Why Hello There

Grandy, click on this link  jennifergartman.blogspot.com

Hello MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER!!!  And hello to everyone reading!

I'm a little behind, but here goes to trying to get caught up!  I want to get the blog printed each year as like a little journal/pic flipbook, so I guess as long as I touch on everything that has happened (or at least to some degree) at some point, then I am ok.

So, August came and went so quickly.  

The girls started school, Tara moved to NYC, and Nick had a bday.

Just SOME of what happened in August/part of September.

To make a long story short-- The girls are all having awesome years so far.  They all have fabulous teachers, and they have some of their best friends in their classes.

Abbey LOVES junior high (8th grade).  She was "dreading" it a few months ago, and now she loves it.  So, that's great.  She is taking dance 2 days a week, and she and a few of her friends just started taking yoga once a week.  I think they are going to LOVE IT!  Abbey also turned 13 earlier this month-- will touch on that in a bit.

Libby started 5th grade this year and loves her teacher as well.  I also LOVE her.  Libby is in class with Morgan and a few other friends.  She is ROCKING it on her spelling tests and reading.  Very proud of her.  She goes to karate twice a week and is still really enjoying it.

Bryn is in 1st grade and is soooooooooo "grown up" now.  She cracks me up.  Her teacher (who is also named Jennifer) is amazing.  I am helping in their class every Thursday morning during journal and reading time.  I sometimes walk around and help everyone in general with their journals while their teacher works with another group, or I will also be working one  on one with some children.  I really enjoy it, and it gives me a good glimpse of Bryn in class.  She is taking dance again this year- ballet and tap.  Her teacher ROCKS.

Nick and Abbey both had birthdays close together, so we celebrated both of them a couple of weeks ago with the family.  Tara was in town from NYC, so it worked out perfectly.  We had Mexican food, opened gifts and ate lots of cake and pie.

Here are some pics:

Granddad (Nick's dad) with Libby, Sarah (Abbey's friend), Abbey and Bryn

My parents and Tara (who I miss, miss, miss!!)

Grandy and Sue (Nick's stepmom)

Brinny LOVES her Aunt Tara.  We talk about her OFTEN.

Gene

The Bday Kids!

Libby bringing in the surprise "pizza" ice cream cake from Maggie Moo's

Blowing out the candles

Love them!  Happy birthday, Nick and Abbey!

She would wear this shirt every.single.day.of.the.week if we let her.

Abbey and Sarah

Grandy and Mom

Larry (Nick's dad) and Sue

She got a backpack from Doc and GiGi (my parents).  She has been wanting one like that FOR-EV-ER.

I took Libby and Bryn to a dollar store and gave them $5 each to buy gifts for their dad.  (Don't worry, we got him other things as well!)  They got LOTS (10 total to be exact) of fun gifts for him.  Some included a LOVEly turquoise hat (from Bryn), super glue (from Libby), calendar Libby), gardening gloves (Bryn), and many more.

We had a party for Abbey and her friends out at my parents' lakehouse last weekend.  I will blog on that during my next post.

Hope all is well with everyone!