{school dance}

Tonight the girls had their first middle school dance.  They looked so cute in their new dresses and they were so excited to go.

{ a tribute to Shyann}

Since School was cancelled yesterday so was the boys basketball game so they played it tonight instead.  Thanks to social media everyone knew to wear Orange because it was her favorite color.  Both were on the girls varsity basketball team so that night was all about the girls.  They had a moment of silence before the game.  The boys basketball team all were wearing orange socks and even the players on the other team were wearing orange too.  It gives me goosebumps just thing about it.  I also noticed that fans on the opposing team were wearing orange too.  I love that a school, city, and even rivals can come together during such a sad time.  One other thing happened too.  During halftime the girls team from the other school presented orange roses to our girls team in memory of Shyann.

At school today these flowers were left on Shyann's desk.

I know its blurry but you can see all the orange in the crowd.  Shyann's family went to the game and after the game was over each of our players came into the stands to give her Dad a hug.  I will never forget this night.

{don't forget the bus driver}

Here's an easy inexpensive gift you can give to your kids bus driver.  At our last school I had to take and pick up my kids everyday.  This year all of them but Chase ride the bus.  I can't tell you how nice it is to not have to take them to school everyday.  Show them how much you appreciate them by giving them a little gift too.

{Chloe's cell cake}

Chloe had a cell project due Monday but we didn't know if there was going to be school or not.  We didn't think there would be but we had to be prepared if there was.  So this afternoon Chloe and Zoe worked on her cell project.  They baked a small round cake and a cupcake.  We had to hide it because the kids all wanted to eat it.

update: she got an A+

{her first basketball game}

Chloe had her first basketball game tonight.  You will have to excuse the pictures I still have not mastered shooting action pictures indoors.  Here in Texas if you are in 7th or 8th grade you can play sports just like in High School.  I love that they have this opportunity here.  Tonight was just a scrimmage and thank goodness because our team needs some work.  They have only practiced three times before tonight.  I love that both Chloe and Kaidee are trying new things and stepping out of their comfort zones.

{back to school but this time in Texas}

The first day of school has finally arrived here in Texas.  Our summer has been especially long because we are so used to starting school at the beginning of August back in California.  The kids excitement levels were all over the place.

Cole was ready to ride the bus and make new friends but he really wished he was going to the same school as his cousins.  Grayson goes to school where Amelia teaches and Miles and Rowdy go to Justin Elementary.

Kaidee was the most excited!  She could not wait to go to middle school and make some friends.  She has 8 different classes and a locker she was beyond excited.  I on the other hand am nervous for her because she will be the youngest in 6th grade by 2 months.  The cut off in Texas is September 1st and in California its December 1st.  Her birthday is November 6th but because she already did 5th grade in California and her report card and star testing was so good they wouldn't keep her in 5th as I wanted.

Chloe's emotions were all over the place.  She wants to make friends but then feels like she won't.  As a mom that makes me sad.  I know she will be ok it might take a little bit but I know she will make friends.

Chase will be a senior this year at Northwest High School.  I am having a hard time knowing that I will have an 18 year old in just over 2 months.  He has grown up so fast and he really is a good boy.  So far being the mother of teenagers has been pretty easy and I love it.  I have been praying my guts out for this boy.  He has taken the move pretty hard, he misses his friends, his school, and the fact that he only would of had 4 classes at GTHS.  He has had a few melt downs but I have seen how much he has grown from them.  I look forward to seeing how everything turns out for him this year.

I am loving the start times of their schools too.  Cole's school is from 7:45 to 2:30.  Chloe and Kaidee go from 9:30 to 4:30.  Chase's school starts at 8:30 and ends at 3:30.  I love that I will have alone time with each group.  Cole and Chase will be in the afternoon and the girls will be in the morning.  Chase has seminary in the morning then he goes straight to soccer practice the right to school.

Cole was so excited to ride the bus.  He gets picked up and dropped off at our house.  In California my kids went to a magnet school so I had to drive them to and from school everyday I am not going to miss that!

Paisley couldn't wait for him to get home.

Our Summer is now officially over and i'm not very happy about it.  School started today and it's not even August.  This year we start school earlier too.  Last year we started at 8am this year we start at 7:40am.  Too early if you ask me.

This year Cole is in the first grade and in Mrs. Heney's class.  I am happy that I don't have to go back and and forth to the school three times a day now that he is full day but i'm sad that my baby boy is growing up.

Kaidee is now in the 5th grade.  She has Mrs. Plumb who was Chloe's teacher last year.

This is Chloe's last year in elementary school and I am having a tough time with that.  I do not like the middle school years.  I wish they could just skip those years and go straight to high school.

Paisley wanted to be included in everything.  She even cried after we left each classroom because she wanted to stay and go to school.  She still has another two years.

These kids are growing up so fast.

I just wish the school year was shorter and the summers were a little longer.  I love having my kids at home with no schedules.

Chloe is in Mrs. Herrera's class.  My brother's grew up and went to school with her and her siblings.  I am excited for Chloe to have her as her teacher.

