A Message from Mollie

My school's annual fundraiser with Innisbrook has begun. Innisbrook Wraps has beautifully designed gift wrap printed on quality recycled paper, coordinating gift wrap accessories,
gourmet foods and fine Helen Grace Chocolates that make great gifts, Time Inc. magazine subscriptions, and more.

For every item that is purchased, Innisbrook donates up to 50% of the purchase price to my school. I also earn a prize credit for every item purchased except school supplies. The more prize credits I earn, the more prizes I win!

Please consider visiting the Innisbrook website and making a purchase on my behalf. A link is included below. Our sale will be over soon, so don't wait. Place your order today.

Thanks for your help!

Seller: MOLLIE Seller ID# R10096D
School: HACIENDA ELEMENTARY
School Number: 103845

Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize me and my school automatically.

http://www.innisbrook.com/index_students.cfm?id1=R10096D&id2=&id3=

If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Enter the Seller ID# R10096D
www.innisbrook.com/id.cfm

Also, if you live in the area and you are thinking of a dinner out, Hacienda is having a Dinner Night with Sonoma Chicken.
Tuesday Sept 9
5pm-9pm
5925 Almaden Expy in San Jose
and
200 E Campbell in Campbell

Hacienda receives %15 of all take out or dine in meals when you give them this flier below.

First Day of School!

Tuesday was Mollie's first day of school at Canoas. She was so excited while getting ready. Both girls were giddy and squeaking while brushing their teeth. And at 7:30am the four of us headed out the door and walked down the street to school. I love how close it is to home. After a short meeting with the teacher we said our good byes and off she went into class. This was the first time I remember her ever being timid before going into a class of any kind. Except the first time I left her in the church nursery when she was 3 months. And she cried just that first time. Since then leaving her for class or anything has gone smoothly.

Picking up my little one was not what I expected. Mollie loves to learn everything and loves school and classes of all kinds. She came walking out of class so tired and looking sad and she didn't want to talk and she said she didn't like Kindergarten. Oh no! Scott and I told her we'll give it a couple weeks thinking she will get over the shock of the day and it will get better.

Instead...
On Wednesday Mollie had her first day of Kindergarten at Hacienda Elem. Yup, we switched schools. Tuesday afternoon I got a call from the district office saying that a space opened up at the magnet school for which we were on a waiting list for. I was shocked; totally didn't expect this to come up. When they sent me a letter in the spring Mollie was number 60 something. Turns out that was just a student number. She was 9 of the waiting list! After a rushed trip over to Hacienda to meet people and check it out and a couple phone calls to Scott we decided to switch schools. Mollie was pleased that she got two first days of school. I had to convince her that didn't mean she got to have a second first day of school cake. :)

Her reaction to school was so different on Wednesday; complete opposite from what I got on Tuesday. She came out happy and energized. Excited about school again. And I am excited about it too. Parent involvement plays a big role there. At lunch time kids on the playground of a great play structure, balls and hoops. It feels so much like the school that I grew up at and I am excited to be a part of it. I'm still learning what it means to be a magnet school though. I know that kids throughout the district can apply to go there, so kids are from all over. There is PE and art and music still. The bent of the school is environmental science. Last year Mollie got to be a part of a home school science class and fell in love with science. The school does a lot of hands on with learning which I love and agree with. There are large planting boxes for each class and an area with ponds and a creek and lots of Redwood trees. Pretty campus. And I am hoping that the science aspect will be an advantage for her as our current culture is about "going green." I know, I know. That is a big hot topic and there are lots of arguments. And maybe I'll get into that another time.

Anyway, we have started school. Everyday. Another new phase of life for our little Mollie.

Beach Day

We declared Sunday as a family vacation day and headed to the beach. Mollie loved jumping over the waves. She's not a fan of playing in the sand, just like her daddy. Allie felt unsure about going into the water until I showed her how we can fill the buckets with water to go make wet sand for castles. Scott and I made several trips back and forth filling buckets with her. She did well going in the water after that, even when a wave knocked her down.



Many of my friends know I am a people watcher. I was noticing how at the beach people are very similar to one another, no matter what the age. People of all ages were going to the water's edge, sticking in their toes, and running out because it's so cold. Mollie gained confidence in playing in the waves while I sat near by and watched. I watched her dance and jump and laugh. At one point she was just standing there letting her feet sink into the sand and the waves came in and out. You know that feeling? Wondering just how long you can keep yourself up before falling down, and wondering if you can save yourself before you DID fall. There I was, watching my daughter discover her limit in balance, and I was ready to jump up and help her if needed. And I got to thinking about how God allows us to figure out how long we can balance. About how He is always just right there for us when we need Him.

Jumping Weekend

My girls both love to swim. And jump into a pool. This last weekend we were invited to go swimming each day with different family (thank you again Betty & Elliott and Barbara and Dan!) and treated to delicious dinners. Many of you know I have been really busy the last couple weeks with different events I was involved in. Being able to enjoy the weekend with family fun and dinners was a huge blessing.

My sister and her husband were in town visiting this weekend. Kathy played with our camera and took a bunch of action shots of the girls. Jumping has been one of their favorite pool games in the past. Kathy loved the excited looks on their faces just as they were jumping off the edge.



I recently got them back floats ("power packs") and now they love being in the water practicing their swimming skills. Such a different experience letting them go and not having to hold one constantly! Mollie is really getting the swimming thing down with the float. Yesterday she wanted to practice without it; not quite there yet, but I was proud that she tried for a bit. Allie can also do a little swimming with the float, but she prefers to dog paddle all around the place. She gets mad when I try to hang on and redirect her.

Happy Birthday Sweet Fairy

This weekend we celebrated Mollie's birthday. My grandma graciously opened her home to 11 little fairies for the afternoon party and a bunch of family at the evening party. Mollie went thru a lot of different birthday themes before she figured out exactly what she wanted. We combined candy and fairies into Sweet Fairies. Girls came dressed beautifully and all the little fairies had a wonderful time. We decorated crowns and wands, went on a fairy hunt in the garden, made sweet jewelry, played Pin the Wings on the Fairy, and ate sweets! What could be better?!

Tiny fairy sneaking a preview at Fairy Wonderland.

Crowns waited for girls to pick and tie on ribbons.

Wands and glitter glue fun.

Scott painted this for our Pin the Wings on the Fairy.

Mollie blowing out her candle on the cupcake tower.All lined up and ready for fun!

Saying "hi!"

Yesterday Mollie had a show to end her week of Disney Dance Camp. During the week the kids learned 4 dances to perform; very impressive I think!
One dance was hip hop and this was the hip hop face on each kid. So hard not to laugh!