Happy Birthday to Caeden!!!

In all the excitement of Kai's first day of school, one of the most EXCITING parts of the day got all turned up in the mix--CAEDEN'S BIRTHDAY!!!!  My Noodle turned 9 years old on August 18, and she was SOOOO excited.   Monday night I was on the phone at 9pm with her teacher (sorry, Mrs. Briggs)  trying to establish a good time for me to bring cupcakes and goodie bags to her school.  I was able to get her the FLYEST High School Musical Locker cupcakes (big ups to Publix for taking the 9pm order and having it ready at 8am!), and her daddy went and got the goods for the goodie bags!!!  It all pulled together, and the little girl had a fantastic birthday.  What made it even better was that Tuesday was picture day at school, and she was able to wear her own clothes to school--instead of a uniform--ON her birthday!!!  After school, we went home where she was greeted by her birthday present--a trampoline!!!  She couldn't run outside fast enough to jump on it (yes, in her pretty skirt).

The Birthday Girl with her High School Musical pull apart cupcakes/cake at school.

Caeden's High School Musical Pull Apart Cake.

Caeden and Mrs. Briggs, her fourth grade teacher.

This is Caeden's "board" birthday card.

Caeden and Mommie on her Birthay at School.

I loved this poster in Caeden's classroom.

Noodle's cake was FINGER LICKING GOOD!!!!

Caeden helping Kai get on her (Caeden's) birthday present.  She has been jumping like a jumping bean since her birthday!!

Caeden LOVED her birthday present!  Kai wasn't/isn't so sure about it!!!

After the trampoline jumping extravaganza, we headed to Caeden's favorite restaurant--Olive Garden.  Of course the staff came and sang "Happy Birthday" to her, and she was OVER THE MOON.  Unfortunately she won't be able to have a traditional birthday party, because she's going to be in soccer tournaments beginning this weekend until November!!!!! 

Nonetheless, she had a GREAT birthday, and I'm so happy for her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOODLE!!!  LOVE YOU!!!!

School Daze!!!!

I've been told about a hundred times in the past year that my youngest baby, Kai, is way to smart to not be in school.  Last August I tried to put her in school, but the closer and closer it got to the first day I just couldn't do it.  This year I decided I was doing her a severe injustice by keeping her home with me.  While we try to teach her stuff during the day, none of us is "trained" to teach 2 1/2 year olds, and therefore we KNOW there are things we are missing!  The decision to enroll her in a three day, half day program was EXCRUCIATING, and taking her to school was no less painful.

We are now on day three of the school year, and both Kai and I have cried EVERY day when I drop her off.  I do good to wait until I'm out of the classroom, but I just can't seem to hold it together.  I feel like the WORST mother, ever, for leaving her while she's crying, but I know I have to leave to give her the opportunity to bond with and get to trust her teachers (who, by the way, have been AMAZING).  Ms. Leann took pictures of Kai yesterday once I had left, and she was smiling and laughing in all of the shots, so I at least have that little bit of comfort.  Check out the wee one on the first day of school....and pray that it gets better for us!!!

Here's the big girl in her classroom.  Yes, I know her teeshirt was too big, but it was the shirt they wanted EVERYONE to wear. I wouldn't send her to school raggedy!!!

Here she is about to walk into the school.  Notice the look of indecison on her face.  Doesn't she look like a big girl, though???

Before we left home to head to the school.
Oh, happiness!  She was just making her way down the stairs to get ready for her first day!
Still coming down the stairs....Oh, what the day did hold!

She did make it through the day, and when I went to pick her up she said she was going back.  Hopefully things will make a turn for the better, and SOON!!!!  Meanwhile, I felt like the worst mom, EVER, because Kai's first day of school just happened fall on Caeden's birthday....  Never fear, I pulled it together to perform my "Mommie" duties by taking cupcakes and goodie bags to the school.  Wanna hear about it??  Stay tuned!!!