Snapshot Sunday

My wedding dress... on Havana

First Grade Shield Parade

We haven't had proper rain in Austin for weeks, so naturally it poured the day of the Shield Parade at school.

You'll remember last year the whole school paraded around the outside of the school... well, this year it had to be moved to the tight hallways inside and the MPR. It was a bit of a squeeze... but still a great morning.

I wasn't able to get as many photos... but here's Lady Havana with her second school shield.

And with her first grade teacher, Miss Brown.

Chapter Books

Over the summer Havi was lucky enough to have Auntie Dan read her a few classic Roald Dahl. They read Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator and The BFG.

Now Dan doesn't just read them... she brings them to life. Each character has a different voice and accent. I found myself intently listening too.

Once they'd finished Willy Wonka we watched the movie (the original of course) on family movie night. Once they'd finished The BFG we tracked down a copy of the film on Amazon and shipped it just in time to watch with Dan the night before the end of her summer stay.

Now Havi's decision is what to read next...

First Grade!

We officially have a first grader. I can't believe a) kindergarten went by so fast and b) the summer went by so quick!

She's changed so much since her first day of Kindergarten...

Last year I laid clothes out for her - this year she picked them herself.

Last year I insisted she always wear her hair up off her face - this year she begged to be allowed to wear it down.

Last year she cautiously (but bravely) tackled her first day - this year she happily went off to her first day of first grade.

A Wonderful Summer

Auntie Dan came home with us from our trip to England... but not to stay for a couple of weeks, nope... she came to stay for THREE whole months.

Havana was out of school for the summer so she was super excited to spend the time with Auntie Dan and her friend from Abacus, Morgan.

They stayed VERY busy... bowling, swimming, trips to the park, trips to the museum, story times at the library and crafts at Michaels and at home.

Entirely too much fun. I know Havana will remember her summer with Auntie Dan for a long, long time and the spare bedroom will forever be Auntie Dan's room.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Auntie Dan LOVES ice cream. Like she REALLY loves ice cream.

So, when she found out there would be an ice cream festival in Austin while she was here, we just knew we had to go.

We bought wristbands at the entrance not knowing quite what to expect...

LOT'S of ice cream, that's what.

We were given ice cream as we waited in line for ice cream. Ice cream as we did lollipop stick crafts, ice cream as we ate ice cream waiting for more ice cream.

We ate every kind imaginable.

Then for some strange reason we let Havi go on the bungee-bounce things... after all that ice cream! Thankfully she wasn't sick and enjoyed herself :-)

Terribly, terribly, terribly behind...

.... and the further I get behind the scarier the return seems!

But I'll catch up... stay with me!

In the meantime how about a lovely photo of Havi with her cousins in England earlier in the summer. Love this photo :-)

We have a SIX year old in the house!

I cannot believe we have a six year old in the house, but we do!

What a perfect six years we've had with this sweet, thoughtful, smart and beautiful girl. She is the best thing ever.

We'll keep her!

Pretty dress and a Captain America Shield equals perfection.

Official Kindergarten Graduation Photograph

Smart and Cute... Congratulations Havana.

Kindergarten Graduation

And there it is... officially the end of Kindergarten. We have a little graduate.

Today we went to Havana's sweet ceremony, listened to her sing with her class and fill up with doughnuts at her graduation party.

So happy Grandma was here to see it all :-)

Best Party Invite EVER!

A big thank you to Uncle Mike for creating the BEST party invite EVER :-)

Birthday Party Time!!

After lots of thought Havana decided to have her party at Pump it Up... BUT, with a Star Wars theme. Uncle Mike jumped in with the invite design (awesome)and a few friends joined Havana in Star Wars costumes.

The Birthday Girl

Fun with Friends

Chocolate!

With Carlo and Victor

Silly Girls!!

Cowboy Day and Pirate Day!

March brought us cowboy day and pirate day at school. Kind of wish we could have days like this at work!





Fun!!

COUNTDOWNS

We have a crazy bunch of countdowns again... we love countdowns!

52 days until Grandma gets here!

65 days until our sweet baby turns 6 years old.... what!!!

68 days until we go to England :-)

and

72 days until Auntie Dan comes to stay for the summer.... the whole summer!!!

By Havana C

Havana has a journal in school that she writes in each day. The top half is plain so they can draw a picture, the bottom is lined to write something about the picture. I'm excited to see how the journal has progressed at the end of the school year (which is coming up way too soon, I only just got used to having a Kindergartner.)

As she seemed to love writing in her journal at school, I also bought a journal for the car. It's amazing what pictures and stories Havi can come up with even on the shortest journey.

Here are a couple from the last few weeks.

I love how most of her stories include a question for the reader :-)