FIRST DAY OF 6TH GRADE

Coco's first words to me this morning were "Do I have to go today?"

LOL

She was super nervous this morning.

I did a few photos before I drove her to school

She was overcome with excitement

I almost got to walk in with her. We got there and she said she wanted me to come in with her because she wasn't sure where to go. We got half way to the door and she saw a friend pulling up with her Dad. She says to me its ok Mom I will wait for Ashlyn.

:(

Come on Mom REALLY

Isn't her outfit cute

pretty girl

Peace out

After school photo

She had a great day

Here Mom I could be a perfume model

I wondered about her all day. She had a great time. The only hiccup was she had to sit with 7th graders at lunch. Those 7th graders must be scary.

I am also saving these photos for a Week in the Life project I started today. I will be documenting our week in notes and photos.

I will try to share here on the blog.

Hope all your kiddos had a great first day of school too!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE 6TH GRADE

Tomorrow morning my baby girl will walk into a new school.

A new set of classes

A new set of teachers

Not a play ground in site.

She will be a middle schooler

with al a carte lunches

and study halls.

She is prepared as much as possible

she has been very nervous this year

her Daddy couldn't understand why

she was in such a tizzy tonight.

She cut her leg shaving

she brushed and flossed and lotioned

so many changes getting ready for this year

we shopped at

aeropostle

charlotte russe

american eagle

the buckle

we bought toms instead of nikes

we got feathers in her hair

we had her nails done

she is carrying a purse this year

she needs some where to keep

her phone and all those things

girls need

I probably won't get a photo of her in class

she made sure everything fit in her backpack

so Mama doesn't need to walk her in

she's to big to have her Mama walk her in to class

Mama doesn't feel like she is big enough to

go into school by herself

but I will let her do it on her own

as I watch through the car window

proud that I have helped prepare her

for days like these

days she needs to be confident and brave

days where she will come home

to tell me all about her day

the friends she reconnected with

new friends she made

which classes she liked

and those she didn't

she will tell me with excitement

about the new lunch options

she has never had before

it will be a long day for me

as I watch the clock

anxious to get home

to hear all about her day

in this new place

called

middle school



SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER

Another year down! My baby is now a middle schooler :(

This is the 1st day of 5th grade

The last day of 5th grade.

She was a straight A student this year. Participated in SEEK, played basketball and softball, earned the Gold in math. She will leave the building she has known for the past 6 years and move to another world. She is excited and nervous at the same time. Lots of changes coming for our girl. Changes her Mama is not ready for. My hope is that these next few years will be a happy fun experience for her.

We have lots of summer plans as our list in the previous post shows. Lots of memories to make and new experiences for us as a family.

A BETTER DAY

Today was a better day.

Thanks Jen, Rhonda, and Sue for your encouraging comments.

The girl must have gotten a good nights sleep too because she was much nicer. She even offered to get me a drink when she went out today. It could also be that our boss had a meeting this morning about attitudes and respect for each other.

Either way I am glad it was a good day.

Only 2 more work days and then we are going to Branson to see Noah's Ark with friends. Looking forward to that.

Off to bed early again tonight. We have to be up early to get Coco all beautifule for school photos tomorrow. It seems they do this earlier every year.

Night all
Pam

BACK TO SCHOOL

We have survived the first 2 days of school. Coco was so ready to back. Mostly just to see her friends. She has met most of her teachers so far and her favorite is her Math teacher Mr. Johnson. He told the class his life story of biking from Cali to Florida and hiking from Maine to Georgia. Sounds interesting.

The official school supply photo. You will notice that GLUE  is missing. Another moment of growing up, when your child grows out of glue. She also only gets one recess period at school and she hasn't even complained!

First morning of school. Smiles were hard to come by but lucky me I got one.

See told you smiles are not easy. She even looks all grown up :(

I made this chalkboard in a rush the night before the 1st day of school but couldn't find chalk anywhere so we used it this morning for the 2nd day of 5th grade.

She was rushing and wouldn't let me take the photo outside because there were kids already at the bus stop and she COULD NOT BE SEEN TAKING A PICTURE. OMG! SHE WOULD JUST DIE OF EMBARRASSMENT! Wearing a black poka dot scarf with purple plaid shorts and a Justin Beiber shirt is totally cool though!

Welcome to the tween world!

First day of school disaster: Coco was making microwave mac n cheese after school yesterday and forgot to put the water in the bowl. Our house still smells like burnt noodles. The Lampe Berger is supposed to remove smells in your home and it isn't even touching this. If you have any ideas please pass them my way.

