School Start ~ Fall 2013

We had a fab summer.  After swim team and our beach trip to Destin, we hung pretty steady in Austin.  Some random camps here and there, lots of pool and playtime.  The children all did a week long overnight camp at T Bar M Sports camp.  Two out of  three want to go back next year.  Sweet Campbell was just too young. She got homesick and doesn't want to go back. She told me that maybe after 4th grade she would consider it again.

The green postcards arrived last Wednesday with the teaching assignments for this school year. The children had been hanging out the front window of the house all day in anticipation of the mailman.  Excitement in the air. I was on a work phone call when the mailman arrived. I had told the kids that I couldn't talk with them while on the phone.  Of course, about 10 minutes into the call, all three kids coming walking in waving their postcards. I told the person on the phone that I had to take care of something and I would return the call in 5 minutes.

Jackpot! Teacher jackpot! No need for Vegas. Everyone was very happy about their teachers.

Today the kids went back to school. Here is the obligatory first day of school picture.

All three were excited to get to school today.  I had been invited to a couple of breakfast get togethers, but instead I stayed in my pj's and work, work, worked.  I've been somewhat neglectful of work and our business is so technology driven these days that I have a lot of questions from professors on how to get the students registered to use said technology.

I was excited to pick up the children from school, but before I did, I went and bought some blank crowns at Michael's.  I spray painted the crowns and bejeweled them with glitter and a few sequins. I put each child's name on their crown and the grade they started today in front and center. 

Everyone came out happy and babbling about all sorts of things about their day. 

Tonight we celebrated the first day of school with spaghetti for dinner and cherry pie for dessert.  We also drank our milk from wine glasses. We are fancy that way. 

Here's to another great year at Spicewood Elementary.

Invitational Swimming

Today was our divisional swim meet.

Before the meet, Conleigh was close to making Invitationals in butterfly.

.4 of a second away.

She wanted it badly.

Yesterday she was kind of in a zone all day. Didn't want to play with anyone...really mellow.

Today was absolutely terrific.

It was just beautiful.

She was seeded third in the event at the meet today.

That was a complete bother to her last night. She was so upset. 

I think her brain had already decided she was seeded 1st. She had won 1st last week and is definitely #1 on our team.

The girl brought it big.  She totally won the event AND qualified for 

the big meet at UT tomorrow.

She is so excited! So am I.

I was so caught up with Conleigh's performance that I missed that Alex also 

qualified for invitationals tomorrow in 25 butterfly. He takes it more in stride like, 

"yes, of course I made it."

Conleigh isn't as competitive and this is one of the first times 

Peter & I have seen her really want to win. 

Tomorrow we head to the UT Natatorium to see their name on the big screen.

Go Sharks!

Go Hardins!

The Big Easy

 I guess it is a tradition that we stop in New Orleans for the night on our return trip from Destin.

This time Alex took the express car ride with grandma and grandpa to Houston. We missed him a lot, but it was also nice to be with our girls.

We ate at our favorite place, Mulates. We also walked the market both Friday and Saturday and ate Cafe DuMonde. We swam briefly in the hotel pool and just relaxed.

It was a good stop in the Big Easy, as usual.

 Life is Good at Cafe DuMonde.  Conleigh just loves New Orleans and she was craving some beignets. Her wish came true about 4:00pm Friday.

 Obviously, Campbell was diggin' the powdered sugar fiesta.

 Peter snapped this cool picture of the church at Jackson Square.  We saw two brides that evening.

Conleigh had spotted a museum of pharmacy. She really wanted to go in, so after breakfast Saturday, we all spent time in the museum. It was more interesting than I expected. They even had

some live leaches from back in the day when they thought leaches helped by sucking your blood! Eech.

What's a stop in New Orleans with out trying on masks?

 The girls enjoying their snowballs at the French Market. Conleigh also bought some Alligator jerky. She said it was good. I'll just take her word for it.

Conleigh's choice for masks. Each girl brought another one home.

Volleyball

Conleigh has finished her volleyball season. She really enjoyed it.

The camaraderie of the team was fun to watch and I believe all the high 5's were

 part of the reason she had so much fun.