{One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish....}

...Blue Fish.

Last Friday the kids celebrated Dr. Suess' birthday at their school.  While I was looking on pinterest for something cute to make I found these cute jello fish bowls.  The idea came from a blog called Simple Girl.  I made them for Cole and Kaidee's classes and the kids and teachers loved them.  They were very easy and went with the book perfectly and they weren't that bad for them either.

{Save the Date}

Things are beginning to get a little crazy at the Byrd  house.  Beauty and the Beast has taken over, try outs, rehearsals, costumes, meetings, etc.  But we love it.  This year it is going to be a family affair.  In fact the only ones not involved are Chase, Garrett, and Paisley.  I am in charge of costumes, yikes!  I am so nervous but excited too.  Darian will be helping back stage and might possibly have a small part.  Chloe, Kaidee, and Cole all have bigger roles.

Chloe will be the Enchanted Rug, this is what her costume will look like.

Kaidee will be the footstool/puppy.  She is going to have to work on being very still.  I know she will be perfect for this part.

Last but not least Cole will be a sugar cube.  I could not find a picture of his costume so you will have to use your imagination.  Only 3 kindergartners made it and they are all three sugar cubes.

Beauty and the Beast is my Favorite Disney movie so I am very excited that this will be our big production this year.  The show will be April 12, 13, and 14.  We are adding a matinee on Saturday so that means we will having a total of four shows.  Tickets are $10 each.  Save the Date you are not going to want to miss this show.

{Grand Terrace High School}

Our hard work has paid off.  Remember back a few years ago when we were fighting to change the name of our cities first high school?  I drove by the high school a few weeks ago and I saw the name on the front of the school.  It really took my breath away.  I am so excited that its almost done.

{I do not like science fairs}

Last month before Chloe went off track she had to do a science project for her schools science fair. We choose to find out what colors appear the most and the least in a bag of m&m's. Chloe and I had fun counting and separating the m&m's but that was it. I often wonder why young kids are asked to do things when you know that its the parents (mom) that usually end up doing all the work. I think that this sort of stuff should be done in the classroom as a group. When they get older and are more independent I don't have a problem but a 2nd grader? Well she didn't place but her teacher gave her an A+. I am so glad its over.

{don't you just love it when....}

your child tells you at 8:00pm that he has to build a cell out of edible items and it's due the next day. It's a good thing we have good friends like Angela that give us all of their leftover candy from their project so that we can do ours. Chase found out about this project last Thursday and he mentioned something to me about it on Tuesday but just in passing. When I asked him about it he said "I thought you were going to do it for me?" What was he thinking? Oh well luckily we had everything to make it plus the candy from Angela. I am also thankful to all of those that have done these projects before and have put them on the Internet. It sure makes it easy when you can see one already made. So here is the final project.

{works for me: bsck to school}

What are some of your back to school traditions? It could be from now that you are a mom or from when you were younger and going to school.

Every year before the kids go to school Darian gives them a Father's Blessing. The kids really look forward to this and I know that they are blessed throughout the school year because of this.


• I love taking the kids school shopping. The girls and I go together and then I take the boys at a later time. We shop and then go to lunch. I look forward to spending this special day with the kids.


• Every year on the first day of school I measure the kids on the back of the front closet door. I write their name along with the date and what grade they are in. The kids really like looking back and seeing how much they have grown the past year. I am so glad taht I strated this when they entered kindergarten.

a fix it man and a science fair

This is Coles new thing. Every time the garage is left open he runs and pushes the chair to Darian's toolbox and takes out as many tools as he can. We have been finding tools all over the house. I hope that when he gets older he will still want to play with them as much as he does now.
**Tiffany can you see his new haircut?
**Bobby I know you don't like overalls on little boys but you can't say he doesn't look cute in them.


The past few weeks we have been working on science projects at our house. I am not a big fan of these sort of things. It feels like any projects that the kids bring home means more work for mommy. I am a big supporter of keeping the kids in school an extra hour and no homework. I don't think it will ever happen but it sure sounds good. Well we finally finished with the science projects and last night was the science fair. Chase got picked in the top 3 in his class so that is why he has a blue ribbon. They chose the top three overall out of those with a blue ribbon but Chase's was not one of them but his good friend Isac's was. The funny thing was that Chase's project felt so thrown together I never felt comfortable with it. Garrett's on the other hand I felt was very good. It's funny how things turn out. Here is Chase's and he did his on "Surface Tension." Don't ask me anything about it because I still have no clue.

Garrett's project was much more fun his was on "How much water is wasted by a leaky faucet?" With all the talk on being "Green" I thought for sure his would do well.
I am not sure whose project this was but it looked like a lot of fun. I took a picture so that I could do this next year. Who wouldn't love a science project on M&M's.

Last but not least we have Kaidee's class. They chose to do theirs on "Goop." The younger grades did them as a class.
I never was able to find Chloe's class so I don't have a picture but I am so glad it's done.