Looking forward to a low key weekend.

WEEKEND REVIEW

Friday night after work we went out to eat at Dixie Cafe. Coco and I love it, Scott would rather eat McDonalds than Dixie but he gave in to our desires. Good man

When Coco and I were talking about our friend Darleen passing away. She had the idea that she wanted to take the money she had left over from her birthday and go make Stephanie (her bff and Darleens daughter) a build a bear for something to sleep with and a reminder of her momma. This was totally her idea and I am so proud of her for thinking of it. After eating we went to Build a Bear to make a bear. We ended up making 2 so that they would have matching ones. Except we put a heartbeat and I Love You sounds in Stephanies bear. We will be mailing it to her this week.

I had a small list of items we needed from the grocery store so we went by Walmart before going home. They had the school supplies lists out.

Coco's list was not long this year. It was kind of sad, she didn't need GLUE this year. That is another reminder that she is growing up. I love buying school supplies and it look forward to it each year with Coco. She was even excited this year. We got her backpack at Target today.

Saturday we spent lounging at home, cleaning and resting. Coco went to her friend Maggie's birthday party at the Arkansas Naturals baseball game. She didn't get home until after 11pm and waiting up for her made us think about what it will be like when she starts going out on Saturday nights. Scott and I drove into Wendys to get a burger , we got it to go and just ate in the car. We had both been working and didn't feel like getting all dressed up to go out. Even though it was just an hour we enjoyed that time talking just the 2 of us.

Today we visited a new church. Some friends invited us to hear a special speaker on Creation. We invited my sister and her family to come with us because we knew my nephew would enjoy the dinosaur part of the presentation. We ended up seeing several friends there. We ate lunch at Backyard Burger.

I came home and took a 3 hour nap while Scott and Coco went to Nana's to ride the 4wheeler. They ended up taking a nap over there too.

I have to tell you how God works so amazingly. Friday I had a conversation with a coworker that doesn't believe in God. I felt very frustrated when I got home because I felt ill equiped to discuss the science that she believes. I was so caught off guard and this is not something I have encountered before. Anyway the speaker at church today was a man from Creation International out of Atlanta. We bought a couple of books, Answers to the most common questions on Creation vs Evolution and Refuting Evolution. God knew I needed this after the conversation on Friday.

Pam

FIELD TRIP

Tuesday I had the honor of going with Coco on a field trip to Pea Ridge National Military Park. We had lots of fun. It sure gives you a new appreciation of teachers and what they deal with everyday. I was surprised that with our 2 classes that we were with only  a couple boys acted out and got in trouble. They had to stay with the teachers for the rest of the day. They were like little soldiers, lining up and going where they were told to go.

The battle of Pea Ridge between the Union and the Confederacy. The Union won :(

But it was a hard fought battle. We toured the museum and watched a movie narrarated by a few of the men that were still living at the time the movie was made.

The museum is very interactive which is great for the kiddos. Scotts family lived on the park after the civil war. They have a gun that was donated by the family but the volunteer there said it is in storage at this time. They have modernised the museum since I was there last but very informative. Scott's mother grew up on the park until she was in 7th grade ( this was before it was bought and made into a National Park). She told us stories about her Father working in his corn field and finding cannon balls, buttons, buckles etc. Back then not knowing what the property would become he just threw them away. Papa jokes with Coco and told her that Nana could them alot about the war because she stood on her porch and watched it. The war was 1862 so he was joking about her being old...

There are cannons all over the place on the park. The kids got a very cool lecture on how to work the cannon. Unfortunately they did not have enough staff to shoot the cannon. It took 6 people to make a shot happen. The cannon balls weighed about 12-15 pounds each and would shoot about 800 yards from the small cannon and about 1500 yard from the large one in the photo above. One of things I noticed from the cannons and the movie was that the ammunition used back then took time to set up for each shot. They would have to reload each time. How scary to have all that time to be a sitting duck.

This is Elkhorn Tavern that was taken over and used as a hospital during the war. Nana told us that she heard stories growing up about how the blood would drip from the floors into to the basement type area below. Amazing how far we have come since the 1800's! The house has a few pieces of period furniture inside so that was cool. Except the "feather or straw bed" was actually packing peanuts.

The view from a lookout point on the park. Wouldn't you love to wake up to that view everymorning. Beautiful. Nana says Mamie (Scotts Grandmother) got stuck up on one of these bluffs and grandpa (her boyfriend at the time) had to find a way to get her down. The lookout tower was not there then.

