Back to School Traditions

On the Sunday before the first day of school, my best girl friends and their kiddos get together for our annual "Ice Cream for Dinner."  Several were just returning from vacation, so we decided to meet at the Big Berry instead of at someone's house or at the park.  Several of the older kids and one family couldn't make it, but a good time was had!

The second tradition also involved ice cream.  The evening of the first day of school, we go for ice cream celebration.  Kevin, unfortunately, was at work so we invited Braxton and Brice to come over for dinner (at home) and ice cream at Dari-Licious.

First Day of Middle School

Oh how Baby Girl has grown up.  Today she headed off to Southmont Jr High School for 6th grade.

The last picture is always the cheesiest she can make it...with a "get done mom!" smile.

She has Mrs. Barr for home room and most of her classes - Reading, English, and Math. 

She may look familiar because she was also Camden's Kindergarten teacher at Waveland. 

For Science and Social Studies (alternating every 6 weeks) she will have Mrs. Phelps.

She also ends her day with specials - Art with Mrs. Snook (first six weeks) and Library with Ms. Norman (second six weeks).  Her schedule remains the same throughout the year with the special changing every six weeks.  She'll have Music, PE, and another round each of Art and Library.

Praying for a fantastic year!

Indiana State Fair 2019

We headed to the State Fair on Saturday morning.  We were hoping to beat some of the heat!  Of course, we left Camden's participant ticket at home!  Thankfully, the ticket taker believed us and didn't make us buy a ticket for her.  

We stopped in several of the barns/buildings for various activities.

She did the "Little Hands on the Farm" path (even though she 'aged' out of it).  It has always been one of her favorite things to do.

When we made it around to the food vendors, Camden had to try the dilly dilly dog.  It is a hot dog, wrapped in a pickle, then dipped in corn dog batter.  She thought it was the best thing ever!  Kevin and my votes were just "eh."

We also got a strawberry shake and a coffee caramel shake from the dairy barn and Renella de Papas at a Puerto Rican stand.  Not as good as the rice and beans I had from mothers and grandmothers in New Jersey, but it was a nice dish.

After a few more stops at some exhibit halls, we hit the midway.

The weather was perfect and the crowds were low.  Camden was able to ride about 4 (or 5) rides and play 3 games.  The swing was SOOO high!

Then she rode the Blizzard (one of Kevin and my favorite rides as a child).  Camden agreed...especially when it went backwards!

We had no luck on the bottle game, but Camden did win the water gun game...and picked an adorable moose.

Our final stops were in the 4-H exhibit halls to see how Camden did on her two projects.   Blue ribbons in both food preservation and photography! 

We were interested to learn that all the perishable frozen foods were given to local homeless shelters and not displayed at the fair. 

Locker Days

The last two days of this week were set aside as "locker days" at the Jr. High so the kids could come in, put stuff in their lockers, decorate, walk their schedule, etc.  Kevin and I took her this morning.

Her locker is right in the middle of the 6th grade hallway and on the end of a row.  Her combination is also an easy one to remember...but took a bit of practice to get the turns correct.  She is patient enough to try a second (or third) time if she doesn't get it right away.

The inside was blank except for a dry erase board on the door.

But we found a cute locker set at Walmart and she went to town decorating.

We actually bought two sets because one was unicorn (on the door) and the second came with a small shelf that could give her some additional storage options inside.  It also had a dry erase board, a mirror, and a pencil holder so those are on the back wall of her locker and actually were very handy too.

We have a few more things to get.  She needs a little basket for the stuff on the bottom and a pencil holder to take to classes with her.  We also have to print a picture of each of her animals to hang in magnetic frames (which we have).  Then she is ready for first day on Tuesday!

Firetruck Sprinkler

Several weeks ago, we had a street party in Waveland.  I was helping serve snow cones and run a bounce house for kids at the fire station.  It was such a hot day, I suggested the firemen put one of the trucks out by the hydrant and attach a sprinkler nozzle to the front.  A perfect way to cool off!

Fish & Fish Food

On Camden's actual birthday, Kevin made plans to take her fishing while I went to work.  

She caught several nice ones and even held one (first time ever!).

We planned to go to Indianapolis after I got off work for a sushi birthday dinner, but Aunt Carole had a medical emergency and I went up to the hospital.  Kevin still took Camden for her birthday dinner at one of her favorite sushi restaurants.

She requested that they sit at the sushi bar.

They got to talking to the sushi chef and the option of octopus came up.  The chef asked if Camden had ever tried it.  Since she hadn't, a octopus nigiri was made and Camden bravely took a bit.  She said it was only okay...not because it tasted bad but didn't taste like much of anything.

A daddy-daughter birthday day sounds pretty amazing!