A new look...

Hip, Hip, Hoorah! I finally figured out how to change my blog background to something cool! It took me awhile, but I hope you like the new look!

Like mother...like daughter

Just a quick Harper story!

Harper and I went to the grocery store this evening to pick up a few things. One of the things we bought were several flavors of yogurt. Harper was riding in the back of the cart and I was pushing and looking around at things. Next thing I know, she is stacking some of the yogurt cups and asking them questions...just like a teacher! I listened for a long time, until she moved on to something else, and I was smiling.

For some of you that know my past, I used to talk to sunscreen/lotion bottles like they were my students!

So fun to see the imaginations of little ones grow!

Is She My Barbie Doll?

What a fantastic day! My mom and I just got back from the greatest consignment sale in the world, JBF. I got Harper a ton of super cute dresses and fall/winter clothes and I love all of it! Yesterday I took about 125 of Harper's old outfits to sell and Harper and Mom went with me to help. I couldn't have done it without them. If you've never tried a consignment sale before, I would highly recommend this one. Super Bargains!!!
We had a whirlwind of a weekend, but still got plenty of rest. Friday night, we went with Grandma and Boppy to the County Fair. Harper got to watch the kiddos showing pigs and she enjoyed it so much. She also got to see goats, sheep, cows, and chickens. We even let her ride a ride. County Fairs are so much fun!
Yesterday morning we went over to visit with Grandma T. Harper of course wanted to play with her doll Goldilocks. We had a great time. Later that evening, Richard and I took Harper to get a new pair of tennis shoes, size 10! Not very many choices at the mall, but we found some Nike Shox that will work. She already wore them today!
This morning we went to church with Grandma, Boppy and Aunt Melanie. It is always so fun for Harper to spend time with Aunt Melanie. She loves it!
Well...it is off to another week of school. I will keep you posted on the comic relief of Harperisms!

Sorry for the delay...

WOW...was it a week to remember! Harper started school, I got sick, I started school, Harper got sick and we are all exhausted! I am just wondering when everything will be normal again. All of the rain (believe me...I am thankful for it) caused our mold allergies to act up and sent both Harper and I into a "nose-running" and "scratchy throat" sprial. But we just woke up from a Saturday afternoon nap and I think both of us are feeling a little bit better!
I know I owe everyone some stories about Harper's school so here they are...
Well...you know how you never want to have the "smelly" kid in class. I am thankful that I don't have that, but I do have the "food stealer." Yep that is right, my daughter is a theif of sorts. On Thursday, her teacher told me that she has caught Harper with her hand on other kids' trays and in their chip bags on several occassions. The teacher always asks her about it and she replies "I just love GRAPES!" or cookies, crackers...whatever she is taking. Yikes! How do you solve that situation? I have tried to talk to her about it, she gets very upset and tells me they told her she could have the food. Harper is just a very hungry girl! I guess that is how we ended up in the 97% percentile on height. But she is a bean pole, so I don't know where it is going. I just hope she starts to "fill up" on her own food! Meanwhile, she has provided much needed comic releif.
Harper spends most of her time each day in the "home living" section of the classroom. Here you will find a kitchen, grocery store setup and dress up clothes. One day this week, the teacher saw Harper at a table in the craft section of the room with a bunch of purses and home living supplies. The teacher aske her why she wasn't in "home living" and Harper replied..."I can't be over there the boys are in there and they are eating CHICKEN!" Who knows where that came from but it made me :).
Everyday I ask Harper if she has made any new friends and she says yes, but she can't seem to remember any of their names. I know she really still likes Ben...the "green boy." She talks about him a lot.
They finally got to play outside these last few days and she loved it. She said they played on the blacktop and under the Christmas Tree. If only I could get inside that little mind of hers and she exactly what she is thinking!
The pictures above are from Wednesday and Thursday mornings. She is getting used to me taking her picture most days. I had to include the one of her singing into her Hannah Montana microphone (that her Aunt Cindy got her! Thanks!!!) because this shows you how much energy she has every morning. She really does LOVE school and I am so glad she is happy!

Pics from Yesterday...

Here are the pics that don't seem to be showing up on the blog from yesterday!

We Survived!

