Missing...One tooth!

Well after about three weeks of wiggling, I finally lost my first tooth today.  It happened at school, during lunch.  It's a little weird, but I managed to eat a candy cane with no trouble.  And my big tooth is already coming into place.  Now I am off to bed so the tooth fairy can stop by for a visit!  Good Night!

All I want for Christmas is my one front tooth!

Being silly for the camera!

One less tooth to brush!

Swan Lake

This past weekend Charlie and I surprised Natalie with tickets to the Cincinnati Ballet's performance of Swan Lake.  On Friday we told her we were doing something special as a family, on Saturday morning I mentioned that we had to get dressed up and we were going downtown.  It wasn't until we actually arrived at the Aronoff Center that we told her what we were there to see.  When realization finally set in her response was, "Oh my gosh!"

Natalie thought being in the big theater and seeing the stage and orchestra pit was really cool.  She spent probably the first 15-20 minutes of the show completely enthralled and literally on the edge of her seat.  (I wish I could have taken a photo.)  She definitely enjoyed the group dancing, and couldn't wait for the "swans" to arrive, and then later in the show the "black swan."  At times the show was a little long and drawn out for her taste, but in the end I think she enjoyed it.  On Sunday I even got a "Mom, thanks for taking me to see Swan Lake."  I wouldn't be surprised if we here more about it in the weeks to come!

After the show we enjoyed dinner at Taste of Belgium.  The waffles were delicious!  In all it was a great family outing.

For Natalie's first ballet!

Pops and Natalie before
we head to the show!

Outside the Aronoff, she still
doesn't know why we are here!

We are in our seats waiting for the curtain
to go up!  She can't wait!

The view from our seats.  She enjoy
watching the orchestra too!

Mom and Natalie after the show!

Waffles!!!!!

School Update!

Mommy recently visited my classroom for a parent-teacher orientation!  Mommy learned about what I have been up to in Kindergarten.  She visited my classroom, sat in my chair and flipped through my daily journal.

My desk!  For now I sit at the yellow table.

Here is the view from my desk.  

Everyday we write and draw in our journals.
Here is a picture I drew of me and my dad.  I am
very happy because Dad just got home from work.  

Here is a picture I drew of myself.

Fun with cousins!

Recently my cousins Austin and Casey joined us for a dinner at City Barbecue!  I love hanging out with my cousins!

Headed into the restaurant!

Casey and me!

Casey tried all the different BBQ sauces, this was her pick!

Kindergarten!!!!

The moment I had been waiting for all summer finally arrived!  My first day of Kindergarten!!!!  I have been so excited to start school.  Before the big day Mommy and I had a chance to visit the school, see my classroom, and meet my teacher.  My teacher's name is Mrs. Strickland and she is very nice.  During the open house Mommy and I had to do a little scavenger hunt to find things around the classroom.  I found my locker, my chair, our class calendar, etc.  Also at the open house I had a chance to get on a bus and talk to the bus driver.  Of course I chose to tryout the last seat!

Last seat on the bus!

Last Tuesday, marked my first official day.  In preparation of the first day Mommy and I shopped for school supplies, a new outfit, and a tote bag.  When we found out I could not have a backpack Mommy and I decided to get a tote bag and decorate it.  I decided the bag needed to have pink and purple polka dots and Mommy did the work!

All ready for school.  Look out world, here I come!

For my first day of school Mommy met my bus at school so she could walk me into my classroom the first day.  I remembered exactly where I needed to go and how to get to my classroom!  Mommy helped me put my backpack and lunch away and then get settled into my seat before she said goodbye! 

You can see my bright headband through the window.

Getting off the bus!

I found my seat and name tag.  Now I am ready to learn.

Aunt Judy and Uncle Jeff

On Friday, August 2nd we had the honor of celebrating the marriage of Aunt Judy and Uncle Jeff!  It was a very exciting day!  Congratulations Aunt Judy and Uncle Jeff!

Family Vacation 2013

We have had a busy couple of weeks in the Knapp house!  Mom, Pops, and I took a nice little trip up to Ann Arbor, MI to visit some of Pop's family.  We had a really fun time.  We couldn't have have asked for better weather for the drive north.

Sunny and blue skies along I-75!

It was a gorgeous day and included a stop at Mommy's and Pop's favorite Bowling Green restaurant, and Cabela's where Mommy and I found someone's purse, turned it in to the information desk; then Pop's lost his phone and was returned by a nice lady named, Debbie.  It made an interesting start to our trip.  After Cabela's we headed to Ann Arbor and rested in the hotel for a bit before going to Aunt Ruta and Uncle David's for dinner.  Aunt Ruta is Grandma Knapp's sister.  The last time I visited Ann Arbor I was about 3 months old.

We had a delicious lunch of stuff breadsticks.

 The next day we headed to downtown Ann Arbor to visit the Hands On Museum.  It was a lot of fun exploring the museum.  After the museum we headed back to the hotel to go swimming for a bit.

