Dad's Personal Helper

Paul is the commissioner of a fantasy N*scar league. Each week he spends a couple of hours researching who the best drivers are at certain tracks. He then makes his picks for that week's race & writes it in the official "Somewhat Redneck" fantasy N*scar score book with his lucky pen. Well, Zoe has taken an interest in his duties as commissioner. She has looked through the score book numerous times & often seeks her dad's input on what things say (cause she can't read his writing!!!) & mean.

Since starting kindergarten, Zoe takes every opportunity she can to write letters, words, & numbers. After supper tonight Paul needed to get the score book ready for this week's race in Atlanta. Somehow Zoe talked her way into being Dad's personal helper. And, I might add, did a very good job.

Using Dad's lucky pen to organize the score book.

Writing what Dad tells her to - with a smile no doubt.

This is Dad's writing....

And this is Zoe's.....

I think Paul better hang on to her as an assistant. Her hand writing is unbelievable & much easier to read than his. Hmm....not bad for a 5 year old!!!!

Last Chance at Giveaway!!!!

Update: I have extended the entry for the giveaway until Thursday, September 3rd.

Thursday is the last chance to get in on the Back-to-School Giveaway that I am having. Zoe will be drawing the winner tomorrow!!!! Here's the scoop:

As most of you know, I have a care package business, Packaged with Care, that specializes in care packages for college students & military personnel. With college kids going back to school & many of them it being their first time away from home for an extended period, wouldn't it be wonderful to put a smile on their faces as they open their mailboxes at school & surprise them with a care package? I mean really, who doesn't love 'em some fun mail?!

So, here's the deal:
I am going to draw one name tomorrow (Friday, September 4th) for the entire prize. The winner will be able to send a total of 3 care packages. Now, the winner can either pick one person to receive all 3 packages (one in September, one in October, & one in November) or the winner can choose to send 1 care packaged each to three different students or military personnel. You decide.

How do you enter? Thought you'd never ask!!!!

1 Entry - Leave me a comment suggesting a children's charity to feature on Packaged with Care in the upcoming months. (This charity would receive 15% of the profits.)

3 Entries - Put one of my Packaged with Care buttons on your blog. (See side of my blog for button.)

5 Entries - Post to your blog about my Back-to-School Giveaway & Packaged with Care while linking back to both.

15 Entries - Do all three.

Whatcha waiting for? Get entered! You could brighten someone's day!

G*itar H*ro Lovin' Girl

Zoe has recently reconnected with her H*annah M*ontana guitar that she received for Christmas. She loves that thing. It plugs into the tv & works just like G*itar Her*. In fact, she thinks she's playing G*itar Her*! (We haven't old her any different.) Paul showed her the other night how to actually work the buttons so she could get a better score. Now she is hooked & determined to beat her Dad's scores - which she did tonight!!!

Concentrating....

Smiling cause I told her she was about to beat her Dad!

Photo Shoot Zoe Style!

(Warning: A Lot of Pictures)

It was an absolutely gorgeous day in the 70's. Zoe & I spend quite a bit of time outside. She wanted to ride her tricycle (which is way too small for her) in the driveway. No problem. I read a book & took some pictures of her while she banged her knees peddled away.

She finally got tired of hitting her knees so she moved to her bicycle. (She's getting a new one for her birthday because it's too little also.)

After a while she decided to dump the bike & start doing gymnastics in the driveway.

Zoe enjoyed me taking her picture that she decided it was time for a photo shoot. She would strike a pose & then tell me when to take the picture. See what ya think:

Orange is the New Fav!

Zoe's pre-school that she attended the last two years used the color behavior reward system:

Green = Good

Yellow = Warning

Red = Time Out with a Note to Parent

What a surprise to her when Mrs. Green, her kindergarten teacher, introduced the same color behavior reward system, but with a twist! She added the color orange.

Orange = Great

Much to our delight, Zoe brings her behavior sheet home each night in her parent/teacher communication folder (love that folder!!!) so we can see what color she got for the day. So far, so good. After one week of school, Zoe's on a roll! She received orange every day!

Pizzas, Hair, Homework, & Lunch

For some reason when I was traveling up & down the aisles of the grocery store today, homemade pizza sounded really good. After picking Zoe up from daycare, we came home & got started on dinner. I basically let her make the pizzas. (And, I must admit, they were probably two of the best homemade pizzas we have ever had!)

Putting the last of the ingredients on the pizza.

Smiling for the camera!