Hooray! The first day went off without a hitch. Harper woke up on her own this morning a little after 7 am and was so ready to get dressed. We got all dressed and before I could tell her to, she had her backpack on and was standing by the backdoor! We grabbed her lunchbox and off we went.
We were actually the 2nd people there this morning, which was good! I didn't want to be first! We walked in and placed her mat in its cubby and dropped off our backpack in its cubby and that is the end of the story... She gave me a little kiss and was off to play with the magnets (she remembered them from Open House!)
About halfway through my training today I remembered...puppy and blankie were at home still! Yikes!!! So, I left school and ran home to get them. While at home, I slipped in the garage (it was slick from the hurricane rains today!) skinned my knee and got my skirt dirty! All I could do was laugh because I was on the verge of tears...but I got the essentials delivered to Harper at school.
This afternoon I couldn't wait to pick her up. The class happened to be playing in the gym when I arrived and she was excited to see me! This is what she has told me so far...more stories kept coming as the evening wore on. This is all her story!

-she slept on the hard side of her mat
-all the kids but her brought their pillows...and she just had to sleep on her arm
-she didn't eat breakfast, but ate Gracen's grapes and crackers
-the green kid had to sit at the end of the table because he was being bad...his name was Ben...she thinks.
-they played duck-duck-goose in the gym
-they held their fingers over their mouths when they walked down the hall
-Ms. Graham's name starts with Cracker...chuckle. (I can't believe she came up with that one)
-She went to the bathroom all by herself and they have little sinks.

And that is the story so far...to be continued tomorrow!

Who's more nervous?

Well...I am sitting here this evening with a million emotions about Harper's First Day of School tomorrow. I know it is just a 3 year old program, but she will be at a real school with real kids and a real playground and a real cafeteria. All stuff she has never experienced before. I feel like that Wal-Mart commercial that has been airing lately...the mom says she can't be with her daughter on the first day of school, etc. but she hopes she has given her all the tools necessary to succeed. That girl was 16 and Harper is only 3, but I can find so many comparisions. I probably won't be able to sleep much tonight because I will be worrying about my sweet little baby!
But I guess there is a first time for everything...huh? I can't wait to report back to everyone tomorrow on the trials and tribulations of Harper's First Day. Please pray for both of us to survive this exciting experience.

On another note...we had a wonderful weekend before the whirlwind begins. Friday night we went to Hideaway with some of Richard's friends. Harper loves to watch them "make pizza" and "throw dough." So I let her watch them for a long time. They are always so friendly and play/tease her through the glass, but Friday was extra special. They actually came out and gave her a HUGE ballof pizza dough. She was so excited she could hardly stand it! It was shredded in the backseat of the car by the time we got home.
Saturday we went with Grandma to Target to get all of Harper's school supplies and lunch/breakfast stuff. We had a ton of fun shopping! Saturday evening we were invited to celebrate Gracen's 3rd birthday at her house. Gracen is Harper's very best friend. It was a really fun party becuase it was Princess themed (right up Harper's alley). Gracen got a ton of super fun dress up clothes and Harper can't wait to play with her. Harper even started jumping on their trampoline. She is getting brave in her old age! HAPPY B-DAY GRACEN!!!
This morning, we went to church and it felt so refreshing. It was just what I needed to take my mind off of the drama of tomorrow. I worked around the house while Harper napped and when she woke up we went over to Grandma and Boppy's to play with Aunt Melanie and Uncle Cole. Harper was playing doctor with them and had Cole bandaged all over his face. They also played with her new playdough. This evening, we all went to POPS on Route 66 in Arcadia. If you've never been there...you should go! It is so fun and the best part it they have over 500 different types of Pop to buy. We always buy a few to sample and they are so yummy! One last Hoorah before school! (Well...I think we have had several last hoorahs lately!)

Opening Night!!!

Tonight was Harper's Open House at school and it was fantastic! We got to meet all of her teachers (one main teacher and three helpers) and several of her classmates (there will be 16 total). You should've seen her eyes when she saw the classroom filled with tiny chairs and tables and oodles of toys. She walked right over and found the cubby with her name on it. She recognized the H and the "circle stick" (a) and knew it was hers.
The teacher gave us some paperwork to fill out and gave us the run down on the daily schedule. They will be very busy, but still have plenty of time to play. We also got Harper signed up for a breakfast ticket. The lunch and snacks are included in her tuition.
Monday will be her very first day, but school doesn't officially start until Thursday. So, she will have to take her breakfast and lunch the first three days. She said she "just wants to borrow Daddy's lunch box" but I may try to take her and see if she wants a Princess one or something.
Anywhooo...just wanted to give everyone an update on Open House. I included a picture of her before we went and also a pic of her backpack. We just got her backpack in the mail today and she loves it. Sara even sent her a super cute nametag to hang on her pack. Yippee!!! Many fun times ahead!

I Love School!

