New School. New Teacher. New Bus Stop. Here Comes First Grade!

I have been both excited for and dreading this day all summer... the first day of school. My baby was headed to first grade. That means away from my side all day long. Sad for Mommy. Exciting for Max.

In a whirlwind this week we got to attend orientation, "Meet the Teacher" (she is awesome,

btw), and send Max off on the bus. Max is very excited about going to the "big kids school" with kids in grades 1 through 5. He is also thrilled at the idea that they get TWO recesses!!! Oh, and the subject he is most looking forward to studying is art. FYI.

This year the bus was scheduled to come to our house at 7:30 am. School starts at 8:45. Uh, no. So when I told Max I would have to take him to school he got upset (he loves the bus) and said "MOM! I can handle it" Well then I learned you can have one other address registered with transportation so we made his pick up stop be in Fieldstone; a busy bus stop full of friends and a much later (8:20) pick up time. I'll admit, I was happy for him to have friends to distract him from the possible anxiety associated with the first day of school but at the same time I was sad we wouldn't get to share a private moment at our very own (lonely) bus stop at the bottom of our driveway. After seeing him this morning though, this was definitely the way to go! He was so happy; a little timid but still happy!

So it's begun... first grade! I remember what I wore the first day of school, who my friends were, what my teacher was like, and where I sat in her class. I'm positive Max is already making lasting memories. First grade rules!!! Enjoy the photos!

Max and Kenleigh... BFF

Hayden, Kenleigh and Max

Max and Kenleigh hang back and let the other kids go first

... and they are getting on!

Short on Words (kinda), Heavy on Pictures (definitely)

It's August already? I didn't make a single post in July? Well that's because we were so busy! So in order to do just a little catching up, this post will be heavy with photos and shorter on words, you know, to make sure you stay visually entertained and all...

June 30- July 6: we were in Utah. One of my BFFs lives in SLC and had her wedding at the Sundance Resort. Gorgeous. The whole thing! And as a double bonus Amy and Baldy (aka Steve) flew out with us AND I got to reunite with 10+ sorority sisters that I haven't seen since my college days. DG forever, yo!

On the 4th itself we attended a reunion with Chris's family at a local park. But before those festivities began most of us logged a few miles racing in the Freedom Run in Provo. Max ran his first mile race and did so in 12 minutes. Not too shabby for a 6 year old. I will toot my own horn an announce that I ran a personal best at a pace of 7:08 per minute and placed second in the 35-39 age group and was the 14th fastest female over all (there were over 2200!). Got a trophy and everything! Toot toot!

We watched the parade in Provo, went to a carnival (where Max got that snazzy tattoo you can see on his arm) and then hit the park for fun dressed in red, white and blue! PS- Max also saw Brad Paisley in concert while Chris and I were at the wedding. How cool is Max?

The last day of vacay we went hiking WAAAAAAAAY up the mountain to the "Y" near the campus of BYU. I did it years ago with Tara and didn't remember anything about it; I just thought it would be a fun thing for Max. I seriously can't believe he made it! But he did! It was steep. What a relief to be at the top and what beautiful views we had...

Once home Max finished out the swim team season. He is an awesome swimmer, I don't even have to lie. He ended up swimming the championship meet in just 12 seconds! That's a 10 second improvement over the start of the year! Dude is fast! That makes him the fastest 6U boys swimmer at SCCC and guess what else it makes him? Good enough to swim for the Coffman YMCA winter swim team which is hard core! GO MAX! He got a trophy during the swim banquet as well as certificate because the coach named him 'Most Improved'. He was quite proud!

A few weeks left to live it up till 1st grade starts... cry cry! Keep on enjoying summer!!! Oh, and guess I wasn't as short on words as I thought... oops!