the dog show

Any excuse for a party...

In May when we were making our "everything fun we should do this summer" list Lucy said, "we must have a dog show!"  I wrote it on the list but figured along with camping (not in our backyard) it  would be one of the "fun" things we'd probably skip.

But once that girl gets something in her head...

week after week she'd obsessively bring up the dog show and instruct me of the details...

a party with the family and our dogs

we eat hot dogs

dogs eat puppy treats

games, competitions and costumes for the dogs

So last Friday we hosted our first annual dog show and aside from costumes it pretty much fit the bill!

Of course it was raining an hour before the party and I started worrying about mud, wet dogs and the weight different between Penny my brother's dog and Missy, my grandma's 2 pound poodle.  

Ugh...

Lucky enough the weather gods smiled down on us and it was a beautiful night

...oh, and those 7 dogs were on their best behavior!

Coleman, Calah & Penny - the star of the show who swept the competition.  We had to be fair and not cause any hurt puppy feelings so every dog won an award.  Penny won best trick...because she had a dozen of them!

Brinton, Caitlin and their sons Winston and Niko

true gentlemen

dad, mom & Marley - who probably should have won happiest because he lives to socialize

Nani & Missy - Missy won best dance but didn't dance

Lucy as master of ceremonies

The Fergusons all came but sadly left Wrigley at home...even worse they missed out on a family picture with the guaranteed winner of "best smile".

Wedge...dog perfection according to Blake.  

Their love affair is borderline creepster.

It was a fun end of summer party.  The people seemed to enjoy themselves as much as the dogs who were the true honored guests.  But getting a picture of the crew together was five minutes of sweating, screaming, laughing and growling.  The best way to end an evening!

kindergarten queen

Well, it happened.

I have a kindergartener...a school-aged kid.  

I cannot believe how fast the past five years has gone and now we've moved onto a new chapter...homework, reading, schedules and for Lucy...so much fun!

A week before school started we met with Lucy's teacher and she had her kindergarten assessment.  Her teacher is a dream and the classroom is perfect...everything you'd want in a kindergarten class.  We saw her desk and cubby and I started crying just walking around the room knowing this would be where she'd grow, learn and spend three hours a day for the next year.  On her own and growing into her own little person.

When the big day came there was excitement and nerves for all three of us.  After two bites of breakfast Lucy got dressed, had a mini photo shoot in the front yard and we all walked to school.

The first person we saw at school was Lucy's friend from preschool, Phoebe.  She is so excited that they are at the same school!  They are in different classes - there are two morning kindergarten classes - but have so much fun playing before and after school.  Sixteen girls and six boys in Lucy's class this year...dramarama.

The week leading up to school I had a few emotional outbursts but her excitement and curiosity made it lame for me weepy and sad.  I'm just so proud of Lucy and how far she has come.  The night before school I remembered how I prayed while she was in the NICU that one day she would be healthy and strong and walk herself into school.  I envisioned a tiny but strong little girl who laughed and ran with the rest of her friends - nothing holding her back.  Friendly and smart and confident.  Those long days in the NICU that vision seemed so far away but deep down I knew it would happen.  And here she is now - fulfilling every dream, hope and prayer I had.  

The most petite in her class (but a few within a couple of inches), friendly and interested.  Running, laughing, trying to remember new friends names and so excited to line up when that bell chimes.  She has brought home work sheets filled with her writing, pictures she cut out and glued with her own hands.  Stories about the school art gallery, singing class, computer class and teaching us about bullying.  

We've sent her off (if just for a few hours) and I'm so proud of who she is and what I know she'll become.  As hard as it is to let go a little...it's so exciting to see what's yet to come for this superstar!!

summer recap

All summer I kept adding pictures to this blog post with the intent to write a witty recap of what happened.  But with instagram, busy/lazy schedules and the thought that I had plenty more weeks of summer to come back and finish - that blog post never published.  Instead of hoping to remember most of this summer in our heads I decided to squish it all together into one giant post.  A bunch of pictures, not much witty commentary but something to capture a lot of this amazing summer.  

