All Aboard...

When snack ladies go wild!!

Luke on "Otis the Kangaroo" with Shelby & Taylor!

Sharing a bite with Daddy...

Mmmm...watermelon snow cone!!!

"I unt some!!"

Grace in Worship Rally...

Grace with her pals Lauren & Laura...
hanging out at snacks...

Grace & her friend, Joanna...

...the Boomerang Express!!

We had Vacation Bible School this past week. The theme was Boomerang Express & it was set in the Australian Outback! I helped with snacks and Darren did preschool recreation. Grace had so much fun & looked forward to going each morning. She brought her little neighbor friend, Joanna, as her guest each day. Grace's favorite part was the Worship Rally...when they all gathered in the sanctuary each morning for the songs, skits & videos. She rocked out each morning & did a good job doing the hand motions to the songs. She had a little bit of a leg up on other kids because she watched Lala & Lauren as they learned the motions from the DVD! Grace also had to wear her hair like them each day...too funny! Luke had fun as well! I think he enjoyed all the attention given to him by the fun ladies who volunteered in his room. I bet if he could, he would say that snow cone Friday was his favorite day!! We all enjoyed it & are a bit worn out from the busy week!!

Business in the front...Party in the back!

Checking himself out in the mirror!

Before...

...after!

not a fan of the blow-dryer!

Our Little Man...

We finally decided that Luke was in need of his first haircut! He was getting close to qualifying for a toddler-mullet! There wasn't much to cut, but it did need to be shaped up...especially on the sides & in the back. He did a good job. He grew tired of sitting still, but we kept him on my lap with a dum-dum! Once he was all finished we were amazed at how much more grown up he looked! He's such a cute little man!!!

My little girl is growing up...

"Skinamarinkydinkydink...Skinamarinkydo..."
"...I love you!"
outside of her school...

playing at her end of year party!

chillaxin in the hammock!
The 2008-2009 Pre-K Class

Grace is officially finished with Pre-K! I can hardly believe that she will be in Kindergarten next year! Wow, time has flown by!! She enjoyed the school year, but is even more excited that school is out for the summer. She told me just today that she likes summer because you can "lounge around & go to the pool"!! Ah, the life of a 4 year old!!

They had their annual end of year program at St. James. As usual, I cried! They sang several songs & it was precious as usual...especially when you've got a little one performing! I was doing fine until they started singing, "Skinamarinkydinkydink, skinamarinkydo...I love you." I remember singing that to Grace when she was a baby & doing the hand motions with her as she got a little older. So, naturally, I teared up. Then, she did the hand motions to the "I love you" part & she turned & pointed directly at us & had this huge grin on her face! I had to pull out the ol' pocket kleenex for that! What special memories!!

The next day they had their end of year party at the home of one of her classmates. They played hard & enjoyed their friends! It was definitely a fun way to end the year!

Dance like no one's watching...or like EVERYONE'S watching!

Strikin' a pose...

...loving the audience!!

Blowing more kisses!!

Curtain call...she LOVED holding out her tutu!!

After the show...she was so proud of her flowers!!

Getting kisses from Mommy & Daddy!!

Grace began taking dance this year with Mr. Jack here in Greenville. She really enjoyed it, although she would never share with us what she learned! Her first recital was last Thursday & boy, did she enjoy herself! Nana sent her a Fancy Nancy book & inside she wrote, "Dance like no one's watching!" Well, once Grace's group took the stage we could tell that she was going to do just the opposite! Once she saw the crowd & realized that she was in the spotlight (along with her friends, but come on, you know she thought they were there to see her!) she danced like EVERYONE was watching!! They were all so cute & did such a good job on their first recital. First they performed their tap dance & then they came out & performed their ballet dance. After the first dance, as they were marching off the stage, Grace turned to the audience & blew everyone a big ol' kiss! The audience laughed at her silly antics, which in turn made her do it yet again as they left the stage after their ballet dance! We were so proud! We weren't quite sure what she would do once she saw how big the audience was. She had no problem with it at all. In fact she told me later that all she wanted to do was be on the stage! So, after the first dance recital we can truly say, "A star was born!"

