Start to a NEW School Year!!

Back to School 2018!!!!!!!!

 

The weekend prior to the start of the new school year, Pete planned a fun guys weekend with his long-time best friends, Brett and Lowell.  Both best men in our wedding, these three have been friends since grade school.  They may all live in different states far from each other, but get them together and they're right back to their same shenanigans- ha!  We LOVED having them here for the weekend (and first day of school- HA) and the girls LOVED hearing all the stories from when Daddy was little;)....

Evelyn Marie

first day in Lilliput Classroom at the Little Sunshine Playhouse

Teachers: Ms. Gabby and Ms. Heidi

   

{sweetest scrunchy-eyed-smile EVER}

  

{Jitterbugs fun at school}

Maggie Cloe

first day in Preschool at Tucker Elementary

Teachers: Ms. Darlene, Ms. Christian, and Ms. Evie

 

Maggie's word list.... ahhh so proud of all the talking she's doing!!!!!

  

Surgery Day...

Maggie went to school for one day before her hip surgery.  They loosed up a muscle between her legs to give her a bit more range of motion and take some pressure off of her hips.  She was a ROCKSTAR, even with the pillow she came home with strapped between her legs.

Daddy came in the door with her, and sweet Harper got a bit teary-eyed.  Harper is so sympathetic, it took her back a bit to see her sister strapped to a pillow.  She gently patted her saying "you'll be ok, Maggie".  She may have made me teary eyed as well, but it was so sweet to see her deep love for her sister.

Needless to say, Maggie was a CHAMP rocking the "mermaid pillow" for 6 weeks 24 hrs/day!  She amazes me and recovered beautifully!!!

FRIENDS!!!

These adorable twins are our neighbors... and they are PRECIOUS!!!  When Maggie is in her wheel chair most children around her age become a little intimidated by her, but these boys have never acted that way.  More so, they genuinely seem to love Maggie- always playing, singing, and chatting right along with her.  I ABSOLUTELY love it and look forward to watching them all grow up together!

Harper Grace

first day in 2nd Grade at Central Park Elementary

Teacher: Mrs. Rippee

Meet-the-Teacher Night!!!

I LOVE THIS TEACHER!!!!  She has been teaching 2nd grade for 28 years, loves to give hugs, and is 100% team-themed.  Everything has a sports reference with emphasis on team building and confidence.  She's a great fit for little miss!

 

...although she may or may not be making our girl a Razorback fan- hehe!  We may be big 10 people, but heck... is she chooses the University of Arkansas for college we'll have her nice and close... I like the sound of that;).... and lets be real: my Arkansas born baby was bound to love the Razorbacks- hehe!

Cheers to surviving the first week of school!!!  We celebrated with dinner our followed by frozen custard with the Harrison family- SO FUN!!!!!!

...a week complete with the most complete rainbow I've ever seen- AMAZING!!!

SURPRISE!!!!!!

Uncle Aaron came shortly after school began for a one-night stay in Bentonville when he was flying his plane from Indy to California!! 

WE LOVE THOSE VISITS!!!!  Lots of playing, chatting....

and of COURSE Nerf gun war- ha!  

 

...Yep, girls kicked their tushies... hehe!

Why not wear your brand new bike helmets while eating dinner- SILLINESS!!

 
Going somewhere?!
"Mommy, I'm going on a trip with my horse, Rachel!" HAHAHAHAHA!

ONE LAST CONCERT OF THE SEASON!!!!  We love our summer evenings spent together with live music.... 

I think the Lees are off to a good start this Fall!!  We kinda love the routine of school, each with our own stories to tell of our days...LOVE!

Summer 2018 Coming to a Close....

As we got down to the final days of summer, the above message was my motto.  A friend of mine shared this quote with me, and truly- that is my battle every day.  I am bit of perfectionist.  I like everything in order, a routine, and don't thrive with the unexpected.  Well, parenthood is ANYTHING but order, routine, and expected- ha!  Often, I find myself spending all my energy over preparations, perfection, and schedules... and then I don't have the best parts of me ready to be a mama and a wife.  

Grace. 

