run, Bailey, run!

We all survived elementary track & field day.

Just barely. 

I enjoyed it. I get a kick out of the little kids. You can tell which ones are already super competitive and which ones are laid back. A stray toddler ran on to the track to run after a relative. Many shoes went flying as their owners wove in and out of lanes during that long 50 meter sprint. It was entertaining.

Bailey was excited to run, but I think she was more focused on trying to locate us in the stands than on her actual race.

Speaking of the stands...
Graham.
He barely survived the track meet.
Have I mentioned that this kid is adventurous with zero fear?

As the races were finishing up, we sat next to a friend in the stands. She was telling me that her son was afraid of the bleachers because she warned him that he could fall through if he wasn't careful. I'd already told Graham the same thing, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to reiterate. 
Not even 60 seconds later, Graham fell off the 2nd-top-the-top row of bleachers, looking like a game of pinball all the way down to the bottom where he hung above the ground by his elbow.

That was game over. He didn't come back from that one. Although he wasn't really hurt, he was already tired from missing his nap, and the fall just added insult to injury. Off he went, home with Jared. 

There were no winners at the track meet. No one was measuring or keeping tally of anything, which was nice. They all just got to try their hands at the different running and field events, and everyone was having a good time.

Bailey did well at long jump, although I missed her best jump since I was dealing with the injured 3 year-old climber.

That long, curly ponytail makes me smile.

The day finished up with some tug-of-war competitions.
I am not exaggerating when I say that Bailey took this very seriously.
I've never seen her so competitive. 

She went straight to beast mode. 

She was pulling on that rope so hard, she started basically stealing rope from the other team and ended up near the middle of the entire rope by the end. Her enthusiasm got a lot of laughs from the crowd, and she was beaming with pride when her team won.

It's a good thing that it was enjoyable because we have a lot of these days in our future.

The day is finally here: Kindergarten

Our baby started preschool today.

Can you even believe it?

Here she is all smiles and looking thrilled to begin a new school year - complete with school lunches and access to the whole playground at recess - but the morning was a bit rough...

Jared woke her up and immediately she burst into tears. I don't know if it was the fear of the unknown that is the first day of kindergarten or tears because Sister loves her sleep.

She cried while getting dressed and getting her hair done. She cried on the way down the stairs and while her breakfast was prepared. (Homemade chocolate chip pancakes - her favorite.) She continued to sniffle and tear up while eating. All the reminders of the fun she was going to have at school made no difference. So we loaded up her new Disney princesses backpack and took pictures anyway. 

With the help of her siblings, she turned on a smile and some of the fear was forgotten.

Some before school sillies.

While Bailey was away learning and stuff, Avery and I were busy preparing a delicious after-school treat.  

Classic Mint Chocolate Brownies by Mel's Kitchen Cafe. 

(Mel is Jared's online homegirl. We are constantly making food from her website.) 
Bailey has started to get choosy about what desserts she prefers and is offering her opinion on which recipes we should try. She's been requesting this one since she saw a picture of it while Jared was browsing. 

Three o'clock arrived pretty quickly and back in the car I went.
I picked Bailey up in the entryway of the school and she ran to me like an airport scene out of a movie. Makes you feel loved. ;)
Her teacher said she had an excellent day and once I left, she adjusted immediately. No more tears. The unknown is scary - sometimes even for me as an adult - so I don't fault Bailey for being afraid. I'm just glad to know she was able to shake it off and have fun.

Once home Bailey told us about her day while she wolfed down two of those brownies. (Although I should caution Bailey to not get too used to homemade dessert for her snack every day. I'm not that awesome.)

She filled us in on the important stuff like, you know, what was for lunch.
When asked about her favorite part, she quickly answered: Recess.
See? 
She's got this school thing down already!