic...as Brad laughs :).

Kaelin, with Kendra behind her, enjoying the rafts.

Hailey the fish.

Going down the slide with Uncle Jasey #1.

Going down the slide with Uncle Jasey #2.

The day ended with snow cones made by Aunt Karen, and very tired kids (no naps, and a full afternoon in the sun and water!). It was a great day - though we should have put on sunblock by the end.  Hailey, we have learned, actually tans, though her cheeks did get a little pink.  Kaelin is definitely my daughter; her little cheeks, nose and shoulders are a bright pink today.  She says they don't hurt, but I am using aloe on her every few hours.

Tomorrow starts K's school adventure with a morning Kindergarten orientation with Justin and I, then her first day (screening) on Thursday.

Lawrence County Fair 2011

Every year we attend the Lawrence County Fair with Justin's mom, Cindy (even when we lived in Chicago we came back to PA for the Fair!).  The girls LOVE going to the fairs, and we usually attend 3 a summer.  We went a little earlier in the day this year so the kids would have more time to ride the rides. The had some dinner and played games (yea for goldfish), and then had our usual snow cones while we watched the tractor pull.

Pictures of the kids on the rides.  Hailey loves to put her hands up on the 'roller coaster'.

A visit to the horse barn...after eating a blue sucker :).

Kaelin learned ALL about milking a cow.  Seriously, she was so intrigued.  The lady even let her feel what the suction felt like, and showed her where the milk was stored in tanks.

Our goldfish - Yea *sarcasm*.  We will see how long they make it.  Especially because on our way out of the fair Kaelin dropped her fish bag which exploded, Daddy scooped up the fish with his hands and then put it in Hailey's bag until we got home.  So far (24 hours later) they are eating and still alive.

Next fair stop is the Canfield Fair August 31-September 5...we usually go at least twice. :) 

Magee Girls' Birthday Party 2011

Yesterday was the girls' yearly birthday party. This year we decided to have it away from home - WONDERFUL idea!  We usually have it at our home and have to rent chairs and borrow tables and tents.  Then it usually takes 2-3 hours to set up and another 2 hours to tear down! 

This year we showed up at the Mill Creek Park Chestnut Hill pavilion, set out food and a few decorations and we were ready to go.  Each pavilion has it's own playground, sandbox and field for baseball etc.  And, it was only $50 to rent (not much more than renting chairs etc)!!

The weather wasn't great - grey and stormy in the morning, then clearing in the afternoon.  By party time it was sprinkling or misting (THANKFUL for the pavilion)!  We chose not to grill hamburgers and hotdogs this year, and instead got fried chicken and Italian sausage.  This too was a wonderful decision!  Awesome food (From Charley's on Kirk) and the price was almost to the dollar of what it costs when we grill the food ourselves (actually $5 cheaper)!

We had about 55 people show despite the wet weather.  Everyone brought a side dish and we enjoyed a wonderful dinner.  The kids loved the woods, and dirt and playground!  Most were filthy messes before going home!  The trees kept them from getting entirely soaked thankfully.  And the guys were able to get in a few rounds of cornhole!

We also enjoyed a wonderful cake made by Tami (again this year!).  She enjoys making and decorating cakes occasionally for fun.  We are blessed that she has been willing to do it for our girls! 

Kaelin had to have Abby help blow out her candles.

The mirowave that Hailey got was a big hit :)

After opening presents the kids got to open the pinata.  In years past we have had trouble actually breaking the pinata open (an adult has to rip it by the end), so this year I got a string pinata!  It worked fairly well, though we did shake the pinata to help some candy out.  

Jecca designed and ordered some magnets for us for favors that turned out adorable as usual!  

Overall - it was a huge success!  All the kids had fun, and our kids said it was the best day ever!  They loved their presents (a lot of craft kits and hands on learning!).

The next hurdle in our lives is a dr. appt for both girls tomorrow to get yearly shots :(.  Then we are looking forward to the Lawrence County Fair on Thursday and we have a family pool party Sunday! Next week is the beginning of kindergarten for Kaelin!