Presley's First Day of School!

Presley started Pre-K today! I can't believe what a big girl she is. She was so excited about starting school, but it was hard to get out of bed this morning.

I finally got her dressed!

I have no idea where she gets these poses from. She came up with this one.

I am getting a taste of juggling schedules with pre-k this year. I am supposed to be at work at 7:45, her school starts at 7:50. We end school at 3:15, and she is out at 2:50.  Thankfully the pre-k is right across the street from the high school! We walk from the house to the high school and then the pre-k.

Here is Presley's cubby! Each student has their own icon, and Presley's is a pink horse! It is perfect for her! She brought her unicorn pillow pet and a pink blanket for nap time, and monkey-monkey to keep her company.  We also brought a change of clothes and a flamingo back pack.

The kids wash their hands when they get to school. Here is Miss Beth showing them how to do it the right way!

After they washed their hands, they went to their seats and put puzzles together. I said goodbye fast then I cried as I crossed the street on my way back to work. I didn't cry long because I had a classroom full of seventh graders waiting for me!

Here is a pic from when I went to get my big girl! She was playing by herself, and even picked up her toys!

She can't wait to go back tomorrow!

Big Weekend!

The first weekend in August was an eventful one for our family! Nick started working on his masters degree 3 years ago, and he graduated from Arkansas State University on August 3rd!  We are so proud of him, and I was so glad that he walked! I asked him to, but I didn't think that he would! Presley was so excited to see her daddy down there. 

On Sunday, August 5th, our Sunday School class hosted a baby shower for Emma Grace. They wouldn't take no for an answer, and I am glad they didn't! They are so creative and way too sweet!

Is this not the cutest!?

Nick's mom made the cake! She is so talented! She called to ask me what flavor to make the cake, and she had made a delicious cake at the family reunion, so I told her to do that, but Nick said that he wanted strawberry. She made the belly and bust strawberry and the bottom cake white. It really surprised my friends when they cut into the belly! So funny! My friend, Teresa, told me it reminded her of the armadillo cake on Steel Magnolias. Ha!

Teresa, Staci, Vicki, me, Lori, DeAnna, and Mandy

(Am I really that short? I guess so!)

My sweet family!

This is Ravyn. She is a senior this year! I love watching my students grow up! She wrote down all of my gifts for me.

My sweet helpers! Addison and Presley helped me open lots of gifts!

My mom had lots of fun buying clothes for her second grandaughter! She got Presley and Emma big sis and little sis shirts with matching headbands (of course)!

Presley and Addison again! 

My friend, Vicki, is a wonderful decorator! She just happened to have this at home and brought it. I love it!

Staci made this diaper cake, some butterflies, and the cutest diaper bear too! She is so crafty!

Presley modeling for everyone!

Emma Grace got so many gifts! She got a stroller, a glider, a pack-n-play, bouncy seat, tons of clothes, bibs, shoes, diapers, wipes, bottles, diaper bags, burp cloths, toys...  She even got a pearl bracelet, which every little girl needs :)

Our July

After we got home from the beach, it was time to celebrate the 4th.  We had friends over for a cookout, but I forgot to take pictures! We had a ton of food complete with homemade ice cream. Just when we were serving the ice cream, some more friends saw us outside and joined us. I love that. 

I took Presley to the summer reading program at our library. On the last day, they had a pajama party and the tooth fairy (Shelbey) visited! 

This is apparently what Presley thinks that I look like.  Nick would never say anything about how big I am getting, but each time I have gotten pregnant he starts running! I had to quit running because it got uncomfortable and too hot, so he starts. I really miss running. I hope I can get back in shape and run in a race by next spring, but I bet that lack of sleep may interfere with that plan!

I turned 30 on the 12th, and I woke up to this in my front yard! Aren't friends the best! Thanks Teresa. Next year maybe you won't run to Kansas on your birthday!

We left later that day to go to Branson for Nick's family reunion. We got to take Presley to the Dixie Stampede. She loved it. The only way I could get her to eat any of that massive amount of food was to feed her. She was not going to take her eyes off of the show for a minute!

This guy was getting Chex in his costume, and he stopped for a photo op! Chex was interested in Presley's hair, but I think that the hairspray must have tasted bad.

Presley was definitely in love with those pretty dresses! The people there were so sweet to her!

The big event at the family reunion is always a Saturday night cookout. Nick's mom has lots siblings, so they get each one a different color shirt for their family.  So we all have our shirts on for the cookout, and we all love to hate them. I think it is hilarious because Nick is such a bad sport about it! He refuses to wear it except for the family photo. 

Exhibit A: Notice everyone else in their bright colored Ts? Not Nick. He is wearing a gray shirt while playing in the bag-o  competition. 

The kids had lots of fun playing on the playground. They had more fun at the pool, but I didn't get a pic. It had big water slides and the lights in the pool changed colors. Presley called it the disco pool.

Presley loved the bathtub! She has to have something to play with in the bath. I'm glad a plastic bottle will do.

We went to the outlet stores before we left Branson. The Polo Factory Store is the best! I picked up some of those Polo Ts that everyone is wearing for Will. They were only $15, and Dillard's sells them for $40! Nick got some of the collared shirts for $40, and can get one at Dillard's for around $90. So crazy! Don't you love a good deal? Presley picked this out at the Disney store. She is so silly!

We have been working on Emma Grace's room (finally). Nick reading instructions! What? Had to take a picture!

Presley and Shorty were supervising. 

Yay! I am going with white furniture and I want a vintage feel. I really wanted a vintage Jenny Lind crib, and I found one at a flea market (it had to be fixed), but never heard from them. Nick talked me into getting a new one because they are finished and safer. The other day I went to the flea market, and she said, "We are almost finished with the crib!" Oh well! This one is perfect!

Emma's drawers are filling up fast!

I covered Presley's car seat with a lot of minky fabric. It is so soft and PINK!

My next project: sand, prime, and paint this armoire. I am thinking about painting the inside aqua. I am trying to embrace color, but I love tans and black and white.

Emma's "closet" poor girl doesn't have one in her room! This is in our hallway, but it works! Sort of.

My other next project: make this $5 frame a fabulous hair bow holder. (from Pinterest of course!)