Lily's Preschool Graduation

Lily graduated from preschool!  

It was 6 days after the baby was born.

(You can see Peter's here- always fun to look back!)

Here are the pictures to tell the story...

Getting her diploma from the much loved Mrs. Notley

 her cute class:

Kate, Kevork, Lily, Logan, Luke, Maria, Natalie, Hunter, Hayden, Joel, Grayson, Grace, Asher

 I love this of her waving to her Pete.  This child was made to be a middle child.  She is so thoughtful and loving.  She looks up to, loves her big bro, and is so thoughtful and caring about him.

 one of Lily's favorite pals, Kate

 Petey getting in with the girlies.

Knar, Natalie, Lily, Peter

 Both sets of grandparents joined us... we are blessed!

Abundance!

So much wonderful going on!

*  Our oldest little man has been sick since Wed.  He came home early from school.

He's sad looking but its been nice to have the extra time with him.  

We have the best grandparents though!  My mom was here on Wed to help so I could continue the normal schedule of running around for various pick ups and last minute Christmas errands for teachers, etc.

*  We had our 20 WEEK ULTRASOUND yesterday!  

I was SO giddy and excited beforehand (with a little sobriety mixed in occasionally).

Everything looked good.  We saw boy parts for the first time on U/S.  And how fun and real to see him moving around and all of those individual bones... vertebrae, little pigs, arm and leg bones.  :)  In the room waiting, I said to Mike that I am still shocked that we are sitting here, doing this.  I just didn't see it or think it was our story.  Thank you, Lord!  I am so thrilled.  We also talked about talks we'll be able to have with our kids when they are teenagers.  :)

So that Mike and I could be there together, Goo took Lily to dance and Pop stayed at home with sick Peter.  We are so so blessed with & thankful for awesome grandparents!

*  Lily has been such a sweet little helper with Peter being sick. She gets tissues, draws pics for him, adds random things to his stocking, and offers Peter candy from her preschool party.

Goo came over to stay with him so that I could go in for her party today.  Which was really sweet since it'll be our last preschool *Christmas* party for a few years.

She was also excited to see "pictures" of her little brother this week.

{She was so meticulous and *neat* in decorating her gingerbread house... ah, boys and girls!}

*  Its the start of Christmas break!  Woohoo!  In a few days, I'm sure I'll be sick of being home.  But I am looking forward to some slower days of being together with the kids (& Mike!) to connect more & get my finger a little more on the pulse of how everyone is doing.

November Pictures

... In no particular order...

Lily preschool class singing the blessing before we ate at the preschool Thanksgiving Feast.

 Each of the kids had a Native American name on their head band & Native American necklace... how creative/cute is that!

 Friday afternoon Bike Riding!  He is a machine on his bike.  I love it.

When I need encouragement, I take them bike riding!

He is also getting awesome at writing!  Go Pete!

 We had a rough week a few weeks ago and I told Mike we were all in need of HIM (yes, the Heavenly Father "HIM", but also of MIKE... it gets so much harder in the dark winter months to have good Daddy time when we can't swim at the pool most afternoons/eves).  So Sat I found him crafting a fairy doll with the kids.  #gooddad

 My two couch snugglers.

 and TV buddies (tho we hardly ever watch TV with the school year schedule).

Sat we went to a family reunion.  So thankful these two are also still car sleepers!

Pumpkin Patch

We headed on our 4th annual preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch.  I don't find this patch to be quaint at all, as I think it should be. Hmm... could be those big power lines going through it?  But, being my one and only year with Lily, we were excited.  I do not like going on theses trips alone, without other kids or moms... I feel like it steals some of the fun and benefits of going.  So at the last minute, we grabbed our friend, M and her daughter and Lily's classmate, G, out of the carpool line to ride with us.

 

M is a fun lady!  I loved hanging out with her and getting to hear more of her story.

It was rainy and cold so we made bonnets out of a shopping bag and a plastic bag ;)

 Bringing her pumpkin up the hill... 

 Queens of the hay stack!

First Day of Pre-K {Lily}

Lily and I went into preschool this morning for an Open House.  

I'm not sure that today is really the first official day.  But we took pics today.  And we may on Friday, as well... because with all of this sweetness, how could I not?!

 Side shot of the pony!

Our mornings are super sweet and low key with the boy off at school.  We snuggled on the couch and read books.  I can't even imagine what its going to feel like to have both of my babies out of the house next year.  :(   

Show me some teeth, girlie!

We've had some fun days together.  I forgot to document that at the end of Peter's very first day at school, she told me to put my hand in for "GIRLS DAY!"  So sweet.  Yesterday we had lunch with another Mom and little girl friend.  I'm loving it.

 Could she be any sweeter?

 She has the same teacher that Peter had last year.  We are thrilled about that.  I think it makes Lily feel more comfortable to know she has Peter's teacher.  She is used to walking up to her room every preschool morning b/c of last year. 

The kids did a little scavenger hunt that she thought was fun.

 Her little buddy, Kate, is in her class... along with several sweet, sweet friends from last year's class.

 I chatted with other parents and she got comfortable playing and dressing up.

We are excited for a fun year!

Preschool Graduate!!

After 3 years of preschool, 

{first days of years one, two (one week after getting his tonsils and adenoids out) and three!}

Peter had his preschool graduation this morning!  

Here are the about to be graduates waiting outside the chapel.

I love all of the smiles... esp on the teachers.  :)

Peter's preschool teacher is also a photographer.  So she took and edited black and white pics of each of the kids in the 4-5 year old classes.  See them on the wall.  They were AMAZING!

A closer shot... most of these are in Peter's class.  Wow, such an added bonus, huh?!  Gorgeous.

My handsome boy.

There will be a lot of pictures here.  Partially because I dropped the ball on my communication with Maw.  There have been a lot of balls in the air this week.  I may have told her 11 as the arrival time.  The preschool wide picnic was at 11 but the graduation was at 10:15.  And we know Maw isn't ever late.  So I was worried when she was "late".  So she missed the graduation.  I felt really lame.  Then I'd told Lily I'd come pick her up from her class so she could see Peter graduate.  And I forgot.  But I ran out during and got her in time.  To my credit, I was coordinating a few other aspects of the morning.  And you mean people can read my mind???

They sang a song.

Then they called each kid to come up....  Peter RAN!

Mrs Notley (and every one of his teachers) has been so SWEET to him!

She has 3 boys so we have been thankful for someone who understands and loves boys so well.

Running back.  When he saw me squatted to take pics, he gave me a BIG hug.  So sweet.

Mrs Notley and Ms Wood's 4-5 year olds!

We went to pick Peter up from his class afterwards.  It still just amazes me to see teachers get the kids to just SIT in a circle like that... magical powers!

Then we had the preschool-wide picnic.

Some of Peter's favorite friends.

Peter LOVES these boys.  One was in his class last year and the other this year.

They were adopted from Ethiopia two years ago and they have been such a blessing to us.  I know I say it over and over but I am so thankful for the gift of my kids seeing the world, learning love and compassion.  And seeing tangible ways that we can love others and know we care for and welcome the needy, just as God welcomes us (also the needy) in Christ and makes us a family through Jesus.  

The kids have a little surprise waiting for them but they still haven't seen it.  I had to have a way to bribe them for a nap.  Sand toys, bubbles, games, candy, etc for summer fun!

Proof that Maw was there!!

and bearing Lego gifts!  "'Cause Peter likes cool things"!

Way to go, buddy boy!  We are proud of you!!

ps- we also had a little kindergarten orientation at his elementary school this am... fun times!