Wow it has been a very long time since I was on a school bus. It was cool and brought back lots of memories of riding the bus to and from school.

Coco asked Nana to join us since she lived on the park. This is her and Coco having a moment on the lookout. She really loves her!

We brought sack lunches and sat out under to big shade trees to eat. So fun! We finished 2 hours earlier than expected which was a Godsend since it was very hot and humid! Thankful that I was home and able to accompany Coco on this trip.

Blessings,

Pam

PIECES OF THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Today was the first day of 4th grade for Coco. She was so excited last night she couldn't sleep. She was ready to see all her friends.

In her first day outfit! Rockin it !

This is mostly what she did to me all morning! PLEASE STOP MOM!

In her new classroom which was actually her 1st grade classroom too! She was happy with being back in that hall. She said she loves the smell and it just made her feel good to be back there.

Their little hall passes!

Megan and Coco

Gwendolyn and Coco. Do you see that look I am getting! I think I will change her name to Groucho instead of Coco!


Cutest little backpack ever!


Some of the gillzion supplies they need for school these days!

She had a great day and has already picked out her clothes for tomorrow and yeehaw there is not a slouchy t-shirt in site! Maybe she will want to dress like a girl this year instead of a tomboy!!! I am so excited.

I have ventured into the land of facebook and I don't have a clue what I am doing. Not sure I like it just yet. I like blogging more I think.

Blessings,

Pam

MY DAY PRODUCTIVE IF NOTHING ELSE

I have had a very busy day. I had so many appointments, I used a personal day and didn't work at all.

It started here at the optometrist. Where we decided I would continue with the same contacts but wear readers for up close. Yea Me!

Then on to the DMV to renew my drivers license. Very quick and uneventful.


On to the endodontist(sp?) where luckily I didn't have to do the root canal but it is because he felt it was a waste of time and money because the tooth will not support a crown so I will have to get it pulled. I am so angry at my dentist, they started the root canal on this tooth a month ago and told me it was calcified and sent me to the endo. They shouldn't have even started the root canal knowing the tooth would not support a crown. They are just money hungry, I've decided. So now I have to find a new dentist to do the extraction. Oh and they recommended the tooth next to it get a root canal too but the endo tested it and it is perfectly healthy and normal! Do not go to Pinnacle Hills Dental they are a rip off !

I had to pick up Coco at my Mom's and since I was a little early we decided to hit target and walmart for school supplies. Buying school supplies is my favorite thing to d0! We couldn't find the list for her school so we used a few lists and merged them together. If we are missing something we can always go back. I also pick up extras for throughout the year while they are on sale. We also fill a backpack for another child so these prices are great. I was naive last year when I heard about the backpacks but I talked to our school and there are always several children on the first day that show up with nothing. That is so sad to me. So buy some extra crayons and pencils for your school or hook up with the local KLRC they are filling backpacks.

We had to make a stop here to pickup a order Scott called in.

We were in Kohls and Coco got this little friend which she buckled up in the back seat. He is nameless right now but that won't last for long. She names them all.

We made a few more stops before heading home and it ended up being a great day with lots of things accomplished and even some that weren't planned!

I have to tell you a funny story. We were standing in Walmart looking at the reading glasses in the pharmacy dept. I hear this man ask the girl behind the pharmacy counter where the vibrators are. Oh you could have heard a pin drop, everyone turned to look and it is this older man in one of the wheelchair carts. The clerk asked him to repeat himself, so he did. She must have just looked at him, but then she asked what type and he said for his muscles. I think he meant a massager! That poor little clerk was a young one and her facial expression after he took off was priceless, then all the ladies around us started laughing. I was quite exciting!

Blessings,

Pam

SCHOOLS OUT FOR THE SUMMER

It is officially summer break! Today was Coco's last day at school. She only went until noon so I took off work at 11:30 so that we could spend the afternoon together.


We went to see UP! It is the cutest movie with the best messages! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

I have never really want to be a actress but I would love to do the voice parts in movies like this. You could really get into it without anyone really seeing you. How about you, have you ever wanted to be in the movies?

We received some great news today. Coco was tested for SEEK (our schools gifted and talented) and they recommend she join. I was so excited for her, I hope she enjoys it and learns alot! She is very creative but her stick with it factor is lacking, know what I mean!!!

She is off to Mimi's tomorrow for a couple of days. Sometimes I wish her grandparents lived farther away so that she could go and spend the summers with them. I don't want to get rid of her, I just think it would be cool. I took to long in getting her in a summer camp program so she won't get to do that. This is the first year she is old enough for church camp but I am not comfortable with the arrangements that have been made this year so she will miss out on that too! :(

Do any of you watch 18 kids and counting? This is a local family that have had 18 children and the life they lead. It is a interesting show, so I hope to get to catch some of it tonight on TLC at 8pm.

