Alyssa

This girl definitely marches to the beat of her own drum, and not anyone elses.  She has a style like no other, and I LOVE it!  Here is a fancy hairstyle she instructed me step by step to help her with.

Alyssa got a haircut the night before picture day in september.  For the longest time, she had complained when I cut her hair when she was 3.  Then about a month before this, she asked for another cut.  I was sure she wouldn't like it, but she kept at it, so we did it.  I went for the poneytail method, then tailoring after.  Worked pretty well and her kinder teacher's comment was, "I didn't think you could get any cuter!"

Before

During

 After

Keeping up with a little girls' hair is tough.  Now we've got her outfits.  These are all quite tame, need to capture the crazy ones.  She wants to put leggings under her dress, which I love.  Much cuter than hidder shorts.

Then this outfit below is actually Cali's.  It's a dress I found at good will, but Alyssa thought it was a shirt for her...very cute, I must say!

This is her showing off her favorite book for a class project.  I LOVe her smile in both!

She also really wanted to play soccer.  I was late for registration and after a bit of scrambling, found a league that was willing to take her just before the first practice.  She quickly found it wasn't for her, but after urging, she continued out the season with happiness;)  She even scored a few goals here and there.

Her friend, Kate is in her class at church, school, and lives around the corner.  A cute little gal, and they finally got to play against each other in their last game.

Love my vivacious, adorable little 5 year old girl;)

finishing august

Michael was called to be the cubmaster, and Kristen got to hang her scout hat on the shelf (hallelujah).

Alyssa was a Texas Star all summer....she really got into the singing and hand movements, and her new friend Savannah joined her each week.  She had 2 performances at the end.  The first, she invited her friends Avery and Riley to come (sisters).  Dad and brothers also braved the long show.  We then went out to eat to celebrate.

The fam stayed home for Alyssa's second performance, and Savannah's mom Caroline and I took the girls out for a McDonald's ice cream cone to celebrate.  The girls were a little hyper...first day of kindergarten was the next day.

This same friend, Caroline, had a birthday and we went out with other friends. I didn't know her before we moved, but I heard about her from our commen friend, Emily.  Emily is next to Caroline below.  Emily was in my ward at church, but was college roommates with Caroline and she knew I was moving into her ward boundaries.  Our kids match up perfectly (she has boy,boy, girl, girl, girl) just one extra girl more than me in there:)  She is a crafter like me, and we try to go jogging a few mornings a week.  She is a great friend. 

My friend Jenny invited us out to her parents lakehouse.  Jenny has twin boys Cali's age, and is a budding photographer, and I've had the chance to mentor her a bit. I had actually been to their lakehouse before 6 years ago for a YW sleepover, but didn't know Jenny at the time.  Kinda strange to go again.  Her mom informed my children upon arrival that she trumps parents with her one rule: You can have as many ice cream treats as you want out of the freezer.  Um....I'm ok with that.  I helped myself to a few, too!

Michael went out to wakeboard with Jenny's parents and we came to relax.  He was very excited to get up for the first time, but on the first go up, he broke his finger.  Not realizing it, he kept going.  It would be in a finger cast for at least 2 months after.  Totally worth it, he said.

Then Cali was just getting into stuff at home...

Then, to completely sum up the month of August, we have Michael sub coaching the boys basketball game:

 should I say that the below facial expression is exactly what I would have done?

 THE END of August!