I'm a big girl now...

Riding the slide in May 2006... There she goes...

At the top...

Wheeee!!!!

Now that was fun!!!

Our big girl!!

Okay, so I've known that Grace is "growing up", but it really hit me yesterday! We decided to take the kids to the little carnival yesterday afternoon. They have this huge slide called the "Fun Slide". We have some history with this particular slide. You see, when Grace was 3 months shy of her 2nd birthday we went with several of her little friends & their moms to the same sort of carnival. The girls weren't old enough to ride the slide, but they allowed them to ride on our laps. I am not sure who had more fun...the girls or us moms!! Well, yesterday Grace decided she wanted to go on the slide. The nice carnie guy said "no lap riders". I figured we would head back to the flying dumbo ride, but to my surprise Grace gave the man the tickets, took the little burlap bag and headed up the steps to the top of the slide! So, there went my baby!! I was standing there in shock & I even started tearing up! Okay, so to many it might not seem like that big of a deal, but to me I saw her go from the little girl that I did (& sometimes still do) everything for to this independent little girl taking on this big huge slide! She made it to the top of the slide (she used the hand rail the whole way!!) and before long she was riding the bumpy slide all the way down. You could tell in her face when hit the areas that made her stomach do a flip-flop, but she made it down in one piece & was quite proud of her accomplishment. I just stood there in awe! Here was my little girl taking a huge step towards independence. I am proud that I didn't hold her back (I had help from Darren who was kindly saying, "shhh, let her go"). I hope that this one particular incident will stick with me as she goes through her life under my care. I pray that I can spur her on to dream big. I hope she knows that in the end I will be there ready to assist her in anyway she needs. I hope she knows that I will be one of her biggest fans! The whole thing reminded me of the song by Mark Harris...

Find Your Wings

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold

The plans that Heaven has for you

Will all too soon unfold

So many different prayers I'll pray

For all that you might do

But most of all I'll want to know

Your walking in the truth

And if I never told you

I want you to know

As I watch you grow

Chorus:

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams

And that faith gives you the courage

To dare to do great things

I'm here for you whatever this life brings

So let my love give you roots

And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind

That leads you through your days

And may conviction keep you strong

Guide you on your way

May there be many moments

That make your life so sweet

Oh, but more than memories

Chorus

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky

I'll have tears as you take off

But I'll cheer as you fly

**Star Student**

Here's the star in her new glasses!

Since I was taking pics Luke wanted in on the action!

"Star Student"

Towards the end of the school year the Pre-K classes at St. James Day School take part in what they call "Star Student". Each student has a day to be the "star". They can bring something to show the class, a book for the teacher to read out loud & a snack to share. Grace was the Start Student yesterday (April 30). She was so excited!! She picked out a dress that she had yet to wear and she also wore her new pink jellies (a little 80's flashback there!). She chose to take Bear Rabbit (her lovey that she has had since birth). She told the class that Bear Rabbit is special to her because "she loves him, she's had him since she was born & because she is in his heart". So sweet! She chose the book Molly Lou Melon to have her teacher read. She decided that we would make cupcakes with white icing, pink sprinkles & a teddy graham cracker in the center (for Bear Rabbit). I forgot to get a picture of them, but they turned out cute & were so yummy! Darren walked her into school that morning to help her carry the goodies in & he acted as if he was part of the secret service saying, "no pictures, please", "there will be a photo op later", and "please step aside for today's star". She got so tickled at him! I think she is a star every day, but she was excited to have a day all about her! (P.S. You'll notice in the pics that she has new glasses. We went for a second opinion on her eyes. She still needs glasses, but we were able to do away with the bifocals which makes it easier on her!)

Bubbles, Kites, Bikes & more!!

We discovered this frog in our outside toy bucket! We named him Herbert. He didn't stick around very long though!

Since the weather has been so incredible the last few weeks we have really taken advantage of it & played outside as much as possible. For Luke, this is a good thing since he LOVES being "ah-side" (his version of outside)! We rode our bikes, flew the Elmo kite in the front yard, blew bubbles & just had a grand ol' time! If only the weather would stay this nice!