Next?

So we're more than half way through October and my last post was at the end of September! Well, what can I say? Time flies when you're as busy as we are, I guess! Things are going well. Camille is really enjoying school and doing very, very well. I guess my fears about having a kindergartener in a first grade reading class are not to be realized as she seems to be excelling at reading. I was really concerned she was going to tank (I know, have a little faith Mommy!) Dance class is going well and the same kid who didn't want to take tap lessons last year absolutely loves them this year... she still loves her ballet too, but she also really enjoying the tap part of her class! Chinese school is also going well and she's got a special friend named Annika. Together they make it difficult for each other to pay attention :)

This weekend Camille and I are attending a very, very special Bat Mitzvah of the daughter of good friends of ours. It's the very first of it's kind for our local synagogue. The Jewish Community Voice printed a nice article called Dream Comes True. I would encourage you to look at it. It's a very special story. I will be sure to post some photos after the event.

A walk down memory lane

Okay, so this really is Camille's blog, but right now we're all entrenched in school and dance and Chinese lessons and work... the regular "routine" stuff. Our weekends have been busy but the really special events are yet to come (ie. nothing photograph worthy to this point) so I thought I'd take a little trip down memory lane and talk a little bit about me.



In my college days I was in the band. I have been thinking about it a lot lately because homecoming will be here in just about a month, hence my annual chance to once again be in the band with all the old fart wannabes; the UD alumni band. Some can still really rip it, others not so much, but I give each and every soul credit who shows up to put on an alumni band show each year!



This photo was taken in the fall of 1995 in my senior year of marching band. There were only 5 tuba, but there should have been 7. My dear friends and tuba brothers Woody and Alan were killed in an automobile accident, together as they traveled just that summer before. So sad.

This was the basketball pepband. Don't you dig the rugby shirts? It must have been 1992 or 1993... I wasn't in pepband long; I didn't enjoy watching basketball.

October 31st is Homecoming. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a wild year. Fun yet complicated. More to follow.

First Kindergarten Test

Last night Camille seemed a little worried. "What's bugging you, kiddo?" I asked her. "Mommy," she said, in an unusually mousy and drawn out voice, "I'm worried." I asked her what she could possibly be worried about. She told me she had to take a test at school today. A TEST! So? Big deal! She had nothing to worry about. She's never had a test at school before... ever. And today was a simple assessment test to see where she stands in language arts abilities (does she know all the capital and lower case letters, sounds they make, can she use words appropriately to make sentences, etc) So she had nothing to worry about. How could she possibly be worried? She didn't even know what a test was all about! There in layed the problem... to my poor kid, who has had TONS of TESTS, tests meant sitting still, and putting on a brave face for a tourniquet, alcohol swab and a needle! OH NO! Once I explained to her that tests at school were just answering questions and had nothing to do with doctors or needles or any of that junk her whole body relaxed and she happily skipped away! I hope we can always keep an open dialog about stuff... always.

This is NOT a school test...

This is..

Volunteer

Last night, Camille went to the Riversharks game to help sell bracelets to raise awareness for Blindness Awareness Month which is October. The money will go to the Little Rock Foundation benefiting children who are visually impaired or blind. It was a fun night for a great cause and it just goes to show you are never too young to volunteer! Way to go Camille!

A note to God

Dear God,
Thank you for the many blessings you provide in our lives every day.

Thank you for helping me out today, for the small miracles you provided; I think you know what I am taking about. I really do appreciate you helping to make my life just a little bit easier today. Thank you for recognizing that I needed a break. :)

Love,
Faye

First Day of Kindergarten!

First day of Kindergarten!

Proud Mama!

Proud Papa!

Camille meets her teacher, Mrs. Love, for the first time.

A first peek into the new classroom. Everyone is curious and excited!

Camille finds a seat in the classroom.

Everyone lines up for dismissal...

It's going to be a great year!

A trip to the ER

Camille and Daddy went to the park this afternoon. Camille took a spill off the slide and took a good knock to her head. So we were off to the ER. The dx was a mild concussion. Camille will be okay (thank God!) and should not miss her first day school tomorrow... She has promised no more acrobatics on the slide, but I think that is a promise that would be difficult for any five-year-old to keep! Kids will be kids...

Time Flies

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Camille starts kindergarten! I know Camille is ready for St. Rose, I just hope St. Rose is ready is ready for Camille... : )

Camp Photos

Away

Camille and I have been away at summer camp. We both volunteered at a camp for blind and visually impaired children this past week. We had an awesome time and I will post photo soon, but we are both very tired and plan to spend the weekend recovering! Check back soon! Thanks!

Happy 5th Birthday Camille!

First you're one...

Then you're two...
Then you're three...

Then you're four...

Now you're FIVE!

Happy 5th Birthday to the most beautiful girl in the world! We love you!

Five-year-old Princess Party!

Today we had a princess party for our 5 year old. The menu, designed by the birthday princess, was pepperoni pizza, Jersey sweet corn and powdered sugar mini doughnuts! We had an amazing princess cake (see below) homemade by my good friend and coworker, Erin Simek... delicious! There were lots of presents and a good time was had by all!

Erin's amazing princess cake

The birthday girl and her huge pile of presents!

Camille loves Sharpay from High School Musical

Another surprise caught!

Bop models the rings on his fingers!

Camille loves to play "Wedding" so Mimi made her a pink wedding dress, vail and flowers, per request....

Doesn't the "bride" look beautiful? LOL!

A brand new backpack for KINDERGARTEN!

The play school set from Mimi was a big hit!