Second Grade

Can you believe it?

Where has the time gone?

Zoe started 2nd grade this week.

And of course, she is LOVING it!

So. Worth. It.

 Last night we attended the T@ylor Swift concert! Our seats were amazing & so was the concert. Paul & I both agree that it was one of the best concerts we've ever seen.

Hunter H@yes & Need to Bre@the opened for her. Once she took the stage, she performed for about 2 1/2 hours. So, so good!

Here are some of the 106 pictures I took. Enjoy! (we sure did!!!)

And here is how Zoe spent the concert - smiling from ear to ear. She was so excited & Taylor did not disappoint!

Back Home

Even though time flies when we're on vacation, it's always nice to get home. School starts again next week for both Zoe & myself. Not ready to go back to work (summer just went way too fast), but I must admit, it will be nice to get back in a routine. Zoe actually starts school a day before me so I will get to take her to her first day of SECOND grade. This will be the first time I've gotten to take her to her first day of school since she started. I'm excited about it. Gotta make sure the battery is charged in the camera!

Until then, we still have several things going on. Zoe has gymnastics this week before getting a week off. She's having all 18 girls in the second grade over Thursday night for a two hour swimming party. Plus, sometime this week I have to get to my own classroom to get it in order for students' arrival next week.

I'm gonna leave you with a few pictures that were taken the last night we were in Orange Beach. Enjoy!

Always smiling!

Always posing!

Friends Abbie & Benneth with Zoe

At The Beach

We are at the ocean & loving it. Too bad vacations always have to come to an end. It's been VERY hot here, but so enjoyable. We are loving our time watching the dolphins each morning from our condo's balcony, spending time with each other & good friends. Yesterday's highlight was watching a stingray swim at the water's edge. We've got a few more days before we have to pack up & head home to reality. Hope you enjoy the pictures thus far!!!

Bennett, Abbie, & Zoe in the pool.

Zoe throwing the football with her tongue out!

Washing the sand off her hands.

Taking a break with Mama's hat on.

Posing with the "sand alligator".

Heading to the water...

Zoe's new friend Asia checking out a sea shell.

This past Saturday we had Paul's mom's side of the family up for a cookout. Everyone had a good time. We swam, ate, talked, laughed, etc. (There's never a dull moment with this side of the family!)

Zoe especially enjoyed playing with her cousin Taylor. They both will be entering second grade in a couple of weeks. This two play so well together. In fact, we didn't hear much out of them for most of the day.

Taylor & Zoe posing for a quick pic!

Acting silly on the trampoline!

Too bad these two don't live closer to each other. As Taylor was leaving, she & Zoe were making plans for the next time they get to see each other!

Good-bye Kusko

About 2 years ago Zoe got a Beta Fish for her bedroom. She was very particular when picking it out. She wanted it to be very colorful but also unique from the rest of the available fish. She ended up getting a blue fish that in certain light looked purple at times too. Very pretty. Once in the car she quickly named her fish Kusko. (at the time that was the name of one of the characters on her favorite tv show - Emp*rers New Gr**ve!)

After arriving home Zoe & her daddy got the fish bowl all set up & carefully placed Kusko in place. The bowl was then placed on Zoe's dresser. And this is where Kusko has stayed the past two years.

That was up until Tuesday (July 12) of last week. See, Paul went in to feed Kusko liket he does every night before bed. However, Kusko was not alive, but dead.

After debating whether to wait until morning, Zoe decided they would go ahead & let Kusko go to his new home. With Daddy's help, Zoe very gently flushed the toilet while holding back tears.

Shortly afterward, I went in to tuck Zoe in for the night & the flood gates opened. Poor Zoe sobbed & sobbed. She ended up laying in bed with us for about an hour while she got all of her sadness out. Before going to her own bed for the night she said, "I'm gonna miss that Kusko. He was a good fish!"

Top 10 Summer List

Until Zoe was selected to the Level 4 gymnastic team at her gym, she was part of the Minis Group. It was made up of about 8 girls who quickly became good friends. Away from the gym Zoe would talk about all of these girls non-stop. Last summer, the Minis Group was split with some of the girls moving up to the competitive team & some moved to the recreational team. Unfortunately, Zoe & Makenna did not end up on the same team. These two have continued to remain friends though. Every time they see each other coming or going to/from the gym, they hug, talk, & catch up just like old times.

Recently, when we were coming to the gym & Makenna & her mom Christine were leaving the gym, Christine told me about Makenna's Top 10 Summer List. Every year Christine has her three youngest children make a list of the top 10 things they want to do over the summer. (Her reasoning is that she doesn't want it to be time to go back to school & the kids be disappointed because they didn't do anything fun or anything they wanted to do.) So, each of her kids made their lists & brought them to show her. Besides the fact that one of her boys put go to New York on his list - she told him to erase it & think of something else because New York is not in their vacation plans this year!!!! - the lists were full of great ideas & activities that would be easy to accomplish.

However, one of the things on Makenna's list would take a little work. Meaning from us - our family. See, Makenna put "stay the night at Zoe's house" as her #2 thing!!!! Once I found this out, I insisted that Makenna spend the night. Not only would it accomplish the #2 activity on her list, but it would be her first sleepover at a friend's. How cool is that?!

So, last Thursday, the 14th, Makenna came home from gymnastics with Zoe & I. We had dinner at a pizza place here in town & then she & Zoe swam & played. Didn't really hear too much out of them from the basement playroom. However, getting the two of them to sleep took a little effort. I think it was finally about 12:30 AM before they finally crashed.

We enjoyed Makenna's company. She is more than welcome to come back anytime. (She & Zoe have that already planned out!) Plus, how can you say no to a face like this? Such a cutie!