Aidan and Sydney

Last weekend we got to go to lunch with some special friends. When we lived in Norfolk, Aidan and Sydney lived across the street from us. Sydney was only a year old when they first moved in across the street and Isabelle hadn't even been born I don't think! The kids have always enjoyed playing together!

We were glad that we got one more chance to meet up with them and visit for a little while!

Sydney and Isabelle:Aidan and Ian

Practice

Each year, the kindergarteners get to practice eating lunch in the cafeteria. It is a pretty big deal. They think they are so big!

I think this sums it all up:
Goober!

New Do

Isabelle got to go with me to the hair salon last week. She had not had her hair cut since last fall and it was getting so long and unruly! So we decided to take this: And turn it into this:
It seems to make her look so much bigger! But it is quite adorable and she really likes it!

The "Good-byes" begin

Each year the preschool holds their end of year party at a gymnastics gym. The kids get to run and play and be crazy and eat snacks and then it is all over!

It has been a fun event for the last couple years. But this year was a little bit different...because we aren't coming back. I HATE goodbyes! I have never handled them well. And, regardless of my efforts to put on a brave face and be tough for the kids, I failed miserably at this party. The kids, however, managed to have a great time despite my tear streaked face!

This is one of Isabelle's most special friends, Keagan. They often chose to play together on the playground and sit together in class. Keagan was quite upset to find out that Isabelle would not be back next year. We will miss him too! We made our rounds at the end of the party and said our Thank-yous and Good-byes. Mrs. Atkinson taught both of our kids in the three year old room. She has such patience and understanding. Sometimes when I feel flustered at home with only my two kids, I remind myself that she handles up to 10 of them at a time!
Mrs. Harrison was Ian's teacher last year and would have been Isabelle's next year. She was so disappointed to find out that we would be leaving before she got to teach Isabelle! She is one of the sweetest and most genuine people that I have ever met. I promised I would tell everyone that this picture was taken after all the running around...
Miss Gayle
Miss Kelle

Miss Gayle and Miss Kelle are the assistants at the preschool. They made such an effort to show so much love for each individual child. When the school door opened each morning, each child was greeted by name. More often than not, they were also given a high five, a hug or at least a sincere compliment. These ladies did such an amazing job of making each student feel so incredibly special!

Finding a school for Isabelle in South Carolina has been such a challenge. I know that we have had such an amazing experience here with this little preschool. It will be hard not to compare everything that we encounter with everything that we know. I know that God will provide the right place for our little girl. We are just so grateful that we have gotten to be a part of such a fabulous school. Thank you ladies, for all that you have done for our kids and our family! You have been a true blessing in our lives!

One year down...

...15 to go!!!

Isabelle completed her first year of preschool last week. She absolutely loves school. She loves everything about it. I loved picking her up from school because she would always RUN to the car, give me a great big hug and ask me if I wanted to hear all about her day. She would often spend the entire afternoon telling me everything from who she played with to what she painted and what she had for snack!



I am just so glad she loves school so much!



And I couldn't resist putting this picture on here. She had "fixed" her own headband when it came out. Too silly!

Cheese

Here are the latest school pictures of the kiddos! I thought they turned out really nice...but I guess I am just a little biased!

Updates

I know it might not look like much to you, but I want you to be excited with me. There are cabnets AND countertops in, the painting is almost done, carpet is layed and we are moving in 3 weeks!!!

Here is a sneak peek...what do you think Mom? I think we did alright with the choices!

Of course, the stove doesn't belong in the middle of the kitchen, but one step at a time, right?

Cinderella

My kids know that one of my favorite songs right now is the Cinderella song that Steven Curtis Chapman has out. I just love it. Tonight that song has a whole new meaning.

When I read this report tonight from the Tennesean my heart sank and tears fell down my face.

Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest child died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a car driven by her teenage brother in the driveway of the family’s Williamson County home.

Maria, one of the Christian singer’s six children, was taken by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt Hospital, which confirmed the death, according to Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The 5-year-old was hit by an SUV driven by her teenage brother, she said. Police did not give the driver’s name.

The teen was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser down the driveway of the rural home at about 5:30 p.m. and several children were playing in the area, McPherson said. He did not see Maria in the driveway before the vehicle struck her, she said.

“It appears to be a terrible accident,’’ McPherson said.

No charges are expected, she said. The accident was witnessed by two other children; the entire family was home at the time, McPherson said.

There are no words to describe the sadness. Please pray for the Chapman family as they deal with the loss of their little Cinderella!

Here is the song that I know will be running through many heads tonight:

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,

Without a care in the world.

