FIRST day of FIRST grade

Samantha officially started First grade last Wednesday (Aug. 17th). One of the million of things that we LOVE about Samantha is how well she adjusts to change. That little girl just rolls with it. We have moved 3 times in the last 4 years-- and each time she has been so great,- she is always excited to meet and make new friends. She was THRILLED to start first grade--especially when she realized that she would have her OWN desk, her OWN supplies and her very OWN locker (SO grown-up). Her teachers name is Mrs. Nickolaus

Before School: SO EXCITED
All dressed and ready to go!

A picture with her brothers....

Silly kids...

In front of her new class room

After School:JUST as EXCITED. She loved her first day---and now a week later-she loves it just as much!

Collin has now adjusted to having Samantha gone--on the first day he called out to her a few times-and then realized that she wasn't home. So cute--and a little heartbreaking.

The 4th

This year we had only been in St. Louis for a week--and honestly I was going to totally ignore it. Mike had to work--and I just didn't have it in me to do fireworks alone with the kids. But thankfully Natalie (a friend from Kirksville whose husband is doing residency here) totally saved me! Plus I was able to meet a new friend who also ended up being in our ward!

This was Owen the whole night---going from one adult to the other trying to get them to light his sparkler.

He finally gave up and just pretended :)