The Blue Aces won some and lost some. Yesterday they won three straight matches to progress to the next level of the tournament.  Then they won two matches but lost the next three, so our morning was done at 10:30.

Meanwhile, Peter and the other kids were at the swim meet getting clobbered with rain.  Never before have we called a meet due to weather, but it happened yesterday.  The other team didn't want to stick it out, so only the first relays were done and then everyone left.

Since our A/C at the house decided to go ca-poot on Friday morning, we have been looking for any reason not to be at home.  From the volleyball tourney, our family headed to the movies.  

We saw Epic in 3D.  Eh. The kids liked it and the theatre was cool.

I took a nap when we got home. There were four fans aimed at me on our bed. I felt much better, the rain had stopped and 3/5 of our family was gone. They left to ride a boat with friends.  Conleigh and I went to the end of season volleyball party last night.  What a great coach she has had. She was so patient with teaching the girls the game.

Hopefully, it will work out for Conleigh to play with the same girls in the fall.

Mom Proud

At the recent school carnival, there was an auction for 'teacher time.' Teacher time is an opportunity for a child and one friend to spend special one - on - one time with their teacher one day after school.

I bid on teacher time for each child. I figured it was a good way to raise money for the school and for the kids to have a good time having ice cream sundaes with their teachers.  I was outbid on every single one.

To my delight, the winner in each of my children's classes chose my kid to be their friend.  I am so thankful that my children are good friends to all classmates. I have to say that two of the three were a surprise to me.  Alex enjoyed his Sundae time last week and Conleigh and Campbell will be going today and tomorrow after school for ice cream and kite flying (I have a feeling that part will be cancelled because it sure looks like rain is on the way).

I am blessed beyond measure.

garage door trauma and cute people...

Instead of showing the glass window in the garage that Peter broke playing basketball this week, 

and instead of showing the new huge dent in the garage door that I did 

the very next day by running into said door with the golf cart,

I'll show you these precious pictures...

Campbell has been wanting to make a pumpkin pie. Thursday after school, we fulfilled that wish.

  

Today was the foam party for 2nd grade boys. It was open for siblings as well. 

What a foamy fun time the children had.

Sadie and Campbell

Bishop, Alex and Matthew.

sudsa fun

Alex and his cottontail

Crazy egg hunt!

Alex has now decided he wants a foam party for his birthday.

Straight Hair

Oh, the woes of girl hair.  Conleigh longs for straight hair. Her curls are beautiful and others would do much to have such soft curls.  We got her hair cut the other night and had the stylist blow it out straight. She is in love with it! I'll admit she looks much older and very pretty.

First, it's a little far away but here she is last weekend before the Father - Daughter dance...

 And,  a shot of the back straight --

 And finally, our beautiful, getting bigger and smarter and more confident all the time girl...

What will you be when you grow up?

I'm still trying to answer that question. I really don't know, and I'm 44!  But today, during Education: Go Get It week, my kids easily knew what they want to be when they grow up.   Today we sent a cheerleader to school....

a soccer player....

and a French architect...

I wish I could figure out the answer to this question.

Teacher Drama

Oh boy!

Another school year starts tomorrow.

Conleigh was over the moon last week when the postcards came informing each child who their teacher would be. She had hoped, and hoped for Ms. Bell.  She doesn't really have a reason to share as to why she wants her, but lo' and behold, the heavens sent her her wish!  

She was doing cartwheels in the yard and screaming she was so excited!

Alex, on the other hand, had no clue who his teacher was and said, "I'm over this, " when I tried to explain who she was. However, when we came inside and I told him his bestie is not in his class, he lost it...just a cryin' like crazy.

Campbell was playing at a friends house and isn't worried at all. I told her we could go and see who is in her class, and she said, "oh, I'll just see who is in there on the first day of school."  Peter and I are a little nervous because she got a fresh-off-the-college-graduation-stage teacher. Campbell needs a lot of help in reading and we didn't really want her to have a new teacher. We were reassured that it would be fine through email communication with the principal.

And, the only request I made for Conleigh was that she have the full-time art teacher who everyone loves. She has only had her one time in four years. Well, she didn't get her. I cannot believe it!

