Time for Wine

Every year a local winery does a fall harvest, where you can pick grapes, drink wine and then enjoy a lunch at the winery.  There is a group of us girls who have gone over the past 8 years and we decided to host a reunion party this year.  We each brought wine from the actual winery and grapes to stomp.

With all our crazy busy 'mom' schedules, it was fun to actually all get together for a morning of wine sipping and grape stomping- without the work of having to actually pick the grapes!  Cheers!

First day of Kindergarten

Reagan woke up a little excited and a lot nervous for her first day of Kindergarten.

I think her nerves were reserved for the bus ride because I knew she was so ready to be in the classroom.  She had a few tears, we talked about it and why she was sad and how happy she would be with her friends.  After a quick morning routine, we took some pics and headed to the bus stop.

As soon as she saw the bus, she was ready- my independent girl-in-charge, first in line, ready to sparkle- she hopped on the bus so fast as I was yelling to the bus driver- 'she's a kindergartner!' and 'Can I take a quick pic?' and then more to myself... 'she'll be okay right?'

And yes, she was more than okay. She LOVED kindergarten.

And I loved hearing her stories- she didn't get lost, she loved PE, she ate all her packed lunch, she found the right kind of milk, she loved her teacher, she played with her preschool friends, she met a new friend named Abby, she loved riding the bus, they had story time in which her teacher has a chair with a tutu on it, and 'hey mom did I tell you we played outside 3 times?'

And with that, the first day of Kindergarten was over.

Seeing the bus for the first time:

In the classroom:

Getting off the bus after a fun-filled day:

Kindergarten Open House

Reagan had her Kindergarten open house today and she was ready! School supplies were packed and she woke up so excited!

Testing out the teacher's chair...

Growing SO tall!

And...donuts to celebrate!

Prepping for Kindergarten

I knew eventually this day would come but just typing it out...how can it be?

Kindergarten? 

All day school for my baby? 

I'm trying to make myself feel better about this by reminding myself that she is so ready for school, so ready to learn and be with her friends... I know this will be harder on me than her.

Prepping for Kindergarten....


A new haircut:

 A cute new book and fun school supplies from her Aunt Nette and Uncle Davy:

New back pack!

New water bottle:

Official school supplies:

And a trial run walking to her classroom during back-to-school night!  She loved the photo op!

I think we are ready for open house on Monday!  Here's to a great Kindergarten year!

Iowa State Fair 2015

We skipped the fair last year and so I was really looking forward to taking Reagan this year. Best laid plans, right?

The Friday before we were set to go, Rea was diagnosed with Serum Sickness, a side effect of the meds she received while in the hospital.  So we hunkered down all weekend with meds around the clock hoping for some relief for our baby girl.

Monday morning came and Reagan seemed to be doing better.  However she wasn't too keen on going to the fair.  I thought that was odd since she usually loved to be on the go, but I think she was just tired from the illness.

So needless to say, we shared a few bites of corn dog and peppermint bar, enjoyed some lemonade and cheese on a stick, Rea got a Hawkeye tattoo and we called it a day.  Not how I envisioned our fair visit but Rea was our first priority.

"Mommy they have big food at the fair!"

We are hoping that another dose of the meds this week will kick in and help Rea get over this nasty sickness so she is on the mend before school starts. 

Wordless Wednesday~ Puppet Show and Puzzles!

Deja Vu

August of last year was not a great month for us... and as it turns out, August of this year was following the same path.

Reagan woke up during the middle of the night over a week ago with high fevers and an odd cough.

First diagnosis and meds didn't help, second set of meds didn't help so she had a chest x-ray done, which confirmed pneumonia.  After not eating or drinking we took her in and they admitted to administer IV meds and to pin point exactly what type of pneumonia and how to treat.

We finally saw improvement once she got on the right meds and were released home after a sleepover on the pediatric floor.

Nothing better than your own home...with your own stuffies!

We could not have gotten through this week without our parents.... we have an amazing village! I'm happy to report that Rea is on the mend and looking forward to starting the school year.  What a way to end summer break.

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy for the coming school year!!

Even with a fever and being dehydrated, she smiled.

Special delivery from her Aunts and Uncles:

Enjoying some quiet play time:

Finally on the mend:

Firsts: Build a Bear visit

Reagan had her first Build a Bear experience and loved it!

She had been asking for awhile to go and got a special treat when Gramma K. came and took her!


She has been in the store before with her cousins but was never interested in going through the process until now.  She chose a very cute Pretty Pony.