First bus ride

First bus ride!

Abby started riding the bus home yesterday.  I still take her to school, that way she doesn't have to be ready & outside waiting for the bus at 6:45am (School starts at 8:15am).  The ride home is short in comparison, she gets home about a half hour after school lets out.

The transportation director told us she remembers Jeff from when he rode the bus, and that made Abby feel excited about riding the bus.  She said she even had a friend to sit with on the bus.  All day long I was worried about her riding the bus home, wondering if we made the right choice.  I waited outside with Ellie when it was time for Abby to come home.  When the bus pulled up I started taking pictures.  She dashed off the bus and was just running up the driveway, so proud of herself for riding the bus.  It was so cute, I got all misty eyed!

Abby started kindergarten!

Abby had her first day of Kindergarten on August 18.  She really loves it so far!   It is a little tough getting used to the new schedule though.  Her school does all day K, 5 days a week, which is a big adjustment. 

Abby is going to be doing cheerleading this fall.  Cheerleading for kindergartners, who knew?!?  It's through the local rec center & the school district.  It will be fun because she has some kindergarten friends who are also cheering, and they will be cheering for the little football players, which just so happens to include her cousin Gavin!  :)

Getting ready to go to her first day of K

Hugs w/ little sister before school

Lined up waiting to go with teacher on day 1

 Jeff's birthday was August 12.  We had a fun party with family:

Jeff's 35th birthday party

OMG yay!

RC bumper cars!

Jeff with his birthday cake

Ellie & Maggie

Abby & Gavin

Abby & Gavin hugging Papa

Ellie

Ellie sitting in a Bitty Baby doll chair

Other news:    Ellie made her first pee in the potty the other day!  Yeah, that might be an overshare, but we're pretty happy for her.  :)  We aren't really potty training yet, just getting her used to the potty in a gradual way, and we will encourage it more as she gets older.  That is what we did w/ Abby & it worked out pretty well. 

Also:  We're in the process of trying to adopt!  We had our home study visit this month, and we're waiting on home study approval.  We're pursuing independent domestic infant adoption.  (Independent means we are not using an agency, but working with attorneys & social workers, and domestic means we are adopting a baby in the United States.)  I'm sharing this news here because I have heard it is good to get the word out.  We have some friends who recently adopted and their match came from friends of friends who knew someone wanting to make an adoption plan.