It's official! She's a kindergartener! Yea! Here she is checking herself out in the mirror, giving me the "no more pictures, mom" look, and the classic 'on the front porch' pose. We had such a fun morning getting ready, and the bus just couldn't come fast enough. I think Kira asked me about 20 times when the bus was coming and funny enough, it never came. Turns out the driver was there 20 minutes early and when no one got on he just left! Wierd huh. Oh well, we'll be ready earlier tommorrow. She got home okay and told me she had "so much fun!" playing with friends on the playground and doing things in class. Oh my, what a day!

As I sit here blogging my emotions are running wild. Tomorrow is Kira's first day of Kindergarten and I just can't believe it. I can't be old enough to have a child in school, can I? This feels so surreal.

I am so excited that she finally gets to go, for lots of reasons:
1. she is SO SO ready - she is so creative and loves to learn,

2. she can't wait to go and meet new people and have "so much fun mom" so I am excited for her socially,

3. I am excited to have 3 hours with only 2 kids - one of which will be taking a nap so really only one child:)!!!! (I know I am not the only one who feels like this:))

I am also so scared...what if she hates her teacher, what if she doesn't make any friends, what if she won't get on the bus because she is so scared herself, what if she has homework that I can't understand, what if, what if what if...

Oh well. I guess it is here so I will have to be a grown up about it. I am just so proud and excited and scared and nervous and seriously in need of some chocolate to calm me down. I'm off to the pantry.

Today we celebrated our last day of summer before school starts by going to Bear Lake. It was cloudy for most of the day but that didn't stop us. We played hard and laughed lots. What a beautiful place and so much fun! We love Bear Lake, and its Raspberry Shakes:)

I have been looking for some things to do with the kids because summer is winding down and I am all out of ideas. I feel like we've dinosaur parked, zooed, swam to death and I just needed something new to entertain them with. Then I found this list a week or two ago on simplemom.net and I loved the ideas on here for things that you can do inside. (She has more info on each of these if you want to head over there for the her original list.) I know that inside things are more for fall and winter, so here is a head start for next season.

1. Read a book
2. Write a book
3. Act out a book
4. Listen to a book
5. Make a clubhouse
6. Perform a puppet show or play
7. Have a carpet picnic or tea party
8. Make homemade playdough
9. Have the kids help you with chores
10. Bowl down the hall with toilet paper rolls as the pins and balled up socks for the ball
11. Dance around the house
12. Craft on an outdoor table cloth - paint, etc.
13. Write a letter to a friend
14. Have a simple playdate - invite a friend over
15. Play house, shop, restaurant, etc.
16. Rearrange the kids bedroom furniture
17. Make different things out of cardboard boxes
18. Go on a treasure hunt
19. Have the kids help you cook
20. Nothing - have the kids entertain themselves!

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to all climb into mom and dad's bed and cudddle or wrestle or just goof around. Usually this happens on Sunday morning, but today Dad was reading and we all piled on. Everyone was having fun at this exact moment except for Kira - Bryce just head bonked her on her head. Ouch! What are some of your favorite things to do as a family?