Rosie's school year.

A quick look back at Rosie's first ever year at school.

All of her work is turned into these fabulous books which even I can't bring myself to throw away.

This one is my favourite. It is all about her, including how big she was at the beginning of the year. Each page has a different picture of her.



We received close to 200 photos of her taken by Ms. Maria during the year. I was going to scan each of my favourites and post them separately but I realised that would take hours so I made a little collage of them and did it that way. Not sure if you click it if it will enlarge or not. It is just amazing to me how many different things they got to experience.




Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite photos of all are the ones taken when they were studying space.


How are we ever going to match Ms. Maria............sigh.

She put up with so many of Rosie's quirks and walked her through them. Rosie benefitted so much under her charge and we are for ever grateful.

Happy ~ 9th ~ BIrthday Lily

Our sweet and wonderful, sometimes sassy, always adventurous daughter, with a heart of gold turned 9 today.

I was in the shower this morning when the bathroom door crashed open and a sleep tousled girl announced, in a voice that only she can make that loud so early, "I'm NINE". It just made me smile.

This is what 9 looks like eating breakfast...note, she still has her bunny.

Oh yes you are, Miss Lily, you are NINE. Hope this year is filled with all the things you are dreaming of.

I was invited into her classroom today to share a cake with the class but keep that bit quiet cos it is against the schools rules. I told the office I was helping the teacher and with my ice cream cake, plates, spoons, camera and napkins hidden in a massive bag I signed in, received my volunteer pin and trotted off to her class.

Lily's class and teacher.

Blowing the candles
Such a crazy bunch
Mrs. Drachenberg allowed me to stay through the end of their math class

Lily presenting a math problem to the class.
I absolutly loved being in her classroom. I so wish we were allowed in during the year. Oh well.

Once we got home it was gift time and she was so excited. We hid her Kindle and made her find it by playing hot and cold. Rosie wasn't very good at the game and marched directly to it's location. We had to laugh cos she promised she wouldn't give anything away.

After a few minutes of frustration because she couldn't figure the Kindle out she loves, loves, loves it. She has been busy downloading games and books and showing us all the things it can do. We bought her the 3G and it really is rather spiffy. Girl loves to read and now she can read anywhere at anytime, her favourite books are all at her fingertips.

I have a funny video from earlier but U-tube is acting silly so I can't upload it. I will add later along with some more photos.

Happy birthday Lily. So glad you had 4 days of fun and celebrating.

To everyone that sent cards, phoned her and emailed, etc etc, thank you all very much. She appreciates all of it and feels extra special becausee of it.

Birthday eve.

I have just kissed an eight year old girl to bed for the last time. Tomorrow she turns nine.

I love video taping them on the eve of their birthday to hear what they think the next year will bring.

I keep these for prosperity and truly don't expect anyone else to watch them.

Tonight someone else wanted to be taped as well, so I did and she just made us laugh.


To Lily's birthparents.
I hope one day we will find out who you are. The chance of that is beyond slim but a Mother can dream. Will you ever know how loved and wanted this little girl is? Do you feel it in your heart? Do you think of her often or has your life forced you to make decisions to painful to look back at. Thank you for our daughter, she truly means the world to all of us.

Party like an animal

Today was Lily's birthday party. She hasn't had an actual party before. I know that seems rather sad but it isn't as dreadful as it sounds. Usually school ends before her birthday and we hop on a plane and head to various locations and spend her day in a different city doing something she loves. Last year we did things with her at home and headed off to a restaurant of her choice for dinner and met her BFF's there. This year school doesn't get out until next week so a party was in oder.

It was just a little one, her bff's plus 2 kids from her class. She invited 3 but one didn't come. We went roller skating and I am still alive to blog about it!

Her day started like this

Breakfast with her friends following their un-sleepover. (I thought 5.45 was a little early to get up but they didn't think so)

Shortly thereafter we were here and doing the crazy skate thing. Honestly they scare me to death and what with this being 2011 if one of the little darlings got hurt it would all land in my lap. Yikes. They did fall, A LOT, all of them and sometimes they bumped down rather hard but they just took a breather and got right back in the game. I am sure every single one of them will be black and blue tomorrow. Lily and her group of really lovely little friends are not the most co-ordinated children. Just don't tell them I told you.

The face says it all. Peanut was not at all enthused about shoes with wheels. She was scared..bwa ha ha

That's Joie in the yellow
here she is again
All the neon lights played havoc with my point and shoot.
After a brief jaunt around the rink Rosie decided she liked it.
Taking a boo boo break
Time for lunch
Lily wanted cupcakes instead of a traditional cake
Us. I appear to be having a white top fetish again. Years ago I only ever wore white tops and I seem to be headed that way again.
Trevi, Joie, Anlei, Adam, Lily and Sana.
Eating the icing
Why do they look so gulity?
Goo Goo
After the party we came back here and opened gifts


Rosie got one too. It was a belated gift and she misunderstood and wanted to save it until her birthday next year. Silly goose.

