Pre-Pre-Pre School

Briggs went to his first class today.
He was a little nervous...as we walked through the main lobby doors he asked daddy to "carry you" "carry you" "carry you".

Once he saw the train table, all that worry and fear was gone. Briggs was in preschool business.

Case soon arrived and life got even better.

So far, meet and greet was a total success and we will see how things go Thursday. I'm gonna miss my little bully, I mean buddy.

Middle School

Arianna Joi! You my little lady are starting middle school tomorrow. TOMORROW! Middle school.

You have your outfit picked out. Your backpack is ready to go and you were in bed by 9:20pm. I think I'm more nervous than you....not bad nervous, just nervous. It's a big deal. You are riding the bus, changing classes, changing clothes for PE and going to be a lot further away from home. You will  meet so many new people and teachers and you are going to have some major sweaty pits in your grey dress that I'm really worried about.
These next 3 years lots of things will change. Friends will change, you will change. You will probably start talking to boys and hopefully not kissing them...
Ari, I love you. I know I drive you nuts and I freak out over stupid stuff, but just so you know, I will continue freaking out over stupid stuff for.ev.er.  Because I love you. You will always be my little girl. I will be protective and ask lots of annoying questions and why so and so isn't talking to you or you aren't talking to them. Just so we are clear, I will ask a lot of questions.
Remember to be kind. Be honest. Be strong. Be confident. Be a great friend, a good listener, and most importantly be yourself.  Don't forget deodorant after PE and don't shave the bottom of your head like I did in junior high.
I can't wait to hear Briggs ask "where did sissy goooo?" 500 times tomorrow.
Love you Lulu,
Meme

5th Grade!

Today marks the very first day of 5th grade. 

Ari has Mrs. Coebergh (again) this year and is at the top of the totem pole at school. 

5th grade seems so old to me. 

Maybe it's her leather jacket?!?!

She wasn't really nervous at all this morning...totally different this year. More excited than anything. 

This year she is on patrol!!

Love this little lady so much. 

Look at Briggs through the window! LOVE.

4th grade

4th grade!
So old.
So many changes this year.
The girl is busy with sports, leadership, choir, friends, sleepovers, playdates...

She is still the apple of my eye.
Shoe size = 11 in women
Height: 5'3
Teacher: Mrs. Coebergh
Fav song: Gangam Style
Loves: to sing, dance, do cartwheels, torture your little brother
Best buds: Anno, Coco, Beep and Coco
Fav show: Hey Jesse

Ari you are beyond a blessing to us and even though at times, Zeb and I want to throw her to the crows....(she cries very easliy these days and is pretty much depressed if she has to hang out with us) she makes for a pretty entertaining life.

Love you my little lulu bear.

YOLO

YOLO! {You only live once!! A new  hip term I just learned. YOLO!!}
So why not jump in the lake on the last day of 3rd grade with some of your best buds?!?!

Here's to summer, and spending it at home with my kiddos!!! So happy.

Ari, I'm very excited to cross off the many fun things we have on our list of things to do.

For one, make Nutella pops!

3rd Grade

Mrs. Tiffany = 3rd grade teacher

Half Ari's soccer team is in her class.

And her favorite guy, Cooper.

Love going to the wall and looking up her teacher, so much excitement.

Welcome to 3rd Grade Lu.

A little glimpse back to Kindergarten.

Peace Out 2nd Grade!

Dear Lulu Bear,
In your second grade year of school, of your 7 and 8 years of life...you grew 2 shoe sizes! You made a ton of new friends (Bridget, Ellie, Julia). You learned how to subtract triple digits...how to barrow, how to tell time on a "not numbered clock"...you read full on chapter books, and write very detailed stories. You ran half a marathon at school! You did your first printed out reports. You had your first slumber party at our house!

What I love about all of this, is you LOVE school. And your teachers. You always check out the same books at the library {Fairy Books}. You still love animals. Today you asked if you could take your bear to school.  You aren't too cool for stuffed animals {I always was}. You are a slight hoarder...your back-pack scares me a little. You can out eat me. You wear my shoes to school. You are amazing, in every single little way. Your snuggle buggles, your obsession with TV, your outfit selections...how you do your crazy pitch motion {with anything: headband, golfball, rock, sock} everywhere we go. You are almost beating me in races. I do not like this, one bit. Little Lu, you make me proud. You are so easy going. You don't stress over anything...nothing. You might cry because you can't get a large blizzard, but you never stress.

Happy last day of 2nd grade. I'm excited for summer!

Love Your,
Meme

Last day of 2nd grade!

Name: Arianna Joi Issa-Blalock

Best part of second grade: learning about insects. My favorie insects is the butterfly, treehopper and catterpillar.

My favorite memory is: farting in calss but luckly no one heard and the sub was here.

Three important thinkgs i learned this year were: 1. regrouping with substraction 2. reading faser for example I can read 1 page in 2 minutes. 3. making new friends

My favorites:

Subject: Science

Book: A dog named Kitty

Sport: Softball and basketball

Movie: Megamind

Food: Burgers

Color: Blue and green

Star: Taylor Swift and Adele

Song: You belong to me and Rolling in the deep

Person I admire the most is: selin, my mom and ms. nease because they are all beautiful ladys and t hye are very kind.

When I grow up I want to be a: vet

One thing that I would never want to give up is: is my stuffed animal bear bear

If I could help make this world a better place I would: Go Green

My Plans:

Next year: I will be smarter

In Five Years: I will be independant

In 20 Years: I will own a puppy and have the job of a vet.

1st Grade.

We're ready to go....

A little nervous....


Then we got really excited....

On our way to 1st grade....

We bumped into Nev....

The famous picture in front of Lakeview....

photo with Zebbie

and with Momma

With the besties

Making sure the room looks secure....

I think we are all set. Lunch is packed (slighty larger than normal). School supplies oragnized. New shoes on. Hair done. Excited. Nervous. 1st Grade. Eeeek.