Christmas Randoms...

This was the first year in a while that I didn't take a whole lot of Christmas pictures!  It wasn't intentional, it's just we kept so busy that I didn't even realize it!  We had some of my family in town this year and we spent a majority of the holiday outside playing in the snow and sledding.  It was so cold that it would have been miserable to have my hand out of my glove snapping pictures so I opted to leave the camera at home and just have fun.  Between all of us, we did get together some on our cell phones, but I need to get those loaded on the computer.  So for now I just have a handful from Christmas morning and a few from Noah's Christmas program at Preschool.  

Better late than never!

 Ella with her very special new American Girl doll!  This was her most treasured gift this year!

 Noah had been eyeing this castle for many months leading up to Christmas so he was *thrilled* that Santa brought it!  Between us and all the Grandparents, he was able to collect all of the accessories and men to go with it and spends many hours a week playing with it!

   Noah got to be Joseph this year.  It was adorable and they gave us all quite the show with many laughs!

 This one is blurry, but it had to be posted.  For the last song, they came around and took the kids costumes off so that the parents could get some pictures of them in their regular clothes.  WELL, when Noah's teacher pulled his off, we got quite the surprise!  Apparently he had taken a trip to the potty and couldn't get his pants buckled...but since he had the costume over top, no one noticed...until of course he was left standing there on stage with his little Superman undies hanging out!!  No worries though.  Daddy quickly sprang into action and got him all situated.  Can't wait to tell his Senior Prom date about this one ;)

First Day of Kindergarten!

Alright.  I survived!  My little guy and I are back home and sissy is at her very first day of Kindergarten.  The morning couldn't have gone any better!  Ella woke up excited and ready to go.  She picked out her first day outfit all by herself all the way down to what jacket to take and what color rubber bands to use in her pig tails (which is the hair style she picked out earlier this week as "the" first day hair-do!)  Everything was going great until we realized about 15 minutes before time to leave that...gasp...we forgot to paint her nails last night!  Oh the crisis!!  Haha!  We got that all settled and done and managed to meet Daddy at school only 4 minutes later then we had originally planned.  We got there nice and early so that we could take our time getting her all situated.  

She was a bundle of excitement and nerves, but all morning she just couldn't wait to finally get to school.  As we walked up to school, she saw a little friend of hers that will be starting the Pre-K program at the school tomorrow.  Ella was happy to get a hug from a friendly face!

I'm sure I will post way more pictures than anyone cares to see, but I can't help it!  So proud of my Princess!

 She got her backpack and lunchbox all put away and was ready to go!

Randy and I followed her around taking pictures and talking with her and soon realized that most of the other parents were leaving and we were starting to linger.  So we gave her some big kisses and hugs and let her head off to meet some new friends.  I seriously could have stayed all day just to follow her around and take pictures.  Oh to be a fly on the wall....

Poor Noah was still half asleep.  We all have to adjust to the early timing of Kindergarten.  My little guy just got yanked out of bed and carried out the door!

 Our whole little family on Ella's special day!

 Off to play with new friends!

 I was doing just fine until Ella said goodbye to Noah.  My sweet little guy was so sad to leave her there!! It broke my heart!  Noey and I made it out the classroom door and then we were finally free to pout together out of Ella's sight.

 Watching your babies grow and change into little children who have their own personalities and interests is truly a blessing.  My tears in seeing Ella go are both sadness that the "baby" part of her is really in the past, but also happiness for the little girl she has become.  She is an absolute joy in our lives.  We could not be more thankful and proud for what a beautiful girl she is both inside and out!

My prayer for you Ella Grace is that as we help you navigate your way through all of life's ups and downs, that you will stand out among your classmates as a beautiful light.

Matthew 5:14-16 MSG
^4-16 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

First Day of School poem

by Georgy Joseph

She started school this morning,

And she seemed so very small.

As I walked there beside her

In the Kindergarten hall.

And as she took her place beside

the others in the class,

I realized how all too soon

Those first few years can pass.

Remembering, I saw her as

She first learned how to walk.

The words that we alone made out

When she began to talk.

This little girl so much absorbed

In learning how to write.

It seems as though she must have grown

To girlhood overnight.

My eyes were blurred, so hastily

I brushed the tears away

Lest by some word or sign of mine

I mar her first big day.

Oh how I longed to stay with her

And keep her by the hand

To lead her through the places

That she couldn’t understand.

And something closely kin to fear

Was mingled with my pride.

I knew she would no longer be

A baby by my side.

But she must have her chance to live,

To work her problems out,

The privilege to grow and learn

What life is all about.

And I must share my little girl

With friends and work and play;

She’s not a baby anymore –

She’s in Kindergarten today.

Ten Thoughts on Thursday...

1) This week is almost over and I really haven't done anything except relax and spend time with my kiddos.  Amazing.

2)  Last night the hubby and I went out on a date.  I love LOVE love getting to date my husband every week now.  Having time together without the kids gives us an opportunity to connect and communicate the things we need from each other which makes for a happy wife and happy husband!

3)  My kids went straight into nursery with NO tears this week after being out of church for 3 weeks (due to sickness and traveling).  I'm so happy to see how well they have adjusted.  Such a relief.

4) It's ridiculously windy in Wisconsin.  Sometimes it sounds like the wind is going to literally blow the house down!  Crazy!

5) We finally planted our garden this year!  It's a raised bed with lettuce, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, and green beans.  

6) Last week the kids and I spent the whole week in Tennessee with my family.  Lots of pics to come soon either on here or Facebook.

7)  I'm so happy and thankful that God has entrusted us with this crazy-adventure-life.  

8) Can't wait for the pool down the street to open in JUNE!  Sooo ready to enjoy this gorgeous weather!

9)  Last week I volunteered with the Kindergartners and 1st Graders at church!  Made me think of my old class at KABC! Can't believe I will have a Kindergartner of my own in only a few short months?!

10)  Life is good and we are blessed.  My cups runs over.  

Deuteronomy 7:9  "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands."

Mother Goose!

I've mentioned in some of my other posts how much we are enjoying the library here.  It' been especially nice for Ella since she was usually in preschool when Noah and I would go to story time.  I think she is enjoying being able to come, too.  During April, the library was doing a reading program on Mother Goose books.  Ella and Noah got here just in time to jump in and participate.  We would check out books that qualified and log each one we read.  On Wednesday they had a special story hour and Mother Goose was there! ;)  The kids loved it, especially the part where a "real" Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall!  They had a lot of stories where the kids could participate and then they all made a paper goose and received their awards.  It was cute and the kids had fun.  I'm looking forward to some of the programs they will have this Summer for the kids to participate in!

Yesterday was so beautiful it may have been my favorite Wisconsin day ever! It was somewhere in the low 70s and had a nice, warm, breeze.  We spent the morning at the library and then the kids spent an hour at the church with Randy. I took some pictures at the hospital of a couple in our small group's new baby.  When I was done I picked up Randy and the kids and we grabbed A&W! After that we dropped Randy back off at church and the kids and I took a walk before they crashed for a long nap.  Then (as if this wasn't all fun enough) we walked up to the park after naps to play on the playground while Randy was playing baseball.  He is going to be subbing some for a local team that plays in the Home Talent Baseball League.  He wishes he could play more often, but the nights of most games will be on Sunday nights (when we have small group) or Thursday nights (when he has band practice).  He's still excited about the chance to play every once in awhile though!  Hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures of that soon!

Here are some pics from the library Wednesday...

 This one is hard to see, but on the plastic you can see poor Humpty. 

"All the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Humpty together again" :(