New gift, old school

Sophie is super excited to try out this new present from Auntie Lynn and Mike... an instant camera. Watch out pocket, she's gonna burn a hole in you buying film for her selfies!

Mile run

I don't remember being in third grade and running the mile. But, I'm so proud of Sophie for at least trying. We know she isn't a "runner", but she and her classmates went out there and did their first attempts at school one day. Her time was over 13 minutes... looks like Sophie and Mom run at the same pace, and we know there's clearly room for improvement as she gets older!

Thankful...

Thankful for the Kirch's and the many families that helped us when our parents were out of town. This is just one day as the girls enjoyed their walk to school with friends. What a crew!

I may write a book..

Should I start saving the excuses and anecdotes of my students these days... because I don't think that our society realizes the type of young adults we are raising as we let "retakes", excuses, and iPads run the school.

Side note: student did NOT come in for the retake by the chapter test and thus earned a 0 on it. According to the principal, I should give him a 50% to "keep him in the game".

Brownies - September Meeting

Happy to be welcoming in two new members to our Brownie troop and being a part of many girls’ lives as troop leader. It’s also great to have the help and support of the other parents to plan fun events like this one at the Arboretum.

Brownies Year 2

It's pools party time as we start off third grade Brownies with a splash! Almost every girl is returning and three new girls moved into the school.... translation: lots of fun and friends for this new school year!

Sophie’s Top Secret Adventure Hunt...” the most fun party ever”

25 girls, 4 teams, 2 helpers, 9 clues per team, 3 Tuk Tuks, 4 cookie puzzles, 36 envelopes, 2 allergy kids, 25 treat bags,  3 Fox family chaperones, 4 boxes of custom sized T-shirts, 11 amazing clues or puzzles, 1 husband running a fundraiser, 2 grandparents out of town equals ONE CRAZY AWESOME PARTY PLANNER, if I do say so myself.

25 girls before the party hunt began

Posing with the tuk tuks

And they're off... with no chaperones!

Best wrapped gift... from Secret Agent M

No party is complete without some originals from Priscilla!  She knocked it out of the park with these puzzle cookies.

And pizza cookies...

Mr. Frog cookies...

And my favorite... the Cat in the Hat cookies!

Sophie and her crew

Sophie is always smiling as she going to SPA to be with her friends on dance team. She is there to dance on Mondays for hip hop ensemble, Tuesdays for show choir, Wednesdays for ballet, Thursdays for jazz, Fridays for jazz ensemble, and Saturdays for ballet. She loves the girls and the teachers... so we are hopeful that this is going to be a great year at SPA.

This is 9

Nine is fine for this birthday girl, who celebrated her birthday a few times this month. First, a special gift designed by Grandma and her friend to hold many small birthday surprises. Next, after school treats with Mom and Abby as she enjoyed a Carmel apple from Kilwins and picked out a new charm for her Pandora bracelet. (Before ballet) Then, a birthday dinner of her choice with a Dairy Queen blizzard cake. (And off to religious Ed) And, that wasn’t even her birthday party OR the birthday sleepover!! I don’t know how we do it all, but it sure does make a girl happy, and I guess that’s all that matters.

Tootsie Rolls Drive

Thanks to all of our special helpers this year... I guess we were too busy counting money to take photos of Rodger or Abby.... those two were the big workers in the family at various locations. But every member of our family from Grandma to Uncle Andy hit the streets to collect money for the cause. Many thanks to our friends and Brownie families that also volunteered. Rodger dedicated all of three weeks in September to this event, but was out there the entire weekends on the streets and then at home counting money for this drive.