Where does the time go??

    

Family Day

the one year anniversary of our family 

We celebrated with bike riding, zoo & Ethiopian dinner.  

  

Bible presentations

"G" and "A" got new Bibles at church.

  

Kindergarten Meet & Greet 

  

1st day of 3rd grade 

  

1st day of kindergarten

B had decided that she wanted to ride on the bus.  She was beyond excited!  She wasn't the least bit anxious.  "A" was thrilled to "help" little sis.

  

   

 1st day of Preschool

"G" woke up and was ready to go!  I am so proud of this boy!  I happen to think he is the coolest little dude I know.

  

God Bless America & Children Around the World

   

The kiddos have all had their school programs and have done fabulous.  I LOVE going to watch them!!!  I am so proud of them!

 

God Bless America

 

A's school did a patroitic 2nd grade music program.  It was refreshing to see the ol' red, white and blue being celebrated. 

  

".....different...different..., but we are all American - American through and through."  (I can't remember all of "A" lines.)

Children Around the World

Next, "B" and "G" had their spring program.  The theme this year was Children Around the World.  They rotate themes every 4 years, so it was fun watching and remembering when "A" first participated as a Spainish Dancer.  They did add a finale this year, and it was AWESOME!

King of the Jungle

First up was "G".  I had no idea how he would do in the program, but I was not nervous at all.  If he participated, then great.  If he froze, then I would be right there to get him, and it would be no big deal.  He did great!!  I was so proud of him, and he was so proud.  He had spotted us as he was walking in; "B" was sitting with her group really close; and he could see "A" sitting in the front with all the kiddos, so I think all of that really comforted him.

He was a little unsure as he walked up front for his turn - but smiling the whole time.  Luckily, we were in the front, so we were right there to give him the thumbs up and encourage him.

By the end, he was KING OF THE JUNGLE!!

It's been fun to see him yelling this periodically around the house.

Can Can Dancers

Their little costumes and routine were too cute.  "B" was super excited to show us her routine.  (The boys in her class did a separate routine.)

The Finale

Given the fact that our family has been blessed by international adoption and given the current situation for orphaned Ethiopia children, I "see/feel" children around the world much differently than I did just a couple of short years ago.  It was really hard not to get emotional during the finale. 

"B" class came back out together and walked around with their letters to "We Are The World". 

Then, they lined up to spell...

Then, the children started singing "Let There be Peace" on earth and let it begin with me.

With God as our Father

Brothers all are we.

Let me walk with my brother

in perfect harmony.

Then, everyone sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". 

I have to say it was the BEST preschool show!!!  The staff, teachers and children did an outstanding job!!



Father / Daughter Dance

   

There's only one thing that is sweeter than a little girl who thinks her daddy hung the moon - TWO little girls who think their daddy is the best!

This was "B" first time to attend our church's father/daughter dance.  She was so excited.  The night before I overheard big sister telling her all the details about the dance and telling her that she was just going to love it.

  

Happy Baptism Anniversary!

  

Every year we gather together to help AB remember her baptism.  She loves it and looks forward to it every year.  Several weeks ago at dinner, she reminded us that her baptism anniversary was coming up and wanted to make sure that we were planning on it.

WOW!  She is turning into such a wonderful little girl.  I am so proud of her!

She just loves her little brother!

Little sis "helping" her with her presents.

We have never done daily devotions with the kids.  Hopefully, this will be the start of a new tradition.

 

Dear LORD, thank you so much for A.  She is such a blessing to us.  I pray that she always knows that she is a precious child of God and that you have chosen her and that she has a calling on her life.  I pray that she knows and fulfills her calling with passion and has a heart to love you more than anyone or anything.  In Your Holy Precious Name I pray...Amen!   

  

Off to 2nd Grade...

 
Today was the 1st day of school, and A was excited.

Finally after many unsuccessful pictures outside, she let me take at least one inside.  It was so humid, my lens kept fogging up outside.  Wow!  She looks so big!  It's hard for me to believe I have a second grader.

