Thursday, August 29, 2013

A Variety of Thoughts for this Thursday

Whew!  I can't believe that we are almost done with our first week of school.  Or can I?  I could have sworn today was Friday for the first half of the day!  I have a lot of things that are on my mind today that I want to get down on the blog, so please excuse the jumbled thoughts.

*Audrey's school is having Vacation Bible School this week.  She LOVES it.  She comes home every day telling me the songs they sang about God, how they painted crosses and talked about Jesus, and just goes on and on.  Here she is in her VBS T-shirt today:



*Yesterday I learned that my friend was told her son had 24 hours to live.  He has been suffering from ALD for the past year.  It's a degenerative brain condition that happens rapidly.  When I found out, I was devastated and of course crying.  Audrey walked in and asked me what was wrong.  What to do?  Is she ready for this kind of conversation?  I prayed about it, and decided to talk to her about it briefly.  I just told her that Mommy's friend's little boy was very sick.  She immediately replied "Well, then he should go to the doctor, get some medicine and then be better."  I tried my best to explain that sometimes, the doctors can't help and it's time for that person to go on to heaven.  I told her my friend was sad that her little boy had to go on to Heaven, but that he was with God and Jesus.  Audrey broke out into a huge smile and said "Wow, some day we'll ALL get to go to heaven to meet God and Jesus."  It was so sweet.

If you would, please keep the Schally family in your prayers.  They lost their sweet 10 year old, Henry, last night.  Their other son Eli has also been diagnosed with ALD.  Luckily Eli was caught early enough and has under gone a stem cell transplant to halt the progression of his disease.

*Back to Audrey's VBS.  She came home yesterday and told me she had to bring money to school to help build schools in other countries.  Ok, what??  I was caught off guard and told her we would talk to her teacher about it in the morning.  She decided to take matters into her own hands and went over to her piggy bank full of dollar bills and coins from generous grandparents, and told me she wanted to bring this money to school for the people who needed it.  SERIOUSLY??!  Are you trying to win the world's best kid award?  My heart puffed up and I patted myself on the back for raising such a socially aware and giving child.  I couldn't wait for her to bring the money in and show her teachers in the morning.  But of course, after receiving my friend's news last night, I couldn't sleep, and therefor woke up late and we were running out the door this morning.  Without the donation money.  I honestly didn't even remember it until I picked Auds up and a fellow awesome mom like myself stopped me at the door and asked me "Did you know that they were supposed to bring in money for donations?  I had no clue!  I am so embarrassed!!"  AAAH!  I told her that I only found out yesterday, but STILL forgot the money.  We shared an awesome Mommy high five.  As we were saying goodbye to Audrey's teacher, I told Ms. Stephanie that I was sorry we forgot the donation money, but would for sure bring it tomorrow, and Audrey even packed up her own money to donate!  Audrey looked from me to Ms. Stephanie and, no lie, said "I changed my mind.  I'm going to use my money to buy myself a new toy instead.  Mommy, you can bring in your own money if you want to."   !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Ms. Stephanie just burst out laughing and I prayed an internal prayer that I could someday teach my child to be giving.  ;)  When we got in the car I tried to explain the importance of giving back, how that makes us feel better than having a new toy, and that yes, I WOULD pack my own money to donate tomorrow and I hoped she would too.  Then I dropped it.  I am happy to report, that as I was making dinner, I nonchalantly mentioned to Audrey that I hoped she had decided to bring her money to school tomorrow to help others.  She told me she had in fact changed her mind.  She was going to bring half of her money to school and keep half of her money for a new toy.  !!!  Success!  I'll take it!  (Now if only she doesn't change her mind before telling her teacher.)

*As the school year is beginning, all of my students have been bringing in supplies.  We have a list that we ask them to buy from.  Every year some parent sends in Lisa Frank/Barbie/Princess/etc folders and journals, when we SPECIFICALLY ask them for color coded ones.  So this year I decided to take a set of Lisa Frank journals and folders home for Audrey to use.  I can't use them in the classroom and I didn't want to waste them.  When Audrey walked into the kitchen and saw the stack of brightly colored journals and folders, she freaked out.  It was almost better than Christmas.  "What are THOSE Mama?"  I told her they were for her.  "ALL of them?????"  She laid them all out and decided (on her own) that one folder would be to hold the pictures she made for Grammy, one would be for Grandpa, and one would be for Nana and Papa.

Here was my view while cooking dinner tonight:

*I added a new blog to my blog list.  http://jenhatmaker.com/blog.htm
Jen Hatmaker is an incredible mom and such a gifted writer.  She is so funny and I love reading her updates.  She has been on the Today Show and is currently writing a book.

And to end this post on a so very true Back to School note, here is a hilarious video called "Said No Teacher Ever" - it cracks me up because it's so true!


http://www.babble.com/babble-voices/rants-in-my-pants-julie-miner/said-no-teacher-ever-is-funny-because-its-true/

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Jumpstart

So if y'all didn't think I was sappy enough in my last post, here's another one from super sentimental mom over here.  I don't know what it is, but I am just so emotional about Audrey growing up.  I don't know if it's the fact that she has less than one year left at Whistlestop, or that two of my friends at work get to bring their Kindergarten kiddos to school with them this year and I get to see where we will be next year, or that I just love this age that Audrey is at that I never want it to end.

How we went from starting Whistlestop over 3 years ago in The Toddler Room . . .

to being in JUMPSTART, I just don't know.  Can you even stand how grown up she looks here??



