All I Want for My First Day of School is...

Ah, the changing of summer to fall. I love it. Of course it won't actually happen here in Texas for another couple of months, but I still love it. What is happening right now is the beginning of a new school year which means several things for our family. Stephanie begins a new semester of teaching at TCU today and Rainey starts the 1st grade at her new school, W.A. Porter (Go Panthers!). Emily will begin Red Apple School after Labor Day.

However, before any of that could take place, we had to have one more birthday celebration for Rainey. We had a party before we left for Hawaii. Then, we celebrated her actual birthday in Hawaii. But when we returned home she reminded us that we had promised when she turned 7, she could have a sleepover. We had forgotten that promise. She had not.

Thankfully we managed to get away with a party of three. Ashlyn, Trinity and Rainey.

Before making their own pizza's and birthday ice cream sundae's, they put on a show for us complete with home made costumes, make-up (they had various diseases and were turning into animals) and a plot that was a bit difficult to follow (perhaps it was the fourteen intermissions), but visually exciting nonetheless. Maybe it was just over my head. I may have missed the nuances of the story.

A quick rendition of Happy Birthday before the candles melt the ice cream, a movie...

and finally, sometime around 1:30 or 2:00 AM, they fell asleep on their beds made from couch cushions. Do these girls know how to party or what?

The other new beginning for us is our adventures in orthodontia. I had the pleasure of pulling one of Rainey's front teeth Thursday night after dinner. A little after dinner entertainment, if you will. She was very excited!

Then on Friday, feeling lonely and after losing the only support it really had, the other front tooth fell out while we were at the water park.

Rainey has always been beautiful, but never has she been this cute. Later that evening we attended "meet the teacher night" where we had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. LeRoy and checking out Rainey's new school. We ran into several neighbors and other familiar faces which helped ease my own nervousness about this new experience.

This morning it was time for the real deal. Rainey Bailey, 1st Grader.

We have heard a lot of great things about Porter Elementary and Mrs. LeRoy and we are looking forward to a great year!