Jam Packed

Yep, summer is over. We are getting back into the swing of things starting a new school year and we have now officially all celebrated birthdays - so older and wiser. So buckle your seat belts, this is a JAM PACKED post. Only the most dedicated will make it through. We'll start with school. I'm now in 2nd grade and I started Kindergarten! 

As you all know I have been waiting and waiting to finally get to go to school and ride the bus! It hasn't disappointed thus far. My teacher's name is Mrs. A (don't ask me - or anyone how to say her actual name), but so far she seems pretty cool. Dad was sure I would make multiple best friends by now, and he was right. Most of the people seem to be nice so far. (Well there is 1 kid that gets in trouble every day...but he says I'm his BFF. At least he's not mean to me, right?) We are doing super easy things, she keeps saying we are going to read or do math, but it isn't real math or super easy words! But you know what I love? Riding the bus, sitting next to my sister. And even more when she actually lets me sit by the window! I like having her with me and showing her the ropes. My teacher, Mrs. Winkler is really nice. We are getting down to business in 2nd grade, I've already had spelling tests and the DIBEL standardized testing. So far perfect scores so that 'summer slide' must not really be a thing.

My friend from class last year was wearing the
same thing as me on the 1st day! Great minds!

Ok, can I put my 2 cents in about this school business? So the first couple days I thought...no biggie, I'm used to waving goodbye to Amelia...but Heidi usually is still here. So when Heidi got on the bus too, I was not so thrilled. I kept pulling mom outside and pointing to where the bus went. Not cool. Luckily, our neighbors Avery & Rowan started school later so after mom and I go on our morning walk I played with them to ease the pain. I LOVE playing with them. So much so that they (Heidi/Amelia) are trying to bribe me to say words in order to go over there. Yes, she said 'brella' (you know, umbrella) today! And Deedee that is what I try to get her to call me. Yes, she is DeeDee, and Mimi. Those are my sisters! Anyway...getting to play with them didn't last long. But one fun thing is I also started school! Oh yeah. I only go once a week, but I have a lot of fun. Mom, not so much. She is not thrilled with my lack of napping there so I have been given an ultimatum, I may not get to keep going if I don't shape up! Boo.

Now that I'm TWO, apparently expectations have been raised for me. Yep. I celebrated a birthday last month. My godmother Siera told me she was coming down to help celebrate (and make rainbow pancakes!), and then I was surprised with nana and papa joining in for the party. So some family along with my friends Avery/Rowan & Ava/Henry came over for some dinner and celebrate ME. Since my favorite thing in the world is popsicles, there were lots of those to be had. That is probably my saddest thing about summer almost over, the amount of popsicles I have been getting is quickly diminishing. I did go to my 2 y/o check up and mom was proud of me because I made the charts. Oh yeah. I weighed 20.5 lbs which put me at 1 percentile. Height, I actually moved up to 6% at 31.25 inches. Since I'm not really talking I didn't get birthday questions that my sister get. But here are a few tidbits:
-I added baby to my vocabulary so I now have 9 words. (baby steps)
- I love my babies as of late, always taking one with me. Especially like bat baby that I got on my birthday.
- Favorite animal is 'ooo ooo'. That's monkey for those who don't speak my language.
- Not sure if I already shared, but my favorite tv show is Americas Funniest Home Videos. Yes, I find people falling and getting hurt extremely funny. I also like cracking up my sisters. Things like farting or making funny sounds usually seems to do it.

Well, since we are on the subject of birthdays. I am EIGHT! I had a pretty great day. Dad got donuts before school (and they made an 8!), then Lena and mom brought me some lunch at sat with me at school. Yeah, people were fighting to sit by me at lunch. Then we went out to dinner at my choice. Buffet of course! I mean pizza and 2 desserts...who can complain! Still no actual birthday party, we have been so busy. I suppose I should ask about that. Maybe the parents are hoping I don't! In case you are interested in my stats, I was 49" and 52 lbs (I think both around 25-35%). Enjoy the video of me answering my birthday questions. 

Last but not least. My birthday is TODAY. I am now two handing it. SIX fingers. Woo, woo.... My day is similar to Amelia's, but I love every minute of it. Dad snuck out and bought bday donuts...which looked like a 6! Mom came to my school for lunch and that was SO fun. I have a cool hat to wear all day and my friends sang happy birthday to me no less than 5 times (and that was just at lunch!). I'm still trying to decide where I am going to pick for my birthday dinner. I just want to make sure it is a place that will sing to me! I'm so excited to be 6 and continuing to get bigger. Here is my bday question video.