Before putting in the oven.

While on vacation in June, Zoe had a piece of her hair braided. The lady who did it told us that it could stay in for 3-6 months, depending on how much Zoe messed with it. She has been very good about leaving it alone. However, it looked like it was beginning to fray (her hair) at the top. So tonight we decided to take it out. It wasn't very hard to do, but it took about 45 minutes. (or almost two episodes of H*nnah M*ontana as Zoe told her dad!)

Before taking the braid out.

Zoe's second day of school was great. She had her first homework assignment tonight: decorating a construction paper t-shirt that had to have her name on it. I thought she did a terrific job:

Pretty good (especially for a 5 year old, huh?!)!

Last night Zoe told me that she wanted to take her lunch today. So I got everything made & packed her bag. When I picked her up from daycare today I asked her how her lunch was (She had me pack her chicken noodle soup.) & if the soup stayed hot. She told me it was perfect. I then asked her if she ate the potato chips & snack that I had also put in her lunch bag. She then told me she didn't eat those because she didn't see them in there & she didn't know they were in there. Well, I questioned whether Paul had reminded her what was in her lunch bag this morning before he dropped her off at school. She told me that Daddy hadn't said anything about the chips or snack. Well, when Paul got home from work this evening I asked him about it & he said that yes indeed he had told her about it & even showed them to her because he re-packed everything. So then we questioned her about it again. Her reply - Oh, that must have been when I wasn't listening!!!! (hey, at least she'll admit it!)

First Day Adventures!!!!

Well, today was Zoe's big adventure - 1st Day of Kindergarten. I kissed her bye this morning & then cried myself to work! Paul woke Zoe up a while later & in no time she was dressed, had her hair in a pony tail, ate breakfast, washed her face, brushed her teeth, & was ready to go. Since I couldn't be there Paul was given strict orders to take pictures.

In our driveway preparing to leave for Kindergarten!

Standing next to the school's sign.

Hugging on her friend Chloe.

Sitting in the bleachers for the first time with some friends.

For some reason, Zoe looks to be the only happy one!

They called her class to go to their room.

Walking down the hall for the first time as a Kindergartner!

Taking her seat for the first time. (as Mrs. Green consoles a little boy)

She is ready to get the day started.

Today was only a half day attendance. She says she had a great time & stayed on orange which means superior behavior for the day. Zoe told us that Mrs. Green read a book about a Gingerbread Man & then the class had to figure out clues & find him because he actually jumped out of the book & ran away. She was so excited telling us about it because each student made his/her own gingerbread man to bring home. Here's hers:

Cute, huh?

Zoe was also thrilled because she received this from Mrs. Green today:

Overall, I would say it was a great day. She loved her first day & is eager for tomorrow. So eager in fact, she had no trouble falling asleep. But not before telling her dad to wake her up in the morning by saying - "Surprise. It's your second day of kindergarten!"

(That's my girl. Already counting the days before summer break! Actually, if you must know, there are only 179 more school days before summer. For some reason, we teachers keep track of that!!!!

(Don't forget about my big giveaway in honor of back-to-school.)

Closer to the BIG Day

After being sick for the last couple of weeks, I was really feeling guilty that Zoe's summer was ending like it was - cooped up in the house, playing by herself, etc. So, once I was back on my feet & feeling like a new women I decided that the two of us would spend a girls days doing something that she loved. I let her pick & here is what she chose:

Build-a-Be*r

Picking out her bear...

Getting ready to stuff it...

Pressing the pedal so the stuffing goes in...

Giving Mom a big smile...

Kissing the heart before placing inside...

Bathing "Princess Peach"...

Getting the bear dressed...

Making her a mermaid bear...

All finished - "Princess Peach" the Mermaid Bear!!!

I'm not a real big fan of the build, but it was all about Zoe on this day. It's what she wanted to do & she was so excited. I must admit that she has played with "Princess Peach" everyday since making her. (We'll see how long that lasts!)

Tomorrow is Zoe's big day - first day of Kindergarten. We had orientation tonight. (Paul & I didn't realize that going to kindergarten had gotten so complicated. Shoot, I teach 7/8 grade & I guess I just take most of those reminders for granted.) Once home we were pretty rushed with getting Zoe settled for bed. But, not before Zoe informed Paul how she wanted him to wake her up in the morning:

He is to say - "Zoe, it's your first day of kindergarten" as he puts his arms up in the air!

We'll let you know how it goes tomorrow night!