starting school, an ice cream social, & decorating cupcakes

First day of 3rd grade at her new school JT Manning.

This girl has gone from school in Africa, to home-school, to Chicago Public Schools, to a new public school. She has been through so much change but also has a gift to make friends quickly.  There were tears every day the first week but she now reports that she has lots of friends and her teacher never stops smiling.

First day of Evy's second year of preschool.

This is Miss Robin her teacher at the YMCA.  Miss Evy is going 3 days a week this year and each Wednesday she gets to take swimming lessons! She cried about going to school the first day but bounded into the car after and exclaimed "I love my new school!"

The first day of school for Anni the girls had a surprise for them when we got home and they were so excited. It was fun to see how pumped they were to get special themed treats.

Our prayer pencils! We prayed for each one and that God would guide, protect, nurture, and be with the girls as they go to school this year.


The last night of Crusin' in downtown Westmont...gotta love Evy's poses.

My mom and brother got us an aweosme, crazy big playset for our backyard!! Consider that an invite to come over and play!



Last week Annikah invited a little boy she saw riding his bike in the alley over to play on our playset and I soon met his mother who is our next door neighbor! We headed to the Back to School Ice Cream Social together.

sack races


the fire department let the kids tour their trucks




The firemen opened up the hoses and let the kids run in the street in front of the school!

It was crazy awesome!

Annikah even got a turn to use the hose!

At the end of last school year a friend had a cupcake party and my girls loved the idea.  When they were so sad about our move they suggested we have a party to make friends and I thought it was brilliant! So we had our own cupcake decorating party and invited all the girls and their parents from Anni and Evy's classes.  It was great to meet the girls and parents and make sure they know our home is always open.It was messy, loud, and fabulous chaos!






Grateful we have been busy and making new friends because this transition is tough!! We are trying to decorate our way through.
The beginning of the school year is the stuff of new starts and for us this is one of many new beginnings.
Happy start of school.