Last Day of Kindergarten!

Here is Ryan on the first day of Kindergarten.  I remember holding back my own tears, as he bravely walked out the door and hopped into the car.  He was excited, I was nervous.  I walked him into the door of the ‘big school’, and helped him find his classroom.  He was one of the first to arrive, and we found a table of legos for him to play with.  His brave face wavered just a bit, but he stood at the table putting together the legos and didn’t shed a tear when I walked out the door and left him at school for the next 6 HOURS!  Man, that seemed like a long time.

Ryan had a great year in Kindergarten.  His teacher was fabulous, and was just the right fit for him.  She was gentle and encouraging, and yet stern when she needed to be. 
Here is Ryan today, on his last day of Kindergarten. 


We are so proud of you, Ry, and of all of the things you have learned this year. You are quickly becoming a ‘big kid’, and while I’m not sure I am ready for that, I can see that you are.
I look forward to spending time with you this summer, and pray that the clock will slow down just a bit in the next couple of months!  For soon, you will be off to First Grade!!

Girl's Weekend

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is,
you will know what to do for each person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty;
to provide you with guidance and support;
to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,
because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,
and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

— Unknown

I believe wholeheartedly that these girls are LIFETIME friends. 

We met our freshman year in college, and have maintained our friendships ever since. We have shared our secrets, our hopes, our dreams, and even our deepest fears.  I am blessed to call these ladies my friends.

We make an effort every year to pick a weekend to meet up at one of our homes, and we have a girl's weekend.  This year, we met at my house. We went to the spa for some pampering, visited a local winery (where they do not use grapes to make their wine, but every other berry you could imagine!), did some shopping, went out for dinner, saw a movie, and worshiped together at church on Sunday.  It was refreshing, and much needed. 

Yes, these "lifetime" relationships are special.  They don't come around often, so when they do, hold on tight and cherish them!

Take me out to the ball game...

Ryan is playing coach pitch (the next step up from tee ball) this year.  James is one of his coaches (that's what happens when you show up early to the first practice)!  :)

Ryan is a leftie, and is SO proud of himself when he hits the ball.   Everyone gets a turn to hit each 'inning', and everyone plays the field. 

It is so fun to watch the kids learning the game and improving their skills.

Ryan waiting for the ball

A little help from Coach Dad

Getting the grip 'just right'

Ella patiently watching her brother

Ryan swings

Waiting to run to second

Another hit!

Ryan and our neighbor friend

Moving Up

Wednesday was Ella's last day of preschool.  They celebrated with a small 'moving up' ceremony.  She has come such a long way since that first day back in September.  There was a time last fall when I thought we might have to pull her out of preschool, as she fought me every step of the way just to get in the door.  I dropped her off most days, and left her, crying.  I walked out to my car, most days, with tears in my own eyes. 

I learned a lot about Ella this year.  She is, in fact, shy (thought you would NEVER know this at home).  She is a love bug (which I already knew) and likes hugs for reassurance.  Always the first one to the craft table, she likes to do her 'projects', and she is a great helper.  She likes to have a job to do.

We survived her first year of preschool, and by the end of the year she was walking in with a smile (still clinging to my leg, but with a happy face).  She has grown so much in the past year, physically as well as emotionally. 

I think I say this after every school year, but I wish I could just freeze time, just for a little bit.  The days are so hectic sometimes that I forget to enjoy the moment.  I am so blessed to be a Mom.  Oh yes, there are days when I want to pull my hair out, and the chaos seems to win, but I would not trade these days for anything. 

Ella crossing the bridge and receiving her diploma

A pat on the teacher's shoulder before climbing down

Ella on her FIRST day of preschool

Ella on her LAST day of preschool



Cutie



Me and my 'babies'

Looking forward to more of this...

Last weekend was beautiful, so we got out the slip and slide and had our first taste of summer.  Ella is done with school this week, and Ryan has another month, but soon we will be without a schedule, and we can do more of this:

Happy Heart Day

All heart...that's what this girl is.  She is the cuddly one in the family, the one who will say "Mom (or, Dad), I love you", just out of the blue, because she wants you to know.  She gives the BEST squeeze hugs you could ever imagine.  Even at the age of 3, she really seems to care for other people.  It hurts her heart when she thinks someone is angry with her, and she expresses that hurt in a typical 3 year old fashion.  I love her love.  I love her heart.

