INDEPENDENCE DAY AT SILVER PALMS

Today was Independence Day at Jia's school. Until today nervous parents were allowed to go into the school and eat breakfast with their child and get them to their rooms. This is mostly to ease the minds of Kindergarten and First grade Mama's and Daddy's.

Jia has been fine, and doesn't want anyone to walk her in. "that's for babies." She also eats breakfast at home and brings her lunch (healthier).

However, Jia joined in on Independence Day as everyone was asked to wear red, white and blue. She is still loving school, her teacher and life!

Jia's Scooter

Well, we are off to a great start with school. Jia loves, loves, loves Mrs. Flores, and she says she likes this year better than first grade, so that is positive.

The big girls are getting back into the swing of things. Katie is secretary for Invisible Children and secretary/treasurer for the National Honor Society. She has meetings after school every day of the week. Ms. Organization is updating and rearranging everything the officers did last year. She has done everything she needs to do to send her application to Stetson, she is waiting for one teacher recommendation and then she sends it off. Drew and I will be traveling with her on September 12th when she has her personal interview.

Anna is already busy working on the yearbook. They won a silver award last year and this year she is going for the gold. She JUST finished her college essay this weekend and was very grumbly (is that a word?) while she was doing it. UF doesn't have the personal touch that Stetson has so she will not have an interview, I wish she would but they are so swamped (no pun intended) with applications they could never interview everyone. Say a prayer for Anna the school is horribly difficult to get into.

To my cousin Kathie in Pennsylvania--so glad you didn't get the brunt of the hurricane and everyone is safe and sound.

The pictures are of Jia trying out her skateboard, she is a little cautious about skateboards, bikes, skates etc. (even though she has them all) but she came home from school last week determined to use her skateboard and learn how to jump rope (which her sisters will have to teach her, it's hard being almost 50 and not fall flat on your face jumping rope.)

THE BEST PICTURES EVER!

I LOVE THESE PICTURES! THEY WERE TAKEN BY MY WONDERFUL SISTER-IN-LAW SHANNON DURING THE GIRLS TRIP TO CALGARY. WHAT A GREAT LOOKING GROUP OF COUSINS! NONA AND GRANDPA ARE SURE TO LOVE THESE!

BACK TO SCHOOL DAY 2 SCARY!

Anna drove everyone to school today. She is a very good driver, but still, I was scared. She was very calm, and drove them again today. I make her call me when she gets there, and right before she leaves. This growing up stuff is hard on Moms!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Jia making a kiss and showing she is in Second Grade

Second Grade Jia-very excited
The day lived up to her high expectations

Katie contemplating her future

My fashion queen

Anna and her unique style
(I'm not too sure I like the holey pants,
but they are the trend)

Anna loves to strike posses
Her shoes are really cute, they have little
polka dots that you can't see

The Women of Parnham South
ready for the new year!

My Stetson Beauty

My Gator Girl
And yes, her hair is purple again
only the underneath part this time
these small rebellions are fine because she is
such a wonderful young lady
(plus she always asks for permission first)

My little cutie pie

Mom and Jia going in to Silver Palms Elementary

This is Anna's furry giraffe bookbag
She wanted Nona to see it

Well, I didn't know if I would cry today or not, but we actually had kind of a silly morning. Jia was bouncing off the walls she was so excited. I tricked Katie and Anna by wearing a Stetson University t-shirt and when we took pictures I posed with Katie first, then pulled that shirt off and I had my University of Florida shirt on for Anna. Speaking of fashion, you will see by the pictures each of the girls have a totally different style.

Jia's Meet And Greet

Katie, Natalie Flores (Mrs. Flores) and Jia
A great picture!

No, this is not a peace sign
this is Jia's 2nd grade sign

On Friday, August 19th Silver Palms Elementary had their teacher "Meet and Greet" They go to school, find their classes, find their desks, look around the classroom and meet their teachers.
Jia was so excited, she left a note on the kitchen island (where the "big" people leave notes) here it is: "Wake me up becaues I mite be sleep or awake becaues I be in my room becaues this is Jia handwite becaus it is not Mom handwite"
The greatest thing is not only did we get the teacher we asked for and she is wonderful. She is the teacher Katie had for 2nd and 3rd grade. Natalie Flores has become a family friend, and Katie and I even attended her baby shower. I have kept in touch with her through the years and now she will be little Jia's teacher! When we went into the class, Natalie had photos of all the classes she had ever taught on her wall, and there was my little Kate grinning in two of them. Jia was very pleased, she sits in the front row, she has her books in her desk and we have bought all her supplies. She is ready to go!

12th Grade pt 1

Anna and Katie were both in charge of different aspects of the "Freshman Invasion"
Anna and her friend Katrina manned the Award Winning Yearbook booth and spoke with freshmen who were interested in being in the Journalism class.
Katie was speaking to freshmen about the goal of becoming National Honor Society members.

The girls' schedules for the first half of the year:

Anna: 1- A.P. Statistics 2-Anatomy & Physiology Honors 3- A.P. English Literature
4- Journalism 4 Honors (Yearbook)

Katie: 1-Biology 2 Honors 2- Teacher Assistant 4 3- A.P. Microeconomics 4-Journalism Honors

In their A.P. classes they have a chance of getting college credit if they pass the exit test but it is quite difficult. They still get a 6.00 out of a 4.00 system if they get an A in the class.

2011 Parnham Girl Fashion Show

The girls love to do a "back to school" fashion show for their Mom and Dad. I am proud to say they are bargain shoppers and are not swayed by labels (as I was when I was their age.) The big girls have a list of each outfit they are wearing for the first week, and I am pretty sure Katie made one for Jia too.

The big girls bought most of their thing in Canada, but they are also famous Target shoppers...

With Jia (as I used to do with Katie and Anna) I went online to Ebay and bought her brand new, with the tags still on, Gymboree clothes at a fraction of the cost. (I know if you are not a shopper, your eyes are glazing over right about now...)

FLORIDA COUSINS LOVE THEIR CALGARY COUSINS!

MAYBE THIS COULD BE OUR CHRISTMAS PICTURE THIS YEAR?

JIA WAS BORN IN THE CHINESE YEAR OF THE GOAT
AND BOY CAN SHE BE A GOAT SOMETIMES!

THREE LITTLE PIGGIES--MY GIRLS
I CAN'T EVEN GO IN THEIR ROOMS
ANNA AND KATIE KNOCKED ALL THE
NEATNESS RIGHT OUT OF JIA!

I am going to let Anna caption these later on. But this was a giant corn maze where they had so much fun! I am hoping that they have some other pictures on the cameras but these are really cute. The girls always love hanging out with their cousins.