Not Already

I knew this day was coming....but I thought I had a couple more months at least.  I mean, she hasn't even started Kindergarten yet.

That said, I should have known it wasn't very far off.  With a super early September birthday, she will be starting Kindergarten just shy of turning six years old--three days shy to be exact.

But I digress.  The little Peanut's first permanent tooth has popped through.

Note, I didn't say she lost her first tooth.  Because she hasn't.  But that permanent one?  Well, it's certainly right there behind it.  

So like any good mom who dabbles (and I use that term very loosely) in photography, I marched her straight outside to capture that fading glimmer of her baby tooth smile.

Be still my heart.  

I was seriously crying the ugly cry while she played outside quietly during her brother's nap.  It's like hard core evidence shoved in my face that she isn't my little, sweet, Peanut anymore.  I mean, she's still my sweet Peanut--my sweet, fiery Peanut to be sure.  But little?

Not as much any more.

First HomeTown Parade

I must confess.

While I have lived in my HomeTown for more than 20 years, I have never attended our annual parade. 

I know.  It's a shame isn't it? 

I have however, been to many a parade in my life.  It used to one of the highlights of the year, where my parents dad took me and my sister to the big city parade at the beginning of every summer.  I loved it so very much.

As we were waiting for the parade to start this past weekend, I was talking with my dear, sweet, husband and it turns out he had never even been to a parade prior to Saturday. 

Talk about so un-Amercian!! 

I mean, I just can't even. 

Well, this last Saturday, not only did he get to "attend" a parade, but our family was actually IN the parade.  For both Peanut's preschool and this upcoming Kindergarten year, we have been blessed with the opportunity to be able to send our little Peanut to a small, Christian school.  With it being an independently run school, it comes the requirement for the parents to put in volunteer hours to help with the school's various functions and any maintenance needed throughout the year. 

One of those functions is needing volunteers to represent the school in the Hometown Parade.  How easy is that, right? 

So walk in the parade we did.  Well, I walked.  They rode the "float."  My biggest worry about being able to log on the required hours is that Hubs works such inconsistent hours and with having a little 2 year old at home, it makes figuring out those details a little more difficult.  So when this opportunity was on the list of events where "help" was needed and it involved the whole family, I penciled that our calendar right away! 

Plus, it was such a fun time for the kids--very much a win-win for us! 

 

Another Last

Peanut completed a few swimming classes/levels last summer and this year she has been in swimming lessons since the beginning of June.  Our weather then finally warmed up enough to where we were able to start swimming at my parents just a few days before the Fourth. 

This girl.  My ever cautious girl.  She went in my parents pool for the first time this year wearing her Puddle Jumper, convinced she still needed it. 

Even though she'd been in swimming lessons for a month--in just as deep of water with no life preservation what so ever.  

It was like pulling teeth to have her take it off and I was a little concerned.  See, that is just like me.  I avoid taking risks at all costs--and while I don't want our girl to be foolish, I would like her to go outside her comfort zone.

At least every once in a while.  

Her Daddy finally convinced her to take it off, and well, there has been no looking back.  She's been loving having her arms completely unrestricted.  

Me?  I am so glad she decided to brave the water without it.  But?  It didn't even occur to me that it would be the last time she would ever wear the Puddle Jumper.  Another last has come and gone. 

Sigh. 

But of course life moves on at lightning speed and the Puddle Jumper torch has been passed to the little brother.  Each year he has to get reacquainted with the pool.  And each year, after the first two or three times in, he acclimates once again and then he is ALL about the water. 

He has his own "boy" Puddle Jumper now and he thinks he's pretty hot stuff.  Personally, he reminds me of Anne, with puffed sleeves. 

I still think he's the cutest little boy, but don't tell him I said that.  

 

Happy Fourth!

Our fourth was fun filled with lots of family, friends, and food. Not necessarily in that order.

Ahem.

For reals--we had some awesome weather, even better food, and the best company. 

I learned several years ago when the Peanut was nearly three that if I wanted a special family picture to document any type of occasion, it's best to get it at the start of the event.  Everybody is rested, clean, hair all combed, etc.  Everyone is also typically in the most solid emotional state they will be in that day.  Not that we've ever had any type of temper tantrum.  No, not me us! My family has never done that.   

Sorry, I couldn't seem to find the sarcasm font.  

That said, we got family pictures first thing when we got to my parents.

It was nice enough to go swimming, and these four girls bonded (L-R: my cousin's little girl; my best friend from high school-her little girl; my other cousin's little girl; and of course, our little Peanut) rather quickly and were busy playing with each other ALL day. 

And I do mean, ALL day.

Our little guy had his own activities, including getting into absolutely everything and keeping all said adults on their toes, blowing bubbles, and even having his very first sucker.  They weren't a kiddin' when they say you are always more lax with the second one.  Peanut?  I think she was pushing three and half before I let her have a sucker.  This little boy?  Not even a week into two and he had more than one this weekend.  I know. 


There was also baseball with some of the kids and dads.  Peanut has been practicing on choking up on the bat correctly with lots of instruction by those who have come before her.  My friend's little boy was so sweet and patient with Peanut.  He's such a good big brother to his own little sister and it's evident in how he treats our Peanut.  So very sweet!

We also had horseshoes, yummy Sangria, and this dessert made by yours truly.  All not pictured, because either a) blogger fail or b) I was having such a good time, I didn't get pictures.  You decide. 

We had one small kerfuffle with the Peanut, but she bounced back in no less than two minutes.  Because you know, she might miss something. 

At the end of the day, we had a pretty awesome fireworks show (thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) and it was proven once again that boys will be boys.  Not that we ever doubted that. 

Cough, cough--dad, hubs, my uncle-cough, cough. 

Even our boy thoroughly enjoyed the festivities.  So much so that he has asked for fow woks {fireworks} each night since the 4th.  The noise did startle him a bit, so we got out Peanut's ear muffs for him.  Poor kid.  I'm thinking this a great one for the future graduation/wedding slide show?
 

I even got to play around with the camera and I actually got some pretty good fireworks shots.  Finally, three years and counting and I finally got some worth posting!  Third time's a charm, right?

Last, to close out the evening my dear sweet cousin camped out with the four girls in a tent....and captured this sweet moment of the girls before going to sleep in the tent.  

Blessings abound.