Kindergarten

It's been a LONG summer.  Four days shy of a FOUR MONTH summer.  Holy cannoli!!!! That was long.

 

So when it was time for Meet-and Greet at her school at the end of August, Gianna was beside herself with excitement   It was wonderful to be reunited with her besties from last year.  And now they're in Kindergarten together.

Sitting in a "real" desk was a thrill... 

Listening to Ms. Pam talk about Kindergarten.... 

Visiting on their most special Pre-K teacher...they ADORE her.

 

And that brings us to the Wednesday following Labor Day....

 

 

I feel a little guilty having these next pictures, because parents weren't allowed to go into the school the first day.  I was asked to help unload kids so the teachers could stay in their classrooms and was also asked to take pictures of each of the students with their teachers. So I figure this is my "payment" - a peek into my Kindergartner's world.

 

Gianna and her amazing Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Pam.

Most of the students stood next her and Pam put her arm around them.

When Gianna's turn came, she face Ms. Pam and threw her arms around her.  Melted our hearts. Precious.

 

They are off to a great start.  I was in and out of her classroom that first day and was blown away by what they were already learning. I would have bet money that they would come home that afternoon knowing the entire Constitution.
Amazing.

One more day til KINDERGARTEN!!!!!

Still summer 'round here....

Most folks in these parts began school today.  We have three more weeks until Gianna begins Kindergarten, so it's still summer 'round here. (Well, it'll still be summer for a few more months - temperature wise.)
 

 Catching a quick glimpse of  Daniel Tiger (isn't that the sweetest show?) during a play date...

 Making an animal train....

 Monkeying around...

Heading to the movies...

 Poppin' out of a groovy sun-roof....

 An occasional puppet show...

 Tried a really sour candy...

 Charlie McCarthy is one of Gianna's favorite old toys.  Let me say that it is a bit disconcerting to find your child sleeping with this freaky little guy during a middle-of-the-night  child check...

 Riding a golf-cart to a friend's neighborhood pool.  Quite a bit fancier than we are used to!

 Making tents just doesn't get old...

 Chilling in the doll bed...

  I posted this next pic on FB one night.  I told Gianna to get ready for bed, and this is how she appeared moments later...

Someone is developing her own creative fashion sense...

 Don't ask...

100 degrees outside and she insists on wearing cowboy boots...

This is how she appeared outside to play with sidewalk chalk...

Funny girl...

 

Funny girl and favorite friend...

 

Prissy posing is apparently inherent...

 Been swimming A LOT.

She decided to perform while on her "stage"....

  

And here's my super-swimmer...

Parenting Challenges

I could write a book on this topic.  Most parents could.  I wish I was in that space where I could sit down and pour my thoughts into some sort of coherent blog post.  My parenting challenges have been on steroids as of late.  REALLY hard stuff. The best I can do right now it is pass along a link from a wonderful mom blogger who wrote a wonderful post recently.  Here ya go - http://www.shortstopblog.com/2013/08/to-moms-of-one-or-two-children.html.  Enjoy.

"Life Crabs at Townberry"

Well, that's Gianna's title for the post.  Actual title should read Live Crabs at Hackberry. We had been invited to my friend's parents' camp out on the Intercostal Canal right in the middle of the marshes of SW Louisiana. 

 

I didn't tell Gianna where we were heading after church, just that is was a different town.  When we got there I told her the town's name was Hackberry. For some reason, that name didn't stick with her -- it was "Townberry" or "Raspberry" from there on out. 

 

They caught 7 dozen gorgeous crabs (LIVE crabs! -- which Gianna continued to call LIFE CRABS!) and they boiled them up for us to enjoy.  SOOO good.

We were instructed to dump the shells back in the canal when we were done.

Gianna exclaimed, "Mommy, did you see that boy dump his Life Crabs in the Ocean?"

 

Gianna asked one of the kids if they could take her to get a fishing license. 

She didn't catch anything - so I think we're good without one for now. 

They did catch a few catfish. 

 And Gianna was thrilled to know there was watermelon.

 

It was my first time seeing this yellow watermelon.

The best sighting of the day was a great big alligator.  There were two, actually, but I only caught one on film.

Such a fun Louisiana summer day.

Thanks Richards, Babineaux's and Ange's!