Entering the World of Elementary School

Today is not just any day. It's the first day of school... for our family, the first day of traditional PRIMARY school. Gretchen is off to kindergarten - and it's hard to gauge if we are more excited to see her bloom or to pay less in preschool bills. 

I mean, it's totally more exciting to be done with her preschool see her bloom. This child has been ready for elementary school for a long time. She reads, she draws, she is fantastically curious and as independent as they come. 

It helps that the rest of the kids in our cul-de-sac are a year older in school so she has been watching the school bus come everyday for the last year while everyone else is bussed to and from school. She is more than ready to join the bus brigade.

But it is the first day of kindergarten, so I am insistent that she drive to school with the rest of us as a family.

Daddy even went in to work late so that we could walk our little girl in to her classroom on this very special occasion.

Alex came along to help with the send off

 

Gretchen flirted with the idea of wearing this precious dress that my mom saved from MY first day of school so many years ago. I was a bit shorter at her age, and styles have changed dramatically, so we decided to go with a different, precious dress. 

We anxiously awaited the arrival of her afternoon bus:

She was all smiles as she ran off of the bus and right to her little brother for a hug. This is now our daily routine, morning and afternoon, as we adjust to our big girl being a kindergartener. 

Hilton Head Island 2016

Gran with Gretchen and Alex

We have the incredible fortune of having a family that will go to great lengths to get us together. Lornie and Thom (Gran and Poppa) have indicated that Hilton Head was a great family get-together for years, but this was the first time we were in a position to travel to the desired location. We were so lucky to have grandparents, brothers, their spouses and children together for this fantastic trip to South Carolina.

The backdrop of this trip also provided for one of the more picturesque settings for our kids. I love so many of these beach shots!!

Our happy, swimming, beach baby

Gretchen venturing to the beach

Our precious girl with toes in the sand

These two enjoying an evening ocean walk

Perfect silhouette 

Has there ever been a more handsome child?!

A beautiful wanderer

This blue-eyed beauty has all of our hearts

Daddy delivers a bogie board lesson

And Poppa makes a great diving board

Halle is along for the ride.

Uncle Dan makes for the coolest jumps

Eve suspended in the air

Cousins on the steps

On of the perks of this incredible vacation is the suites for families, and the ability to join for meals and pre-meal enjoyment with our families. These three "big kids" were fast friends and enjoyed playing together while we watched the Olympics.

Group Hug!!

Who's the cutest baby ever?!

It's Halle!!!

That's right!!