Big Girl & Big Boy!

We could not be more proud of our children. This week, we had Gracie's Parent Teacher Conference. Ms. Fowler told us that we have done such a great job with Gracie, and that we should have 20 more kids. Ha, not sure that will happen! They did the basic Kindergarten Assessment test to gauge where the children are, and Gracie tested off the charts. She said she normally does not recommend parents test children for Gifted and Talented but stressed she would recommend Gracie with our approval. Ms. Fowler will work with her more in identifying the characters, problem and solution of a book. We are going to give it more thought but we are so proud of her. She is currently reading at about a 2nd grade level, amazing.

Cameron has also been a big boy this week. He has made 3 BM's in the big potty and today made a peep in the potty. Funny story yesterday, Ms. Nikki (Cameron's teacher) called to let me know that she had told him they would get "stamps" if they sat on the potty. Right before lunch yesterday, Cameron sat and sat and sat on the potty but nothing. Ms. Nikki put his diaper back on and he kept staring at the stamp pad and she said "Cameron, why are you looking at my stamp pad, you didn't make a peep in the toilet". She said he looked down and looked up at her and said "But I tried"! How precious is that? He had stamps ALL over!

We will continue to make progress but once again, I'm not sure I am ready for them to grow up anymore.

Birth Verse

I found this website from another blogger. I have seen many blogs post their birth verses so I thought I would do the same.

Mine: For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
Proverbs 9:11

Kenny:
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills, Deuteronomy 8:7

Gracie:
Then he said to them all: “If any would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Cameron:
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20

Happy 6th Birthday Gracie!

Today is Gracie's 6th birthday. I am blown away at how fast it seems the years have flown by. I remember vividly the day she was born. How much I cried of happiness when I first held her in my arms. The time flies by too quickly!

Gracie's 1st Christmas

1st Birthday - Wiggles Theme

2nd Birthday - Princess Theme

3rd Birthday - Strawberry Shortcake Theme

4th Birthday - Princess Theme (AGAIN)

5th Birthday - Backyardigans Theme

Where is the time going?

I know it's been a while since our last post. I honestly do not know where the time is going. We spent the first two weeks of September at home with Cameron. He had a confirmed case of the swine flu so he was not allowed back at school for 7 days. Being under "quarantine" makes for a very stressful week. Things are getting back to normal except for his morning school drop offs. They are horrible and make for a bad start to my mornings. My heart aches as I drive away knowing I left my little man screaming bloody murder. I hope that subsides soon! Here is a picture of him playing at school so I know his days get better.

Last Day of School...First Day of School

These past few days have been a whirlwind...Gracie's last day at Bent Tree was last Thursday. I had been so worried about her first day of school it never dawned on me she would have some reservations about leaving Bent Tree. She acted out a bit more than usual last week saying her friends were going to forget her and Ms. Grace was not going to remember her anymore. Broke my heart. Here is a picture of Gracie & Ms. Grace.

Friends Forever! (Morgan, Mackenzie, Allie, Porter, Paitlen, Gracie, Robin)

Gracie & Cameron's last day at Bent Tree together....xoxoxo

Our 8 year anniversay was also last Thursday. It kind of came and went so quickly with all of the transition. Saturday, my sister Yaya and the kids came over and watched the kids so we could go out to dinner. I think it's been over a year since the last time we had a "date" night so we were excited. We had a wonderful dinner at Jaspers and walked around the Shops at Legacy. Below is one of the few pictures of us recently. I was extremely proud of Gracie as she was our photographer.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Gracie on her first day of school.

It was a wonderful morning so we walked to school. We waited in the cafeteria until her teacher came to get them. I was pretty good up to this point. I just watched her taking it all in and I started to fight back the tears. I reached for my "new parent" zip loc bag that contained a little cut out hand and a packet of tissue and read the following:

My First Day of Kindergarten

It's my first day of kindergarten,

I'm a little bit scared.

You hugged me reassured me

and now I'm prepared. Here is my hand to hold while I'm away.

It's okay, don't worry.

I'll be back at the end of the day.

Try not to miss me, wipe away your tears.

Next time you see me

there will be lots of "cheers"!

Here is a hug and some kidsses too

It's my way of saying "I LOVE YOU"!

After I read that, I started bawling. I kept trying to compose myself but the more I looked around the more overwhelming it all became. I was not in control of my emotions. As Ms. Fowler came in to get her kids, I was once again overwhelmed watching these children so calm, collected and composed. I truly believe we don't give children enough credit. They are very resiliant.
After we dropped off Gracie, I headed to take Cameron to school. He too had a big day, new teacher at Bent Tree. Ms. Nikki is great, she was Gracie's Level II teacher at BT as well but it did NOT go well. He screamed "mommy, come back" and "mommy, don't leave". Goodness, I left his school crying too. By 10:30 a.m., I felt I had cried rivers. Tomorrow is another day! Here are a few pictures of Cameron before we went into school.

Where did the time go?

I know it's been awhile since my last post. Things have been extremely busy this past summer. SO much so I can't believe it's almost over.

Gracie's last day of daycare is tomorrow and will start Kindergarten on Monday. I have such anxiety I don't know what to do. I know she will be fine, it's me I'm worried about. Gracie has had about 11 inches of hair cut off this summer. Last weekend, we took off another 3 inches (see new picture below). She is such a big girl. She started taking showers this summer using Bath Bodyworks lotions only. When I tuck her in at night she looks at me and says "please get out of bed now mom". She wants to do everything on her own.

Cameron is growing like a weed. He is all over the place and testing his boundaries. He definitely keeps us on our toes. I am truly amazed that I can carry a conversation with my little man. Last week, I had him holding the door while I gathered backpacks to load into the car; he looked at me and said "come on girl". I was astounded at what he said, how he said it and that he said it at all! He loves coffee, yes, coffee. On the weekends I usually let him have a little coffee (very watered down with milk and creamer). This one morning we were running late, both kids were grumpy and difficult. I hurriedly poured my coffee into my travel mug and Cameron looks at me and asks "where's my coffee"? I tried to convince him his milk was much better for several minutes. After about 3-4 minutes of crying and screaming he said to me "I need my coffee mommy", I had no other choice but to give in! He was in heaven! We have also transitioned Cameron to his "toddler" bed. We had talked about it for awhile and decided to wait a little longer but that changed last weekend. We had to go visit the dr. Saturday morning to find out he has a double ear infection and a sinus infection. Since Mimi and Didi drove up from Houston Saturday, he slept with us and fell off the bed. Pretty big fall so I put the bed together. It has actually been a pretty easy transition (fingers crossed). Same goes for the binky, he only has it when it's nite nite time. He is really good about putting it on the bed when it's time to wake up. I've also started giving him gum when he asks for it during the day (fingers crossed).

I thank the Lord each day for these two precious gifts he has given us. Time seems to moving at light speed that I want to absorb as much of them as I possibly can. I'm NOT ready for them to grow any faster.

Beware for the picture overload...

I love this picture. This is the first morning after his first night in his "big boy bed". We talked it up as I got him dressed. He was SO proud of himself. He looked at me and said "I a big boy mom, I did it myself". I had to capture that moment.
Gracie & Cameron waiting anxiously to see Dora.