Bode's (and Mama's!) First Day of School

Well, we did it. We conquered our first day back at preschool. 

Last year when I started teaching Bode's class, the expectations were low...it was February, the kids had had a mix of teachers and they just needed someone with a pulse. I had a GREAT director who carried most of the weight for me (picture a trapeze flier with a really big, really close net); not too much to be scared of. 

But this year, I was in the full-blown teacher role. Like put up bulletin boards, have a back to school night, make kids name tags teacher role. And, of course I loved it. I think I've missed this component of who I am. (But I don't think I missed the first day jitters. And man, was Ipretty jealous watching those parents drop off their munchkins and walk freely to their car. I remember those days. Even if it was two hours, STILL. They were filled with gluten-free pumpkin treats in the warm autumn sun at my favorite coffee shop editing pictures. I liked pretending that I was a glamorous professional).

Either way, I'm really excited thinking about this year. I have a great group of kids that God's blessed me with. I know most of them and will know them all very soon. I'm praying for them to stay safe in my care and for them to feel loved beyond measure (and learn lots too).

And of course my favorite preschooler has to be this guy:

What a trooper he was! Most kids only had to go for half of the regular day. He had to go for the WHOLE time (early!) and stayed late. But he did great. (Even if he was a little droopy at the end).

We sang a song called "Look who came to school today" and went around saying every kiddo's name. When we came to him, he casually and importantly and seriously DABBED. Like the football player. He did it for both classes. No one else did any pose. It CRACKED ME UP (Quietly). What a character. Especially because he didn't look around for a reaction. He was SERIOUSLY dabbing. How lucky am I to be his teacher to see that in real life?

Later when I asked him about it he just said, "I really like to pose. Here's my batman pose..."

xoxox

And here's Bode man with his buddy from last year, just reading like two little gentlemen...

Here we go!

Healthy Kids Fair

My latest shoot. One of my favorites. xo

Click on the link:

http://www.mackenziemariephotography.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3971&action=edit

Handsome Boy Modeling School

I have a bunch of headshots scheduled...so I put Bode on the stool to test out my equipment. I didn't think he'd be so willing...

That one cracks me up.

HomeWorking Together

What are the odds that these two would have virtually the same homework assignment?! To make a poster "all about" them?! So of course I had to capture it. 

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Mimi is LOVING Second Grade. (She may or may not need an exorcism though because she's super tired and therefore SUPER everything else that isn't fun, but I've been reminding myself that this is what the first month back to school is like). Bode and I haven't even started yet (I will be his preschool teacher again this year..but this time I'll be starting the school year off from the get go and it will be FOUR days a week), but I'm already getting "pre-stressed" for the stress that will come. I'm currently like those people who live on the coast and hear that there's a hurricane coming, so they rush to the grocery store/gas station to stock up. That's me. Just a big "super market sweep" through the town of Longmont. It also doesn't help that we're remodeling our bathroom right now too...so that's a whole OTHER nesting urge ("maybe I'll pick up an extra tub of gray grout...you just never know!")

But I do have to say for the record, I've been very vocal about telling people that Bode and I will ALWAYS be together, with NO BREAK in a morose-sort of way. Until I heard that in my head and realized that the way I was saying that is actually completely the opposite of how I've been feeling. Will I miss the feeling of dropping him off for two hours and actually being able to work on pictures or sit outside at a coffee shop and read? Yes. Most definitely. (This is why I found a preschool that will take him for two hours on the day we're not at our other school. Mommy sanity time). But in truth, I'm really savoring and enjoying this year. A year isn't really that long. Especially if you consider that then for the rest of Bode's life he won't be mine to just toodle around with, like my little partner-in- crime. When something is finite, you really do treasure it more. So I'm soaking up this time with Bodes. Soaking up listening to him sing "Rock the Boat" (the VBS theme song) in the back of the car, or having him hang on the side of the grocery cart. And I can ALWAYS count on him to be up for a Starbucks drive through run (he gets a bacon and gouda breakfast sandwich, no matter what time, and I oogle and him gobbling it up and make a mental note of how satisfying it is when he eats a protein). 

But back to Mimi. She's going before Bode in this whole growing up thing, and so I can see what it's like when a child is in school full time. Even though she's a pretty good little reporter at the end of the school day and I hear a lot about what she did, she still was away from me all day. She has a whole life apart from our house. She has friends and conversations, and worries and hurts and joys. And I'm not there to witness every single one. Growing kids is definitely a gentle transition I think. It really doesn't happen over night.  In my experience, just when they've seem to outgrow the nest (and they're sheer presence in the house just feels TOO big, and the house and our world feels TOO small) they go to full time school. So I'm thankful for this transition time with even Mimi. At least I take her to school, and pick her up and cart her to her activities. I still am in her life and am at the center of organizing/supervising it all. Then she will be even bigger, more independent, then will move out. (Hopefully not too soon).