Blessings,
Pam

GOING BACK IN TIME

Guess what I have been making???

Hello Laura Ingalls!

Coco is taking a field trip tomorrow to a one room school house. They encouraged the children to dress in period clothing and bring their lunches like a child would have back at that time. I made her the pillowcase dress, we had the cape and we borrowed the bonnet and the lunch pail. Doesn't she look adorable. Minus the razorback on her cheek. That came off in the shower tonight. She is going to have to wear some of my long socks and her tennis shoes but at least they are brown with a little pink. As for food that is a tough one with her recent braces. I got some popcorn chicken and potato wedges at the store tonight and we'll figure something out in the morning. I wish we would have done things like this when I was a kid. Oh maybe we did and I just don't remember it.

Scott just told me to make me a dress like that and he would be the Indian that finds the lost little wagon train girl!!!!!!!!!!! He's a goofball.

Blessings,

Pam

PROUD PARENTS

Please forgive me for boasting, but I just can't help it!

I had parent/teacher conferences today. Coco's test scores show she is at a 7th grade level in math and 5th grade reading level and she is only in 3rd grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She has the best teacher this year! She gets lots of praise and I think that has really helped her to push herself to do more and more. Her teacher also brags on her creativity!

After we left, we started talking about the movie Twilight and whether or not it is PG13 or R! I was explaining what the R stood for and then she pipes up and says I am on a 7th grade level, I'm not a kid anymore. Like that was going to sway my decision about her watching that movie.

I sure hope she doesn't come out tomorrow morning with a bra and red lipstick!!!! Lord help me.

Sometimes it might be better if the child doesn't go to the parent/teacher meetings.......

Blessings from one proud Mama,
Pam

PLEASE ALLOW ME TO BOAST

I am so proud of our girl! We went to the awards assembly at school today. Miss Coco received the Principals Award along with all A's & B's for the first 2 quarters of the year. The Principal Award is given to the student for character, attitude, responsibility and all around good citizen of the school. She was chosen by all of the 3rd grade teachers. This award is given to 1 girl and 1 boy out of the entire grade. What a honor for our girl. Below are a couple of photos I finally got her to stand still for.

We took her to McD's afterwards for a snack and then she went home with Mimi. Scott told me he was more proud of the principal award than the all A's and B's. He said he felt sorry for all the other parents if Coco was the one that got that award. Meaning the other kids must be really a chore since our girl is sometimes a real pill!

Proud Mama today!
Tomorrow I have some hilarious photos of her and a prom dress!!!!!!!!!

Blessings,
Pam

FOOTBALL FRENZY

Last week Coco got to cheer/dance at the high school game. She went to cheer clinic all week and each class performed at half time. Watching all those kindergartners trying to shake their hips was so cute. Coco still has problems, she moves her whole body when she trys to shake it.

I am taking a photo class and learning how to use the shutter speed and aperture settings so these photos aren't the best.

Caught some movement in this photo.
This is one is too blurry but you can see her biting her tongue. My daddy always bit his tongue when he concentrated and Coco got that trait from him.
This is my 97th post. I will have to start working on a giveaway for my 100th, so come back. I have some ideas for the giveaway.

TGIF tomorrow. I am so ready for the weekend!

Blessings,
Pam

First Day of School ~ Eatin Her Dust

The first day of school. Coco is back to class.

Doesn't she look so excited. Well I was excited enough for both of us! I just love it!


I even got the hand! That was for taking pictures.

She hit this corner going about 40mph.

I guess I had nothing to worry about, she is not going to be lonely and without anyone to play with. So I ate her dust as visions of monkey bars, swings and friends danced in her head!

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to record all the special moments of the first day of school.

This was at 5:30pm today, after a long day of learning and monkey bars!

I took off early to meet her at home after school and we sat on the couch while she gave me the rundown of her day. I gave her a foot rub for her sore feet from tennis shoes after not wearing anything but flip flops for 3 months.

She liked her teacher, she was so nice that everyone listened when she was talking. Sounds good to me.

The most exciting thing of the day was getting a locker! WOW I didn't get a locker until Jr. High!

Oh and her boyfriend from last year is still her boyfriend because ummm

SHE THREATENED HIM! Way to go baby, way to go.

I think it's going to be a good year!

Blessings,

Pam