A Special Visit

For whatever reason, our school board decided the kiddos should be out of school 3 weeks for Christmas! I know one thing for sure...whoever made up the schedule does NOT have small children at home!! In all honesty, we have enjoyed our break. The girls have been ready to go back to school since the day after Christmas, but they have been very good. We have seen Frozen 3 times. I don't think we can go back to the theater again because Gracie already knows the songs and sings as loud as she can. I'm sure others don't appreciate it very much ;) They have played school, doctor, princess, bride, pet shop, birthday party, and dance class. I am so thankful that they play so well together!

 One fun thing this extra week allowed us to do is visit the girls' preschool class from last year. We spent the morning there yesterday. The girls thoroughly enjoyed being back in their classroom with their teacher. The weather warmed up just in time for them to get to play outside with their new friends. It was perfect!

Wesleigh is explaining that her kindergarten classroom is right next door to Gracie's :)
 

That amazing preschool music class :)


And the playground.  They were just a little excited :)






Our friend, Sara, who came home from India last summer is in this class. We loved spending some time with her!
 

 Wesleigh turns 6 in Feb, Sara turns 6 in March and Gracie turns 6 in April :) She's a peanut!!







And with that...our Christmas break is over.  I can't believe that we already half-way through the school year!  Bryce has one more semester of high school!!  Time definitely flies!!  I'd better get with it.  I have ALOT to do before May!!!!

We Graduated!

Our family has officially graduated from preschool!  I'm not quite sure how I feel about this.  I am so sad to leave these precious years behind, but at the same time, am very happy to be moving on.  Here's a conversation I had with Wesleigh yesterday:

me: I don't want you to graduate from preschool, that means you're growing up!
W:  Why don't you want us to gwow up?
me:  Because you're just so cute and sweet.
W:  Well....we are still cute when we get bigger.
Yes...yes you are!

I've talked about the girls' teachers before, but I'm going to do it again.  These amazing women have loved my girls deeply this year.  They have contributed to these girls being confident, secure and happy.  I will never be able to thank them enough.




The girls were so excited about their graduation.  They have been practicing for a couple of weeks and couldn't wait to show us what they were going to do.












Maw Maw and Paw Paw


Richard's sister, Amanda, was their special guest.  They asked me for a week if she was coming.  Thankfully, when I finally asked her, she could come :)  They were thrilled!


Next school year Bryce will start his senior year, Braden will start high school and these two will start kindergarten.  It will be another big year in this house!  For now, though, I'm going to try to enjoy this summer with my children.  hmmm....I may or may not be a little nervous about it too :)

Lessez Les Bon Temp Rouler

Let the good times roll! One place that is always a good time is preschool :) I'm not a real lover of Mardi Gras, but this little preschool parade is the best!  The kids are out of school for Mardi Gras, but they had a big celebration before school let out Friday.

The 4 year olds got to start the parade dancing and playing instruments.  (There are videos at the bottom if you want to see)
 




Then the chants of "Throw me somethin' mister"are followed by lots of beads.










Then it was time for our very own "second line".  Everyone dances around waving their hankerchiefs.






This bulletin board just made me happy :)


Of course, the day would not be complete without enjoying some king cake :)





You've just got to love Preschool :)
 All of these are super short, in case you want to see what the parade was really like :)

Make a Joyful Noise!

I have SO much to post!  We have been in Houston since Thursday visiting Richard's parents for Christmas, so I haven't been able to update!

First thing is first!  The girls Christmas program....  Oh MY!!  All I can say is that Gracie Joy did not disappoint!  Holy Moly, does that girl love to perform!!  She was "that kid".  You know, the one that drowns out every other voice...the one that is so over the top dramatic, that you find yourself watching her... when you should be watching your own child.  Yep...that's my Gracie girl.  I loved every second of it!  I love seeing her embrace life and squeeze every ounce of it she can.  I couldn't help sit there in awe realizing that just a year ago, she really didn't know much English at all, and cried through the whole thing.  Just amazing!!

Of course, Wesleigh was a perfect angel and did everything exactly as she was supposed to.  It is so much fun to see how different they are.  I love that they are each loved and appreciated for their individual qualities at this school.  I never want Wesleigh to feel drowned out by Gracie, but I'll be the first to admit, that Gracie is a force to be reckoned with :) You'll notice that Wesleigh is sitting in the dead center. She is never in any danger of needing correction from a teacher. When I asked them where they were sitting before the program, Wesleigh said that Gracie was by her teacher because she couldn't stay still. :) Wesleigh is perfectly happy quietly doing what she's supposed to :)

So...here are a few of the million pictures I took that night!




This was before the program started and she saw all of us in the audience.








She watched the administrator intently as she read parts of the Christmas story.  She even waved to her and blew her kisses as she read :)


My sweet angel...




...and my joyful noise :)







Notice the little girl two rows below Gracie?  OMGoodness!!  She and Gracie make quite a pair!






In the middle of the program, Miss Thang actually snapped her finger and pointed to someone in the audience to shush them!!!  I do not think she could see her brothers but I hope she was snapping at them and not someone else's parents!!!!  Everyone was too busy laughing to be too offended though.


Miss Wesleigh and Richard's sister, Amanda.


The girls and their two amazing teachers:







This little boy is in class with the girls.  He was seated right next to Wesleigh during the program.  His mom said he talks about Wesleigh constantly :)  I love this first picture.  He looks scared to death!!  lol...


SO precious!!!


It was such a fun night.  I was so proud of my girls.  I love that the fact that they are alive and singing about the birth of Jesus, is a miracle from heaven.  I am so proud to be the one they call "Mommy".  What a joy straight from heaven they are!