Safety First, Then Fashion

Another Lauren couture original...

Say Hello to My Little Friend

Bill found a gecko by our front door yesterday and Emma carried it around for quite some time. She laughed when it ran up the back of her arm because it tickled.

Lauren's New Hair Style

Lauren needed a haircut, so yesterday while Emma took her nap, we went to a salon which caters to kids, where she told the stylist to cut it really short. We compromised. It's amazing that 2" less hair and she looks so much older (compare to her 1st day of kinder pictures and you'll see what I mean).

First Day of Kindergarten

A day late in posting, but boy it was an awesome day! We got ready and took some photos before leaving. Lauren wanted a picture with her first homework assignment completed.I wanted a picture of her with her tagged backpack telling the teaching staff where she's supposed to go after school. It is like a humane way of tagging kids, and I wonder if this is done elsewhere or is a Texas thing, like branding cattle. It's smart and I used a 3M cable tie to ensure that tag was never coming off.We parked the car and went to the drop off location waiting for the first bell to ring. We saw friends from the Montessori school and Lauren seemed genuinely thrilled to be at the new school.

She saw her principal walk in and yelled hello to him (that's him in the background).
We walked through the door and down the hallway to her classroom. I couldn't help but notice how confident she walked, even though she looked so small in the big school. She did just fine and waved us goodbye after getting her backpack in her cubby and finding her name on the desk.
I couldn't stop watching the clock wondering every few minutes what she was doing at that moment...was the announcement bell freaking her out (sounds like the start of the fire drill bell and she doesn't like them), did she find her lunchbox and was she able to open everything, were kids being nice to her, did she get to the YMCA program OK...it was 2:40pm and I knew that school had been dismissed and she should be at the Y program (which is inside the school in the gym/rec room). I couldn't stand it any longer and left to see if she was OK. Boy, was she mad that I interrupted her Y program when I showed up "early". The Y director said Lauren was already her favorite because when she called Lauren's name, she stood right up and loudly said "HERE!" - the director couldn't believe she was a kindergartner. She started learning the Pledge of Allegiance, did matching, and sang songs. She says she loves kindergarten...I knew she would.

No Kids on the boat

This weekend we had our adults only boat trip. Our babysitter came at 1:00 and we headed to the boat with some friends. We had a nice relaxing time on the water. First we did watersports and Jessica had the biggest jumps of the year and since we had friends on the boat we were able to capture them on camera. I also was able to wakeboard since there was another driver.

Looks like Jessica was about 4 feet above the water!!


Nice jump! all the practice this summer paid off!
I didn't feel as comfortable outside the wake like Jessica. I need more practice before I jump the wake. -Bill

Lauren's last day at School in the Hills

I thought I would be more emotional about the whole last-day-of-preschool day for Lauren, but I think because I know she'll be there every day picking up Emma that it isn't so final. But, to capture the moment, she took a picture with Mr. Dan and Ms. Alicia, who own the school. It was a great picture.

I found it funny that I could not get Lauren to wear her summer t-shirt at all for the summer program, except on this very last day she decided to wear it, with her fancy plaid skirt. She had her socks pulled all the way up to her knees, but they quickly inched themselves down in the car ride over.

~Jessica

Kinder Camp Photos

Lauren walking with her new backpack into her new elementary school. She couldn't wait this morning for kinder camp.Lauren found her name tag on the table where she will be sitting. How did they know to put her right by the door so she could greet everyone who walks in? She even found the cubby area and hung up her backpack. She's a pro at this school stuff already!While the parents went into the library for orientation, Lauren stayed with her teacher and made her first kindergarten art project.She also received her first homework assignment...Here is Lauren with her new kindergarten teacher, Ms. McCauley. It is going to be a GREAT year!!!!

