Our Week . . .

 

The girls had intense sports try-outs this week. Molly had 2 hours try-outs for the tennis team for 3 nights in a row after school - and Kate had 2 nights of volleyball try-outs.

Waiting on Molly at a public tennis court used for tryouts . . . 

The entire tennis team then had a retreat on Friday night! Molly really enjoyed it and she made the JV1 team which is so exciting as she practices with Varsity!  A few nights later they had a parent tennis meeting just for parents - and the coaches are all so impressive!  So happy she will be surrounding herself with these wonderful women and girls as she starts her high school years!  

Kate had a Friday night swim with CeCe at Cece's country club . . . 

Early morning walks have been a necessity this week for me to keep my sanity among all the back to school nights, sports nights, work, etc. When it's quiet, I just want to call my Mom and share everything - as she would so relate to all this right now. I know she is with me in spirit - I can feel her with me. But oh what I would give to hear her laugh at some of my parenting teen debacles!

Back 2 school night sign spotted in one of Molly's classrooms . . . 

Sunday morning we all got up early to walk/run in the Race 4 the Cure to help research money for brain cancer. Bear even walked/ran too!

Molly ran the entire race, Kate and Mike ran 2/3 of it and I walked the whole thing.

We spotted lots of faces we knew - Molly's friend Ali from Cure'!

Starbucks to celebrate the hard work! Even a 'Pup Cup" for the Bear!

Kate's 1st Day of 6th Grade!

 

After Molly gone to high school all week, Kate was more than ready to get started too and couldn't wait for this morning to finally arrive to start SIXTH grade! She grew a lot this summer so new skirt and shirts for her this year and of course - brand new school shoes (she is now in the same size as me!)

We made Apple Bread - a first day tradition!

And had TWO back to school dinners celebrating each girls' first day!

Bear knows when his tie comes on, the girls are going to leave!

Lots of kisses . ..

The Bear was so sad to watch them walk away from car - 

Last Week of Summer!

 

Molly is off to High School and Kate still has a full week of summer .. .so she asked if we could have a shopping day together just she and I. It was so much fun and we had lunch at her favorite smoothie shop!

One last summer birthday party with her crew before school starts!  

Happy Birthday Sadie!

Kate started once a week tennis lessons - wants to follow in Molly's footsteps! 

And she's a natural! Loved it!

I had a fun Sprint Reunion at Granfalloon on the Plaza!  Susie and I went together and it was so fun catching up and seeing some familiar faces from the "good old days" at Sprint!

Kate is leaving me notes of things she would 

like me to bake for first week of school  . . . 

Back 2 School Night and they are all happy their lockers are near one another!

Molly Goes to High School!

 

After much anticipation (and a year of touring and shadowing high schools in KC), Molly's first day of high school has finally arrived!  She starts a week before Kate - and I wish we had more summer days together - but I'm SO excited for her and this new, exciting chapter!  

With her brand new uniform - and of course squeaky new sneaks - she was dressed and ready by 7:30 a.m.! We met friends in the parking lot to all caravan together in my car for the traditional Red Carpet Freshman welcome! Molly's freshman class at St. James is the biggest they have ever had - 275 freshman!

Even I'm wearing the gear!  We LOVE St. James Academy and are thrilled Molly has chosen this impressive school for her high school years!

Vivian and Molly - been in school together since Kindergarten!

Cure' girls - ready for High School!

{Georgia, Molly, Vivian}

Love all the new shoes!

The Freshman Red Carpet is a St. James Tradition. They roll out this red carpet for Freshman only - and then it's the same carpet you walk on at Graduation when you're a senior.  

No one else is at school this first half day - just the Senior Leadership team of students comes to school to help welcome them!  They escort them out of the car, while all the teachers and staff and other student leaders are all cheering for them! It's ELECTRIC and SO LOUD AND FUN!

But, quite intimidating!  This was my view dropping off the girls - 

Go Molly!!!

She is so beautiful, inside and out.

I then drove off - and as I drove to the Freshman Mom's Coffee hosted by some of the tenured Moms - I couldn't help but have the same feeling I had the first time I dropped her off at Preschool at 3 years old. I missed her already and wished I could just go back and get her! But, so happy for her and this new chapter - she is so ready and I know she is going to FLY! Wish I had my Mama to call - as she would have gotten this feeling and understood - such a full circle moment.

Bear and I were 30 minutes early to pick her up, 

we were so excited to hear about it! She had a great day!

Dog Days of Summer . . .

We celebrated Bear's 4th Birthday! He's no longer a puppy, but still the cutest dog around! 

We surprised him with a new soccer ball for his birthday and he LOVES it, won't take his paw off of it if you come near him. 

What a JOY he has been to all 4 of us!  

Can't imagine our lives without him in it!

He has such a special bond with each of us in a unique way. The girls still love to cuddle with him if they are sad or upset - he is like our very own therapy dog as he is RIGHT there to give them kisses!

I've been picking these from the garden weekly 

and love the colors to bring in the house!

Kate and her friend Caroline down the street had a Lemonade Stand!

Molly and I went to a Mother Daughter faith retreat at her High School this coming fall. It was WONDERFUL and I loved having the morning just she and I, together!

Lots of great faith witnesses from mothers, teachers, and daughters - but this quote stuck out to me from the day!  Love St. Catherine of Sienna!

Mike and I met Patrick on our trip to D.C. in June, he owns a bar in Waldo called "Patrick's Bar and No Grill" He hosts a .1k race every year to raise money for Hospice - which is cause close to our hearts after having Hospice serve my Mom so lovingly in her final weeks of life. 

Molly had tennis practice, but the 3 of us went and had so much fun!

Patrick cracks us up.

.1k - literally just walk around the parking lot of his bar. Lots of music, food, raffles and more - he has raised a LOT of money for Hospice with this annual event!

Kate was a trooper - as it was in the 90's and mid afternoon was HOT!

I put Mom's name on the sign - since she LOVED 

her hospice workers - angels on Earth!