Today was my first day back at school and it was so enjoyable! I Love all of the new teachers we have in our building...they were so fun to hang out with today and I really enjoyed sharing all the cool info about our school with them.
Richard had his first day of school TODAY!!! The sad part was...he missed half of the day for Jury Duty! Yuck! But he made a really awesome video that the sub played to the kids. It basically taught the kids for the sub. Richard is funny anyways...but this video is hilarious! He even does a cartwheel on it! :)
Harper is being carted around a few places this week because her school doesn't start until Monday. Today she went to Papa and Grandma Marks' House with Boppy. They "farmed" all day long and she had a blast!
Tomorrow night is Open House at Harper's school...I can't wait. I think I might be more excited than she is. :)

The end of an era...

Well...I haven't said anything because I didn't want to jinx it...but Harper has been completely Pacey-free for 6 days. Richard decided one night while I was gone to give it a try and miraculously it worked! Thank goodness I didn't have to witness the "bloodshed" that first night. :)

Harper really is so proud of herself. She keeps saying what a big girl she is. She is so ready to start school on Monday that I think it motivated her to get rid of the pacey.

I just had to include this picture of her early pacey days!

Tomorrow is my last day of summer and Harper and I are hoping to have a realxing day of Mommy & Me time. Then it is back to the daily grind!

The Final Days of Summer Vacation...

Well...it is officially here...SCHOOL! Richard started teacher training this morning and I had an all-day conference to go to. Harper spent the day with her Granny Karen! They had a great time, but I was sad to leave her since we have been spending so much time with her doing super fun stuff this summer!
I actually don't have to go back until next Wednesday. I train all of the new teachers at the High School and we will get started on a three day training program then. All teachers will report the following Monday and school starts on Thursday the 21st for me. Richard on the other hand starts next Wednesday, the 13th! Hahaha...let's see who will be laughing in June though! :(
Last night my mom, sister, grandma and aunt went out to dinner at Chili's and then went to see Mama Mia! WOW! I am in love! It was the best movie ever! I have been singing all of the songs today. I just need to get the soundtrack on my iPod super quick! If you haven't already seen it...you should...I guarantee you will like it!

Above is one of my favorite pics I have taken this summer! Harper was splashing in the water at Grandma and Boppy's after we dumped out her pool!

Will the fish bite my toes?

 
No sweetie...they stay far under the water. They only come up to the top when you are fishing! ;)
This was the conversation I had with Harper on Saturday as we headed to the lake to try out Boppy and Grandma's new boat. We finally convinced her to get in the water and play. She had an absolute blast!!! We spent most of the evening getting the boat used to the water and hope to take it out again really soon to ride on the tubes. I think Harper will really like that. She thinks the lake is pretty fun, which is a good thing because so does the rest of the family!

 

Duck or Bunny?

Quick Cute Harper Story!
Friday night we went to the Rodeo for a special birthday treat with my family. My Mom, Dad, Sister, Cole, Richard, Harper and I got dudded up and headed to the Yukon FFA Rodeo. It really is a pretty big rodeo and is a bunch of fun! Anyways...as an intermission activity, they ask all the kids to come out to the rodeo arena. They did this last year, so I ignored their request and Harper stayed with me. Yes, I am learning some of the tricks of parenthood. The Rodeo crew lines up all the kids and sets loose a whole "slew" (whatever a bunch is) of ducks, chickens, and bunnies. They fire off a gun or whistle or something and the kids chase after the poor innocent creatures to attempt to catch them. The bad part is...You Catch, You Keep! Remember, I told you I learned a good parenting trick! :)
Well...Harper is having a blast watching. And I ask her, "Harper, what would you do if you caught a duck?" I was expecting a "hold on tight" or "give it a hug" but instead I got this.
Matter of factly she says, "Mom, I'd put it down and catch a bunny!" Well...she doesn't miss a beat does she?
Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Enduring the Heat...

It was extremely hot this week as we took our last trip of the Summer to Branson, MO. We endured and had an excellent time. We left early Sunday morning and arrived at the Outlet Mall in Branson a little before noon. We shopped and found several good bargains. Later that night, we headed out to Silver Dollar City. Harper was so excited she could hardly wait!

The last time we visited SDC, Harper was just 11 weeks old...but we told her it was like a small version of Disney...that was enough!

Harper rode several rides while we were there...some of them she rode by herself! Such a big girl.

We stayed until Tuesday afternoon, we mostly did the SDC thing but also did some shopping and visited the new Branson Landing!

It was a good last "hoorah" for summer!