Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

A Birthday Card

Back in June, our friend/neighbor, Brooke, celebrated her birthday.  Of course, Ivie wanted to make her a card, and I'm just finding the pictures of it on my neglected camera.

Here's the front.  Pretty much what you would expect from a 6 year-old.  Balloons, peace signs, suns, and whatever stickers she could find lying around the house (clearly not concerned about using a snowman during the summer).


But it's what she taped to the inside that makes me laugh.  Because, you see, even a 6 year-old knows of a gift that will make an adult happy.  Hope you didn't spend it all in one place, Brooke!


Sunday, August 26, 2012

Ivie Moves to First Grade

Last year this time, we were sending our first-born to Kindergarten.  I just looked back at the blog post from her first day and realized a few things:

First of all, to get it out of the way, I THOUGHT back then that my hair was very short (I had just recently chopped it all off).  Now?  It's only gotten shorter.  And easier.  I'm in hair heaven these days, despite the fact that I get funny looks from people sometimes.

But on to realizations about Ivie.  You know, the one this blog post is really supposed to be about...

1)  My then-shy 5 year-old that didn't want to walk through the doorway alone has turned into a confident First Grader that got upset when the doors to the school opened and I wouldn't let her go in because Dale had not yet arrived.

2)  The ease with which I have always been able to get Ivie to smile for the camera is decreasing exponentially (at least in front of a crowd).  I had to beg her to let me take the camera out of the car when we arrived at school.  Are kids supposed to be embarrassed by their mom already in FIRST GRADE?!?

3)  Her beloved Princess backpack has given way to a "more grown up" polka-dotted one.  Can't I just hold onto the princess days for a bit longer?!?

4)  Lastly, Ivie just LOOKS older.  Sad.  Freeze, Ivie.  FREEZE!!  Mommy's not ready for this yet.

Here are a few pictures from Iv's first day.  Which was an all-around success.  When we asked her how she liked her new teacher, she responded with "She's the nicest teacher in the WHOLE WORLD.  Just like Mrs. Federman!".  Music to my ears.

Daddy and I love you, sweetie.  Here's to a great year of First Grade.  I am so eager to see the exciting changes that come your way...









Saturday, August 25, 2012

Slip 'n Slide

Ivie's first day of school this past week was the first time I'd pulled out my "real" camera in what seemed like an eternity (and was actually 2.5 months).  Along with life being just generally crazy, I've become spoiled by the handiness of the iPhone camera and the immediacy of Instagram and Facebook...

But I'm going to try to make it a point to "stop and grab the camera" (and maybe smell the roses while I'm at it) every once in a while.

So, anyway, when I went to download the first day of school pics, I found pictures still on the camera from a visit to the McCulloch's Slip 'n Slide in early June.  So here they are!  You'll probably be able to guess, from the various looks on his face, that this was Bryce's first real experience with water splashing in his face and all around!  MOST of the time, he appeared to enjoy it...













Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Monday, August 13, 2012

Facebook: July, 2012

July 1 at 9:50a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Once in a Blue Moon, B is okay with Ivie holding him while they watch Little Bill.


July 2 at 9:06a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman


July 2 at 11:06a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Slidin' at the play place


July 3 at 8:51a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Morning walk to get the paper



July 3 at 1:30p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
A Missouri outing with our Texas friends!
 

July 3 at 2:14p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
A trip to JC isn't complete without Central Dairy!


July 3 at 4:33p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
A little Papa time!



July 3 at 9:35p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
A bunch of Schaeperkoetters


July 4 at 8:05a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Granny and Papa with 11 of their 13 great-grandchildren



July 4 at 9:45a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Look, Mommy, no hands!



July 4 at 1:37p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Lunch with a view, but almost too hot to enjoy it!



July 4 at 2:14p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Red, white, and blue!



July 4 at 5:12p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Two. Worn. Out. Girls.


July 4 at 10:58p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Enjoying their first "real" fireworks display!

 


July 5 at 8:16a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Playing in the grass on a morning walk with Mommy and Nina.  


July 5 at 7:21p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
This is how you know you have a big family going to dinner. 18 of us!



July 5 at 9:27p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
My 6 year-old just got 260,000 on Temple Run. My high score is 102,000. Ouch.


July 6 at 12:56p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Open Gymnastics at the Y!



July 6 at 1:26p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
B's new funny face (please excuse the pizza bites).



July 6 at 8:01p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Temple Runiacs



July 6 at 10:51p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Pulled out the vacation album from 1998 tonight...


 July 7 at 10:01a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Ivie: "Nina, do you really think those spoons are gonna work? He's just gonna pull them out!"



