Khloe's 1st Week Back to Pre-K & Dance

We decided (towards the end of the summer) that Khloe needed to go back to Pre-K this year. Not because of intelligence by any means... the little girl is extremely smart and is testing on a 1st grade level (able to read words and small sentences, knows all her letters and words they begin with, counting to 100, spell her full name and write it, knows her address/city/state, knows her birthday and year, counting simple addition (all her 1s, 2s and 3s), etc.).  The decision to have her repeat Pre-K was based on her size alone... she is absolutely so petite. All of her friends hover over her and are at least 6"+ taller than her. Everyone thinks she is 3 or 4 years old. Since she has a summer birthday and her birthday fell just a few weeks before the Kindergarten cut-off date, it was best to let her grow a little more. Plus, her speech isn't entirely where we would like it to be at this point (keeping in mind she just had surgery last Fall to correct her cleft condition). The worst that can happen is that she goes on to start Kindergarten next year and they decide to have her skip a grade or two. But, hey, at least she will have grown a little more by then. Ha!

Khloe was so excited to be going back in to Miss Suzie/Miss Debbie's Pre-K class, again. this year. She truly loves them and loves her classroom! It is by far the best Pre-K and we are blessed to get to be part of this school environment for another year. Yay Khloe!

Here is Khloe on her first day back to Pre-K...

Khloe is beyond thrilled to be dancing, again, this year! She is our little dancer... and it really is her favorite passtime... besides playing with her new pony, Champ. Khloe goes to the best dance school in our state (in my opinion) and she has the best dance teachers... whom she loves and they love her, too. It's one big family.

Khloe was back in action this week at dance. She took the summer off, to unwind and not have any obligations or be on a schedule. But, now she is ready to be back in the routine of things...  and back on her own routine. She started back at Ballet/Tap and Hip Hop/Jazz dance this year. This is her 3rd year of Ballet/Tap and her 2nd year of Hip Hop/Jazz. She loves them equally!

Here she is back in dance mode:

I absolutely love this age... They are so much fun and everything is so innocent! Here's to a fantastic year in PreK and Dance, Khloe girl!! We love you!

Peyton's 1st Day Back to HS

We have high hopes and big dreams for our son, Peyton! He has such a big heart and shows it everywhere he goes. He has gotten compliments (almost daily) since he was a toddler on his manners and kindness. When he was little, bitty he would help elderly with their groceries or hold doors for people... always proclaiming his good manners, too, with "thank you" and "please." He has always been the kid who asks me to stop to spare some change to a homeless person or simply show a smile to others (especially if they are having a bad day). He always tells his parents that he loves them and is always concerned with our well-being (making sure I'm not driving with my phone in my hand or speeding). Just a downright GOOD kid... and I am so very proud of him! I cannot put into words all the joy he has brought to my life and I am so thankful to God for him! I'm not sure where all the time has gone, but it won't be long and he will be out in this big (crazy) world on his own... and I have the comfort of knowing that he will be just fine. He is a smart kid... with loads of common sense and good morals.

With that said, today was Peyton's 1st day back to High School... a BIG Sophomore this year! What?!! No way! But, he is... (sniff, sniff) Here's to a wonderful school year this year, Son... and do me a favor - QUIT growing! Ha!

Now, keep your head in the books... and not on the girls this year... and you will prove to have a successful year! We love you, Son!

Arrival Killarney Park Hotel- Killarney, Ireland - (Day 1)

Our Summer 2014 Trip this year is Ireland. Kevin chose Ireland, because it is one place he has heard so much about (even having heritage there many decades ago)... yet, one of the few places that he has never explored. It didn't take much thought (at all) when he chose Ireland as our next exploration destination. We truly are blessed that we are able to take these amazing trips all around the world... God is too good!

Our first destination city in Ireland was Killarney. Today, after a very hectic flight schedule... and no sleep at all on the airplane, we arrived many hours later in Shannon, Ireland Airport. It was a tiny airport, but it didn't matter... It wasn't long until we jumped onto a travel bus to our first destination city in Ireland - the city of Killarney. We were troopers and stayed awake through it all (although, exhaustion did kick in after dinner). Our hotel was very Irish and beautiful - The Killarney Park Hotel.

Here is Killarney Park Hotel in Killarney, Ireland (our home for 3 days)...

Inside the Killarney Park Hotel (and our room)...

