Friday, May 16, 2014

Wrapping Up at ACS

Most of my posts lately have had to be quick because my spare time is so little, but I just don't think I can properly sum up this year up quickly, so sorry in advance for the long post.

Bailey's kindergarten year will be wrapping up next week and my heart is so full of emotion about this year. Words can't express the gratitude I feel towards Mrs. Strickland and Mrs. Kinslow for seeing my little girl the same way I do. She truly feels loved and because of that this year she has grown leaps and bounds. Never in my wildest dreams would I have put myself at a school like ACS. I never thought I would homeschool in any form or fashion. Thank you Christy for encouraging me along the way. I sound like a broken record saying this, but this year would not have been the same without you! Thank you for carpooling with me. Thank you for trusting Will to me to homeschool. Thank you making sure the group has everything we need on our homeschool days. On that note, I also could have never dreamed how much I would grow to love all the families that Bailey is in school with and her classmates. Granted I have subbed in both classes and been up on campus taking pictures, but tonight at the End of Year Celebration every kid knew who I was and I felt like the part about being a "founding family" was so true. I know things are going to change next year as the school grows, so I just wanted to take a moment to remember this precious year and the Mustang Moms who went through it with me.


To my Bailey girl- thank you for letting mommy be your teacher this year. I have always wanted to teach kindergarten and I felt like I finally got to do what I have wanted to ever since my days at A&M. Every day was not perfect, but I had so much fun with you and I have grown to cherish our special Tues/Thurs together. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. You are such a good big sister to Beau and you have been such a big help to me with Beau. I have loved watching you learn to read and I have loved memorizing scripture beside you. You surprise me all the time with the history facts you have learned and the details you put into your drawings. I look forward to next year and I love you!

Some final pictures from the year-

Field Day

A couple weeks ago ACS held a family field day where parents and siblings participated along with ACS students. It was a fun, but hot day for all!

 


 Taking a break with Nana because it was hot!






Fundraising Garage Sale

Two Saturdays ago I, along with Anna Marshall and Christy Risinger, hosted a garage sale as the school's fundraiser. The three of us did the same thing last spring and we were able to raise ~$900. This time we raised ~$1900 with the help of many, many, many donations! So many donations that pictures just can't do it justice. Luke took pictures just to remember how much stuff was in our front yard that day. I have never, ever seen so much stuff at a garage sale in all my life. We literally had a small Goodwill store up and running. It was so much stuff that at the end of the day we took 3 massive loads to Goodwill of the leftovers. Anyways, here is a small glimpse-







Field Trip to the Thinkery




End of Year Celebration

Bailey & Mia


We lovingly call her Mama Mia.



 Thank you for coming Nana!



 My boys


I am so sad I cut off Luke's head, but still a cute picture of them. 


Bailey & Mrs. Strick-a-lund (as Bailey says it)


 The girls


 Reciting My Shadow

"...and he was fast asleep in bed."


 Her timeline character- David


The ACS Staff


 Kim & I with our little ones


 These two little ones are only 7.5 weeks apart & both are 4th in their families


Last Day of School

They got to dress as Roman citizen and have a feast!


And for her character stone she got determination.



A few pictures with friends after school.



Thank ACS for a wonderful year- to Christ and his glory!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

The Faces of Beau

Here are some recent favorites of the many faces of Beau. I love to hear who people think he looks like and right now the verdict seems to be a combo of Blake and Blair. I don't know if you can tell, but he is putting on the weight!









Mother's Day Weekend

 Last weekend for Mother's Day; Colt's birthday; to introduce Andrew, Aunt Kathy & my Nana to Beau and just because I haven't been home since Christmas we went up to spend the weekend with my family. I always feel like the visits are fast and furious, but so worth it!

Here are some family shots
 



 

 


I can't believe this cutie is 1!!!


Gigi's 34th Mother's Day

  
 I am so thankful for each one of these guys that calls me Mother.





Bailey's Front Tooth


I can't tell you how often I am at ACS events and scanning the crowd only to zoom in on Mia thinking it is Bailey. Well last week Mia lost her front tooth and yesterday Mia (at Bailey's request) pulled out Bailey's front tooth. It was super special for both girls because now they look alike again.  : )

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

2 Months Old & Our Newest Family Tradition

 "Isn't it funny how day to day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different"
 -C.S. Lewis

Baby Beau turned 2 months old and I thought I would do a quick update and share a few pictures.  I can't believe how much he is changing and I am already mourning that I don't have a newborn anymore. We have used up all those tiny diapers and put away all the newborn clothes never to come out again. : ( I really can't believe how big he is already!


Stats are:

Height: 22 inches (20th%)

Weight: 11 lbs, 6 ozs (25th%)

Head Circumference: 38.4 cm (25th%)

I know I mentioned before that he can smile, but he can now hear my voice and find me. He can also track the circling alligators above his swing. I don't think I have mentioned that he turned a corner at about 6 weeks with fussiness. He is still not my most content baby, but no more hours of cryfest. He is also sleeping about 5 hours followed by 2 hours. Last night though he even slept 7.5 hours!!! Keep it up Beau! He was starting to keep me up at night, so he now sleeps in the pack'n'play in the playroom and it seems to be work for everyone. Other things would be that he likes to be swaddled & his paci and LOVES his swing and being held.

Here's that smile I love!


 This one was taken by my friend Erika Knox for Beau's baby dedication at church. Thank you!


So, along with my theme of time moving too fast, I thought I would share our newest family tradition. Luke had this awesome idea to help us realize just how little time we have left with our kids. Each kid has a jar with marbles in it. Each marble represents one month we have left with them in our house and the jar will be empty on the month that they leave for college. Bailey's jar on the left only has about 150 marbles left  in it and I know that it will be empty in a blink of an eye.


The other part of the tradition is that each month when we take out a marble, we go throw it into the Quarries lake behind our house and pray over each child.



It was a really sweet time for Luke and I & I hope these kiddos know they are loved!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Small Group Reunion

At the end of April our old small group had it's yearly reunion. 

Here's the kids (left to right): Hawley, Luna, Eloise, Elijah, Zoe, Amelia, Austin, Bailey, Beau, Blair, & Blake. (Atticus & Hazel not pictured)


Rose & Beau


It was a sweet time to re-connect with everyone. Thanks Rose & Patrick for initiating this!