    

Here she is sporting her new backpack.  She had to have one that rolled. 

On Tuesday, we found out who A's teacher was going to be.  Actually, this year she will have two.  I have never heard of teachers job sharing, but I love the idea.  I'm all for moms getting the best of both worlds.  And, if the teachers are happy, then hopefully that translates into the classroom.  More importantly, A thought it was too cool that she had two teachers.  She was loving it.

 

A with Mrs. Hatmaker and Mrs. Millar

We're off to a good start!!!  I'm so proud of my 2nd grader!!

  

Activity Catch-Up

  
Year End Celebration
May 17, 2010

Summer kicked-off with B's preschool year end celebration.  All of the 4 year olds get their graduation certificates.  It is so cute.  B will be headed to their pre-K program next year, so I wasn't teary-eyed like I was with A.  Their school is so much more than just a place for her to learn.  It is a place where she is truly nutured and supported.  I LOVE her preschool.

 

We are so proud of B!

Girl Power

May 17, 2010

A's gymnastics program was appropriately titled "Girl Power", which is something all of the girls say at the end of each class.  (I love it so much that I use it in Girl Scouts.)  A loves gymnastics, and it is soooo much fun watching her. 

When A started, her ultimate goal was to do a back-hand spring.  After that, she said that she was done.  Well, she's almost there, and now she wants to learn a front flip with no hands.  I'm sure that's years away, but it is fun to see her grow and reach for the next level.  I already find myself tensing up watching her, so I can only imagine what it will be like as it gets more difficult.

 

Miss Stacey leads A's class, and she is fabulous.  I've really tried to be intentional about what programs I put my girls in, and I've been so blessed to have other positive adult role models for them.

Papa and Gobbie congratulating A

Party in the USA

June 12, 2010

A's dance recital theme was Party in the USA.  She loves dance!!  Almost everyday at some point, I can find her dancing around the house coming up with a routine.  She says that it isn't her favorite activity, but from the outside looking in, it totally seems to be her thing.

This was our first dance recital (except for our preschool dance).  I was really impressed with the performances, costumes, music selection and overall atmosphere.  It was just the right balance of "special" and "laid-back".  A had fun getting ready, especially wearing Mommy's make-up.  At the end of the performance, all of the girls got a "goody bag" with a trophy in it.  I've determined all kids LOVE trophies. 

A during her ballet routine.  She just looks so beautiful!  And, I love watching her :)

A during her tap routine.  She takes tap, jazz, lyrical and ballet.  All of the girls loved twirling the umbrellas.

Summer Reading...Move Over Junie B. Jones

After reading a Junie B. Jones book in bed with AB, I was surprised - and not in a good way.  (Everything/everybody was stupid or she hated something throughout the entire book - at least in the book I read.)  There had to be a better book series for young readers.  One of my friends, Nicole G., introduced me to The Cul-De-Sac Kids series.  I highly recommend them.   There are 20+ books in the series, so perfect for summer.  AND, the first book even talks about adoption.  AB seems to enjoy them.
 

Everyday Life...

It's a Hot Time in Cheese Town Tonight....

AB had her 1st grade program on 4/29.  She was Feta Cheese.  Her music teacher, Miss Beth, does an awesome job incorporating all of the children that want a speaking part.

Camporee...

AB and a couple of her Daisies headed to Girl Scout Camporee on 5/8.  It was a beautiful day.  The girls had a great time playing and enjoying the acitivities.  The neat thing about this day is that a Middle School Girl Scout Troop planned the entire day.  It is great to see older girls leading younger girls in a postive way.

 

Jump rope is an activity that stands the test of time...so do the rhymes that go along with it...Cinderella dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss her fellow, made a mistake, kissed a snack, how many doctors did it take....1....2....3 - TIMELESS

 

And, of course, you need a wood pile.

 

BLESSED!!!

Mother's Day!

Children are an heritage of the LORD...

