kindergarten day one down....

.....we survived....all of us :) audrey started off the day with a bang ~ falling out of the bed....i just had to laugh.....kindergarten here we come! she was still just as excited this morning as she has been all.summer.long....i feel like we have been talking about & preparing for this day all summer....and it is finally here...

when choosing her outfit yesterday she had one request.....her favorite color ~ yellow.....now, i'm not one to wear yellow or really even pick it for the kids.....but this wasn't about me....audrey wanted yellow and it was her school day....so we found this adorable skirt and she was quite pleased :)

packed up ready to go!! of course, being the ocd *freakishly always on-time* person i am, we were early.....we chilled out in the car, talked about the day & then set off for a few more pics....

audrey caroline

first day of kindergarten

august 12, 2009

we were so excited to see kylie before we went in.....more photo ops & then off they went....quite brave!!

they finally had to let go & depart to the different sides of the hall......it's ok ~ they get to see each other in the afternoons.....kylie's mom has so graciously offered to pick-up audrey on the days i work..... whew, how awesome is that!! the little ladies get to carpool together in the afternoon with another sweetie, emma....lots of fun :)

Mrs. Rary & Audrey

we are very, very proud of our sweet girl.....she did great this morning!! i know she is going to love school.....she is like my little sponge, soaking up everything she can.....

i love this pic.....daddy giving some last minute instructions!! knowing him it was probably something like...."see that boy over there, keep away." or "quickly, let's review - what's 4 + 2?" i love knowing that if ever needed brett is literally just several feet away in the middle school.....not that there would be a discipline issue ~ that'll be grant!!!

waiting to go in.....ready to learn!!!

when i picked her up at kylie's house her mom had the most adorable apple cookies for the girls....so sweet!! i know she is going to be in good hands when i'm not there :) and then audrey went to the car & found these in her seat.....and they're her favorite color!! she has been quite loved today and she deserves it.....we are extremely proud of her :)

thought i would throw in a pic of big man.....ya know, it's been awhile since he's been in a post.....plus, just look at that face!!! love it :) by the way.....he is doing great & adjusting wonderfully at his school too!

well here we are.....our first child in school....let good times roll!!

and so it begins...

....with a sneak peek today.....this morning was meet the teacher.....excitement, nervousness, happiness were all the emotions this morning....and that was just me!!! audrey is beyond ready for kindergarten....she would have stayed all day if she could....she was so excited!

Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park

outside audrey's classroom....
audrey & mrs. rary.....her teacher.....we have heard wonderful things about her today!

cutest little bag of goodies for the kids....

checking out EVERYTHING!

and directly across the hall is her friend kylie......yeah!! finding their names on the class rosters....

we had to go check out the library....

my little bookworm loved the two-story library!the girls were so precious....they told us they were going to hold hands forever & never let go....cute!! but gonna be a long stretch across that hall :)

after the school stuff was done we took the girls for pizza ~ yum-o! the girls were able to make their own pizza....so much fun!

after baths were done, teeth brushed & bags packed we settled in for a story.....the night before kindergarten....audrey wanted her nails painted today to match her outfit for tomorrow.....pink with yellow polka dots....a "mommy mani/pedi" :)

my sweet baby girl....the night before....my . sweet . baby . girl..... MY.SWEET.BABY.GIRL.... wow, still dealing with that....

this is it....the beginning of some real educating ....and before i know it, she will be starting her senior year.....yikes!!! i really can't believe it is here....i honestly think i am more nervous than she is.....i still have a million questions not answered ~ that's another story ~ and i am still worried about this, that & everything in between.....ugh!

breathe, woman, breathe....this is no big deal....she has been in daycare/pre-school since she was 4 months....you never get anxious or worried...but this is different.....tonight i sat in my very first pto meeting.....ummm, yeah, that was interesting...so many firsts....so many moments to treasure......seriously people, when grant starts kindergarten you may just have to commit me!!!

stay tuned for pics tomorrow night from the First Day of Kindergarten!!!!

bombshells...

Birmingham Bombshells' Presents....

A Picture of Health

Ovarian Cancer Benefit

here we are......yonna, myself & andrea.....all nurses from brookwood....all out to support ovarian cancer research and our docs.....we had a great time last thursday night! it was quite different for me to be so, so dressed up....but it was fun! i never get to act so girly :)
birmingham bombshells put on the event.....we were supposed to dress like 1940's bombshells....well, first off - i do not have a "bombshell" body ~ thank goodness for a good bra. second, i had a bit of a hair issue......seriously, pin curls & naturally curly hair do not agree with each other!! i looked more like a pageant girl than a bombshell.....whatever, we had fun!
our wind blown look on the rooftop of redmont hotel....we were praying for it to stop drizzling & not pour on us! maybe we should have been charlie's angels instead!!
by this point the hair was a frizz ball & had to go back....yikes!......all in all we had a blast! i told my mom....you can dress me up, but not too sure if you can or should take me out :)


we were supporting a great cause, ovarian cancer research, and that was all that mattered....ladies, bear with me, but i must say....this is the silent killer & we all need to be aware of our bodies and keep ourselves in check......click for more info.....i love you all too much !!

eggplants, and such....

so last night for dinner i was quite, quite ambitious....Eggplant Parmesan: Parmigiana di Melanzane....nice, huh?!? i absolutely LOVE eggplant cooked like this....and the eggplants from my trip to pepper place were perfect....along with my basil & "wanda" cheese, it is like a softer asiago..... yum-o!! below are pics of my culinary adventure.... not very often do i "brag" or *pat myself on the back*, but wow this was good :)

i didn't follow a recipe....but if you would like one click here......also, eggplant parmesan is not to be confused with eggplant parmigiana...it is much more of a layered casserole....though eggplant parmesan resembles chicken parmigiana much more....confusing italians!!! my mom & i had this discussion on saturday :)

also yesterday.....while the kids were at the park with their daddy.....i turned all that beautiful pepper place basil into pesto......basil, pine nuts, wanda (asiago) cheese, garlic & olive oil....yummy, yummy to my tummy :) i'm thinking either more pasta or chicken pesto pizza later this week....

pears....

well, here we are again with our pear tree......you all have heard me mention this tree before & again.....but, we aren't charging this year & we are overwhelmed with pears....we've had at least 3 people knock on the door for permission to pick....i could care less, take them all!....but it is nice they asked....i don't care for pears, kinda ironic right?! though i don't eat them i do enjoy picking them & sharing them with others....which is exactly what we did today....after a great morning at church (finally after a month away!) and lunch at full moon, we got to picking! i am taking these to work in the morning to share....i have been told that they are great for preserving, making pies/tarts & cooking with....i'll take their word for it :)

just a saturday....

i love traveling....i love spending time with friends & family far and near....i love being busy.....but i also really love having absolutely nothing i HAVE to do on a saturday....and lucky for me this was one of those days....

my mom is up this weekend so we got up bright & early and headed out to pepper place market.....after a brief interlude in the car to wait out some morning rain showers, we had a wonderful time poking around.....coffee & chocolate croissants started our adventure....yum-0! this weeks finds are below.....that big ol' bunch of basil is just begging to be turned into pesto :)

we had a wonderful flower arrangement put together for our graduate.....the flowers are just gorgeous!

just being silly around the house....

then we headed out to sikes for some new shoes for the kiddos......chicken salad & fruit at o'carrs....carousel rides.....shoes for mommy & grams....playing at the house.....roast, mashed potatoes & green beans for supper.......great day!!