The first section of the museum was about plumbing.

The water play area is always fun!

Focused on creating a large bubble!

Using rubber bands to create her name.  Natalie calls the "E" a "Super E."

Pops is trying to create a giant bubble!

Natalie dancing along a giant piano.

The blur in the center, right of the picture is Natalie. As she would dance, her movements were projected on the screen.  (We spent several minutes in this part of the museum.)

That evening we went back to Aunt Ruta and Uncle David's house for dinner again.  This time we were joined by Pop's cousin Aaron and his daughter, Lily.  (Unfortunately Lily's mom, Amy, wasn't feeling well and couldn't make it to dinner.). I was very excited to finally meet Lily, she is 5 years old and will be starting kindergarten just like me.  We instantly "hit it off" and started playing "restaurant" and Lalaloopsy dolls while the adults chatted.  I was really happy that I finally got to meet Lily and I hope we can get together again soon!

Natalie and Lily, instant friends!

Hugs goodbye!  Hopefully it won't be 5 years before they see each other again!

On our third day we headed east to visit Greenfield Village which is part of The Henry Ford.  The Village is an outdoor museum that shows visitors what life was like and how people worked in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  We learned how they once weaved fabric, made pottery, made things from tin (this was Pops' favorite) and watched glassblowing demonstrations (mine and Mom's favorite.)  Most of the buildings that are part of the village were once located in other areas of the country.  We visited the courthouse that Abraham Lincoln practiced law in, Thomas Edison's office, workshop, and the first house in America to ever have electricity. Some of our other favorite things included:  watching a young girl perform as Laura Ingalls, riding the carousel, and seeing all of the Model T's and horse drawn omnibuses driving around the Village. It was a great time and we are all looking forward to going back. 

Exploring the Village.

Natalie with her "hobo" lunch.  It came wrapped in the bandana with a stick.

Natalie and Mom took a ride on the carousel. 

After a full day at the Villiage we met up with Grandma Knapp's other sister, Aunt Ieva, to have dinner together.  It was a great vacation and we all had  wonderful time and can't wait to visit with everyone again soon!

5 Year pictures!

It sure is great having a photographer in the family!  Once again Aunt Judy took some great photographs for my 5 years old pictures!  Now if only Mom and Pops would get them printed and pass them out!

Here is a link to Photos by Judy so you can see some of the pictures:
http://www.backprint.com/view_event.asp?PID=bp%1C%7FAt&EVENTID=116063

Zoo Camp 2013!

Once again I was able to attend zoo camp at the Cincinnati Zoo!  I was looking forward to the week away (I spend the whole week at the Portman's).  In fact I told everybody I was going on vacation...without Mom and Dad!  Just like last year Megan and I went together.  Our topic this year was "Feathers, Furs, and Scales."  Each day we would have a craft, take a zoo hike, and have an animal come visit our classroom.  I really enjoyed going to the reptile house and hearing the Chinese alligators talk to us and visiting the insect house too.

In addition to the fun stuff at zoo camp, I had a lot of fun with the Portmans too.  The first day at the Portman's we had Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bob to ourselves because Maria and Sarah were out of town.  Then later in the week we were joined by our cousins Maria, Sarah, Alex, Gabe, and Katelyn.  Fun was had by all!

Headed to the Portman's!

First morning of camp or first day of college?

Breakfast!

We visited Alter High School!

Dinner at the sprinkle park!

Testing the water!

"The water gave me a heart attack!" - Natalie

All the Zirkelbach cousins together!

Parky's Farm

The other thing we did during the Memorial Day weekend was visit Parky's Farm at Winton Woods.  I had never been there before and I wasn't sure what to expect.  They have this fun play barn with ball pits, slides that go from the hay loft to the first floor, huge tractor tires for climbing, and lots of other fun stuff.  I really enjoyed playing there especially after I learned that twisty slide from the hay loft to the first floor wasn't scary at all.  After playing in there we went to see the animals.  They have ponies, pigs, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and goats.  We even saw baby goats that were just two weeks old.  There was also a pony ride.  At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to ride, but Mom told me I should give it a try.  I am glad I did, because it was very fun.

Being silly!

He's just the right size.  I'll take him!

"Nothing runs like a deer."

This past Memorial Day weekend we spent part of the holiday weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's.  We had a wonderful time celebrating Grandma's, Grandpa's, and Casey's birthdays.  The weather was beautiful and we made of the most of it by trying out Grandpa's new John Deere "tractor"  (ok, it's really just a riding mower, but since Grandma and Grandpa live on a farm we are going to call it a tractor.)

All of the Dad's and kids took turns riding the tractor.  Austin and Casey even drove it by themselves.  At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to get on it, so I sat on it with the engine off.  Once I did that, I was excited to go for a ride.  So Pops and I drove around the yard for a bit.  He even let me steer too.  Something tells me that every time we visit Grandma and Grandpa we might have to take tractor rides.

Here's Austin out for a spin!

OK, yeah I am ready to drive it!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Casey's turn!