Preschool Graduation

The month of May seemed to fly by for us, just as I'm sure if did for your family as well. In this particular weekend alone we had Erik's parents come into town, a birthday party Friday night, a dance recital Saturday morning, church and then preschool graduation Sunday night. Did I mention that I found time to somehow clean the house and prepare a graduation meal/party for Ella that we had after church on Sunday? It was so chaotic here, but I loved every minute of it.

Maybe I just liked being busy so I did not sit and think about my baby graduating to Kindergarten. It's so hard to believe that she is already old enough. It will be a big adjustment for me (and Lucy). Just the other day Ella asked me what Lucy would do when she was in school all day? It really made me sad. They have such a fun time playing with each other. I am so grateful that God has allowed them to be sisters. There will come a time in their lives when they will fight and not like each other very much. I know, I've lived it with my own sister. But then the day will come when they will no longer be just sisters. They will become friends. Great friends. And that is what's it all about. I know, I'm there with my sister now.

Mommy will be fine and Lucy will adjust, but Ella is officially going to Kindergarten. After three years in preschool, there's no turning back now. I take solice in the fact that I know she is ready. She is already reading on a small level and she is writing thoughts using the sounds she hears. It's amazing to see what she can come up with. The other day she wrote that she was mad at me because I would not let her go to the dance party. Granted, she was missing some vowels and other consonants along the way, but I got the message.

As we bid farewell to 3 great years at FBC Preschool, we patiently will wait for August to arrive when we start Kindergarten at First Baptist Church. It is going to be wonderful having her in a small school and knowing that she is just doors down from Lucy makes me so happy.

Congratulations, Ella! I love you.

This is Ella making her Academy Awards Speech. "I'd like to thank all the little people..." Ok, not really. After each child was handed his or her diploma they had to say their name in the microphone. It was really cute.

Ella's class rockin' and rollin' to Swing Low Sweet Chariot. Too funny! I just laughed. And I just have to say that my Ella may actually have some rhythm after all. I was so proud. (the jury is still out on the singing ability...)

A close up of Ella's dancing skills.

Ella and Lucy having a little pre-graduation fun.

Animal Kingdom

No, I am not talking about the one at Disney. I'm speaking of the one that is in my house! If you remember this post you will remember that my girls have a penchant for all things animal. For years, Ella has been fascinated with frogs, bugs, birds and all types of creepy-crawly things. Even tonight she was scaring some boys with the huge frog she was carrying around. Ella's inhibition towards these animals has rubbed off on Lucy. She's just as bad.

Who needs Jeff Corwin when you have a virtual zoo at your own house? So not only do we have the two bunnies, but some birds have decided that my beautiful front door floral arrangement would make a lovely place for a home.

Can you see the baby birds in there? They are only about 2 days old and don't even have their eyes open. This nest must be really comfy because this is the second set of birds to be hatched in there since the beginning of Spring.

Then there is this:

A butterfly right after it hatched from its chrysalides. Grandma bought some catepillars from an educational supply company and we watched caterpillars' transition as they matured, changed into chrysalides, and finally emerged as Painted Lady butterflies!

They did not fair too well but we had fun none the less.

This is Ella actually watching the butterfly emerge. All 5 hatched within hours of each other.

Just when I thought all the excitment was over, the girls brought this home from my parent's house today. It's a tiny little water turtle. It's just beautiful with these intricate markings all over its shell.

And since we needed one more thing to feed and water, we decided to get it a home. Sparkle, the turtle, now resides happily in the kitchen with BJ, the Beta fish.

MOM's Group

Our Mom's Group celebrated the end of another "season" of our lives. Now what could be a more appropriate way to cheer our 12 week victory than a nice lunch (without our kids) at a local cafe? Thanks ladies for sticking through the last 2 Bible studies. I know I have grown as a Christian, wife, friend, daughter and MOM over the past 3 months. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have!

If you are reading this and are interested in joining us for the summer, please send me an email. We'd love to have you join us and there will be many new faces in our group. Lots of our teacher friends are going to come during the summer. We are not doing a specific study, but rather a different topic each week that focuses on trials associated with being a woman in the 21st century. Childcare is provided....so what excuse do you have? I can't think of any!

Mother's Day Pots

These are one of the Mother's Day gifts I gave my mother and mother-in-law this year. I bought a terra cotta pot and sprayed it red. Then I did the girls hand prints and used a paint-pen to write their names and the year. I filled my mom's with patio blueberry bushes and my mother in-law's with geranium, which are her sentimental favorite.

Glee

glee (gle) n.
1. great merriment {syn. hilarity};
2. malicious satisfaction {syn. gloat}

Erik and I stumbled across this new show on Fox tonight. When I say stumble, I do mean stumble. We, in general, do not watch tv. It's not that we have anything against the tv, its just that we choose not to make that a part of our nighttime activities. It's been years since we have had a "show" that we watched religously. Probably even before Ella was born. American Idol in its earliest years were a priority on Tuesday nights at our house, but that was a long time ago.

So tonight, as Erik sat nursing a sore back, I heard the beautiful sounds of show tunes coming from the playroom/family room. Only a trained ear like mine could detect the sounds of a professionally trained 4 to 6 part choir belting out "Somebody to Love" by Queen. There is nothing else on earth can bring out the inner nerd in me like a broadway procution or musical performance.

This new tv show is, by default, my NEW addiction. It's just wonderful. You can have your Grey's Anatomy, your House....I will take my nerdy Glee club anyday! Here's to the new season of Glee! May your ratings keep you around for years to come.