Ell's first day of kindergarten

After all of the postponing of school due to the power outages, Ell finally had her first day of school on Friday. She went in from 12:45-2:45 for a parent orientation and get to know your teacher with half of her class.
Ell outside of her classroom.
Ell in her cubby.
Ell and I on her first day of school.
Ell with her teacher, Ms. Conklin, in their getting to know one another (and get used to your technology) lesson.
Ell in action in her classroom.
Inside her school.
Outside her school.
Ell's first story time in kindergarten. There are a total of 23 students in her class. She told me she had a good time meeting some of her new friends.
Looks to me that she will have a fantastic time in kindergarten!

Day at the MD State Fair

Thanks to Irene we had nearly a week off of school due to massive power outages in the state. Ell was supposed to start on Monday but as the week progressed we were wondering when she would actually start. Hopefully, it would be before October!! Oh well, there was a lot of 'plan B' going on this week!
Monday we headed to the MD State Fair.
Ell had lots of fun riding the rides...
... and petting the animals.
She even rode the big Ferris wheel!

Hurricane Irene

Damage and debris from Irene as seen on Sunday morning.
Lots of down trees.
Ell's bacon-stache at the pancake store. Lucky for us they were one of the only places with power, and coffee, on Sunday morning.
Then during cleanup... hire child labor!
Saturday we headed to Fells Point for 'plan B'... Brunch with Julie and a front row seat for the Irene prep.
Lots of sand bagging.
And the rain begins!! Ell and I on Thames St in Fells.
Ell and Julie with their 'hurricane thinking putty'.
Ell and I ready for the rain!
Fancy drinks and dessert with the girls.
Julie, Ell, and I
Ell in Fells.
Irene prep.
People loading up sand bags and getting ready for the flooding that Irene will bring.

Sneak a Peek at Your Seat Night

It was sneak a peek at your seat night at Ell's new school. Here are a bunch of pictures of her new classroom...

August fun

Wacky Day at school (LOL).
Since it was her last week at pre-K, Ell put this outfit together so she would go out with a bang... She did a great job!
Tie die time with the Slowiks.

Hair by Ell's design.

Fun in the Summertime

This past week we have been fortunate enough to have, quite possibly, the most perfect weather in August... mid-80s, sunny, and skies with bouncing puffy clouds, the kind you lay back in the grass and try to figure out the shapes. Saturday morning, Ell and I wanted to enjoy the last bits before the rains began so we took a nature walk at Loch Raven Reservoir after lunch.
Sometimes you can choose to sit inside and let the grey clouds weigh on your mood. Other times you can choose to join the falling raindrops and let them wash away your cares, fears, your inhibitions. You can join them as they drip, drop, and splash on the ground. You can listen to the Mother Nature's soothing drums, throw caution to the wind, and enjoy one of the purest joys... Dancing in the rain.
Saturday on our nature walk. We spotted many things... Deer tracks (mamma and baby), mussel shells, tiny fish, and many smiles!
MB and Ms. Beth being silly at Hunt Valley on Friday night... The girls all enjoyed music by The Bridge, dinner by The Greene Turtle, and fun by us!
Ell and Kiley on Friday night hamming it up!
Sometimes you just need to, "AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Here is Ell's Big Kid School Jam... Enjoy!

Back to school shopping

We went to Target to do our Back to School shopping on Sunday morning while we were still in Virginia Beach so that both Bill and I could be with Ell while we gathered her school supplies for Kindergarten. Here Ell and Bill are assessing the notebooks. We need a 1" binder with a clear pocket.
Back to School!!
Ell and her supply list.
Picking out her folders... One yellow and one blue.
Deciding which scissors she should take to school.