My least favorite job...

If I could delegate only ONE job included with being a mom, it would be making lunches. Luckily, I have a husband that is empathetic and does it for me! (unless he's working late like tonight and I'm left to do them) Tomorrow is Casey's first day of preschool- hence, three lunches!! **I still do, however, appreciate that I have 3 healthy kids in school for whom I can make lunches, and do it with a smile on my face**

First Day of Ballet, part 2

Today Emily and Anna started ballet- it is Emily's 6th year (though her first at this studio, which is gorgeous by the way) and Anna's first. I don't know if I've ever seen Anna more excited, both before and after class. And Emily has grown so tall, lean, and graceful that she  truly looked like a ballerina. We are not supposed to watch the classes but I got a sneak peek of Emily's class, as seen below, and a pic of Anna watching Emily's class. 

First Day of Ballet, part 1

Today was Casey's first day of ballet! She was SO excited until it was time to go into the studio- then they had to peel her off of me as she was screaming at the top of her lungs! She was quiet within 2 minutes, though, and had a great time. Tomorrow is Anna's first day of ballet, and Emily's first day of her 6th year of ballet! Check out the pics of Emily on her first day in 2005 (at two and a half years old), and Casey today. (at 3 years old)

Emily in 2005

Casey today.

The Weekend

The daily drop- my foyer every afternoon after school.

Daddy helping Anna assemble s'mores.

Clean baby!!

Future Natalie and Amanda.

Daisy and Casey toasting with their juice boxes.

Anna's Kindergarten Class

I had the privilege of going to Anna's school today and taking individual and class pictures for some projects I'm working on- they were so cute and so WELL BEHAVED! They still all seem so much bigger than Anna to me. She's still my baby! It's like those commercials when a parent looks at their child sitting in the front seat of a car about to drive off and she's just a little girl, but in reality she's a teenager. I still see Anna's baby face when she looks at me.

Casey the Model

No, this isn't "Addi Rose"! Today I went with a dear friend of mine to photograph her products from her business My Ladybee, which provides really cute custom appliqued shirts, outfits, backpacks, towels, etc! Casey really got in to modeling, as you can see. She was so funny with all of her posing! (Shameless plug: I also used the morning to scope out my mini-session location- sign up for Amanda Knerr Photography's email list to be the first informed when the calendar is opened later this week!)

The Weekend

I forgot how much busier my weekends become once the kids are back in school. We try to cram a lot into those two days! (this weekend included lots of resting up, too!) Here is our weekend ending with today:

Ever wonder what a 5 year old looks like on Friday afternoon after her first full week of kindergarten?

And then on Saturday during a nap?

Sunday afternoon cartoons.

Breakfast alone after her sisters have caught the bus. (well, at least she's got Wrigley)

Naptime

A freshly shaven Wrigley in her bed...

Finally caught up! (again!)

Being out of town and getting ready for school had really put me behind... now I'm caught up and should be for a while. Here is Emily in the neighbor's yard making sure the little girls stay in line.. not sure what she was going to do with that rake if they misbehaved!! (Anna caught me taking the picture and had to pose, of course)

Smelly Feet

Daisy and Casey are pretending to smell each others' stinky feet. Over and over again. Then giggling like it's the funniest thing in the world. (taken with Iphone)

First Day of School!!

The yearly picture at the front door.

Emily and some friends at the bus stop.

Did Anna have fun on her first day? Her look says it all.

Emily started third grade and Anna started KINDERGARTEN!! Can't believe it.

Randoms...

We were so busy getting ready for school that I didn't take many pictures...the first two are just snapshots- the rest I borrowed from the girls' ipods. They had taken the pics themselves- sometimes it is fun to go through their pictures to see what they think is interesting or funny. Back to school pics in next post!

Anna posing.

Casey attempting to see her own tongue.

Anna's marble collection. Taken by Anna.

Self-portrait of Emily. Taken by Emily.

Portrait of Anna's elephant- taken by Anna.

Trip to Madison

Terrible picture but we had been in the car for 10 hours and I was trying to capture how wild Casey was being as Anna was trying to go to sleep.

We made it! Papa taught Emily a new trick.

Trip to the Butterfly Exhibit at Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

Anna at the Madison Children's Museum.

I see the capitol!!

Family- from left: Zach, Noah, Michaela, Emily, Ava, Emma, Nathan, Anna, Casey, and Kendall.

Cool in her shades during a day on the lake.

The girls and Grandma Knerr.

Grandma Knerr blowing out her candles on her 94th birthday! So glad we were there to celebrate with her!

Aunt Barb and I at Concerts on the Square- I had just put a piece of chocolate in my mouth! Thanks, Jim!

We were brave and took the girls to Marimoto- a delicious Japanese Restaurant. Here is Casey enjoying her edamame and miso soup.

Mastering chopsticks on the same night.

Practicing flips in Aunt Jill's pool.

Casey (aka Wild Woman) provided the entertainment at Grandpa Tom's birthday party.

What's better than Wisconsin Summer Sweet Corn?

On the way home we stopped in Louisville at my high school/college friend Celia's house. Here are all 6 of our kids!

Sunset out the front window of our house on the night we made it home- whew.

When I last posted, we were about to leave for a two week trip to visit family in Madison, WI. I have finally gone through and edited those photos. Here they are with captions! Tomorrow I hope to update with pics taken since we have been home, including today's first day of school!!