SK Graduation

Well, if it's true that all you need to learn, you learn in kindergarden, then this is it. Emma is done school. 
But don't tell her that because she is sooo looking forward to grade one. She's even practicing being a big kid and doing things like washing her own hair. 

SK Graduation

We were given this photo as a surprise at her graduation ceremony. The best part for the kids was the ice cream.

Another first

It becomes a vicious circle, you buy velcro shoes to be independent at school but then there is no need  or little opportunity to learn to tie shoes.

At nearly six, Emma needs to figure it out. So, I made a deal with her. She learns to tie her shoelaces and I will get her a pair of TwinkleToes running shoes for school in the fall. Also, I wasn't replacing her pair with the broken velcro that were becoming the bane of her existence.There was tons of motivation. :)

It also helped that the pair of sneakers I bought her to practice tying were pink.

It took her 2 days... one weekend. We bought them Friday afternoon, practiced over the weekend and she wore them to daycare on Monday.

She is very proud of herself.

and now back to regular programming...

Doug has done an admirable job of blogging the renovations but the time has come to start with the Emma updates again. Let's begin with what you have missed over the winter and ... gasp... over the first half of the summer. (Where has the time gone!?!!)

The renovations... not much happening other than Doug beavering away at painting and installing the trim. It is a long tedious job with many steps but the final effect is gorgeous. We picked a very simple trim (plain mdf with slightly rounded edges) that not only continues our choice of clean lines, but it was a fraction of the price of pre-made trim. At this stage of the game, inexpensive is good.

I'm still trying to figure out what finish to put on the stairs. I think I've tried 10 different stains so far. Thought I had it, did the treads then realized that, no, I did not have it. Now I'm sanding it all off and starting again. I *think* I have it now... and if it isn't I give up.

We are also starting to think on what tile for the front entry and the backsplash. Emma has been a trooper coming tile shopping with us. Or should that be a royal trooper -- she often wears her princess dress for these trips.

I'll post more over the next while. Keep tuning in.