Alex doesn't really have any of his close friends in his class. That is okay. He needs to focus on learning but I think I underestimate how he deals with change. The kid has another cold sore. I wonder if it is anxiety related? He will do fine and is totally adaptable and friendly with all classmates.

We got haircuts for everyone yesterday, and they all know what they are wearing on the first day. I love these kids and am excited to see what this school year brings.

** Update **  Campbell's teacher sent home a ~Do not open until Sunday night~ note for the children. We opened it this evening before bedtime and it had *sweet dream confetti* with a nice note about sleeping well so she could have a great day tomorrow and that the teacher is going to do it as well. Campbell completely bought in and is sleeping with confetti under her pillow. Poin: new teacher!

Last Camp of Summer

 Conleigh and Alex went to theatre camp at a church mid-August. They worked six hours each day for five days and the musical on Sunday morning was terrific!

The show was called, The Old Testament Fast Forward

 Conleigh landed the role of stage manager. It was cute. She got to introduce the show and then kept coming on and asking the audience to change the program because things were running long. It was all part of the show, but she had a fun and funny part.

Alex was in the general chorus and also a lion on Noah's ark. They attended with their besties Emma and Hayden. 

I was thorougly impressed with the program and I hope they'll want to go again next summer.

Hayden & Alex

After the show, a little sibling happy photo.

 It was so great to have my parents come from Houston. Krissy also brought Juliet for the show.

Conleigh and her God mother, Krissy Wilson (and baby Juliet).

All the Hardins love Krissy!

Campbell wasn't old enough to be in the show, but as you can see, she likes to be center stage!

Grades UP!

Peter & I challenged Conleigh to bring her grades up in the last nine weeks of school.  She had been on the A/B Honor roll during the first 18 weeks of school. Then, with the spring term, came a little bit of third grade attitude and less effort on the grade front.  And it showed on the report card.

 We know that time with us without her siblings is very special to Conleigh.  So, we offered her a nice meal out  if she would bring her grades up. She didn't know that I was watching the grades from behind the scenes (Home Access Center), but as soon as that offer was on the table, her grades skyrocketed.

 Needless to say, she ended third grade on the A/B honor roll.

 

Peter and I took her out last Thursday evening to Eddie V's. One of our favorite Austin restaurants. It did not disappoint.  She was very impressed.  She loved the wait staff in tuxedos and the ambiance of the restaurant. She acted so grown up.  For dinner, Conleigh had grilled shrimp and then the restaurant treated her to a Godiva chocolate cake with ice cream dessert...complete with Congratulations written in chocolate.

Peter and I enjoyed special time with our girl as much as she enjoyed it!

Cheers to a successful ending to third grade.

Last day of school! Hip Hip Hooray!

 Hip Hip Hooray! It is summer.  

Spicewood ended the year with a fantastic field day.  Back in the fall, our school won the Rally for Recess contest.  Five schools around the country won a new $20K playground, AND an $8K field day.  There were bubbles, and slides, face painting and bungee jumping, and a DJ with great music! Dannon snacks and sno-cones. I seriously think it is a kid party that cannot be topped!


The younger grades had 2.5 hours in the morning and the older grades had the equivalent  in the afternoon. It was the best last day of school evaaa!


Some of the parents joked that the kindergartners are going to be disappointed next year when they are making foam door tags on the last day of school. :)

Campbell & her bestie Jessica

Alex & his buddy Ren

Love this picture of my bubbly girl!

Laughing that 3rd grade is over!! Yay!

Conleigh and her third grade teacher.

I think I made Mrs. Corbett really laugh because I went into their class when they were eating lunch. Mrs. Corbett said to me, "it sounds like you all will be travelling quite a bit this summer." I said well we'll be going to Florida and hopefully Idaho.

She said, "Conleigh said you are wanting to go to Washington DC." I said, I have never said that in my life.  She laughed and laughed. Then later outside at the party, I asked to take their picture. I held up the camera and said, "say Washington DC."

Again she laughed and said, "you are terrible!" Conleigh wanted to know why I said that. Little does she know... 

After farewells and adios', hugs and goodbyes, we took off in the golf cart to the after school par-tay!