We were able to quickly view the shoppes in Town Centre Killarney (across the street from our hotel). It was quite the Irish district... with pubs every 20 feet, trinket shops and other Irish shops and dive in diners (quick and super fresh food). Side-by-side shops for miles... and colorful. Killarney is located in the South West part of Ireland.

Town Centre Shoppes and City view...

Our first day in Ireland proved to be wonderful! With a little jet lag, we called it an early night (after our welcome dinner). There is lots to be seen these next 10 days... Good night!

4th of July Celebration

Our family really loves watching the fireworks show... not so much participating in lighting dangerous firecrackers. Ha!  This year Kevin had a grand idea to rent a room in our newest downtown hotel (on the top floor) to view the city's firework show from our window! He  invited some of his special clients to enjoy the show with us (we providing drinks/appetizers), along with Kevin's parents. Bentonville, also, had their monthly city festival (First Friday on the Square) going on simultaneously with the fireworks show. So, Khloe got to get her face painted and ride the ponies BEFORE watching the big fireworks show! Too much fun!

Here are some pictures of the evening...

We hope all our friends/family had a wonderful 4th of July! Happy Birthday, America!!

XO

Khloe's Turns 5!

Where have FIVE YEARS gone?? I cannot believe that our baby girl is 5 years old today! Our sweet girl has hit such a milestone. She has the most precious demeanor, big/loving heart, funny/outgoing/spunky personality... and loves life so much! What a blessing she has been to our family. I am so privileged and blessed that God chose her to be our daughter. She has such a great relationship with her brother, too. They adore each other (as long as she's not trying to annoy him). Ha!

This past year, Khloe enjoyed her 2nd year of dance... incorporating Hip/Hop & Jazz on top of Ballet and Tap Dance. She had surgery to repair the muscles in her palate. She grew a couple inches (not much... dropping to the 22% in height of children her age).  She dresses herself... and gained her own fashion sense. She can now count to 100, identify several words, tell you her address, advancing in her speech and so much more... She is completely ready for Kindergarten (knowledge/books-wise), however, because of her situation (height, being the youngest in Kindergarten and her speech not being where I want it), we might let her repeat PreK... It will only advance her more, by the time she starts Kindergarten. We are not 100% sure what we will do at this point... it is literally up in the air. She is already enrolled in Kindergarten... which starts next month, but we'll see. I'm doing a tug of war in my mind and juggling the pros and cons. Ugh!! She really doesn't care, either way. Khloe will begin her 3rd year of dance starting August. Wow!

Khloe has so many friends... whom all she really cherishes. She loves to learn, read, write, create things (loves projects), dance, sing and play her instruments. She is an outdoor junky (like Daddy)... she would live outside if we would let her. She, also, loves to dress up and loves to be a girly girl. (If you don't know her blog address, just ask... I blog about her daily outings/outfits almost every day!) Khloe is very close to her Papaw and Nana... and loves her other grandparents, too. Everyone loves Khloe!!

Today, she got to choose what she wanted to do on her big, milestone birthday. She wanted to get a Pedicure at her favorite kid's nail salon. She chose blue polish for her toenails... she said for the 4th of July (in a few days). Smart girl! I tried to talk her in to pink, but she wasn't agreeing. ;)

Here are some photos from her Pedicure Session...

Khloe was treated to a special birthday surprise this morning. She woke up to Papaw/Nana at our house... Nana was making her biscuits and gravy for breakfast -with a birthday candle in it. So special. After breakfast, Khloe opened all her presents from her friends (from her party)... and our presents to her, too. She didn't want to waste any time! 

After her morning of breakfast, opening gifts and getting her toenails done... She wanted to play at the Water Park in town. It was a nice breezy day. So, Mommy and Bubby enjoyed time with her in the sun! 

Daddy met up with Birthday Girl at the Splash Park!!

After much fun in the Sun, our Birthday Girl (Big 5 Year old) wanted to eat dinner at one of her favorite restaurants in town... We obliged! She chose fish for dinner. After dinner, we headed home... where Khloe finally got to eat her birthday cake (from her party a couple of days ago - we forgot to eat it at her party. Ha)!

One last little surprise for our little birthday sweetie... Mommy wrote a "Happy Birthday" message (in chalk) to Khloe on our back patio! Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl of ours!!

We hope you had a very wonderful Milestone Birthday, Sweet Khloe! Wishing you an amazing next year... We know you will excel in all areas and continue to blossom into a Princess. XO