Valentine's Day was a special day for Ella.  No, really.  It was her "special day" at school.  The day where she gets to be the teacher's helper during calendar time, and the day she gets to bring "Bingo Bear" home.  Ryan didn't care much about Bingo Bear when he was in preschool (don't get me wrong...he has a big heart, too...the bear just wasn't his thing).  Ella, however, carries Bingo Bear *everywhere* and makes the best of every moment she can with him until it is time to return him to school...which she does with a very sad heart.  Oh, and let's not forget the Valentines.  A box FULL of love from her friends.

Yes.  Our Ella-girl enjoyed her Valentine's Day.

 

2011 in Review

Happy New Year!

Isn't it refreshing to think of starting anew?  I am not one for making resolutions, but I do think of the New Year as kind of a clean slate for new memories, and new starts and stages.  One thing I always do when I am doing away with the old calendar and opening up the new one for the new year, is I look back.  I look back at the previous year on our calendar, what we did, where we went, etc.  It is always interesting to me the things that I have forgotten about.  I have since thrown our calendar away, and of course some of these *events* weren't actually written on our calendar, but from my memory...here is a recap of our 2011:

January
An after Christmas trip to Maine
LOTS of snow
I passed a 6mm kidney stone (one event I don't really *care* to remember)
Lots MORE snow
Ella started sleeping in her big girl bed

February
Ryan and I got the flu, which turned into an ear infection for Ryan
MORE snow
We re-did the upstairs bathroom that the kids use (as well as overnight guests)
I started training for a half marathon that I hadn't even signed up for yet

March
We tried to refinance our mortgage, but the market was so bad that we were unable to do so
MORE snow (in fact, a pretty big snowstorm for March)
I signed Ella up to start preschool in the fall, but was worried because she wasn't yet potty trained
James went to Ryan's preschool to talk to the kids about his occupation
We signed Ryan up for tee-ball...his first 'team' sport

April
We took the kids to see the Imagination Movers in Wilke-Barre, PA
Tee-ball started, but it was so rainy we maybe got one game in
It rained...a LOT
Due to foot/ankle issues, I switched my registration for the half marathon to the 5K

May
I interviewed for a position at Ryan's nursery school
I went to Ohio for a girl's weekend with my gal pals from college
Ryan and Ella spent a weekend with Uncle Dan and Aunt Susan and their 'big' cousins.
We *think* a tornado (at least a VERY severe thunderstorm) made it's way through our area.  It left James in the dark for the whole weekend I was away with my gal pals.
Ella made her first trip to the ER (we think she dislocated her elbow, but by the time she got there, it was fine again, :/)
I ran my first ever 5K
Ryan finally played some tee-ball
We registered Ryan for Kindergarten
Ryan graduated from nursery school

June
We went on vacation with James' parents and my Mom to the Outer Banks
Lots of playdates for the kids
The kids and I made a cute recordable storybook for James for Father's Day
I did not get the position at the nursery school

July
The kids started swimming lessons
Ella turned 3

August
Ryan attended Kindergarten Orientation
I ran the Beach to Beacon 10K race in Maine.  Super fun...and my first 10K!
We all spent a week in Maine visiting family, and even snuck in a trip to Storyland in NH
James went on a fishing trip in the Adirondacks.  He ended up sick the first night, and they got kicked out the following day due to a hurricane
We experienced drenching rains and high winds due to a hurricane
I was hired and started working at the nursery school

September
The greater Binghamton area experience MORE drenching rain, and record flooding.  We were fortunate, but the area was devastated.
We carried on with a mini-golf party for Ryan's birthday
The start of school was delayed for both Ryan and Ella, due to flooding
Ryan started Kindergarten, James had a birthday, and Ryan turned 6 all in the same week
Ella started preschool and we discovered she was shy and clingy (not so much at home ;))

October
We celebrated my birthday and our 10 year anniversary
James and I got away for a night to a lovely Bed & Breakfast
We discovered that Ryan sees double sometimes, and therefore had a follow up appointment with a Vision Specialist, at which Vision Therapy was recommended
I started a book group at my house every other week

November
My Mom came to visit for a few days
We celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with James' parents
James got bronchitis and pleurisy
We *think* James passed a kidney stone

December
Ryan had another ear infection
James surprised me with a visit from my Mom for Christmas
Ryan started vision therapy

That's our year in a nutshell.  I'm sure there were more happenings that I have forgotten, but I think I got the big events. 

So thankful for a God who provided us with a healthy year, and the ability to be so busy.  I pray that in this new year, we can look ahead at what we can do for HIM...even in our everyday activity, to bring glory and honor to HIS name. 

Grateful that I don't need a calendar to start anew.  I worship a God who makes all things new.

 2 Corinthians 5:17 
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."