Sunday at Volente Beach

On Sunday morning we did our usual weekend boat trip. We were out from 8:30 to 1:00 and had a great time. We found a nice new cove that had sand and big shells and the girls loved making sand castles or really just piles of sand. Once we were done on the boat we decided to head over to Volente Beach since it is free with the boat membership. The girls played on the pirate ship for about an hour while Jessica and I relaxed in the shade and watched them. Another fun and busy weekend. -Bill

PTA Fundraiser

Saturday night we took the golf cart up to the park for a PTA fundraiser. They are trying to raise enough money to cover the playscapes at school. Jessica volunteered and I watched the girls play. We had a picnic, ate snowcones, cupcakes, and listened to the band. -Bill

Fishing with Emma

On Saturday Morning Jessica and Lauren went to the store and Emma and I went finish at Lake Austin. Emma was real interested in fishing for about 20 minutes but then spent the next 40 playing with worms. When we got home she shared them with Lauren and they continued to play with them for a while. Who knew that worms were a form of entertainment. -Bill

I'm a little worried when uniforms are not part of the dress code for kindergarten, what Lauren will put together for outfits. This was an especially good one.

Emma's Sign Language

Emma has completely mastered the "Hook 'Em Horns" symbol, showing it proudly with both hands any chance she gets. I have a couple pictures from over the last week or so showing this in action.

I also got a picture while she was doing the horns, showing everyone her "boo-boo" finger...enjoy.

River Ridge Rattlers

Lauren (and Emma) got their very first piece of Spirit Gear for the new elementary school. They were so excited to put them on. The rattler's rattle even had jewels on it - oooh.

Random pics from the weekend

Here are some additional pictures from the weekend:

Saturday afternoon was hot so we pulled out the pool. Jessica has more pictures of the kids jumping into the pool that she will post later.


Saturday 7:00. Jessica sleeping because she shopped until she dropped. Emma sleeping because I wore her out playing all day.

Sunday afternoon. We went to Lake Austin to feed the ducks.

Rain again

The lake is down to 635 feet which is 45 feet lower than normal so you can imagine any rain is an event here. It rained on Sunday and there was no rain in the forecast. The girls did a rain dance when the rain slowed down which helped make the rain last a little longer. -Bill

More boat pics

Another weekend out on the lake. Both Emma and Lauren went on the tube together for the first time and had a blast. Lauren is getting more comfortable and always wants to go faster. I tried to take a few pictures of Jessica while she was wakeboarding or "lakeboarding" as Emma calls it. Almost got the picture while Jessica was in the air after jumping the wake. -Bill

Emma and Daddy

While Lauren and Mommy went shopping this weekend Emma and I spent the day playing on the computer, doing puzzles, shopping and eating lunch at Costco and having a great time together. -Bill

Dropped off Emma, Picked up Spidey

Picture says it all

School Clothes Shopping

I had been looking forward to this day all summer when Lauren and I struck out first thing in the morning to go school clothes shopping for kindergarten. I am sure I was more excited than Lauren, but she did seem excited to go as well. We left first thing after breakfast and broke our day into 3 sections. Shopping, lunch, and shopping. We first hit Kohls, Old Navy, Carter's, and Justice (which I'm so glad was still too big because it was oh so gaudy!). We were successful in finding 2 dresses and 2 pairs of jeans. We headed off to the Arboretum to do a little more shopping and eat. Found a great new hamburger joint, Five Guys and Fries, then finished up finding a cute new outfit (maybe the first day of school outfit??) at Gymboree and a few cute items at the Gap. After a cup of ice cream, we called it a day...or so we thought. I decided since we were just right there, that I would swing into Ann Taylor. Next to it is Saks 5th Avenue and I'd been wanting a certain perfume since I went to Chicago in June. So, we popped into Saks and that is when I created a monster. Lauren saw all the make-up and perfume counters and was in love. It didn't help that all the sales women doted on her, giving her perfume samples and applying pink lipgloss to her. She even got her own little Saks bag to carry all her perfume. She went to school this morning with her perfume on and told her teacher she got it at Saks. Oh boy.