Star of the Week

This week Gabi is "The Star of the Week" in her classroom.  They celebrate this by allowing her to bring in photos and all kids of fun favorites of hers.  This is posted on the wall for all to enjoy.  Wednesday she is supposed to bring in a letter from her parents that she is to read in front of the class.  I am instructed not to put anything embarressing in it ;)
I know her letter will include the following I asked Ben to fill in:
G - Giving
A - Anxious
B - Beautiful
R - Resilient
I - Intelligent
E - Exciting
L - Loving
L - Likable
E - Entertaining
Her stars that she filled:
When I Grow Up I Want To Be:  Marine Biologist
My Favorite Sport Is:  Basketball
The Best Book I've Read Is:  The Lost Hero
My Favorite Pet Is:  Maizy
My Favorite Memory Is:  Swimming with the dolphins
My Favorite Subject Is:  Science
Thursday each person in the class gets to write a nice note to Gabi that will be put into a nice booklet for her to keep.  Anxious to see that!  Anyways, doesn't she make for a beautiful "Star of the Week!"

Move In Day

Yesterday was the day...We got Tyler settled into his dorm at IU Bloomington - Forest Quad Tower B, Room 905.  His roommate...Tanner Barr from Reelsville, Indiana.  Didn't get to meet him since we moved in right at 8am.  Tyler had MORE than enough room and it made for a quick move in with as organized as he was.

Broke the television on our way up so we had to make a quick stop at Walmart...but then again, what freshman doesn't make a stop there before completing his/her move in at college?  Grabbed his books and took our boy and Abby to eat at Yogi's (a new fave in Bloomington) before saying our "see ya laters."  Yes, I refuse to say goodbye.  It was hard....just like with Trenton.  But we made it and he is ready for the year ahead. 

We are excited too.  Changes...something I am never good at, but it makes us all grow.  There were tears and lots of "looking back" on my part, but I know this is a chapter we must go through and he wants to go through.  He is right where he wants to be in life and that could not make me happier.  So for now, I am looking ahead...looking forward to visiting Bloomington in a month or so and seeing my boy again... 

And then there were three...

The time has come...

Send Off Dinner

Got the family together last night for a "send off dinner" of sorts for Tyler.  SOOOO lucky to have Trenton home to join in (came home to go to the Michigan race with his dad and brother for the weekend).  Hacienda was the restaurant of choice for Tyler and everyone was able to come - Uncle Chad, Aunt Amber and girls, maw maw and paw paw, Uncle Dave and grandpa, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Pam and kids too!  So thankful for family...
Amber was the smart one and brought her camera - looking forward to getting the photos from her but here is what I captured on my phone...

Great Grandparents

We were fortunate enough to visit with my grandma and grandpa Jones the other evening and let Tyler say his goodbyes before off to college.  I love visits like these...makes me realize how lucky I am to have them in my life.  For all the memories I have had with them.  For all the memories my children will have of their great grandparents. This is their past.  This is their opportunity to learn from the past and I certainly encourage them to grab the moment while it's here.

Back 2 School

Gabi's first offical day back to school today...had to arrive early to post up for her safety patrol duties.  She was actually excited this year.  She has a male teacher and more than a few of her closest friends in her class.  She was extra excited about that.  Last year in elementary school scares me so I am taking this entire year one day at a time to soak in EVERY moment. 

Some Favorites and Cupcakes!

Gabi purchased a book called, "What's New, Cupcake?" this past school year at the book fair at school.  I had promised we would try an idea or two out of it and that day was today....we didn't have anything planned and had missed out on church because of a migraine I was VERY glad to get rid of by lunch time.  Gabi and I hopped in the car and bought the ingredients.  Didn't take us long and I allowed Gabi to do much of it herself.  We improvised on some of it, like the color of the eyes and beak.  They turned out better than what I had imagined and Gabi's opinion was, "it was alot harder than what I thought it was gonna be."  She is truly into the show DC Cupcakes and Cakeboss so this was right up her alley.  We had fun baking together, though.  Memory made :)

Oh, and some other things we have been passionate around here about lately....
Gabi has a small piggy bank set up for donations.  We are instructed to put our every leftover change in the bank...Trenton told her about "The Cove" when he was home last and she has been heavily investigating this.  Her little heart broke when she discovered the tragedies in Japan over dolphins.  A favorite show of ours is Whale Wars and she most definitely enjoys watching with us.  We had a few discussions on both whales and dolphins and how the two tie in together.  If you have a moment....and for Gabi :)...check out this link to save Japan's dolphins.  Gabi is saving up (in the piggy bank) for a bracelet.  I know she would love you for it!  This girl...and her love of animals!!!  Gotta love her.  Got. To.

And lastly, last weekend a trip to the mall brought us to Bath and Body Works where we tested, smelled and looked at all the fragrances, etc etc etc.  We came upon True Blue Body Scrub and actually bought some to take home.  LOVE <3 and definitely a new FAVE of both Gabi and I....it smells so yummy and leaves your skin soooo smooth! 

Slowing Down A Bit

As you have probably noticed things have slown down quite a bit now...hence no new posts on the blog.  We have, however, been dreading, yet preparing for an upcoming event this month...moving Tyler down to IU Bloomington.  The loans have gone through and he is all set.  Mixed emotions have come over me during this time, much like they did when Trenton was preparing to go.  I saw something in the newspaper last week that somewhat did explain these feelings...they said sending a child off to college is similar to giving birth to them.  You have them in the womb for 9 months, but this time feels like forever.  When the time is close you have mixed emotions of not ready for it all, but you really want the child out asap knowing it IS time.  Seemed like a good comparison.  We've spent 18 years of his life nurturing, teaching, loving them so they are ready for the world when it comes time.  It is time.  Although it will be sad to see him go and I know the series of emotions since I have been through this before, I know that we have given it our all and our best shot at preparing him for this time.  I just wish there was a preparation course for letting go...to make it easier.