Sydney's Turn....

My baby is in KINDERGARTEN... WOW!
It's so hard to believe, the weird part is, she is almost 6.
It's having that "late" birthday. She is older than most of her friends, but they are all starting Kindergarten the same year! I am ok with it! I am sure in HS she will be too, when she will be driving before all of her friends! Uh, I can't think that far away, what was I thinking?
Sydney was so excited for school, it was finally her turn to go! She did the preschool thing, but this was different. Now she could ride the bus like her big sister. She also wanted to ride the bus on her first day! So, I told her I would meet her there, like I did for Hailey. Hailey said she would take her to class! It was the sweetest thing.... when they both walked in the double doors, I was waiting with camera, and they were HOLDING HANDS!
I am pretty sure, even now, a month into school, Hailey still drops her off everyday!
I love it when they get along! They are both so protective of each other! Makes me smile! Once inside the classroom, they were able to choose any table to sit at! Of course Sydney chose the table with the girls and the Playdoh! I stayed long enough to do the Pledge of Allegiance! Then I thought it was time to go, I didn't want to linger too long! I picked her up after school, poor thing.... she was so tired! It's hard work to learn! Overall, she loves school! Then there is me, I am already, tired of packing cold lunch for two! Oh well, it's the price to pay for FREEDOM! I'll take it!

First Day of School - Fall 2007

WOW, is all I can say! I can't believe Hailey is already in 2nd grade! And the work that she is bringing home. It's like I am going to school all over again! Hopefully, I can keep up and help her with the homework! Poor Sydney, she couldn't go to school yet! Kindergarten didn't start for another week. She went back in the house, with Daddy while I drove to school and met Hailey in her classroom! I asked her, and she wanted to take the bus, on the first day.... so I just followed in my car. If you click on the picture, you can see, the bus is WAY EMPTY! Most parents took their kids to school that day! We are almost the last stop too!
Hailey was very excited to be in her class. She saw lots of her friends. I was doing my normal mom thing, by taking pictures, and she was NOT wanting to pose, saying, "Mooooom" in that voice that means, STOP taking pictures, you are embarrassing me! I was hear broken. I told her just a few more, and I would leave her alone! What is 3rd going to be like? Will she still want me to come to school? Oh dear, I can't even think about that right now! I left class just a few minutes before 9am and drove to Eagle River.... it was time for YOGA!

Summer at the AK Zoo

The Alaska Zoo, it's one of our favorite places to go in the summer here in AK! I must admit, it's not the fanciest zoo, but the kids love it and it's great exercise to walk around! We buy an unlimited zoo pass, so to us it's worth the money! We had to see Maggie again, the elephant! It's the TOP animal we love to see! Soon, before winter, Maggie is being moved, possibly CA! She fell, and health wise they thought it would best to move her. Honestly though, once she is moved, I don't think she will the same again! Most animals don't do well during travel! The one good thing that may help her is, if she goes to CA, she will be in a place where there will be other elephants (4 and all African like her)! Maggie will always hold a special place in our heart.... we have lots of pictures of her!
Every year near Maggie are flowers.... they are so pretty! This year, I actually took some close ups! The sun was shining on them so beautiful!