And so in this stage with Bode being at my side morning/noon and night, I hope that I keep my eyes open to be thankful for every step, knowing that Kindergarten registration comes in December and it won't be long until he too has his own "elementary" world. And I will relish in some more time alone.

Here's to SCHOOL. xo

Mimi Harper Turns EIGHT!

You guys. Eight is BIG. That's a big kid number.

This girl wanted an iPod for her birthday, so she could go upstairs and listen to music with headphones on. It's crazy.

Of course I had to reminisce about when she was born and pour over her baby book all day yesterday. I liked reliving where we were eight years ago. She made me a mom. And that was always my one and only most important dream ever. I'm so blessed to be this one's mom. xo

Mimi's FIRST Day of Second Grade!

 (Bode took this. He likes the camera ;)

 The best part was when we saw the Stromquists!

AND Gagnes!!! Charlotte is a Fox now too!!!

Have a great year kiddos!!

That One Time We Saw Blake Shelton

Once upon a time there was a girl who thought "where there's a will, there's a way." And also heard "the future belongs to those who believe in their dreams" constantly in her head. (Maybe she had spent too much time in Hallmark stores as a kid). Anyways, she was never one to shy away from something that seemed impossible. 

So when her and her friend heard on social media that Blake Shelton was giving a FREE, spontaneous concert at the legendary Grizzly Rose they threw caution to the wind and decided to try to get in.

After a frenzy of babysitter-searching and husband convincing, they finally found themselves in a car on a Thursday afternoon to stand in line with 3,000 of their closest friends. The girls told their reluctant, unbelieving husbands to drop them off at the end of the line and find a parking spot. (The husbands, being the smart men that they were, saw the fiery look of determination in both of their eyes and knew there was no way these women were not getting in to see Blake Shelton. Not up for standing in line for hours, they found a bar instead).

Meanwhile these girls stood in line and scoured social media to get ANY information about how good their chances would be. 

They also tweeted Blake Shelton, because you never know. 

Soon after the following picture was taken, the crowds that they were standing in back of started to dissipate and it looked like the line had been cut off at the limit.

But, because of the aforementioned "fiery eyes of determination" in both of these girls...they decided to keep walking forward. They were convinced that the "there's no more room in the Grizzly Rose" "no one else is getting in" was a scare tactic to weed out the less serious fans.

They walked forward.

And they made friends with the young girls, barely 21 in front of them.

And they took pictures of how close they were getting to the Rose...

And kept taking pictures....

And kept taking pictures. (Mostly to prove to their doubting husbands that they were wrong to give up on their wives' chances to getting into the concert so easily).

The line kept moving up and up and up. Until it didn't. 

But, STILL SURE that there had got to be SOME way to get into that concert, they stuck around. It was like a big game of Chicken. One by one, people dropped off, but about 40 diehard fans (or just really stubborn people starved for an adrenaline rush) stayed in line.

Then the Grizzly Rose staff told them to leave the parking lot. There was NO WAY that they were getting in. (The stubborn lot just stared back, blankly. No one moved).

Then the staff said, "no seriously. Leave. Or we'll call the cops."

That caused some to leave (the younger girls in front of them) but the rest stayed. Bolstered by the strength in numbers, and knowing that they weren't in the wrong. It was like an old-fashioned 'sit in' but for something way less socially beneficial.

The crowd of these people who were now bonded in their gumption and desire to see Blake Shelton stood around, laughed and watched as drunk person after drunk person kept getting escorted out of the Grizzly Rose (people had been there ALL DAY waiting in the sun. Not a good combo). There was promise of "one person out, one person in" to the concert. And hope was again sparked, just as it was about to be fanned out.

The sweet staff of the Grizzly Rose even brought out a speaker for the line and they jammed to every song that was being played inside.

When half of the concert was over, one friend turned to the other and said, "Are we crazy?" (A surprising question to be asked this late in the game, but a reasonable one nonetheless). "Yes." Replied the other friend. But, just then, with the sad look of defeat fresh on their faces, suddenly the Grizzly Rose staff opened up the gate that was keeping them from them and their goal and asked to see IDs...THEY WERE GETTING IN!!!!! With a rush of adrenaline they whipped out their drivers licenses and ran through that back door like their name had just been called on The Price Is Right. They high-fived and even paused to take a selfie with the bouncer that had even become their friend. 

With squeals and screams of excitement they watched the second half of the concert. It was a dream come true! (A dream they've been having just since 3:30 pm that afternoon. But still).

Thanks fire marshalls for saying we could go in!

Thanks grumpy bouncer for becoming our friend.

(not grumpy. Just doing his job.)

See. The future DOES belong to those who believe in their dreams (or are just crazy enough to ditch their husbands, jump in a never-ending line and maybe see a free concert).

****