Somebody Stop Time PLEASE!!!

How in the world has time flown by this fast?  How is my sweet little 10 month old baby that could barely sit up turned 5 & is ready for school? How in the world do I stop time???????????  This was our 1st week of school here.  (I know I know... we start EARLY right?  We are supposed to have our last full day of school on May 31st -- so I don't mind if we can get out this early, however, I am told,  they have a bad habit of changing the last day..... here's hoping NOT!)

Our girly with her special "1st day of school" gift.  She's been begging for a "jammie dress".  She mostly has the shorts/pants w/ shirts -- well I found this one that came with a special jammie dress for Ling too!  She was thrilled -- we got BIG hugs for this one!  We headed off to bed a little before 8pm since we have to be up by 7am and at school around 8am.  WOW!  School starts so early!!

She requested chocolate-chip pancakes & strawberries for her 1st day of school breakfast!  NO PROBLEM!  I actually LOVE them too. (She claimed Ling enjoyed them as well!)

I have these exact pictures from her 2 years of pre-school. (Maybe I should post a comparison)  It's amazing how much taller/older she looks in each photo.  And ... p.s. she asked to dress Ling for the school day and travel with us in the van as well.  Mike and I made sure that she was in the van when we went to pick her up as well!!!

Doesn't she look SOOOOO small in the BIG hallway?

Our girl all ready for school.  She actually did quite well.  She was a little shy at first - grabbed my hand.  However, when the teacher came to show her where to put her things, she took her hand and said goodbye.  That was it.  No tears, no whines, no I LOVE YOU!!  Well -- from her that is.... Me?  All three!!!  Mike then took me to to Starbucks after dropping her off so I could cry in my coffee!  What a good husband I have!  He took the 1st day of school off work.  Part to take care of me ... and 2nd he was a little "misty" too and didn't want to miss that 1st day.  When we went to pic her up she was NON-STOP talking!!  She kept saying "and mommy, guess what?" ... she didn't take a breath for about an hour.  As much as I DO NOT want her to be in school all day & away from me, I am SO HAPPY that she's enjoying her days at school.

A Brave New World...

I'm Over the last 2 summers our daughter has made a HUGE progression in her attempt to learn how to swim.  She has always refused swim-lessons, so we have tried to teach her ourselves.  She has done quite well.  She has a cousin who is also 5 yr old and on the swim team & very very confident in the water, so that has helped to have someone to aspire to!  Cousin Naomi also LOVES to jump off the diving board.  Our little one has braved the board as far as standing on the edge of the board, however the poor girl starts to shake & whine & beg to get down.  Last week Mike promised to get our girl a special ice-cream treat - that she wouldn't even had to share mind you - and it still made her stand on the edge saying "I want ice-cream, but I don't wanna jump!".  So, she got down.  Then right behind her came 2 little girls.  I decided to ask their age.  The 1st girl said "I am 7!" - then proceeded to jump.  It didn't even make our girly flinch.  The 2nd little girl came next - I said "And how old are you?"  She proudly yelled "I'm 5!" as she ran off the diving board.  Anne Marie looked at me and said w/ a disgust in her voice "Ok, then, FINE! I'll jump." 

Let me tell you --- she has NEVER looked back!!!!  This is the fun that ensued after.............

(what a little friendly competition won't do for ya I guess!)