Ball Game

Don brought home tickets to a ball game from work. This was a new experience for Rebekah and myself but Don took the lead and showed us how it was done.

Turns out the Paw Patrol was doing meet and greet. We got in line and waited. And waited. True love of a parent. The line was quite long. While in the line Don explained the field to Rebekah. 

After much waiting we finally got close to meeting the pups.

The line was so long that when Rebekah got her turn I quickly stepped to the side and recorded her entrance. Thinking she was done I turned it off right as she was giving Sky a big hug. Missed it! Ah well.

Rebekah and the pups.

We walked around and found our seats. Happy campers.

Don went and got us the traditional ball park hot dogs and we watched the game. It was nice, however I even more so enjoyed watching moments like this:

And this:

We left right after the 7th inning, wanting to beat traffic and get home at a relatively decent hour. Before we were out of the park I had to get one more picture. And yes, Don got that pink cotton candy for Rebekah. Daddy sure loves his little girl. And that little girl sure has daddy wrapped around her finger. 

First Few Days

The first few days of the new school year are kind of a blur. All I really have is the pictures I took to tell me what we did. So, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

This was Sunday at church. Kind of fun to see all the kids interested. Of course, they are surrounding an iPad... Must sugar and screens always be the answer? Ah well.

We were given the following as a white elephant gift but I was actually very excited about it. The other day I noticed the dryer was not working as well as it should so I cleaned it out. Absolutely horrified at how much lint came out! Yay for white elephants!

Rebekah's back in school and so she decided Don and I needed some education too. She wrote this worksheet for us. Mine was the red side. Don has yet to complete his. I assume his was so difficult because he is in finance and works with numbers all day.

Rebekah has been asking for different hairstyles and asks me to photo the final product so she can give her okay before she goes out in public.

More ice skating.

We had an activity days pool party.

She actually jumped off the diving board. This was huge for her!

We've been watching the fox family run around this summer. He was tormenting the geese so I tried to get a picture. I need a better zoom but he's there in the black circle. 

The floor FINALLY was completed. Go back to January Misc blog and scroll down. It's been tile-less since then. So so SO happy to have it done.

Back in January when they were fixing the floor they poked a hole in the shower. They started to repair it (it doesn't look good right now but I'm trying to be hopeful) but haven't finished yet. We're still waiting. It's been 2 weeks. Why do things take so long in Columbus...?

I told Rebekah the legos needed some maintenance. She stared with the lego people. Looks like she is organizing her minions...

Play time wouldn't be the same without dress up time.

First Day of 2nd Grade

The first day of 2nd grade. Rebekah had to get the outfit just right. And the hair of course.

One of my goals this year is not to be running into the school one minute before the bell rings. We were off to a great start so I stopped her for a picture before we left. "V" for victory and "2" for 2nd grade.

I let her choose a new back pack. This year she wanted a space theme and chose a nebula print. Space and princesses. That about sums things up.

We got through the crazy massive school traffic and got her to the door. I snapped one more hoping to get Rebekah walking in. She turned around and I got her face but because she turned around she didn't make it inside the door before it closed on her. So I ran up to let her in. And thus started the day.

I was at school early to pick her up, and parked in the parking lot so I wouldn't have to wait in the long car line. She finally came out but was not looking as stoic. Tears started to flow as soon as we were steps away from the school. She told me she didn't see any of her friends (their 2nd / 3rd grade mixed class stays with the 3rd grade recess and lunch schedule) and she wasn't sure about Mr. Bray... etc and so on.

I got her in the car and suggested ice cream but she cried, "I just want to go home...." However, she changed her mind and I forced a DQ Dilly Bar on her as we drove home. When we got home she cried for a good hour.

I finally was able to look in her back back and all the school supplies she brought to school was still in her back pack. I asked her about it and she said she didn't know. I ended up writing an email to her teacher asking about that as well as if they will always be in the 3rd grade schedule. I mentioned my concern: Rebekah hates school. Kindergarten was rough because of the move and her tonsil surgery. She finally relaxed into 1st grade and made friends somewhere in February / March. Being in the 3rd grade system kind of feels like we moved again and I'm concerned all the instability is adding to her dislike of school.

Mr. Bray wrote back. Apparently he did tell the kids to unpack their school supplies but I think Rebekah was overwhelmed with the newness of everything and went deer in the headlights. Also, he mentioned they would be doing recess with the 2nd graders on select Fridays. I suppose that makes me feel somewhat better.

Day two was hard to get her out as well, but she did it and I took one more picture hoping it would be a new start. She wasn't convinced but went along with it.

The second day was better. Third was better too. She found out she has a birthday bud (a 3rd grader has the same birthday as Rebekah). She also started making more friends. By the 4th day Rebekah left school saying, "I love Mr. Bray. I think he's the best teacher I've had yet." Day 5 she walked out singing "Under the Sea" with the man. So I'm pretty thrilled with the change.

I've also heard from some of her other friends in another teacher's class who apparently yells a lot. Rebekah wanted that teacher. She had heard that she was strict. Strict is a good thing. Yelling is not. I'm glad that Rebekah is not with someone who yells to get her point across. There are better ways.

