I Got 99 Problems But A Witch Aint One of Them

 My baby girl started preschool!!  There were lots of tears, teeth gnashing, anxiety, processing of emotions, etc. From me that is. Hannie, on the other hand, was just fine.  She loves school and gives us detailed accounts of every single thing that goes on in the classroom.  I miss her while she is gone...  Although I know that within a few years I will be one of those Staples "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" moms, for now, this sums up my feelings...

To celebrate one of our last few days before The Big Day, we went to the zoo....

and Hannie LOVED her Open House and Orientation....

And here is the official MY FIRST DAY picture....This first month of school has been an eye opener for me...and expensive!!  I wrote 7 checks in two days....School pictures, tuition, soccer fees, book fair, spirit wear, magazine sale....Yikes!  Anybody looking for a kidney?  I have an extra I may need to sell....

I wanted to give her teacher a big bottle of Tylenol on the first day of school, but H talked me into giving her the tradition apple (covered in carmel and M&M's of course!)

I got 99 problems but a witch aint one of'them......with her precious friend Ella.

And in other big news, she started soccer!

Matt thinks the whole thing is hysterical.  At the first practice, two kids got their heads stuck in a net, one refused to step foot on the field but instead dug a giant hole on the sidelines, and the only one who can really play looks like Honey Boo Boo. Her mom gives her a mixture of Mountain Dew and Pixie stick before each game.  Hannie mildly enjoys the game and refused to go onto the field without her doll and a small bag of goldfish crackers.  It's going to be a long season.

Can you pick out Honey Boo Boo?

This is our pretty normal Friday night, bonfire and cook out at the farm. I personally think my BF looks super-hot in this picture.  Nothin cuter than my guy hangin' with my best girl.  I love fall!

Oh you know, just riding a swan.

She is 3, so she does the grocery shopping now.

Hangin' with her friend the night before An Orphan's Hope 5K, which I helped chair this year.

Running in her first kids race.  We attended this event 2 years ago and I remember telling my friend Karen that we weren't sure she would ever walk. What a difference 2 years makes.

Painting pumpkins after the race...

Renaissance Festival with the cousins

I thought I would share this beautiful poem that a friend shared recently.

I am your parent you are my child

I am your quiet place, you are my wild

I am your calm face, you are my giggle

I am your wait, you are my wiggle

I am your audience, you are my clown

I am your London Bridge, you are my falling down

I am your Carrot Sticks, you are my licorice

I am your dandelion, you are my first wish

I am your water wings, you are my deep

I am your open arms, you are my running leap

I am your way home, you are my new path

I am your dry towel, you are my wet bath

I am your dinner you are my chocolate cake

I am your bedtime, you are my wide awake

I am your finish line, you are my race

I am your praying hands, you are my saving grace

I am your favourite book, you are my new lines

I am your nightlight, you are my sunshine

I am your lullaby, you are my peek-a-boo

I am your kiss goodnight, you are my I love you.

Author: Maryann K Cusimano

God is Good All the Time

Funny Hannah-isms....

Hannah, what do you want to be for Halloween?

Either a Crescent Roll or Little Bo Poop

Me: Hannah, your fish died.  He went to live with Jesus.

Hannah: Oh boo hoo. Can I have a poptart your majesty?

Hannah: Let's get out of the car

Me: I can't find a parking space

Hannah: Can you use valet? (we were at Walmart)

Me: Hannah, let's read your  book about how you were born in Kazakhstan and I became your Mommy

Hannah: You aren't my mommy, you are a cat!

Me: I am your Mommy, you were born in my heart, remember?

Hannah: Meow. Do you want some cat food, Mommy?

So here we are in August!  I think I last posted back in 1997 so here is our top 10:

1. Hannah turned 3, she had a Luau party complete with Hay Ride (thank you our most favoritist Uncle Garry), pinata, and general merryment.  She got roller skates and a training wheel bike both of which she took off on with absolutely no practice whatsoever like a bat out of Kazakhstan.  

2. Grandpa got married and took off to Florida for I guess ever.  We couldn't be happier for him as he is blissfully in love and acting 20 years younger.  Hannie and her cousin Elizabeth were hilarious (if not the most well-behaved) flower girls.  

3. Hannah started complaining constantly of stomachaches so we took her to the Colo-rectal Center at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati for 7 days of intense imaging and medication testing.  The bad news: We found out she has an oddly shaped colon, which sometimes interferes with digestion. The good news: Dr. Levitt was able to find the correct dosage of medication and she is doing fine now.  We are so thankful she is better and have more proof that God is Good All the Time!!

4.  We ended the month with a great trip to Chicago to visit wonderful Kaz friends, the Elrods and the Chaneys. Matt had never been to the city and I love playing tour guide so we did Navy Pier, Michigan Avenue, Millenium Park, Wrigley Field, and a quick stop at Garrett's Popcorn of course!  We also spent a day in Wisconsin boating and enjoying the beach.  

  

5.  Hannah had a couple of firsts....first trip to the movies (the Lorax...she had too much popcorn and candy and threw up)....first goldfish (two, William and Ripley, named because Believe It or Not I let her get another pet!)

6. Okay, 10 is too many, I am bored.  We have done the normal summer activities, went to the fair, went camping with our neighbors, went fishing, flew a kite, Bengals pre-season game, Reds games, Kings Island, concerts, Children's Museum, zoo etc.   

Hannah starts preschool  next month!  I am excited for her. It seems like an important thing. I am still going to do a lot of homeschooling with her, but I thought she needed to be in a structured environment around other kids, so I found a two-day a week, 2 1/2 hour a day program.  I think it will be a great introduction to school and I have been of course busy planning the most fabulous first day of school outfit :-)   

"For finding your mother,There's one certain test: You must look for the 

creature, Who loves you the best." 

From the book: Little Miss Spider