Love my kids!

Well tonight was parent teacher conferences for Abby and Will. I am always amazed at my kids, how God is using them in their classrooms. So much focus is on academics these days and I agree it is important. However tonight the first words from each of my kids teachers was about their hearts and their character. How blessed do I feel. Now am I saying my kids are perfect, no way! Am I saying I am proud and want to give God the glory for the work in their lives, FOR SURE!!!

Both kids are right where they should be for their age and I left feeling confident in their teachers and the school they attend. Most of all I felt confident in my God and how he is shaping their character at such a young age. I am grateful for the positive feedback my kids received, I am grateful for the areas the teacher identified where they can continue to improve. How cool as a parent to witness the transformation of your children. To watch them grow into their own personalities, see them bloom where they are planted. I am excited in what God is doing in their lives and consider it a true privilege to be their mother.

I don't want to be boastful but I want my kids to know how proud of them I am. I tell them often but having it written down for them to look back on when they are older I hope will be very encouraging.

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. Psalm 127:3

School Days!

Well school has finally started and I find myself with a first and third grader. It was very weird to have the whole day free today, and I can only imagine how it will feel next week after a whole week away from the kids. I know there will be some adjustment for all of us but in the end I believe it is going to be a great year. I absolutely love both the kids teachers and feel like they are both in the right class.

Abby got her hair cut last night and it looked adorable today for school, she also got two feathers put in her hair which are all the rage in our elementary school. I love that Abby loves to wear a dress on the first day and the past two years Target has really come through with some cute vintage style dresses. How you see Will is probably the most dressed up he will ever get, he loves his sport shorts and tee shirts.

I can't wait to see all that my kids will learn this year and I hope and pray that they represent their God well as they do it.

Will is in Kindergarten!!

Will is in Kindergarten, he was very happy his first day and very talkative. In Dublin they only go half days and so Will goes in the AM. He went Tuesday, Thursday and Friday last week so this week will be the first five day week.

Mike came on Thurday to wish Will the best and of course that was a great bonus for Will. I did not have a hard time sending him to kindergarten as he was actually gone longer for preschool then he will be for kindergarten. I am going to enjoy these half days with my little man. He is so full of energy and I am excited to see what fun adventures the afternoon will bring us.

Abby is in Second Grade!!

Abby started school on Monday, she is a big second grader. The summer was fun and fast but I can honestly say I am ready to get back into a routine. Here she is with her brother outside the school. I love that I have documented proof of their love for each other so that when they are fighting I can show them this picture to remind them.


Here is my Abby and me before she headed into school. One of the moms at the school offered to take a picture of us together, which was so nice. I love this girl.

Here is Abby as she poses outside our house, she looks so adorable. She looks like Kit Kittredge but with longer hair. We got this dress at target and I love the retro look with the socks and flats. I love that Abby is still in love with dresses and all things girly.

Abby has her first male teacher this year and he is super nice. Abby has a great group of kids in her class and I am excited to hear all the fun stories.

Will is a monkey!!

Today was Will's first day of Pre-K. He is in the Monkey class at school. His sister was in the frog class when she attended pre-k so it will be fun to see what the monkey's do. Will was a little nervous for school so we prayed about it last night and this morning. He was perfect!!! He let me take pictures, which he did not want to do last year and he walked right into class without any hesitation. I even had to pull him back to give him a good luck hug.



Unlike his sister, Will could care less about a back to school outfit, so I let him pick out what he wanted to wear.



Here is a close up of my little man outside his classroom. His teacher was so cute, before they could enter class they could give her a handshake, high five or hug. Of course my boy chose the leaping high five.

Abby has had alot of fun with dress up lately. She was a flower girl last May and so she decided to try it on again for size. She decided to add a little Indian flare by wearing the jacket her daddy brought home from India. Does she have the modeling pose down or what.



I am so blessed to have these lovely little children to keep my life full of so much joy. What a gift God has given me in motherhood.

I have a first grader!!!

Abby started first grade yesterday, I can't believe how brave she was and that she is gone all day now. It is such a huge leap from 2.5 hours a day to 6.5 hours a day but she handled it like a champ.



Here she is with her good friends Regan and Elizabeth, we took a picture exactly like this last year, it is so cute to see how they have grown.

Abby was a little nervous leading up to the start of school because she was worried about being at school so long. Once we got to school though she found her friends and was literally pulled into the building by them, she was smiling the whole time.

