Quite the Artist

Linden loves her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Blank. One day, after seeing a pretty notepad my mom had given me with a peacock on it, Linden asked me to draw a peacock for her. I drew the peacock and she did the rest. On the back she colored a big pink heart. When it was done she told me that it was for her teacher Mrs. Blank. I thought she did such a great job that I took a picture of it. I think she may have some of my Grandma Rudd's artistic talents. In fact I've told her that "I think that she has a real talent for coloring" so often now, that she is now saying herself, "well Mommy you know that coloring is my talent!" Kids are so funny.

GREAT Company - Auntie Andrea, Uncle Murray and Brennie!!!

We were really lucky to have Linden's GREAT Aunt Andrea, and GREAT Uncle Murray come and visit for a couple of days on their way to visit the Civil War history sites in the Eastern US states. Linden especially loved Brennie, my Aunt's lovable Irish Setter, and their cool house on wheels (ie. motor home)! Oh and Auntie and Uncle weren't too bad either :-) Linden's highlight was being in charge of walking Brennie, and when Brennie came in with Auntie and went up to her room to LICK her awake for breakfast the morning they were leaving, and of course her ride as first mate in the front passenger seat of the motor home. We had a great visit, and it's always fun to see how much Linden enjoys having company.

Tour of the Promised Land - Primary Activity

When I told Linden about the Primary Activity and that she could go dressed as her favorite scripture character, she immediately said, "I want to be Mary!" So the day came, and we found our pillowcase head dress, and one of mom's nightshirts and she looked so cute. Just as I was rushing her out the door, she said, "I need a baby Jesus, Mommy!" In the mad dash that ensued, we found another pillowcase for the swaddling clothes, and at long last a naked baby for the Baby Jesus. We arrived, and Linden was the only Mary that had remembered Baby Jesus. And for the purists out there, don't worry, I did explain to the Primary president, that Yes, we do know Jesus was not Black, it was just the only naked baby we could locate on short notice amongst Linden's toys!!!!

First School Field Trip

Linden's first Kindergarten field trip was to Upland Hills Farm. I'm pretty sure the best part for Linden was the fact that to get to the Farm, we got to ride a school bus. Linden has been begging to ride on a school bus for the last 3+ years. We see them ALL the time, and everytime she sees one, she will ask "when will I get to ride on one of those?" Of course, knowing that we are walkers (ie. too close to the school for the city to deem us needing the school bus for transportation), I didn't have the heart to tell her it could be a LONG time. Needless to say, finding out that her first field trip would include a school bus was VERY exciting! So here are a few great pics from the outing. Oh yes, and one more thing. On the way to the farm, we sat in the very first row, and on the way back, we sat in the very back row, so we've done it all now!!!!

A couple of things about the farm, first of all a hay ride never gets old! And secondly, Linden got a great kick out of the little billy goat that lived on a little deck and bridge in the rafters of the barn roof, look carefully and you will see him in one of the pics. Also, the little girl with Linden is Brooke from Linden's class. She was our buddy for the day!

My latest Creative Project

We have an upcoming Holiday Workshop at Church, and I am part of the organizing committee. One of our jobs as the committee is to suggest projects that we think would be good for our group of women to do. One of my suggestions was this family tree, which I found a pattern for online. So of course I was volunteered to be the guinea pig to make it and see if the project was "doable". Here is my finished result. I think it turned out really good, but it did take a little more time than I thought, so I suspect it may end up on the workshop cutting room floor. But hey, I got my tree made!

Toe-tally Cute

The other morning Linden came running up, fell to the ground, and shoved her foot in my face. As you can see, she had drawn a happy face on each toe. Now that's when you know you have a happy child, when she's smiling from her head to her toes! It was Toe Cute!!!!

1st Day of Kindergarten

The long-awaited day has finally arrived, and our little Linden has now embarked on her public school career. It all started when we received a letter in the mail that Linden would have Mrs. Blank as her teacher. When she heard that news, she was so excited that she was literally jumping up and down on our bed, and yelling and screaming. It was so funny. She was really excited because our neighbor Lydia had Mrs. Blank last year, and so we knew that she is a really great teacher. On the first day, I'd picked out a super-cute outfit for Linden to wear....but as a true sign she is growing up, Linden didn't want to wear Mommy's super cute choice. She wanted to wear the $5 horse t-shirt Mommy bought her. So what's a Mommy to do....well you'll see by the pictures who won that battle! Ultimately, I decided it was her first day, not mine, and Linden should wear what she thought was super cute on her first day, not what I thought was super cute.
Time to let the little one FLY....Mommy and Linden as we left to take Linden for her first day.

Linden is excited to have her good friend and our neighbor Josh in her class. Here they are ready to take on the world of Kindergarten. Ordinarily a little girl might look to her boy friend for a little protection out on the playground, but something tells me that Linden is going to be watching out for Josh! Crossing the threshold from pre-schooler to Kindergartner....no turning back now!

Linden and Josh entering the hall for the first time as two of the newest Hamlin Hawks.

The coveted Mrs. Blank and Linden on the first day of class.