Sleepaway Camp

Alexis-

You watched the Lindsay Lohan remake of "The Parent Trap"
and decided on the spot you just had to go to sleepaway camp!
Turns out, it's quite a big deal here in Texas,
so we were able to make it happen for you.

For your first time away from home,
we chose a popular, decades old camp just two hours from Southlake.
We coordinated the dates and the cabin assignment
with three sweet girls from town,
and you all met for several playdates
to decide on all your themed outfits,
to brainstorm what you each would pack in your trunks
and to build the excitement level.
When the big day finally came,
we loaded up your trunk,
decorated our car with washable markers
and headed off to Sky Ranch!

You were so excited to get your bunk bed all set up,
to organize all your gear,
and to explore the cabin with your friends.
You were quite ready for your family to hit the road,
despite protests from your younger sister who wanted to stay too
and some tears from your sweet daddy.
We weren't able to speak to you all week,
so we sent a care package each day,
sent you a daily email
and ensured you had postcards and stamps to write to us.

I stalked the daily picture site online,
and I mean stalked!
Seeing your happy face and all the fun you were having
helped make the week go by a little bit faster for us.
And your dad and I had a good laugh seeing your daily purchases
at the camp store. Sugar, sugar and more sugar by the week's end.
Your days were filled with water slides, swimming and boating in the lake,
obstacle courses, themed nighttime parties, horseback riding,
camp fires, carnivals and cheers/chants with your brother and sister cabins.

Pick up one week later could not come soon enough for your parents.
It was so wonderful just to be able to hug you
and hear all about your big adventure,
and see the award selected just for you by your camp counselors.
You filled the car ride home with lots of stories,
and then you promptly crashed for a nice long nap as soon as you arrived home.
You seemed to love just about every minute of sleepaway camp,
and you can't wait for a new adventure this summer!

Memorial Day

Hard to believe that just a year ago
we were moving into a new house,
getting to know a new town
and meeting new friends and neighbors.
It's so nice to see how well the girls have acclimated,
and for that matter, their mom and dad also.
It has been such a positive experience here in Southlake,
in the kind of development where we all have built-in buddies,
where there's always someone up for a playdate,
a bike ride or a lemonade stand.
A neighborhood filled with block parties, and book club,
poker nights and impromptu swim parties.
Where the ice cream truck rolls by in the afternoons,
and meals are baked and delivered for happy occasions.
The kind of neighborhood both Vic and I grew up in.
And so, to kick off the summer season,
we hosted a pool party for the whole block,
and even had Nanny here in town to be part of the fun.

On to Second

It was bittersweet to see 1st Grade
come to a close, Lexi.
Because it was such a sweet and happy year
for you at school.
Your teacher was, quite simply, amazing.

Through the years,
certain teachers come to stand out above all the rest -
and I really think Mrs. Sickler will be one of those.

All of the parents loved her…
because all 22 of you kiddos loved her so much.
She was never without a smile, or a compliment,
or a can-do, positive attitude.
Teaching is, without a doubt, her calling.
And that set the tone for the entire class.
You jumped out of bed every morning,
no alarm clock needed.
You were excited to go to school each and every day.
And that truly is no exaggeration.

First grade was the year where you developed
a love for reading.
We would often find you curled up on the couch,
a chapter book in hand.
The "Weird School" series was your absolute favorite.
You still also love having us read to you at bedtime.
It's a ritual for you and I to snuggle together
and find ourselves embarking on an adventure
in "The Secret Garden" or coming to love all four
"Little Women". You are coming to care for
Harry Potter as much as your mama,
and Charlotte is both of our favorite pig.

Mrs. Sickler often commented on how artistic you are,
how much pride you took in all of your projects
and all the little details.
She also thinks writing is a great strength of yours.
In fact, when it came time to present your work at the big
"Fairytale Literacy Ball", she let me know you
were the only first grader who completed two short stories.
And she loved them so much,
she shared them with your principal.

Motivated by some of the boys at your table,
you were the first girl to conquer the 1000s
math project. You were so very proud
to have your name up on the board for this.

You really enjoyed everything about first grade, though.
Art and science class, PE, social studies, even computers.
You loved getting to be silly and creative and active
with your buddies at lunch and recess.

Quite simply, you had a terrific year.
We will forever remember Mrs. Sickler,
and this sweet and spunky class!
Second grade has some big shoes to fill.

I'm so glad I'm me

Big sister decided to take a break from dance this year,
so it was Ryleigh's turn to shine on stage.

She took a sweet ballet/tap combo class
with her best friend Phoebe and two other little girls.
Their teacher, Miss Kamille, couldn't have been kinder.
And we all agreed...
she sounds just like a princess when she talks.

They performed a tap dance in the recital
to the song "I'm so glad I'm me",
and we were thrilled that Nanny came to town to watch.
I wasn't sure if she would be shy up there on the stage,
in front of all those people and under the lights.

She spent much of the rehearsal dancing sideways,
watching her teacher who was hidden in the wings.
But on the big day,
our girl faced front and center,
and tapped her little heart out.
Great job, Ryleigh.

That's a wrap

This sweet girl is moving on up to PreK!

We had such a fun time celebrating the end

to a terrific year of 3's preschool

with an adorable little music performance

and then a picnic playdate at the park. 

Ryleigh learned so much over the course of the school year

and really came out of her shell.

She's still quite shy walking into the classroom,

but by the end of the day,

she's chasing after her buddies 

to say goodbye one last time,

then running back to her beloved Miss Yvonne 

for one final hug.

School was tons of fun for her this year - 

she loved Spanish class and music class,

she loved playing on the playground,

circle time, and being the line leader. 

She enjoyed it all!

with her (boyfriend), Dylan

We've seen such progress 

in her letter and sound recognition,

in her handwriting,

in her attention span, 

in her (vivid) imagination,

and, most importantly, in her confidence.

It's a little bittersweet because she'll be switching 

to a new school next year - 

one that's a bit closer to the house 

and that offers a 5 day program.

She is leaving her sweet buddies 

and her loving teachers,

but I have no doubt that her new experience

will be just as positive!
Below, are some of my favorite moments
of Ryleigh with her school besties