Joy School

September 2012

Joy School was another "First" for Ella. We have a great little group of 6 kids that we do Joy School with. We started a few weeks after the older girls started school so she asked me every day if it was a Joy School day leading up to it! Joy School days are definitely her favorite days of the week. 

Ella 3 1/2  years old

Picture Day

Say "Cheese"

I'm actually not a big fan of "Picture Day" at school but I DO love a good excuse to snap a few pictures of my own when everyone's all dressed up! I think the girls enjoyed themselves JUST a little bit too. :)

Maddi 5 1/2 years old

Mia 7 1/2 years old

First Day of Ballet for Ella

Finally it's MY turn!

Every Tuesday last year when Mia and Maddi got dressed for Dance Class, Ella ALSO got dressed in any leftover tutu she could find and spent the whole time they were gone having her own "ballet class" in our living room. We told her she could start ballet when the girls started school and she was counting down the days! 

For the first couple months Ella and Maddi got to be in the same dance class. Now Ella goes all by herself and just loves it! We can't wait until we get to see her recital. 

More First Week of School...Growing Girls

First Day of School September 2012

Well as the girls approach their 100th Day of School this week, here they are on their 1st Day of School! 

We've had a good year so far. The girls AND Lance and I really like their teachers and have enjoyed getting to help in the classroom when we can. I get to teach Artist of the Month lessons in both Girls classrooms and Lance enjoyed giving a presentation on Sound/Vibration to Mia's class and just recently going on a field trip with Maddi's class. We've loved getting to see them both perform in class plays at Christmas time. 

Maddi started Kindergarten this year! She goes for half the day so she gets to leave with Mia in the morning and gets home in time to play with Ella during quiet time. Perfect! 

She felt a little nervous that first day but thankfully Mom got to come WITH her for the whole first day to help her get used to things. 

Mia started 2nd Grade! 

My normally fearless child was actually really nervous her first day but once she reconnected with a good friend from Kindergarten things got much better. :)

Maddi's teacher Mrs. Sage...we LOVE her! 

Ella misses the girls A LOT when they are gone! She's been a good sport about riding in the car sometimes 3 times a day as she, Macee and, I  take the girls to school in the morning, go back to pick up Maddi at lunch time and sometimes (the days when it's my turn to drive in our carpool...thank heavens for that), head back after quiet time to pick up Mia. It's been a crazy year that way but she loves getting to see the girls' classrooms, and one of her favorite things is running out the playground to say hi to Mia, when we get there a little early for the Kindergarten pick up. 

Cute little Maddi. She was SO mesmorized by EVERYTHING that first day. :)

September

Hanging out during the Primary Program Practice

Fell asleep during quiet time...

 ...woke up and came downstairs...and fell BACK to sleep on the couch...then FELL OFF the couch...and kept on sleeping on the floor. :)

Macee's exciting life! 

Macee 3 Months Old

Well as I attempt to catch up on my blog (which was supposed to be my back-up for all the scrapbooking I can't get done!) I am grateful I still keep a regular journal of my own or I would have already forgotten some of the details of life when Macee was 3 months old (now that she's 8 months old as I write this...yikes!) I'll just use the excuse that we have been too busy enjoying her as she has become part of our family that we haven't had much time to write about her...which is actually true. 

At 3 months she started to fall into a more predictable routine and continued to be the sweetest most easy-going baby. We are constantly amazed how she adapts to all the craziness around her.  She started laughing on occasion and we all looked forward to those moments. She also became a left-handed thumb sucker! We had a feeling she would go this way... and take after her big sister Maddi bc as a newborn she was always working hard to get those hands in her mouth :) In later years we may regret this but at right now we find it pretty cute.