The 2nd 1st Day of School

 Last Wednesday, after almost exactly six months away, our schools opened their doors again for students! Both girls were so excited to go back face to face. Emma's school has about 55% of the students coming F2F, and Sara's has about 40%. Students and staff wear masks all day, classrooms have various partitions between students on tables and desks, and cafeteria seating requires distance between kids. Still, getting back to some semblance of normalcy was so exciting! 

Sara took the bus to Robinson for the first time, and Emma made the traditional walk to Daffron. She looks so confident and independent in this picture!

This picture of Emma practicing distancing in the hallway was on the school's Twitter page!

Steve said Jim missed the girls and looked for them all day!

All things considered, the reopening went very smoothly on all sides. Tomorrow starts our first full week F2F ... now that the kids are in, we just have to keep everyone healthy!

More Birthday Fun

Emma had a great 8th birthday celebration! 

On her actual birthday, I had to be at work early, but made a trip for donuts first so the girls woke up to a treat.

Emma requested a McDonald's lunch from Steve, and got to eat it at her new desk!

For dinner, we went to Plucker's -Emma's choice - for wings. Always lots of laughs and fun!

Then we came home for ice cream cake and presents.

Emma's big gifts from us were a new bed and desk, and she was thrilled to also get new legos and cooking items from Auntie, Grandma and Grandpa. Part of the cooking items from Auntie (along with a real knife for chopping), was a make-your-own gummy set. Emma got right to work after soccer the night after her birthday!

Emma's BFF, Greyson, has a birthday just three days after Emma. The girls had a Labor Day weekend soccer tournament, but we made time for the special trip they've been requesting: ear piercing! We went to Sweet & Sassy where they first got their hair done, and then took turns getting their ears pierced with the same earrings: birthstone (sapphire) flowers. Emma was super nervous, but was determined to do it.

It was over before she knew it!

And she was so happy with the result!

Afterwards, we all went to eat at the Cheesecake Factory for a special birthday lunch, but first had to do some shopping around the mall. The girls headed straight to Claire's for more earrings! Meanwhile, Sara, who had asked me a few days earlier to go to the mall with a friend (OMG), used the time to do a little shopping of her own. It was a good way for both of us to test the waters with allowing her to shop on her own. She bought a few shirts and a necklace and generally made good decisions.

It sure was a fun day for these girls and their moms!

 It's hard to believe this is a house of big kids only now. Today we babysat for an 18-month-old ... Steve and I had forgotten how busy they are! It was a lot of fun. Makes me miss my babies, but I really love watching my growing girls become smart, beautiful young ladies!

Crazy Eight

Our Emma Grace is 8 today. And because she is who she is, it's Crazy Eight in our world. But the good kind of crazy, of course.  At 8, Emma loves to cook. She has mastered pancakes, eggs, and chopping veggies. She tends to like the cooking more than the eating, and is ready to get back to school where, in her opinion, the food is so good.

Emma is smart, funny, and passionate. She has a large vocabulary, and she loves to use it. Our car rides to practice or the store or wherever are forever filled with her chatter. Sometimes she's looking for responses and sometimes she just wants to do the talking. Her comments and expressions sound more and more like Sara everyday. Emma wants so badly to be like her big sister, but of course won't admit it.

Emma still loves playing legos, organizing her school supplies, making slime, playing cards, and playing on her tablet. She loves to help people and is so often the leader of the pack. She's the one who hugs and won't let go, and the one who asks me to chant "chug, chug" when she's polishing off some lemonade.

Between multiple soccer and softball commitments each week, this sporty spice never wants to miss a practice, and certainly not a game. She plays hard, responds to coaching, shows leadership, and really *really* really hates to lose.

This kid is full of fire and independence, a strong will and confidence, empathy and love. Her story is one grand adventure.

Happy Birthday, Emma Grace. Here's to Crazy Eight!