Grayson's Birthday

Yesterday Brooklynn went to her buddy Grayson's birthday party at Pump It Up.  Boy, did she have a good time.  I'm pretty sure she climb up the ladder to this slide and went down it about 30 times.  She was exhausted afterwards.  

Brooklynn was worn out by 6:15 last night when she told us she was ready for bed!

My Busy B

I've had a busy first week of school and my poor swollen ankles have paid the price.  It's going to be a long and uncomfortable last couple of weeks until Baby Farr gets here.  I went to the doc on Tuesday and had another ultrasound. Baby Farr is already 6lbs 3 ozs.  which is two weeks ahead of schedule.  Looks like I will get one more ultrasound the week of the 17th and then we will possibly schedule a c section, if he makes it that long without arriving sooner.  The doc did say, however,  that just because he is big doesn't mean that he will come early.  He said he has delivered full term babies that were 12 lbs.  Whoa, no thanks!

This weekend Nick went to Charlotte for his firm's retreat, so B and I got to spend all weekend together.  Yesterday we kept busy.  I had an early morning hair appointment, so Aunt Kaley was nice enough to get up early and keep B for me.  B had a blast!  Afterwards, I picked up B and we headed over to Pops for a visit and then to the library.  

B loves playing on the computer at the library.  She also filled up her library bag with about 10 books to check out.

Next, we went home for a short nap. Of course, B didn't nap she read her library books for about two hours.  Pops headed over to the house and we went to Mutt's for dinner.  B loves Mutt's because she gets ice cream after her meal.  

On the way home from Mutt's we stopped by GSP (the airport) for a little while.  B is fascinated with airplanes, so we thought it would be fun to sit outside at the observation area and let her watch a few planes land and take off.  

B was more interested in the fountains!

We waited and we waited until finally B had to go potty.  Of course as soon as we went inside an airplane landed.  We waited a little while longer before deciding it was a slow night and we headed home.  Brooklynn wasn't disappointed though.  She thought we were there to play in the fountains and ride the escalators, so she left a happy girl and had no idea she missed anything.  Pretty good entertainment for the cost of 1.00 parking and the 4 cents she threw in the fountain. 

We were sad to see that they had cut down so many of the beautiful old trees at GSP.  I guess they needed to make more room for parking.  Sad.

Pre-K?!? Here we come!

Monday was Brooklynn's first day of Pre-K.  I can't believe she is almost four years old.  Where has the time gone?  Her school has two buildings and because she is moving up, B also moved to the big kids building.  It seemed so weird yesterday morning dropping her off with older kids.  She was excited though as you can see from the pic above.  I had a cute little dress for her to wear on her first day, but B was only going to wear her new Clemson shirt that they gave out at Fan Appreciation Day.  I can't blame her though, I would rather wear a t-shirt too!  

Fan Appreciation Day

Today was Fan Appreciation Day at Death Valley.  Nick took Brooklynn to meet the Clemson Tigers. We went to Mr. Knickerbockers yesterday because she just had to have a purple shirt (she had outgrown last year's purple shirt but still wanted to wear it.)  She also picked out a new hat to match her daddy's.

Here are a few pics.

Rubbing Howard's Rock

 Brooklynn wanted to know when the game was going to start.  She had a pretty good seat on the hill.

Meeting a cheerleader but she seems more impressed with the pom poms.

 Marlee, Gram, and B

Marlee and B

  For someone who was so excited about meeting the Tiger, B sure does have a death grip on Nick! :)

I got a lot done while Nick and B were gone this afternoon.  I made these treat bags to hand out tomorrow during Meet the Teacher.  They go right along with my fish bulletin board outside my room! 

 "O-fish-ally in 4th grade"

Just as a side note, Brooklynn has discovered broccoli cheese soup.  She had two bowls this weekend.  She loves it!

Forty

Thinking about Dad today and wishing Mom was here to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

My Classroom

Well it's that time of year again.  I'm tired of sitting around and eager to start the school year, even if it is just for a few weeks until Baby Farr gets here.  Last week I worked really hard on getting my classroom together.  Not an easy task being so pregnant and having so many contractions.  I came home yesterday, looked down, and wondered whose feet those were because they certainly didn't look like mine.  They looked much better this morning though!

Here are some pics of my classroom.  I'm almost ready for Open House Monday afternoon. Sorry the pics are so blurry.  My phone lens must have been dirty.

 Bulletin board in the hall- that is a time machine if you are wondering.

My class listed on fish outside my door.  That is always such a HUGE wall to fill every month!

 These letters I made after seeing a Pinterest post.

Bucket Fillers- My class will decorate little buckets to place on each pocket.  We read a story at the beginning of the year about kindness and filling other people's happiness buckets.  All year long we write kind notes to others to fill their buckets.

My new reading chart I created yesterday.  We will see how it works out this year.

Student work wall and vocabulary chart

I'm proud of my word wall this year.  I backed it in paper for the first time which was quite a task.  Luckily Kristy helped me out.  I love it though because it adds so much color to the front of my room.

  Fourth grade will have state PASS tests in math, reading, social studies, science, AND now writing for the first time since I've been teaching in SC.  That's more subjects tested than any other elementary grade. Ugh. I created a writing corner to help us this year.

I'm almost done with my room.  One more big bulletin board to put up.  I just ran out of gas on Friday and didn't get it up before I left.  

B loves Aunt Kaley

First of all I just want to say how thankful I am to have this girl in my life.  She has been such a blessing throughout mom's illness.  She was at Mom and Dad's house every night helping with meals and cleaning even though she was in the middle of tons of summer school classes.   She also has helped me out so many times since Mom's illness when I needed a babysitter.  The favor will definitely be returned one day when Blake and Kaley have little ones! Brooklynn has really developed an awesome relationship with her Aunt KK this summer.   We are so lucky she is part of our family.

Yesterday was one of those days.  B's school had a staff development day.  Mom kept B on this day last year, but luckily Kaley was willing to step in so that I didn't have to take my second day of school  off.

They had lots of fun  . . .

They went to the zoo along with the much loved Cleveland Park playground

And then the pool

You can really tell how curly B's hair is getting in the pic.  

Thanks, Aunt KK! You are the best!