School has finally started!

We started school in Wisconsin and wow was I ready for them to get back. Actually, they were ready too. My girls all operate really well with some routine and instruction. With Charlotte starting 1st grade, she's really hitting the big stuff now.

Our school year isn't all work. Elsa is taking a fun class at the YMCA and Gretchen will be taking a dance class on Wednesdays after school. Her 4-K class is only half-days. This is her first time taking anything like that and I know she's always wanted to. We have some passed-down dance outfits so all she needed was a new pair of ballet shoes. Gretchen also got her ears pierced!!! Lavender jewels. So far she has been taking very good care of her ears and is in LOVE with having them pierced. I know she's only 4.5yo but she was ready and knew exactly how they pierced ears and that it would hurt. She just simply wanted it done!

Cow Showing for 4-H

This past month the girls showed baby calves at the County Fair. Our 4-H group hooked the tikes up with a farm and some baby cows. It sure was an interesting adventure. Both Charlotte and Gretchen were troopers! Their cow, Peanut Butter, was a stubborn little girl. The kids had to walk them around the ring, keep the cows head in line with it's spine, know their name and birthday, and of course smile at the judge. Neither one came close to winning but it made them excited enough to try again next year. I'm so glad the braved something new and stepped out of their comfort zone.

Family Photo

At least once per year I try to get a good family photo without spending a fortune. I can manage to get nice pictures of the girls but never with Kevin and myself in it too. The photographer I'm using for the Ollie and Olina photo shoot was doing mini sessions. We were able to just purchase one digital image!! I've been super disappointed with family photos in the past so it really made me smile to capture such a great moment on film. If you have kids you know it's near impossible to get them all to look at the camera at the same time and have a good smile on. Charlotte's expression is priceless. I'm in love.

Tanya Haswell, owner of Now It's Personal Photography, did a wonderful job! We took photos at 7:30pm on a beautiful night and even used one of my personal favorite quilts to sit on. (It's the summer sampler series.)

I'm wearing a beautiful shirt by Escapada that I purchased at Everve. Kevin has on his favorite puckerware shirt from Patagonia and the girls are wearing coral and blue dresses from Gymboree. I love the color coordination but not the matchy-matchy that this color platform gave us.

Charlotte Finishes Kindergarten

Today Charlotte graduated from kindergarten from St. Francis Borgia Catholic School​. We have been a part of the school community for three years and each year somehow is far superior to the year before. The teachers are seriously magical. The doors have closed and the kids will enter a NEW school next fall-- they are very blessed! Gretchen will be there in one more year, for kindergarten.

We are so proud of this 6yo. She's probably the last in class to loose a tooth (was pulled at the dentist a few weeks ago) but is an awesome reader and has a kind heart. Besides academics, Charlotte has learned a lot about herself including when to be patient, when to step down, and when to be good when it really counts. These things I'm most proud of her for.

As for a jungle ornithologist, she came up with this on her own. She said, "I want to live in the jungle and take care of parrots and other birds." I had to look it up, but I knew there was somebody who did things like that. Next in line was still her option to be a rock star, but that really is not going to be an option for her (vocally).

Gretchen Graduates from 3K

Today Gretchen graduated from 3K. She's been in the program for over a year and is now four. I have had such a wonderful experience with the Early Childhood program at Grafton Elementary School. The teachers are magical! With Gretchen's speech apraxia, she really struggled to find her words and has some motor planning issues. The staff, including OT and speech, have helped tremendously! Gretchen is almost always confident in herself and finally has some opinions. She plays well with others and most people just love her.

We are super proud of what she's overcome. This summer will be filled with summer school (speech) and lots of playing. We are going to work on /s/ sounds at home and some other things like writing her name and letter recoginition. She can write her name, legibily, but we'll work on making it better.

It's hard not to love this little face and fashionista. Although she now wants to be a nurse doctor, I have a feeling we may see some fashion in her future.

it's your special day

I love starting new traditions at our house. It makes me feel like I'm making it my family. At my mom's house she has a "Special Day" plate. It's not from when I was a kid because I don't remember it at all. However, the grandkids always fight over it when we go there. It got me thinking... we should have a special day plate at the LaPean house!

I never got around to it.

Enter a great MOMS Night out at Glaze in Thiensville-- a do-it-yourself pottery place. I had been meaning to go there and I wish I would have gone sooner. It was awesome and I can't wait to make a million more projects (look out Christmas).

I made our family a special day plate. It took awhile to gain some inspiration but I'm super pleased with how it turned out. It's the size of a dinner plate. My handwriting is good considering I've never really done this before. But there is certainly room for improvement.

So, get out there and create a new tradition for your house. It's ok to copy another person, if it's new to your family and it will be fun, that's all that matters. The girls are already fighting over who gets to use it. See, that's the deal though, it's has to be your special day! No arguments then!

kid's art line

When Charlotte started coming home with artwork from preschool almost every day I knew we had to come up with a plan. She wanted me to keep and hang all of her stuff and there just isn't enough wall in our house to do that. I had seen an art line at someone else's house and knew this wall in our family room would be perfect.

The wire is from Ikea and cost like $7-- cheap! Kevin installed it for me and the hooks for it are also from Ikea. I also wanted to have a decal to put over the line and this one seemed to fit great for what my vision was. I think I ordered it from wallquotes.com but can't really remember. I had a hard time putting it up and really getting the letters to stick and be smooth. I also put it up crooked. Luckily it was easy to re-position. The end product turned out great. Now two of the girls love to hang their recent art work on the "art line" and proudly display what they have created. 

No mess all over my windows and everybody can see it. Now, take a trip to Ikea and make one for yourself! I've also seen people use the 1/2" curtain rods to hang the work too.

please support a local mom

This week a mom I know from MOMS Club lost her husband. Their second son is in Charlotte's 4K class. He left a wife and three sons (under 7) behind. It's awful and sad. The community I live in has come togethter to show support faster than I've ever seen anything accomplished.

We are all working to support her financially as best we can (funeral expense) and also help to supply meals even months from now.

Here is a link to donate money directly to her family: http://www.gofundme.com/8lz9qg

Anything you can donate would help her and her three kids.

Afer I heard the news I seriously couldn't imagine that happening and how devastated I would be to lose my hubby. Our girls would be affected forever. So little. So little understanding.

Please help and pray.