I can't believe she is such a big girl. I always hear don't wish away those baby years because you will never get them back. Yet in the midst of having two small children I remember looking forward to the day when they would be able to go to pre-school so I could have a little break. I think you are so overwhelmed sometimes when your children are little that even though you know you shouldn't wish them to get older, sometimes you can't help it. Now as I ponder her going into first grade I tear up at the fact that she won't be little again. I look ahead and instead of wishing her more independent I want her to stay right where she is at. I am so thankful for this little girl and all the joy she brings to my life. I pray for wisdom to guide her to be a daughter of Christ and to always cherish the blessings each day with her brings. Thank you for this gift Lord.

Sweet Music

I was serenaded by a boy today, my lovely son Will. As I sat at the kitchen table and Will at the counter I heard him singing sweetly "Since Jesus Christ came in and washed away my sins...". What sweeter music could there be to me or to my heavenly father then the voice of a child singing his praises. I feel so blessed to have Will attending a Christian Preschool where he learns songs like that. What a great way to start off the morning, praising our Lord. Thankyou so much Lord that my son and daughter know you, I pray that they continue to grow in their faith and that you will help me model your character for them. Help me to be "In right out right up right down right happy all the time!!!"

Lucky Duck!!

Well on Friday, the whole family got to visit Abby at her Kindergarten class and celebrate the end of her special week. Each child gets to be the Lucky Duck for one week. They get to bring something in each day to share, be line leader, run special errands and then have the family come in for a visit. So on Friday, my parents and Mike's parents came along with Mike, Will and I to share the cupcakes I made(see previous post) and to teach them our favorite game of colored eggs.

Here we are teaching the kids the game, Abby was the big bad wolf. Then we had the kids split up into two groups and let them play it for a few minutes. It was alot of fun and it was great to have all the grandparents together. Afterwards we all headed to Bob Evans for a great lunch. What a fun time we had celebrating Abby's special week. I am looking forward to many special visits to Bailey elementary for not only Abby but for her little brother Will who will join her in two years. Thankyou Lord for placing us at such a wonderful school and for such a great kindergarten experience for Abby

Cupcakes!!

Well today I spent most of the afternoon baking ice cream cone cupcakes for Abby to take to school tommorrow. In Abby's kindergarten class each child gets a week to be the "Lucky Duck". Each day Abby brought a toy to share and talk about with her class and then tommorrow she will bring cupcakes and her family(including all four grandparents) will come as well. I was trying to think of something fun and a little different to bring and I thought of the cupcakes my mom used to bake for our elementary bake sales. I remember being so excited for the bake sale and I would always buy the ice cream cone cupcakes my mom made. Actually making the cupcakes was not too hard, I was a little paranoid about them overflowing but that didn't happen, actually some of them were not full enough. The biggest problem I had was figuring out how to transport them. Luckily I found my plastic marinade container which has a super tall lid and was able to sqeeze 20 cupcakes in it with only minor damage to one cupcake. I have heard there is a special carrier out there so I will research this option because after sampling my efforts this afternoon, these things are awesome. I will post info about how tommorrow goes as Abby and the family are also going to teach the class our favorite game called "Colored Eggs".
On a side note, Abby found out today that she has moved up to level 3 reading. She came screaming, running , jumping off the bus "I made it to level 3!!!". She was not certain she would make it to the next level by the end of the school year but I knew she could. So Monday I will get to see what a level 3 book looks like, according to Abby they are taller and they have a yellow stripe vs the orange level 2 and the red level 1. We are very proud of Abby and her progress in kindergarten, she is truly growing up in so many ways yet still remains my sweet little girl.

Pictures

Will's First day of school, He was for the picture before he was against it(see previous post titled One of those days)
Abby's first soccer game. She played the whole game with a sprained ankle. She is one tough cookie. Beanie Wells has nothing on her.
Scioto River at Donegal Cliffs Park
See we really do love each other.

Kindergarten for Abby

Well it finally came, Abby's first day of kindergarten. She was very excited about attending and was glad that she was able to walk to school the first day. Abby is with a great teacher and has two good friends in her class. She got to wear a new dress and new shoes to her new school. It was so fun the first morning to see her huddled around her friends all excited about what the day would bring. After her big 2 and 1/2 hours of school she got to ride the bus home which she was so excited about. Here are some pictures of her big day.

Abby only got to go to school one day last week so we are looking forward to four days of kindergarten this week. Will starts his preschool on Wednesday which should be fun as well. I will be glad when everything that we have scheduled this fall starts and is on a regular schedule. I am so worried I am going to forget to show up for something.

The same day Abby started kindergarten she had her first soccer practice ever. I went to the sporting good store that day and was like a deer caught in headlights. I have no clue about soccer, I never played it. I found all the right equipment, right sizes and of course the perfect color-PINK!!!! Her are some pictures from that as well. What an exciting time for our family as we get to start school, start sports and start fall. Thankyou Lord for a great first day for Abby and I pray for a great first day for Will as well.