I remember when we first started at Whistlestop and got the calendar for all of the activities that the kiddos in the Toddler Room through the PreK-B room would be doing.  There was a whole *separate* calendar for Jumpstart and Schoolers.  I couldn't even fathom what they were doing.  Now we're here!  Audrey's in a wonderful new class that is getting her ready for Kindergarten and she is so excited.  She's ready.  Me, not so much.  I'll be honest, when I picked her up last Friday (her last day of PreK-B) I was tearing up.  Luckily a lot of the moms were as well, and some were even out and out crying.  "How are our children ready for Jumpstart?  They have such a strong curriculum!  The kids will have daily folders!  The will be phasing out nap time!"  We all just stood around in a circle tearing up.  I can't even imagine what I will be like a year from now.

But enough about me.  ;)  This is about the big Jumpstarter herself.  James got to bring her into school this morning and said she was super excited and not one bit nervous.  He also got to pick her up.  (Darn Back to School Night at my school!) and she had a wonderful day.  A smooth transition.  Woo-hoo!  Here's to a wonderful LAST year of preschool.

Next post . . . packing for Audrey's freshman year at A&M!  ;)

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Always Kiss Me Goodnight

When I was pregnant with Audrey, I was on a mission to find the perfect "thing" to hang over her crib.  At the time, it was all about perfecting the nursery.  Making her room Pinterest-ready for her to sleep in.  James and I worked so very hard on creating the perfect room for Audrey to come home to.  James redid the closets, put up wainscoating, put in all new light fixtures, etc, etc.  We literally built Audrey a brand new room.  But during those nine *wonderful* months of pregnancy, I couldn't find what I wanted to hang over Audrey's crib.  One day, towards the end of my pregnancy, James and I wandered into a shop and I saw a sign that read "Always Kiss Me Goodnight."  It matched our color scheme and for some reason, I just felt the need to put it in Audrey's room.  So we got it and James put it up above her crib.  I have always liked it, but recently it has hit me that, yes, the highlight of my day IS kissing Audrey goodnight every night.  She is one year out from starting Kindergarten.  She won't always want me to kiss her goodnight.  But our bedtime ritual is the stuff to live by friends.  Daily life can be long or hard sometimes, but I know that as long as I have our bedtime routine to look forward to, life is pretty amazing.


Reading books to me










Calling Daddy to say "Goodnight" . . . oh how she loves to talk to her Daddy, or talk on my phone!  ;)





Saying our prayers. . .  I pray that Audrey can always go to sleep knowing she has something to be thankful to God for.

Asleep with her blankies and Bear.  Sweet dreams Auds, thank you for making this time of day the "Best Ever"!  (to quote your Nana)



Monday, August 19, 2013

"Cheerleader Position!"

Audrey's dance class at school did a Cheerleading Camp this summer.  They've been working very hard on their cheers, jumps, and dances.

They had their Pep Rally tonight and it was just too cute.  Audrey was so excited and she literally struck this pose without me prompting!

Finding her spot, Audrey's favorite thing to do.  :)


Ready to go!  


Striking a pose.  They kicked it off with a super cute dance and then did some cheers.


Bust a move!



Group shot


And of course, a BFF shot with Madi.


:)

Friday, August 9, 2013

Disney Day 3

After the weather fiasco from Day 2, we were on a mission on Day 3 to head back to the Magic Kingdom and see and do as much as we could.  



We headed over to Tomorrowland and Eric suggested that we ride the Astro Orbiter.  It was a *pretty* high ride, but Audrey had shown us that she was game for the rides, so we hopped on line.


Audrey had her wishing star and was good to go.  Eric and I also grabbed some Fast Passes for Space Mountain, and Mom and Audrey got some for the Buzz Lightyear ride, so we could hop right on another ride when we finished this one.



This ride was so much fun and we all loved seeing the views of the Magic Kingdom.

Then we separated, and Eric and I were off to Space Mountain.  The Fast Passes are AWESOME, and we literally just walked right by people who were waiting in line for TWO HOURS and we hopped right on.  I admit, I was scared for a minute, but it was awesome!!


Audrey was so excited to ride the Buzz Lightyear ride, but it after they showed up with their Fast Passes, for some reason the ride got shut down.  So Mom and Audrey headed back to Fantasyland to ride Dumbo.

Then we met up and caught a fun parade and waited to meet Tiana.  She was by far the nicest and most talkative princess.  Audrey loved chatting with her.


Then we went to Adventureland and walked through the Swiss Family Treehouse.  I remember walking through this as a kid, and I have to be honest, as an adult it just wasn't all that exciting. ;)


But Auds liked it!


Then Eric and I rode Thunder Mountain while Mom and Audrey rode Aladdin's Flying Carpet again.

Audrey's favorite ride of the whole trip was the Roller Coaster, and she was asking all day to ride it again.  So of course we did and she just loved it.




Before we knew it, it was time to grab our seats for the parade and fireworks.  Luckily, Grammy offered to save us some seats so we could ride a few more rides.

Then it was time for the big show!

Whew, we did a lot on Day 3!  More on the Parade next time!



Sunday, August 4, 2013

Taking a Quick Break From Disney World, Weekend Fun!

I'm still sorting through Disney World photos, so here are some photos of what we were up to this weekend.  Swimming!  Audrey finished up her swim lessons last week and she is doing great!  We went over to my friend Liz's house on Friday to swim with our friends.  



Audrey is also finishing up her soccer season.  She had a game on Saturday and scored 2 goals!  Her last game is next weekend.  She loves it so much that we decided to sign her up for the Fall Season.  Here's looking forward to cooler weather games sitting outside!!

Happy Sunday!