1st Day of School

Monday was our first day of homeschool.  We started the day with check-ups for Madeline and Ella, came home for pictures and treats, then jumped right into our school books.

The girls this year

The girls last year

They each picked out their favorite shoes and bow/headband for the pictures.  I am trying to let go and not worry so much about what they look like.....it is hard!

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Rose's First Grade Favorites:

Favorite Book:  Nancy Drew

Favorite Activity:  Going to the pool

Favorite Song:  Best Song Ever (One Direction)

Favorite TV show:  Strawberry Shortcake

Favorite Movie: Wreck It Ralph

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Dessert:  Gum

Favorite Toy:  Sparkle Bear

Favorite Saint:  St. Rose

Favorite Clothes:  Beautiful Dresses & high heels

Favorite Thing to do with Sisters:  Color

Ava's Kindergarten Favorites:

Favorite Book:  Cinderella

Favorite Activity:  Playing with my baby

Favorite Song:  Best Song Ever (One Direction)

Favorite TV show:  Wild Kratts

Favorite Movie:  Cinderella

Favorite Food:  Pizza

Favorite Dessert:  Gum

Favorite Toy:  Baby doll

Favorite Saint:  St. Ava

Favorite Clothes:  Rainbow skirt and matching rainbow wedges

Favorite Thing to do with Sisters:  Playing soccer outside

Madeline and her cowboy boots!

Not sure what the leg was for.  I just told her to pose.

Madeline's Preschool Favorites:

Favorite Book:  Dora and the Stuck Truck

Favorite Activity:  Having tea parties

Favorite Song:  Party in the USA

Favorite TV show:  Sofia the First

Favorite Movie:  Mulan

Favorite Food:  Macaroni

Favorite Dessert:  Cake

Favorite Toy:  Dress-up clothes

Favorite Saint:  St. Madeline

Favorite Clothes:  Pink sparkly shirt and cowboy boots

Favorite Thing to do with Sisters:  Play princesses

Ella wanted her picture taken too, of course.  This is the best I got :)

Our Schoolroom

The little girls' table and the reading corner

First Day of School treats 

(idea from Shower of Roses blog)

1st Day of school activity: draw a picture of yourself

I am a child of God lesson

On Tuesday, Rose had her first day of school at New Song Academy, where she will be going to school all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  She could hardly contain her excitement.  Paul came with us to drive her to school. She jumped out of the van so fast, I had to remind her to give me a hug before she left.

Rose with her teacher, Mrs. Ernspiker

Rose's seat

Her classroom...one of the biggest in the school

Carpool line at school

She spotted me!

When I asked her how the first day was, she said, "It was awesome!"  She had so much to tell me.  There are two other girls in her class, who are now her new best friends, and 7 boys, none of which she knew the names of. :)  She said everyone stayed on green all day (green=good), but she said the boys should have been on yellow (yellow=ok and red=not so good).  She got to be the teacher helper and they got to have show and tell at the end of the day.  She said, "I wish I went to school everyday!"

A paper Rose brought home from school. Friends are SO important to Rose,
it surprised me that she picked to draw her sister.  It was very sweet.

We had a great first week of school!  

Now we pray that the rest of the year is just as good!

St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Friday Funnies

Rose:
"My talents are singing and getting mad." I told her I didn't think getting
mad qualified as a talent and she said, "I know...but I am good at it."

Ava:
When she was drinking her milk, she said, "pretend this is white beer."

I especially love Ava's expression in this one

Madeline:
She was watching me as I was using the mixer and said, "You're freaking me out with that thing!"

Ella:
I was watching me clean the bathroom the other day when Ella walked in, looked around and said, "Good job, Mom!"

HAPPY Friday!

Tea Time

Ever since I heard there was a tea parlor and boutique near our house, I have been dying to check it out.  This summer, I found an awesome deal on Groupon, so I took my sisters, Olivia and Madeline, there for some big girl tea time.

The place was A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E!  Everything was so dainty and girlie.  The whole room was pink with flowers, lace, and fancy chandeliers.  Pretty prints of little girls and teapots in antique gold frames lined the walls.  It was the perfect quaint setting for a tea party.

My baby sister, Madeline, and I...can you tell we are 15 years apart?!

I want a chandelier like this in my house.  Gorgeous!

They had a dress-up station with hats, scarves, furs, gloves, jewelry.  

We had such a ball playing dress-up!

Perfect portrait pose, don't you think?

Hats galore!

A little pirate looking in this one

You can call me ma'dam

I've always wanted to wear a fascinator like Princess Kate

Madeline in her scarf with the fur

We couldn't stop posing...too much fun!

After we were all dolled up, they brought out a pot of tea for each of us filled with the tea of our choice.  There were over 30 different teas to choose from and the pots were bottomless, so we could try as many kinds as we liked.

Beautiful tea cups and saucers and one of the cute polka dot teapot covers

One side of the tea menu

We tried SO many delicious teas: green almond tea, creme brule, apple pie, strawberry fields, tropical paradise, and a Mad Hatter's tea (which had a jellybean in it).  The green almond was my favorite.....even the smell of it was heavenly.

We felt very British having tea time in our fancy accessories.  So British, that we felt the need to only speak to each other in an English accent.  Luckily no one else was around to witness our role-playing :)

Olivia sporting the official 'tea pouring' face

Pinkies up!

We were served crumpits on a fancy 2-tiered tea tray.  Ok, not really crumpits, but scones, cucumber sandwiches, pistachio cupcakes, chicken salad biscuits, and other dainty tea time snacks.

Fancy tea tray

They brought out little cow creamers.  They were so cute, we decided they needed names:
Bessie, Betty Sue, & Betty Lou

The cow spits the creamer into your cup :)

Olivia and I...only 11 years apart :)

Complete with dainty silverware

They also had a room for little girls' birthday parties and another tea room decorated in blue and black.

Madeline in the birthday chair

Adorable little windows with flower boxes

Another tea room...the blue room

Such an adorable place!  I can't wait to take my girls here when they are older.  I may have to make it annual tradition to go here with my sisters, except next time Amanda has to come!.