Back to the grindstone

This is the face they made when I asked them how they felt about the first day of school.

This is the face they made when I asked them how they felt about their summer.

So stinking tall these days. T. is up to my shoulder and A. is not too far behind her. There will come a day when I believe I will be the runt in the family. T. is almost the same size shoes as me as well.

T. and Charlie who always likes to try and sneak in their backpacks as he misses his girls so much.

Loaded down with 4th grade supplies!

Loaded down with 2nd grade supplies.

Our NINE year old girl...

My cousin and her adorable son helped us celebrate this milestone day!

T. and A. with their cousin who they adore!!!

So if you have ever been to one of our bday parties then you know typically a Costco cake is involved as I am not a baker by trade and I LOVE CAKE! However, T. has some sort of genetic mutation that leaves her not loving cake (she announced this to my great dismay a couple of years ago). She requested a HOMEMADE cheesecake - does she not know me at all? So I did my best and made a pretty amazing cheesecake if I do say so myself. The real topper was I decided to get a little gourmet (and I had 17 lbs of blackberries needing to be used in various ways) so I made this really yummy blackberry sauce to go on top. It looked like a blackberry bomb went off in my kitchen, and now I have a feeling I will be making this a lot in our house.

To honor T.'s big day this year we opted against the typical 30 kid backyard bash which typically leaves me done in for a while afterwards. Instead, T. was allowed to invite 3 special friends to go to POJO's. I will take a moment to brag on her and say that she invited as one of her friends one of her sister's special friends (so her little sis would have someone to hang with as well). It is in those moments, that I think ok I am doing some of this parenting thing ok. It was a great day that we ended with a small family dinner and I am pretty sure we showered her in the love and joy she deserves!

Her individual style is most definitely showing these days. She refuses to wear anything that looks even remotely "girlie," and often complains at how awful girl fashion is. I told her she could shop in the boy department - I think she seriously is going to take me up on it. Sigh....