So, she's with a teacher that doesn't have to yell to maintain classroom management. She's in a split class where hopefully she can learn 3rd grade maturity and 3rd grade skills. Maybe she won't be so board and start to enjoy school. One can only hope. Excited to see what the year brings!

Back to School Eve

The day before school starts. We were full of anxiety and emotion. During my early morning lawn mowing I noticed they were putting the roof on the new house at the end of the street. When I was done I took Rebekah out to watch. It's quite a fascinating process.

We got dressed and went for an early lunch date with dad. Rebekah put a cute little bow in her hair. Love it!

Once there, snuggling ensued.

After lunch we made a quick trip to the library and found Miss Teresa and Ainsley there. Rebekah soon found out that she was not in Ainsley's class and Ainsley had Mrs. Stevens who Rebekah was hoping to get. She was quite bummed.

We soon left and headed over to the school to find out who Rebekah had. It was Mr. Bray. A "stinkin' BOY." She was not happy and tears flowed. "None" of her friends were in the class with her. And it was a split class: half 3rd graders, half 2nd. So many scary things.

We got her home and the tears continued to flow. But God helps out: A friend's sitter didn't show up and the whole crowd came to our house to play. Yay! Rebekah's mind was distracted from her impeding doom.

She even made this giraffe!

But then they left again and we had to face reality.

With all the trauma I ended up getting her to ice skating a half hour early. But on the bright side it was a distraction from her impeding doom....

She met a nice little boy who would be in her class.

She found her confidence and she gained speed.

My little cutie.

After the lesson she skated off to play.

The skating teachers were in rare form and brought out bubbles. The kids loved it!

Once back at home we got ready for back to school night. Rebekah tried out a new hair style.

Dad came home and we got in the car to go to the school. Rebekah started out strong.

Once in the class she found her seat. She was happily surprised with a desk. She thought that only Mrs. Stevens class got desks.

Rebekah meeting Mr. Bray. Think she's asking something important here like, "what's our lunch line order...?"

We got home and I did the yearly interview. 

Then we got ready for bed and got the yearly father's blessing. I asked for the yearly daddy daughter picture and got this:

So I told Rebekah to look less scared and got this.

Grade 2, here she comes! 

Last Week of Summer

We spend the last week of summer doing things around the community. We even did Artistic Tuesday at the library. Rebekah wanted me to join in (lately I never know; sometimes she wants me to join, sometimes it's independent day) and so we doodled away.

Rebekah's crown.

Doodles of the family.

A giant cupcake that says "We Love Grammy."

Don has been interested in the piano lately and asked me to teach him. Works out great for Rebekah to see him practicing and making progress. The other day I caught the tail end of this bit of happiness:

The Saturday before school started we went to the local apple orchard and bought apples, peaches, and some veggies. Oh, and strawberry ice cream.

Rebekah got a letter from grandma Stirland.

She made herself a lego home computer. Love the set up.

She had her last lesson with Mr. Gary. That man taught her more in 5 lessons what she learned in the last two sessions. It's seriously all about the teacher.

And finally, she drew this bunny. Quite the little artist!

Last Week of Swim

Our last week of swim marathoning. I have to admit I was so ready for it to end. Love Goldfish, love that she's learning, love spending time with grammy, and love meeting up with friends but by the time Thursday evening rolls around and we make it home I'm exhausted!

This was our last week so we planned some time with Miss Sarah and family. I suggested we bring her scooter. Rebekah decided we needed to take her bike. It wasn't easy but we got it in there.

We headed up to swim first, having planned some play time with an old swim friend. However, the failed to show (they were in the middle of a move and were starting school the next day so I kind of figured before we got there). Rebekah made the most of it by playing with the little people.

We cleaned up and ate a good lunch then headed out to see our friends.

Such good times with this family! Knowing it was our last time for a while I made them do a little photo shoot:

At the end I realized I had none of Miss Sarah and so we pretended we were in our 20's and did a selfie.

We headed to grammy's and picked up dinner on the way. Turns out grammy wasn't feeling well. So we tucked her in for the night and headed to our last swim team.

Her final "kitty" jump:

Next morning we went for gas and stopped by Jack's donuts. More of a chain but still pretty good. Then we were lazy until time to head to Rebekah's last lesson.

Sit dive and underwater streamline:

Freestyle with flip turn:

Then we stayed for open swim. Rebekah made a new friend.

On our way out we got one more picture of Rebekah's growth wall. Wow!

This time we headed back towards grammy's. We brought her lunch and then grammy felt up to painting with Rebekah so they got out her birthday present. Turned out nice.

I had promised Rebekah a snow cone before the summer ended. Since this was our last trip up today would be the day. She however was in the middle of painting and could not be talked into going with me and since I'm basically just the delivery man I went myself. Only after I got the snow cones did I realize my problem: new car, sugary-colored ice, hot hot hot day, and only two hands. If I only had one I could drive one handed with relative ease but I got two hoping that grammy would have some and it would help her throat feel better. So I put them in the drink holders and hoped for the best.

All was well and the new car stayed clean. Yay!

But apparently it made her quite cold....

After snow cones we headed back home arriving much later than usual but still before Don made it home. It was a great summer swim! So glad we did it!