Ok, those are big hitters - but have to share on other random things that have kept us busy since last posting. Trips!

I even got a round of
real golf in with Rachelle

We headed up north again. First with a stop off in Omaha to stretch our legs. We met Siera for some kite flying, cartwheels, walking across the bridge to Iowa, and ice cream. That wore us out enough to continue the rest of the way up north for a trip to Lewis & Clark lake again, this time we camped in Aunt Rhonda's camper.

one foot in NE, 1 in IA

And get this the Ungles camped next to us, and the Nass's even joined for a night too! So we had friends from KC with us in NE. The weather wasn't great, one day was rainy, but we still got to fit in fun. Going on Matt's boat of course, some bike riding (all good until Heidi got near the mayflies, then she would go bezerk), and of course lots of family. Bonus. It was uncle Brian's 50th birthday that same weekend, so lots of people were back to celebrate him being so old. :)




After a couple of days of camping we worked our way for a night at Matt's cabin before going back to nana and papas. Why you ask? Well, we got to stay there for a few days while mom and dad had 'kid free' time in Las Vegas. Apparently the place they stayed had dolphins...which I SO want to see, but I only want to see dolphins with horns. Mom says they don't exist. I'm sure they do. Anyway, they had fun - I even shared a few of their pics. But I'm sure we had more fun with family. Will pretty much spent all day/night with us, playing, going to the pool every day, lots of bike riding. We even got to have a sleepover with Aunt Rhonda and Jason. We got to do some art, see the cows and horses, see how corn grows, and even drive a tractor...and all in jammies! Needless to say, we are ready for another trip up north. I'm letting them post a few pics of the fun they had without us. That pool looks awesome, no?

Ok, so I guess mom wanted to get this little
'mug' (aka shot glass) for Lena's souvenir.
Because you know her love for boobs. Moms,
hers, etc. Dad said no way though.

papa took us on a carriage ride thru Omaha after we met
mom and dad!

We returned from up north only to continue with fun, because Matt came down with his tailgate mobile and like 20 people to hang in KC. So why not tag along? We have been asking to go to Worlds/Oceans of Fun like forever. It was a super hot day. So a lot of the kids rides were closed because they were too hot, and unfortunately I'm still not tall enough to do a lot. But I am! Dad talked me into riding the Mamba and we went on it 3 times! I made dad do as much as possible with me (because we all know mom is a wimp!). I also went on a few big slides at Oceans of Fun. But it was SO busy because of the heat, that the lines were crazy. I had some fun too. Well, ok it took me a while to actually get in...and then when I did - some kid puked in the pool, so they closed it down. Next time I guess.






We also hit the Royals game. Another hot one, then it rained. But we love all opportunities to go to the Royals. Even if they had an off year.

 

 

Just so you all know, I
can hit too!

Geez, thinking of baseball. We took so long to write a post that I made it all the way through fall league softball start and finish. So highlights are my team name was the Pink Cupcakes. Pretty great, right? We were undefeated and won the league championship! I hit a walk off hit in one of our games to win a game...and in the last one I got a key out and a double as you can see in the video. I was hoping for a triple, as dad said we could go to Disney if I got one! Maybe in the Spring. I am looking forward to basketball starting up again this winter.

Our most recent trip was up to Lincoln to see grandma (Elmo) before her big move to Arizona! Minus the gobs of mosquitoes it was fun s pending time with her, seeing her cute puppy, eating pizza, going to the park, and playing with Tess & Norah. A fun-filled weekend!


Grandpa McLain came back with us to watch Amelia's softball game and hang out before heading on his future travels. It was hot (esp. for September) but hopefully he had fun too!




















Here are some final random snaps from summer fun. Dates, bike rides, pool, etc.

Lena insisted on painting her nails after
we came back from a pedi date night

Always have to throw some fun videos at the bottom for those of you who want to go out to blog. Listening to our singing chops may make it all worth it. But Lena is proving to be a good driver too!

Lena can now drive the green car...and boy is she proud!
And playing in the rain

We love having sing/dance parties!

Phew....we made it. Until next time. Hopefully before Christmas! Steffen sisters OUT!