 I am working so hard to be graceful rather than perfect.  I know my babies aren't going to care when they're older about the moments spent with perfectly cleaned rooms.  I know my husband would much prefer me to sit and talk with him while he does dishes rather than be exhausted and snippy during the short time we have altogether in the evenings.  So- I posted this next to my door.  I DO read it every day.  I DO strive to focus on the people and moments in my life- and not so much on keeping it all "perfect".  I am (and probably always will be) a work in progress... 

Anyway, summer time was coming to a close and we were enjoying the last of the long days together...

 

{pics from school}

  

{Bang trim BY PROFESSIONALS}

This was her first time... she LOVED how cool the salon for kids was, but wasn't so sure about the water and scissors.  Since then she's become a seasoned pro... and I LOVE that her bangs aren't so crooked- mommy and daddy DEFINITELY didn't have the "straight bang cut" gift- hehe!

 

Crazy Girl...

ALWAYS wanting to wear sunglasses 

"Mommy my eyes are hot- can I have my glasses?" "Babe, I think you mean it's bright out;)."

and... who needs panties when you got your umbrella.... OMG!!!

{Cutie}

She's totally loved the summer months: accompanying Ms. Maggie to horseback riding... she always gets to do a victory lap on Victor (ha) and LOVES IT!!!!  Also, watching Harry Potter with Harper in jammies- LOVE!

 

Maggie Lou is growing up!!!  She has a new love of arts and crafts... paint-dobbers are the jam!

...although she did have a little cyclic vomiting spell.  Poor baby... although I do enjoy those extra cuddles for sure!!

... little Mommy-Maggie date to the doctor!  Cutie;)

Most of those last few days we spent soaking in our almost second grader.  She was excitement and nerves all wrapped into one little person...

Harper and Daddy finished up our Harry Potter summer reading;)... love how much they got into those books together!!!

And I loved having the help for a bit longer at the grocery store- self check-out is her LOVE!!

 
{Starbucks Date}

Horse Camp!!!

Her friend, Elise, invited Harper to do horse camp with her and I am SO GLAD we did it!!!  Harper LOVED the extra time with her long-time friend, but also loved getting to know all the four-legged friends on the farm: Gus the pig became a fan favorite!!!  Love her love of horses... I was the SAME way when I was her age!!!

{silliness}

  

Lunch dates with some of our favorites: 

Her AR turned MN friend MOVED BACK to Arkansas!!  Nora and Harper are just the sweetest together!!!!

We also snuck in a Chick-fil-a date with her first grade teacher.  Harper was SOOOO excited to see her until we got there and was so shy- but quickly warmed up.  I think Mrs. Boyles will forever hold a special place in her heart.  Harper loved her and Mrs. Boyles was so kind and sweet to Harper as she transitioned into a brand new school last year.

 

{Big girl!!!!}

She's working on her fear of heights and CONQUERED tying her shoes!!!  I was so proud of her... I love watching her confidence grow!

"Ummmm... I think the zucchini is ready to be picked!!!!!!!!"

OMG!!!  This sucker made 4 loaves of zucchini bread!!!!  Our garden didn't give a ton of veggies this year, but we got a plethora of zucchini... thank goodness we all love it- hehe!

Last Day of Summer Break

Chuck-e-Cheese and homemade cupcakes with just Mommy and Daddy.... her heart was content!!!

 

I was able to sneak in a couple friend dates to concerts at the AMP.  I think country music is growing on me!!!  I had SO much fun with Kassi seeing Kenny Chesney- pretty much my fav concert at the AMP to date thus far!!

Then the following week I got to go see Janet Jackson with Niki!!!  Ahhhh so fun... Janet has still got it FOR SURE!!!  And, we got our picture on the big screen- ha!

 

Hubs and I even snuck in a couple shows before summer came to a close... we are such suckers for live music!!!!

But those last couple days I soaked in our "no alarm clock" mornings with these sweet sisters cuddled with me in bed...

And cleaned up the school supplies for a new year!  My heart melted when I found this stack of notes in the zipper pouch of Harper's lunch box.  I wrote to her whenever I packed her lunch and had no idea she kept them- may or may not have made me teary-eyed- ha!  Yep- they're saved in her specials box now;).

 

Back-to-school ready!!!!  

2018 School Year.... here we COME!!!!!!!