kindergarten girl

It has been an incredible few weeks for our family with tons of fun things and big changes.  

Our big girl Amelia Ann headed off to kindergarten.  They do a staggered entry/parent orientation at her school, so her first day was Tuesday after Labor Day with 10 of her fellow classmates. She was soooooo pumped up!!!   It was cool that there was just a small group but kinda uncool that the staggered entry meant she had to wait a whole week to have her second day.  It was a long week.  It was pretty special to watch her enthusiasm.   I LOVE school, clearly - I became a teacher but it has been sooooo fun to see her LOVE of school!

Amelia Ann is so brave!  Far more bold and courageous then me and I admire her for it. On her first day of school, once we found her locker spot and then her name tag on the table she told me "that I really didn't need to sit with her".  Gosh I wanted to sit by her and told her so ha.  Amelia loved everything that Miss Russell told them and when it was time for the school tour she stayed at the front of the pack.  As we drove home, just the two of us she told me she "would be fine and that I didn't need to come anymore".....tear!!!!!!  So I actually didn't cry when she said that, tears came but didn't roll until the following Monday when I left her for reals at the school.    

I feel like the word BITTERSWEET is the perfect word to describe this new step in our lives.   It is so sad and bitter to let her go but yet so sweet and exciting to watch her grow.

Everyday we pick her up and she has been full of stories and smiles.  Stella and I drive her and pick her up from school each day and it is a pleasure.  We continue to rock out to the FROZEN sound track on our drive and Stella likes when she gets to sit in sister's car seat when Amelia is at school.

We are so proud of Amelia and thrilled for her to have taken this new step in her life.

~ Mrs. P

Joy School

I don't know if my heart can handle this growing up business. 

Our little girl started Joy School this week!!!  Stella has patiently waited for her turn.  The Joy School philosophy is beautiful and I love the idea that different momma's take turns hosting so my precious little girlie is always being loved on by a momma, in a home.  Recently she has seemed to grow leaps and bounds in her skills, maturity and independence, gosh we are so proud of her!  We hosted the first Joy School which is pretty cool because then Stella got to help with the calendar and weather, special stuff.  It is so crazy to me that she is working on writing her name and recognizing letters because she is still my baby.

The mornings are full of a lot of this...

We miss big sister but are having a blast, just the two of us!

~ Mrs. P

best of friends

There aren't really words. 

A piece of my heart goes off to kindergarten each morning.  

Little sister and I miss her but know she is having fun, rocking it!

~ Momma P

violin music

  Music or something very close to squeaky music has been permeating the house lately.  

Our Amelia has started violin lessons and boy is she thrilled!!!!!

 ~ Mrs. P

ovarian cancer walk

We walked again this year in memory of our beloved Ann.

We miss her and await the day we will get to see her again.

Families can be together forever.

~ Jenny

back to school dinner

We started a new tradition - a Back to School Dinner!!!!

I had been thinking about what I wanted to share with our girls on our special night.   Graham and I talked about the things we wanted to convey to our wee ones, especially our big girl as she went off to school for the first time.  The girls wanted us to have spaghetti with meatballs, yummy salad, bread and rootbeer floats of course.   We read the 'Kissing Hand' and 'We Like Kindergarten' both of which are darling.  For the 'Kissing Hand' I drew hearts on Stella and Amelia's hand and then they each took turns drawing on ours....yup I was holding in the tears.  We didn't get the 'Have You Filled A Bucket'' but we have read it since as it is a philosophy used at Mia's school.  I had a few favourite parts of the evening but one was giving each of the girls a  necklace with CTR, for Choose The Right.  They have been worn daily :). It was a lovely, lovely night.

The girls got a blessing from Graham and it was the perfect way to finish off our special dinner.  Love them so much and feel blessed!!!!

~ Mrs. P

Jesse n Pam wedding celebration

 

Yup, I am a lover of weddings and cry at everyone!!!!!!  

It has been a busy spring/summer wedding hoping.  We wrapped up the summer with my cousin Jesse marrying his sweet Pamela.  It is always fun to gather together with family and this being my dad's side made it all the more sweeter as we are a small bunch that don't gather super often.

It was evident that there was great love between Pam and Jesse! She looked lovely and I secretly adore watching the groom get emotional at the sight of his lady.  Jesse did not disappoint!  It was sweet.

Kind of special is that Alyson ended up playing the piano for the ceremony, we were so proud of her.  The day was spent visiting, smiling, laughing with our extended family and it was so very nice.  I will say that I was fighting a fever and totally on tylonel, aside from that it was a beautiful day.

~ Mrs. P