  

In May I decided we were going to make the most of this summer.  I wanted to see and do a lot of new things and have a schedule.  Summer and schedule usually don't go hand in hand but for me everything has a schedule.  Oh we had plenty of lazy, unscheduled days...movies, backyard picnics, pool days at Steiner.  But things run better for us (and my head) if there is a rough outline and some highlighted "must-do's".

I took some ideas from blogs, other friends and pinterest and came up with a type of summer school for Lucy.  I made 12 weeks of themes on little cards and some ideas of activities, movies, field trips, books, learning lesson/craft, snacks, etc to go along with the theme.  On Sunday night I picked the theme (depending on what else we had going on and what I felt like doing) and then Monday morning it would be waiting for Lucy when she woke up on the fridge.  It was pretty much my best idea of the summer!  

We had the BEST time at summer school.

Sometimes friends would join us but most of the time is was the two of us.  Exploring, talking, learning (a little), and getting the most out of our city and the summer.  

Space week took us to the planetarium - we visited the great salt lake during water week - wheeler farm is FREE and we saw a baby calf just hours after it was born during farm animals - the state capitol is empty during the summer and we discussed (5 year old version) the upcoming election (Obama 2012!) during USA week - saw a cool pop-up book exhibit while visiting the city library

...and so much more!

It's amazing if you take a little time to look around how many cool things there are to do in the city.  So many of them are free or you can find coupons.  Some of the places Lucy liked best and will do again is wheeler farm, the capitol and the peace gardens.  I think we'll both be fine to not go back to the living planet aquarium...

Aside from going to 'school' this summer we did a lot of bbq's with friends and family, art classes, swim lessons, concerts and plenty of lounging in our backyard.

arts festival downtown

the best hair-do's have some sprinkler water added in

we'll wait an hour to eat outside at Ruth's diner

a grand ole 4th!

Ringo Starr & his All Star Band with mom, dad, Sabrina & Caitlin - Blake & I saw Keane

flower girl

as many Sundays as possible at the pool with Caitlin - popcorn and fruizls are a must

Our little hiker has earned her 'water backpack' - she wants one every time we see them at Costco.  Lucy and Blake hiked to Dog Lake twice and Lake Mary once - I didn't hike anything.

 Payson Scottish Festival

swim lessons (where I went a little tiger mom...)

Blake enjoying his summer - flip flops and dress pants...

and when it's like 95 degrees for the 30th day in a row you just snuggle in an a/c house

children's art exhibit @ the city library

The last week or so we've taken it easy and enjoyed our time before school.  Lucy's favorite thing is to explore any garden or park that has a hint of magical to it.  She's her most creative and happiest to explore and look for fairies or Alice's rabbit hole.  

We added a sort of reading 'nook' to her play room.  Her playroom is the biggest bedroom in our house but she still needed more space.  I cleared out a few things of one side of her closet, did some scrapbook paper 'wallpaper' found a cute lantern on sale at PB kids and there you have it...a reading nook!  And it looks much more fabulous in person...and at night.

And this is it...the official end of summer.

It was the absolute best yet and I spent it with so many people I love and laugh with...

and my two favorites (forever) - I love our little family of three so, so much.

School starts in 2 days and even though there were a few moments where I thought the calendar would never move...I'm not sure if I'm ready.  

But she is and I'm so excited for her.

my belle

Three hundred years ago Lucy had her spring recital of Beauty and the Beast.  I thought since I've had such a busy summer schedule of pool time, field trips and lounging I would make time to finally document.   

This has been Lucy's third year at Miss Julie's dance.  I can't believe she was only two when she had her first lesson!  Beauty & the Beast is a fave around here so we were pretty excited that Lucy would be playing Belle in all her "glitzy" glory.

my tiny dancer

an academy award is in her future 

dance besties for three years running

nana & lucy

poppa, lucy & gammy