July 7 at 1:10p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Classic line from Sarah at lunch: "That's what I say - why clean when your ceiling could fall in?!?"


July 7 at 2:44p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Boy, we've had a great (but very tiring!) last 2 weeks together!


July 7 at 10:03p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Flying with a sick, listless toddler is much better than flying with a healthy, overly-tired one. Longest. Flight. Ever. 


July 10 at 8:12a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Ivie: "Mommy, is it hard taking care of children?". #loadedquestion


July 10 at 4:51p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Ivie and I were trading "What do you call?" jokes. My best one? "What do you call a deer in Atlanta?" Buckhead, of course! Sadly, the humor was lost on her.


July 11 at 2:42p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman


July 14 at 8:58a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Our little lefty!


July 14 at 11:50a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman


July 14 at 2:53p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Ballerinas at Emerson's party!



July 15 at 6:32a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Happily reading after rising early this morning.



July 15 at 1:14p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman


July 15 at 7:54p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Why (really) short hair rocks



July 18 at 6:59a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Add "closets" to the list of doors that must remain closed at all times in B's presence. Looks like I'll be doing some rehanging...


July 19 at 6:01a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Patiently (for now) waiting for his ear tubes surgery



July 19 at 7:03a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Sportin' a clown gown



July 19 at 8:13a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
My little trooper


July 19 at 7:19a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Winding down to Fresh Beat Band


July 20 at 7:41a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Healthy habits!


July 20 at 6:14p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman


July 20 at 6:24p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Cleaning Bryce's hands after a pasta dinner and realize that only his left hand is messy. #good sign #lovelefties


July 21 at 7:02a


Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
There's only one good thing about early risers on Saturday morning...




July 21 at 7:26a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
A good one to remember yourself and teach your kids: "How others treat me is their path. How I respond is mine."



July 21 at 11:24a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Macie: "Mommy, can we go in those woods right there?" Me: "Not this time. Mostly because we have to go get Nina, but partly because there might be poison ivy in there." Macie: "And poison Macie?"


July 21 at 12:15p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Until today, I had forgotten how yummy old-school, full-cup-of-sugar, bad-for-your-teeth-and-your-kids Kool-Aid is. 


July 21 at 6:23p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Enjoying the fountain at Moe's with Nina!



July 21 at 7:10p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Couldn't help but spy through the cracked door/bathroom mirror on what turned out to be a very sweet post-bath moment...



July 21 at 8:03p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
My mom is playing Temple Run. Voluntarily. And giggling at random parts of the game. Never thought I'd see the day.


July 21 at 9:24p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Movie night with JUST Macie while Iv is at a sleepover.



July 23 at 5:50p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Macie: "Nina, you're a gooood food cooker!"


July 24 at 7:10a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Tacky Day at school today! How fun - we might start having a "Tacky Day" every week...


July 24 at 5:25p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Ivie: "I'm sorta getting tired of camps. I need a day off."


July 25 at 7:25a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
"Dress Like Your Favorite Character Day". For Macie, it turned into "Pick Out Your Favorite Dress" day. This one happens to be Barbie!


July 26 at 6:50a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Note to Self: Every time you think it might be a good idea to try to quickly calm your awake-in-the-middle-of-the-night toddler, STOP YOURSELF. Him seeing you just makes it worse. (On behalf of Bryce, I apologize for the nap you're going to need today, Nina and Papa.)



July 26 at 4:34p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Broken air-conditioner = Excuse to eat out


July 26 at 8:21p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
#thingsNinacomesupwithtochangebadattitudesatbedtime


July 27 at 7:14a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Macie's chocolate-donut handlebar mustache


July 28 at 11:21a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Don't let the smiles fool you. #longestandhottesttballgamesever



July 28 at 3:49p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Boxer-in-Training



July 28 at 7:11p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Sweet girls



July 29 at 9:17a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Sportin' their new Scotland gear from Daddy's golf trip!




July 30 at 8:10a 

Dale Herman
Big day for Daddy!



July 31 at 7:56a

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
We love books!



July 31 at 3:43p

Dale Herman
Me: Ivie, what was your favorite part of camp today?
Ivie: It was definitely golf. I loved it. I want to go to Scotland with you, Daddy.
#anotherprouddaddymoment



July 31 at 6:48p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
Is it bad that one of my son's first recognizable words is "-eez", aka, "cheese!" (the smile-at-the-camera version)?!?



July 31 at 11:42p

Amy Schaeperkoetter Herman
I'm gonna pay for this tomorrow. #lovetheolympics