And I'm sittin' here wearin' the weight of the world on my shoulders.

It's been a long day and there's still work to do,

She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!

There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"

"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms'

Cause I know something the prince never knew

Oh I will dance with CinderellaI don't wanna miss even one song,

Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed

She wants to know if I'd approve of a dress

She says "Dad, the prom is just one week away,

And I need to practice my dancin'"

"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella

I don't wanna miss even one song,

Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

She will be gone.

Well, she came home today

With a ring on her hand

Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned

She says "Dad, the wedding's due six months away

And I need to practice my dancin'"

"Oh please, daddy please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella

While she is here in my arms

'Cause I know something the prince never knew

Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella

I don't wanna miss even one song,

(even one song)

Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight

And she'll be gone

A day of fun

Daddy made it home in time to spend the weekend with us! Hooray! Ian's school had its annual carnival on Saturday and it was just as fun as ever! You will notice that Isabelle is in most of these pictures. I think it was due to the fact that she wouldn't leave her daddy's side! He had been gone for about a month! She is most definitely figured out how to manipulate her daddy and get anything she wants. So she is thrilled when he comes home!

Here is a picture of them dancing together while waiting in line. Isabelle was super excited to ride the pony, although, she was hoping that there would be a pink one or a purple one. She settled on the "pretty one, which is the smallest one." She had a giant smile across her face throughout the entire ride!

Ian didn't choose to go on the ponies, but he kept Daddy's hat on for a little while so that Daddy could walk alongside Isabelle.
We got to meet the dragon mascot.
And play some games.
And even pretended to be dragons ourselves.


It was a very fun carnival. Especially since Daddy got to join us! We are glad you made it home in time, Daddy!

She doesn't ask for much...

Just a little chocolate cupcake,

and you have one happy little girl!

From the Heart

On Sunday morning, I was presented with several cards that the kids had made and hidden away for me. They were so excited to give them. It was really quite precious!

Ian made this one in computer lab at school.

But my favorite part was the inside:For those of you that don't read Kindergartner, the card reads:

I love you Mommy.

Thank you for my salad and my taquitos.

Love, Ian

Do I even have to explain why this was my favorite card of the day? Just don't tell Isabelle!

Hmmm...

My conversation with Isabelle on the way home from school today:

Isabelle: Mommy! I am just the most beautiful of them all!

Me: Did someone tell you you looked nice today?

Isabelle: No, I just already knew it!


To which I had absolutely NO.STINKIN.CLUE how to respond.

All I could say is, "Well, you are awefully pretty!"

Caught

I emailed David to remind him about my blog and that there are new pictures up if he gets the opportunity to check it out.



Well. He did and he didn't think my picture of Dale was the best one, so he sent this for me to post for you all!

He also gave me a hard time for posting a picture of a red car. I am told that he now drives a black car...

All I can say is the pictures I posted were straight from his website...it just proves that I know nothing about NASCAR.

David did think the idea of him becoming a NASCAR driver was a good one. Come on, like HE didn't think of that before me!

I guess I will have to be more careful about what I say about my wonderful husband!

Just in case you check the blog again, know that I love you and miss you! Come home soon!

My Little Man

Ian was invited to read in to Mrs. Harrison's preschool class. This is the class that he was in last year. She wanted her students to see what they will be learning to do in the next year. She asked us to come in at a certain time so we had a little time to kill between when we dropped Isabelle off to her class and when we needed to be back there. When I asked Ian what we should do, he had a very cute answer...

"Maybe we can just go grab something at Starbucks!"

I thought it was so cute I couldn't turn him down.

So, off to Starbucks we went where he got his little hot chocolate and a chocolate donut! He looked so grown up sitting across the table from me drinking from that little cup!

Then it was time to head back to the preschool for our reading time! The students are studying about bugs, so he had brought a book all about bugs. However, he thought it would be way more cool to read this book called "Gross Out" because it had some neat facts about bugs too.

We discussed which portions of the book he would read to the kids. He settled on the silk worm, praying mantis and some sort of beetle. I thought these were fine selections. You can see how engrossed the children are as they listen to Ian's book. That is because he completely diverted from the original plan and started reading about some fish that captures other fish with its slime and eats them and then ties itself in a knot in order to wipe the slime off of itself. He then proceeded to read about an owl and the "barf balls" it produces, a bird that makes other birds vomit and then eats their vomit, and finally, about the cannibalism of the praying mantis. Somehow, I don't think this is what most parents expect their 4-year-olds to come home talking about.

Mrs. Harrison was a good sport and tried to turn it into a lesson for the kids, but I think she was even having trouble trying to explain "barf balls" and cannibalism!

