Meet the Teacher...Round 2!

My two youngest babies had meet the teacher today!! I am so excited that they will be back at the same preschool that we have been going to since Molly Cate was 19 months old! (The exact age Jack will be when he starts!)  Their school is precious and I'm so thankful that all three kiddos have now

Caroline was first! She was excited to have the same teachers Molly Cate had and was excited to be in the "cat" class!! She was a little unsure about all the picture taking.

She did ask me on the way to please tell her teachers that she did not want to write her letters today.  I saw in her folder that she successfully wrote the letters in her name...hopefully with out any complaints to the teacher!?

When I asked her how it was when I picked her up (she was only there an hour), she told me GREAT!! She said that they went outside and snuck up on a deer, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Bailey were able to pet the deer first then all the kids got to.  I seriously doubt this happened.  Caroline tends to make up tall tales and embellishes a little.  I like her wild imagination!!

Jack was next.  He seemed to be excited about playing, and was ok with being there.  I guess because Caroline and I both got to stay and play in the room with him for a while.  He was pretty much all smiles, and I pray it stays this way next week when I really do leave him (for only 1 day).

I'm sure these two will also have a great, fun filled pre-school year!! I'm very thankful that all three kiddos have loving, Christian teachers!! 

Kindergarten Rocks!

Yesterday we woke up bright and early to celebrate this....

The answers to some of the favorites above crack me up.  Peppa Pig....we don't have cable and haven't watched Peppa Pig in months, so I'm not sure how this could be considered a favorite...HA! I love "Go Tell it on the Mountain", its something I sang to her as I rocked her when she was a baby.  She originally picked Barnleby Finkleton (a VBS song that has been WAY overplayed in my car), but when we were listening to some songs on Spotify she decided the liked the version by Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors...and I really love that she loves that!!! Teriyaki chicken was one I was not surprised by...she begs to eat at Noodles every Sunday.  Also, American girl dolls and art....two favorite past times for sure! The verse took some time, I read many to her before she decided that this one was her favorite right now! He is good baby girl and He loves you!!  I pray that you will see this all the time!!!


We got to school bright and early to celebrate as a family with a Boo-Hoo breakfast...how cute is that!? (although I was enjoying breakfast too much to take pictures)

Molly Cate in front of her classroom.

Working hard on a puzzle.

Listening to a story read my Mrs. Jones.

Molly Cate asked me not to cry. I tried my best.  I got a little teary as Ken prayed over our breakfast in the classroom.  I held it together the rest of the time, until Mrs. Jones give the kids a sweet story for us to take home.  In the car I lost it when I read the end...pictured above.  Read it.  How true is that!?  

It's not that our kids go to kindergarten, or first or second grade...it's that we realize they are growing up.  We have to slowly begin that releasing process, this is important in parenting.  We have to slowly let go of things and let them be who God intended them to be, and with MUCH prayer, love, and guidance they will flourish beyond anything we could ever hope for them.  

As Molly Cate's favorite verses states: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever".... I give thanks to Him for letting me raise this little girl, one more and my little guy.  HE is good....and His love for them will endure forever...through every Beanstalk!!!

One Leg In and One Leg Out

A season has now passed...and it's on to a new one in our house.  Pre-school life is officially over for Molly Cate.  When she came home Wednesday with her little scrapbook and end of the year picture video from 5T I just wanted to cry my eyes out.  
I did cry. 
I cried because it is an end to a season of my motherhood with her.  Yes, I know I still have two little kiddos and one who has no clue what preschool even is, but I now have one leg in "school-life" and one leg in "pre-school life".  The school life part is what will make things feel different and I have a feeling that it will make time feel like its going even faster.  
Here she is on her very first day of preschool...

October 2007

And this morning on her very last day of preschool...

May 2012

Some of you out there may think I'm being a little over dramatic, but I just can not wrap my brain around how fast it's gone by! Now, I sound like the old lady at the grocery store telling you "how fast time flies"..."enjoy those babies"...."take it all in"....There is a reason people say that.  Because it's the truth!!

We started the morning off with a little "Good-Bye Preschool" breakfast. 

 (Thank you Pinterest!)

Molly Cate and Mrs. Adams

Molly Cate and Mrs. Bell

Can you see the joy on her face?? She LOVES her teachers!!

This is the sweet little scrapbook that MC came home with Wednesday along with her Dr. Seuss book that I am getting all of her teachers to sign (preschool-12th grade) as a gift for high school graduation.  The first two notes already made me cry....again!

(again...thank you Pinterest!)

I couldn't leave my other preschooler out...she got the same treatment this morning...she is one of the reasons I do still have one leg in preschool life! HA! She also came home with a precious scrapbook as well.

Goodbye Preschool (for now) breakfast!

Last day of 3E class!

Caroline and Mrs. O'Connell!

Caroline and Mrs. Pentecost!

This girl LOVES her teachers too!!!

After dinner we had yet another sweet treat...this time to celebrate the new beginnings that will come this fall! I will have 2 Preschoolers and One Kindergartener!! WOW!!

Some promises that I'm clinging to as we encounter this new season....

