Aubrey's First Day of Kindergarten:: Ikego Elementary, Japan

First off Daddy got home just in time for Aubrey's first day of school. We welcomed him home with lots of kisses and hugs the evening before school started. The girls had the biggest smiles when they saw him and started running to him. It was a precious moment in time.

The next morning Aubrey woke up bright and early and came running into our room all ready to go to her first day of school! Ikego Elementary is just a few steps from our townhouse on base which is so convenient. I am so thankful for Aubrey's excitement for learning and school and can't wait to see what this year holds for her in Ms. Carlin's class. I can't believe our little girl is already in Kindergarten, time has gone by so fast for this mamma!

I was a tad emotional this morning and sort of forgot to brush Reagan's hair!

She spotted the school mascot (Ikego Fireflies) as they were lining up outside!

As soon as Ms. Carlin lined her up she didn't stop smiling!

Ms. Carlin-we feel really blessed to have her as Aubrey's first teacher.

Waving bye bye as she headed into class.

Aubrey had a great first day! When I picked her up she immediately asked "Mommy do I get to come back tomorrow?" When I told her yes she started jumping up and down and then raced off with some of her new friends.

Aubrey is 5!!!!!

Today Aubrey Lynn turned FIVE years old. I am still in shock. I look at these pictures and don't understand how and when she got so big! Even though her only birthday wish didn't come true (wanted Daddy to be home) we had a great day together. Aubrey woke up to a room full of balloons and then we ate heart shaped pancakes at her request:) We opened a few small presents (she got a bike when Daddy was home) and then headed to a new park in Zushi right outside of our base. The park was tons of fun and we stayed WAY later than I expected. I forgot my cell phone though so I don't have any pictures. The girls played so hard they needed baths immediately when we came home! Anyways, the day ended with a pizza party while watching Frozen and ice cream birthday cake!

Birthday Breakfast

Ice cream cake!

Happy Birthday Aubrey! You are an incredible little girl that blesses our lives immensely! I am impressed daily how you adjust to new situations and make friends everywhere you turn. You make everything more fun! You take such good care of your sissy and she looks up to you so much already. We love watching you grow but could you slow down a little?  We love you so much!

Santa

We took the girls to see Santa last night after dinner. They were so excited! I wasn't sure if Reagan would like him up close this year but I guess our long talk about Santa paid off because she really enjoyed sitting on his lap. Apparently the girls want snow globes for Christmas?!?

Haircuts

Today I took the girls to my friends house who does my hair so they could get a haircut. Aubrey's hair is so long it takes forever to dry, tangles easily, and is really hard for this "not good at hair" mom to manage. She did not want to get it cut at first, she said "no mommy I want to be like Tangled and have super long hair forever" but I convinced her that if we cut it, it will grow back longer and healthier. She ended up getting really excited to go to Georgia's and couldn't stop talking about her "hair apt" all morning long.

Before

After!

I have never cut Reagan's hair so this was the first trim! Reagan did great in the chair, she watched Aubrey go first which I think helped. She sat very still (which she never does for me!) while Georgia cut away. It was really close to her nap time and she almost fell asleep during the cut!

Reagan before

After! 

(see those tired eyes)

Fall Leaves

The girls have been begging to play in a pile of leaves. So the day after Thanksgiving Nate raked up a huge pile as well as blew leaves on the girls as they jumped in! It was 30 minutes of pure fun. 

Halloween 2013

The girls had so much fun trick-or-treating together this year! They were so cute running up to each house. Nate set up the fire pit in our driveway and our friend Ryan handed out candy while we took the girls trick-or-treating. It was fun to come back to the fire after we were done and have dinner next to it while watching other kids trick-or-treat. Here are some pics to remember it by, its always hard to get pics among costumes and candy chaos!

Our little green fairy girl!

This picture cracks me up because no one came to the door and the girls had funny expressions telling me about it!

Playing with Ryan. My girls are obsessed with him!

My hunka burnin' love!

and his favorite thing, Fire!!!

This is Wilson our carved pumpkin. Aubrey designed it with Daddy while Reagan picked out every single seed!

First Treat!

Sister Love

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch at Hunt Club Farm

This fall has been a busy one and we have been trying to fit in a family pumpkin patch visit but it hasn't worked out with our schedule. Yesterday afternoon Daddy got home from work early so we high tailed it over to Hunt Club Farm. The weather was beautiful and hardly anyone else was there. It was perfect! We found our special pumpkin and took it home to carve and made pumpkin seeds. This was the first year both girls were really into the carving process. Daddy had lots of help! So glad we made it over to Hunt Club.