Everyday life... and my fab niece Tessi

My niece has been spending a lot of time with us, helping out with the kids this summer. She's also taken an interest in photography and has been my personal photographer, which has been awesome! These are just some pics she caught one day around the house. Seriously, watch out... she's gonna make a name for herself someday. Watch out Annie Leibovitz!

Quincy's a Kindergartener (sob, sob)

I can't believe our 5 year journey to school is over! How did time go by SO FREAKING FAST? While I am sobbing, Marshal is celebrating. No more daycare cost! Ha ha. Actually, he was a bigger nervous wreck than I was. He loves his little girl SO MUCH and it's adorable how much he worries about her. We were both there for her big first day, prepared for tears and drama. She totally surprised us though. She walked in, found her desk and immediately began coloring. When we told her we were leaving she just waved goodbye. I think it was me who didn't want to go so I said, "Quincy, really, we're leaving now." She just waved goodbye again and that was that!

She already LOVES her teacher, Mrs. Horn. She's been doing great so far (3 weeks in). Mrs. Horn even told us she'd love to clone Q and that she's "smart as a whip"... who knew? ha ha. We have preschool to thank for that!  She must cooperate a lot better for anyone other than her parents ;)

Mermaid Splash: Quincy's 5th Birthday Party

THE INVITATION:

SETTING THE MOOD:

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL: (Ha Ha... the "smile" cracks me up)

THE IMPROMPTU PRE-PARTY NAP WITH PAPA:

THE SPECIAL MEMORIES:

All the photos in this section were taken by family and friends. I was WAY too busy to even find a camera so my friend/colleague Richard Walters and my 12-year-old-photographic-genius niece lent a hand at the camera work for me.

"The Magical Mermaid" was a benefit of living a few doors down from the owner/founder of Fancy Faces Parties!

THE REST THAT WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO SHOW!