Oh.Dear!

Let me just say that he had shared a few parts of this book with me, but I had not read it all! I now know that I will be checking a little more closely into what he plans to read before he shares it with the whole class. That is, should we ever be invited back, which I believe is highly unlikely at this point!

Isabelle's teacher found out that we were down the hall reading and wanted Ian to come in to read for her class. Ian was happy to oblige! I, however, quickly grabbed that wretched book out of his hands and suggested that he borrow one from the teacher that the little kids might enjoy more!

Isabelle thought it was great that Ian shared a story with her class. They listened very attentively and only complained once or twice that they couldn't see the pictures very well! We may have a chance of being invited back to that class...unless the teachers talk (which I am sure they will) about what he read in the other class...

As I walked out with a red face and laughing to myself, Ian walked out tall and proud. He was thrilled that he got to do that and that the other kids enjoyed his book. His only regret was that he didn't share with them about the scorpion and bats!

House update

When I got home last night I had this picture waiting in my inbox! How exciting! The cabnets are in, driveway is poured, grass is started, screen porch is done and we are only 5 weeks out from moving! Hooray!

Glory at the Gardens

Yesterday we spent most of the day up at Busch Gardens. The kids and I drove up to Williamsburg with my friend Andrea.



Andrea's family drove down to meet us there and we had a great day together. Her parents ended up taking Ian and Isabelle on all the rides that they like while we "big kids" got to go on some of the roller coasters that we wanted.

The main reason that we went up there is because Busch Gardens is doing a really awesome concert series this month. It is called Glory in the Gardens and it is a bunch of wonderful Christian bands. While we were having dinner we realized that they had shut the gates to the amphitheater because it was so crowded! We were afraid that we were going to miss the whole thing! We realized that we were going to have to wait in line outside the gates. They were slowly letting people in as others were coming out.

Andrea's brother, Dustin, didn't have much desire to wait to get into the concert so he offered to take the kids on some more rides while us girls waited to get into the show. So off they went and it wasn't long before we had made out way into the concert! There were no seats to be found, but we found a place to stand in front of the sound booth and we had a great view!

First we got to see Matthew West. He did a great show and had such a great sense of humor! Then there was an hour long break before Third Day started! The kids managed to make it back to the show before it started. By the time they got back, Dustin and Mr. Dennis had gotten them ice cream and let them pick out their own bags of candy! They had no interest in the show...they were definitely more concerned about if I was going to let them keep eating all their candy! Holy sugar rush!!!

So, the concert started and it was wonderful! I have always enjoyed Third Day and this was no exception! They put on a great show! But while we were enjoying this:

The kids were working on their bags of candy:

Ian had gotten Lego shaped candies and they were quite entertaining! We had run into one of his buddies from church and they enjoyed "playing" with the candy together! We didn't have actual seats, but we were hanging out right in front of the sound booth and we had plenty of room to move around. Ally took full advantage of this opportunity to show us some of her moves. Dustin, however, acted like he was not very impressed! I think he was just trying to restrain himself from pulling out his best moves and completely embarrassing her!
The show was awesome and I am really glad we went. Next week is Natalie Grant and Mark Schultz...should be another great show!

Good news is next week's show is earlier in the afternoon, so it probably won't end up looking like this at the end of the day...
both kids were passed out on Mr Dennis and Mrs Terri! Doesn't it look like they are ready to be grandparents??? Justin and Andrea, just look how happy they are! For now, my kids will be happy to adopt you for another day! Any time you want!
Thanks for sharing your family time with us! I am so glad we got to spend the day with you! (and sorry there aren't any pics of you on here Andrea! I will fix that when you share your pics with me!)

A day at the campground

One of Ian's good friends from school invited us out for a fun day! His family is staying out at an RV park for fun and they wanted us to come hang out for a little while. So the kids and I went out on Saturday for som fun.

The kids shared a picnic lunch together. And we took a ride on the golf cart over to one of the playgrounds.
The kids took turns pushing on the merry go round.
Isabelle decided to be a brave one! Sometimes I wonder why she has to be so daring!
When we were done at the playground we went back to the RV site and Ian tried out his skills on the hula hoop. I wish you could see how he shook his booty to keep the hoops up! I had tears in my eyes, I was laughing so hard.
Isabelle tried one out too.
Then they tried to make up their own game of baseball. They took turns throwing the ball at each other and trying to swing!
I love this picture of Ian pitching. I also love that he hadn't bothered to take his bike helmet off before he started playing baseball. There was just too much to do out there!
One final lap on the bikes and it was time to go. We had a great time with our friends! Thanks for inviting us out!