Our First Year...

It seems hard to believe that a year has gone by since I was praying, and honestly, worrying, about the start of a new school year which would find Laila in "public" school. All the fears of if we were doing the right thing by her, would she be ruined, would her faith survive, would she learn, would she be behind, would she pass the TAKS? You name it and I worried about it. I spent a lot of time praying throughout the day over these many issues...going over in my mind why we made this decision and why it was the right one.

So a year has past and my 3rd grader is now a 4th grader. She has blossomed, grown and excelled. Yes, we have had our times of testing and trials. Many having to do with how to handle hurtful words, un-kind friends, differing viewpoints.

Of course my little social butterfly loved every minute of her new year - and her awesome teacher Ms. Casey! She worked hard and to my surprise... and relief she got "Commended" on her TAKS. YAY Laila! Overall our "first year" has in many ways challenged me way more than Laila. I'm so proud of her. I just wanted to take a minute to put it to "paper" so I can remember this in a few years. :)

Gradutation Day

My little man Jack is now officially a 1st grader. I don't know why...but it just seemed right when Laila graduated from Kindergarten. But it seems all wrong for Jack. He's too young...he's not ready...I'm not ready!

I have to give a shout-out to his teacher Ms. Chaddick. Four years ago I helped out in her kindergarten room during testing week - at the time I thought "She would be perfect for Jack". So I prayed and held my breath and sure enough, she was Jack's teacher. Now, I don't know how she feels about it - but in my eyes she was perfect for him! He's not a lover of reading or crafts which is a huge part of Kindergarten - but she was able to keep his interest and by the end of the year he actually chose to read instead of playing the computer before bed.

So, ready or not, here he comes.....

Terrible Two's

Matthew Daniel has turned 2. I thought "Not a problem...he's so naughty already two can't be worse". Insert BIG bite of humble pie! We've entered the stage of screaming...for no reason...It's mine...I had it first....NO!".

But I would be amiss if I didn't record all the times when Matt does something so cute we all just look at him with adoring eyes. For example - Jack has been gone this week with Eric and Matt has missed him. Today when he talked to him on the phone he kept waving at the phone as if Jack could see him saying "I miss you Jackie...I miss you Jackie". Why he calls him Jackie I don't know - my suspicion is that he knows Jack hates being called that...but still...it's so cute! Or when I'm doing my exercise DVDs and he tries his hardest to do them with me. He cracks me up when he can't get his body into a yoga pose and he looks up at me saying "I can't, I can't". At times I have flashbacks to Laila's toddler years - he loves to color and has put his mark on many of my walls. Laila would do the same thing. And sometimes he reminds me of Jack, his love for cars and his obsession with Blues Clues. But mostly he is unique to himself. He loves music and requests the B-I-B-L-E anytime we start singing. He absolutely loves reading and brings books all day long wanting to be read to. He's a big Dr. Seuss fan. Right now we are stuck on "There's a Wocket in My Pocket"

I sometimes wonder if he dreams at night of his mama saying "Stop that Matthew". I've been trying to intentionally scoop him up more and love on him - using positive words! Good Job Matt! You're such a good boy!

He has enjoyed going up to Jack's school once a week for lunch time. His birthday fell on a day when we would be there so I made cupcakes and the kids sang to him. He was very pleased!