We had a really great time. Lily LOVED her party and that's what counts.
The icing on the cake came this evening when she finally lost another tooth. I swear her teeth are held in place by Chinese sticky rice cos they just don't come out. Most of her friends have lost most of theirs but for Lily this one is number 6.


Now she gets to celebrate all over again on Monday, her actual birthday. We have saved all the gifts from family for then.

Birthday un-sleepover

I am not sure how Lily managed to get through the day today but she did and the second she flew out of the school gate she said, "arethegirlshereyet?" I had to tell her that no, the girls were not here yet but would be soon. No sooner were we in the front door she grabbed a snack got changed and started that familiar chant all over again until they arrived.

Once Joie, Anlei and Trevi arrived they all took off together playing and were only seen when they needed sustenance. Surely having 5 children in a house should be loud but it isn't. Occasionally I could here a guitar or drums being played very loudly but that was it. Girls are quiet. After lots more playing, a much needed bath and a movie maybe in a few hours they will go to sleep. But then again probably not.

Getting their Gangsta on
budding musicians

the 2 youngest made a house in the cupboard under the stairs and played there for hours.

Lots of fun
S'mores

this made me nervous but they were great.
seconds
umm, tasty
I handed the cameras to them and told them to have fun. They took a lot of these shots themselves.

These just make me laugh.

Egads, I rocked out so hard my head turned all the way around

A chocolate-less s'mores
I have a great idea, you take a picture of me taking a picture of you. I bet no one has ever done it before!
I tried to suggest that they go to sleep before midnight cos tomorrow they have a fun and busy day...I bet they laughed heir heads off when I left the room.

Big tears at school today.

Today was Rosie's very last day at school and they were having a Luau.

Here she is ready to go.

By now you all know how Rosie feels about parties at school, right? I was 100% shocked to see her having fun and smiling the whole time. Bit ironic that she finally felt comfortable today..

Rosie and Victoria

Yum, lunch time
other end of the table
Rosie and "friend"
Look at that beaming smile.

There were however big tears. All the parents were crying when Ms. Maria started her good bye speech. We might have been OK if she hadn't started crying first. The class Mum tried to make a little speech when we gave Ms. Maria her gift but she was also overcome. The poor kids didn't know what to think as all their parents cried.

These pictures are pretty bad but it is hard to focus through tears. Ms. Maria receiving her gift.

This unbelievable lady bought every child a good bye gift. Not a cheesy gift either but each one got a beautiful puzzle or art set.

To think I was very upset when I went to open house. Hah, was I ever wrong. I couldn't have hand picked a kinder, sweeter, more energetic (and you know if I call someone energetic they must be really hyper) more dedicated teacher than this lady.

Thank you for every single thing you have done for my child this year. She has blossomed under your watchful eye and her Father and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

She sent each child off with a huge bag of work. She turned all of their work into books, books, can you believe it. We also all received about 100 photos that she has taken throughout the year.

I was unable to say good bye to her...it hurt to much to know this is the end. Instead I sent Rosie up to hug her and made a fast exit. I will phone her soon, we plan on staying in touch.

BIG

Tomorrow kicks off a weekend filled to the brim with birthday celebrations for Lily. She turns 9 on Monday.

I look at her and can still see that little tiny baby who we saw in a photo nearly 8 years ago but now I also see a big girl, a very big girl. Nine is a big deal, she is one birthday closer to hitting the double digits. Nine brings you more freedom and choices. Nine is just to plain big for my girl but that of course is my opinion and not hers.

Sometimes I still carry her up the stairs to bed and I wonder where on earth all the length came from. Her arms are long and her legs even longer. She sort of flails about in my arms as I just can't tuck her around me like I used to. She is still as stubborn as she was on day one and still has her wicked sense of humour. Her wit gets me every time. She is starting to giggle at certain words and it makes me smile.

My baby girl is growing up and fast. Her soul is still so old and wise and her heart enormous. She would give anything she owns to anybody that needs it. She can't stand selfish or mean people and really doesn't understand that people can be mean. I hope it stays that way. Her love for her family is gigantic and for that I will always be grateful.

She wanted a party at the roller skating rink so that is what she is getting. Her BFF's are spending the night tomorrow and then on Saturday we will have a party at the skating rink with some other friends from school as well.

To say she is excited is an understatement. If she can just get through school tomorrow she will be home free, an un-sleepover on Friday, (that's what I call them since the kids barely sleep), a party on Saturday. a get together on Sunday and then Monday is her actual birthday so she can have a cake at school and then a special dinner with us in the evening. Phew, that's quite a lot of celebrating. But to her, the bottom line is that she going to be 9. It's kind of the bottom line to me to.

How on earth can she possibly be N-I-N-E ?

Have a wonderful weekend, you happy go lucky, adventurous, silly, smart, beautiful girl, you.

I love you with all my heart and then some.