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  

Jeremiah 29:11  

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."  

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  

Joshua 1:9

Too fast...

That is how most of our days go by.  It was just Saturday, then all of a sudden it is Wednesday afternoon! Since Jack has been born our days have all been like this.  I wake up and before I know it it is bedtime. I look around and most days the only things I have accomplished are fullfilling the basic needs of my kids...and that is perfectly fine with me!

Blogging has taken a backseat....a way back seat. There are friends and family out there who have been asking where my post have been? Well, I've been staring at him...(and changing his diapers!)

Just the other day this big sister was a baby sister...now look at her! She will be three next week and it makes me want to cry to think about that!

...and this big big sister, well I can not even believe that five years ago I was getting so close to becoming a mom for the first time.  I'm holding on to her being four right up until that last second!

I'm soaking in today, because before I know it little Jack will be one!  Thanks you Lord for these blessings!

Grand Entrance!

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Every baby has their own story of how God brings them into this world.  Every baby is different and every pregnancy is different.  Baby Jack is teaching me that in these last days! After having two children already you would think I would know when it was "time" to go to the hospital.  After two trips to labor and delivery and one to the office today because of contractions, you would think this was my first baby and I just had no clue what labor was.  After going in to the office today with contractions 2 to 3 to 4 minutes apart my doctor assured me this was all normal for a third pregnancy and to "hang in there"! This is a little hard to do when there are so many factors to when and if I should go to the hospital or not. 

1.  We have two kids to make arrangements for.

2.  The winter weather has proved to be Jack's favorite time to start things in motion!

3.  We are following all the "rules" about when the right time to go in is.

The main thing is that I know that God is in control He has this baby's life planned, he knows the date and time and all the wonderful things that will take place in this little guy's life.  I have to be patient! I have to know that His timing is perfect!

As I wait I have been looking over a few old pictures tonight of the girls when they made their "GRAND ENTRANCE".  These pictures make me want to cry and clap and sing at the same time! How beautiful life is! I'm so excited to meet our newest member very soon!

Molly Cate:

Caroline:



And one more sweet picture I found....

Sugar and Spice go Sweet and Sassy!

Last week the girls went for a Christmas cut...it was well over due!! I really do not remember the last time Spice got a haircut because she has been wanting to grow it out.  This was the very first (professional) haircut for Sugar.  You may remember when she tried to style her own hair??

Spice went first to show Sugar the ropes! She chose orange shampoo and conditioner!

Sugar chose the pineapple...looks like she is relaxing on the beach huh??

Spice was an old pro at sitting in the chair, although not that still!

Sugar was mesmerized and VERY still...lets just hope she was not taking notes for her next style!

Finished products...this little salon is a very girly salon with glitter for your hair and everything!

The girls even got the special treat of having a manicure! Thanks to Aunt Laura!

We had a great time being girly girls at Sweet and Sassy!

Scootin' Around

Braving 25-30 degree temperatures is not what I love best, but after much begging I gave in and followed the girls on their scooter ride.  These were a Christmas gift that they have enjoyed riding in the house thus far.  I was surprised at how well Sugar did on hers, but I guess I need to come to the realization that she is getting bigger too! I can not believe in a few months she will be three! Off they quickly went down the sidewalk....

A few stops to admire the huge leaves still falling and to take some pics...

Spice requested a red scooter, I thought she would want pink, but her taste and intrests never seem to surprise me.  She is her own person with her own little style and that is one thing I love about her!

Sugar in all pink with her boots!

All bundled up...after a while they realized what I meant when I told them it was FREEZING outside!

So, it was a few more pics, a quick turn around...

and we were on our way back home to thaw out! A few quick rides in freezing temps is ok with me, but I will look forward to this more in the spring!

Tiny's Back in Town!

One fun thing the girls have been looking forward to is "Tiny's" return!  Who is Tiny? Well, he did make an appearance in this blog post HERE, but I do not think I ever "officially" blogged about Tiny. Tiny is an Elf on the Shelf, and makes the countdown to Christmas exciting and fun! We started this little tradition last year and it has been so much fun the past two days seeing where Tiny will land!  On Friday Tiny made his grand appearance in the girl's room with a new tree just for them.  I have never heard Spice get up so quickly and come running down the hall to call for me downstairs! It was priceless!  Each night Tiny flies to the North Pole to report to Santa Sugar and Spice's behavior.  Every morning he returns to find a new hiding spot to watch from.  Looking for where Tiny lands is the best part!

Tiny brought some ornaments for us to decorate the tree with, which Spice and I worked on Friday afternoon.

We even added the homemade ornaments that I had been working on for the girls.  Hopefully I can have a DIY for you on Tuesday!  They are fun and cherry and so easy to make!

Spice was very particular in where each ornament would go, and she was being so very careful to not touch Tiny.  That is one of the rules...you are never to touch your elf, or he will loose his magic.  This little rule has distressed Sugar quite a bit!

Our finished tree with Tiny hanging on for dear life!  Come back for more elf adventures, because you never know where Tiny may show up the next day!

Do you have an Elf on the Shelf? What fun places have you found your elf in??