I'm ready to increase my blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swimming excitement...or not?

We started swimming lessons like this...

 

Now, we are on day #3, and she's decided that she's done...but wait we've already paid for 8 lessons.  Hopefully, she'll soon realize that it is FUN!!!  (at least for her poor instructors sake :)

Girl Time

  
SB and I are very good about one-on-one time with the girls, but with the upcoming addition of Little Man, I have been even more intentional. 

Cave Camping
 

So...last Friday, AB and I headed off to go cave camping with some of our Girl Scouts.  AB was going to earn her red petal - Strong and Courageous.  Cave camping was just perfect!!

 

We left right after school.  (This was RIGHT after getting our referral information - post below.)  We carpooled with another mom and daughter.  It's about a 2 hour drive.  We got there at 6:30, and then packed in our "stuff" in around 7:30.  I was pretty proud of my packing.  I knew I had to pack light, because it's about 1/2 mile trek to the mouth of the cave.  AB did a great job helping with everything.  We wanted to be at the front of the line and get first dibs on sleeping spots.  We were told NOT to be by the bathrooms.

 

Here are the stong and courageous Girl Scouts (Abby, Maison, AB and Kate) hanging out before we head to the cave.

After we found a spot to "set up camp", we got ready for the "Wild Tour".  It is a 2 1/2 to 3 hour tour -500 ft below ground - full of tight squeezes, cave crawling, ladders, clay mud puddles and a couple of stories along the way.  Before you can go on this tour, you have to be able to squeeze through a box.  And, I do mean squeeze.  I'm a pretty small person, and I had to turn my head sideways to do it.  (Of course, I was wearing a hard hat.)

  

This is not from our group.   But this is the box that you have to crawl through.  I'm not sure why he isn't wearing his hat.  Everyone in our group had to do it with their hat on.

These folks were not on our tour, but we this is a glimpse of the tour.

AB and I had a great time on the tour.  She scurried along the whole time saying, Momma hurry up.  Needless to say, it was a tad easier for her to get through those tight spots than it was for Momma to army crawl through those same spaces.  Then, we hit bubble gum alley.  (It's called bubble gum alley, because it is so sticky that you literally will lose your shoes if they aren't tied super tight.)  MUD!  And I mean MUD!  The mom, who organized the trip and had been many times with the Boy Scouts, said that she had never seen the water that deep. Well, there go our shoes - soaked.  The only incident I didn't quite plan for.  I had extra shoes in the car, because I knew ours would be worthless after the cave, but I didn't count on them being totally soaked while in the cave.  Luckily, this was close to the end of the tour.  We finished the tour around 10:30, cleaned up, had a snack and got ready for bed.  We opted out of the 2 hour walking tour that started after the adventure tour. 

 

You sleep on the floor in a open area of the cave.

 

This is not from our group, but this is the room you sleep in.

 

AB giving me the thumbs up on her sleeping arrangements.

Sleep?  Well, lights didn't go out until 1 am, and people started stirring about 5:30 am or so.  I thought for sure that AB would be out as soon as her head hit the pillow.  Wrong!  She didn't go to sleep until lights out.  We got out up around 6:45 and had breakfast in the cave.  Then, we packed everything up and headed out.

  

Kate and AB after breakfast

 

AB and I outside the cave as we were leaving.  We had a great time together!!!

 

 

Arts Collaboration Day

Well, what do you do the weekend after cave camping...you get all dressed in pink and go to the opera and ballet. 

my two beauties in pink :)

Our local Opera House and Ballet had an Arts Collaboration Day for children.  For $5 a ticket, the children saw The Three Little Pigs Opera and The Singing Tortoise Ballet.  I wasn't sure if the girls would like the opera.  They really enjoyed it.  The story was really well-done and a great way to introduce them to something a little different.  And, of course, they loved the ballet.  I knew that they would enjoy it.  The music was fun and the story was pretty easy to follow.

 

We had a good time together!