Happy Father's Day Dad 2012

Time to move on (lots of changes)

Anyone who knows us a little knows there have been many changes over the past few months.  Everything is fine and everyone is healthy and happy.  I will be making the GIANT leap from pre-K (4 year olds) to High School in the fall.  Which I have been told is not really that different, HS students are just bigger-yeah, sure!  Maya is the only one who will have consistency-she deserves it-and will be staying at her elementary school.  Logan is moving to Kindergarten at "Maya's school" and is sad to leave his preschool.
Logan:  "Mommy, you didn't know I had tears on my cheeks in the night." 
Me:  "Why, honey?" 
Logan:  "Because I don't want to leave my school, Weekday Learning Center Middle School." 
Me:  "Oh, I am sorry.  But you know, Kindergarten is going to be fun.  You are moving on to Maya's school." 
Logan: "Yea, I guess it is time to move on." 

Yes, it is time to move on, for all of us. In more ways than one.

We have all enjoyed WLC and will still attend church there, but will not be there for pre-school anymore.  We have all loved it and are sad to leave, but look forward to what God has planned for us.  See you Sunday!

What A Star! 1st grade play

Maya and her friend Summer getting ready for their class part.

Maya played the role of Toad in the 1st grade play "Frog and Toad".

She did a wonderful job!

More cookies, please!

All semester we have been hearing about the play. How they were practicing. Who (Frog, Toad, and Snail) said what lines, etc. Not once did my daughter tell me that she had the role of Toad! As I was getting her ready that evening, I wanted to put a bow in her hair and she said she had to wear a hat, so she couldn't have a bow (Mommy LOVES them, Maya not so much). I told ther that if she wasn't telling the truth I would know and I would get her. She promised. We got to the show, sitting wherever we could get a spot in the cafeteria and the show begins. Maya was TOAD! She never told me! I can't get the right pictures! We are too far back! Why didn't she tell me!?! I asked her afterward and she said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I forgot." (WHAT? How do you forget that? Well, I guess it is good she is modest.)

Thoughts...and some pics too!

First, how ADORABLE are these two? They are my favorite people in the world! I am making some pretty big decisions lately and they are really my only factor. I am looking to God for guidance and really trying to hear what He is telling me. I have never been the person who knows when God is talking to me, so I try to pay attention to everything around me. Sometimes I think I know and I do not, but all is revealed in His time-not my time. So, I have been asking for His voice through The Bible and the three passages I got today were all about the land and doing what is right and distancing from evil. And the last part I read from my Mom's Devotional Bible is one of the extra passages just for moms:

"Trophies or Teachers"
"At the baby shower she gave me for my daughter, my best friend offered a devotional thought that has sculpted my mothering. To the women gathered in her living room, buried in pink bows and pastel wrapping paper, she asked a simple question, "Do you view your children as trophies or teachers?"
"If we view or children as trophies, we will place their personalities and achievements atop our mantels, step back and take the credit for who and what our children have become. We will be inclined to pressure our children to perform in such a way that will increase their value as trophies-and we receive more praise.
"But if we view or children as teachers, we will submit ourselves to the lessons we will learn from God at their hands. Lessons of patience. Of creative problem-solving. Of accountability. What matters in the end is that our children grow in their love for God and that they praise him with their lives. In this way, they become our teachers, drawing us closer to God and his ways as well.
"So what is it for you? Are your children your trophies or are they your teachers?"
Elisa Morgan P. 534

I try very hard to view my children as teachers and to take what I learn from them and share it with others. Both of my kiddos know things well beyond their age and I listen to them when they share things with me. It is my hope and prayer that they will always have that ability because I believe it is God speaking to them and through them. As children get older they lose that ability because the adults around them tell them what to think and do not listen to them with open hearts and minds.

How do you view your children? How do they know? What do you do to show them?

Merry Christmas

There has been a lot going on, too much to post now. Just wanted to say Merry Christmas from us. I am planning to post the major highlights of September, October, November and this month next week-now that I have a few days off. This picture is just a glimpse of these two adorable little angels, I will post more from their photo-shoot with THE BEST photographer, my friend Tiffany Heath as well. Merry Christmas to all!

1st Day of 1st Grade

Maya was SO happy to go to school on this First Day of School morning! She found out that she and her best friend would be in the same class, and that their seats were right next to each other (we'll see how long that lasts :-) ha, ha!). Daddy took her for this very special day since he was able to (he has to miss a lot because of work) and she was so excited. I couldn't wait to hear all about it when I picked her up! I hope everyone has a great First Day of School!

Ice Skating

Finally, pictures of ice skating! Maya took ice skating lessons this summer as her birthday gift from me. Since I taught Summer Fun I couldn't take her and Grandma took her every Tuesday to the other side of Houston so she could do her lesson and then skate afterward for practice. So the last lesson she had we all went, except Grandma who had to start at her new school that week. AND we all skated afterward. Logan did not love ice skating, which surprised me-he usually jumps in with both feet and then thinks about it after, but not today. Maya was very good at trying to help him relax and get around the rink, but ultimately he had to hold my hand or Daddy's and the wall. When I asked Logan what he thought of ice skating he simply said, "Good." Really? Whatever. Maya did a great job at her lesson and is not scared to go out into the middle and even turns and jumps some! I was impressed with how much she learned in such a short time. Thank you Grandma especially for getting her there.