1st day of 1st grade

Today Lily Bear started 1st grade. I get to go pick her up in less than an hour and I'm so excited to see her and hear about her day!

After sleeping until 8 for weeks and weeks, she was up at about 7 this morning!

We stopped at Dutch Maid on the way to school and picked up a donut for breakfast. Donuts are one of her love languages.

We got to school with time to spare and some of her favorite friends showed up at the same time. She got to walk into the school with two of them, so I know that helped her feel more brave about heading in to a new classroom.

Taylor didn't want to leave her there and laid on the floor in the hallway outside her classroom. He's been the one I've been most concerned about. It's going to be quite an adjustment not having his buddy at home all day.

Andy called me on my way home to see how dropping her off had gone.

We went for a 3+ mile walk when we got home and Taylor rode his bike the whole way!!! He had a great time and it was a good distraction for him. Later this morning he said, "We going to get Lily? I want Lily." I could have cried. He has missed her today.

And when lunchtime came the emotions hit me. Last year I picked Lily up before lunch and she ate with us. This year she'll eat lunch at school. I miss my first grade girl! Andy intentionally texted me at the time that I usually picked her up last year! =) Sweet of him.

So here are a few pictures from this morning.

Standing outside our front door. This is becoming a first day of school tradition.

With her siblings.

Outside her classroom!!!

I am so, so proud of my first grader!

Recent Taylorisms

I just looked back at my most "recent" posts. Wow! Taylor's 2nd birthday?!?! Feels like ages ago! My baby boy is now THREE and is a totally different kid! He's talking so much. His vocabularly has grown by leaps and bounds and he gets easier to understand month by month. Wish you could hear him. He has a deep, raspy voice and a little bit of a lisp. CUTEST doggone thing you've ever heard.

He says some pretty adorable things.

On Monday I told him we were going to the chiropractor. He said to me with a concerned face, "You feel sick, Momma?" =) So sweet of him!

There is a paper mill in a neighboring community. The smokestack can be seen from far away and Lily loves to point it out. Taylor copies nearly everything she says. So when she announces, "Paper mill!", right afterward Taylor shouts, "Purple mill!". Hehe.

My kids have the movie Rio and when Taylor asks to watch it he asks for "Leo".

We saw CARS 2 earlier this summer. Taylor calls Finn McMissile "Finn McWhistle". (And Lily calls him McMcMissile) Taylor also calls Lightning McQueen "Light-ing Queen".

Lately he says that he loves just about everything. For example, if he wants a cheese stick for a snack he'll ask for the cheese stick and then say, "I lub cheese sticks." Or if he wants to ride his bike he asks to ride his bike and then says, "I lub my bike." Or if wants to watch a movie he asks to watch the movie and then says, "I lub that movie."

I couldn't have imagined this kid. He's so fun. I should tell you more about him. =)

It's my hope to start blogging more regularly again. (You should be so lucky!) I feel like this last year is a black hole and I wish I'd been journaling my kids' milestones. But I'm gonna do my best to pull from my memory despite this being one of the most sleep deprived years of my life!

My kids are growing up so fast! We have Lily's open house tonight and she starts 1st grade on Monday! Say what?! I KNOW! My baby girl is going to be at school all day and I'm gonna miss her like crazy!

Talk to you soon!

Shutterfly

I just ordered these cute, personalized thank you notes from Shutterfly! I love Shutterfly and I feel like they have a great selection of cards and stationery. I can always find what I'm looking for!

3x5 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

How Great Thou Art

I saw this video today and loved it so much! I had goosebumps and my eyes were full of tears. I love that Carrie spoke the name of Christ in that place and that they gave a standing ovation! Not to mention that I really enjoyed Carrie and Vince's arrangement of this hymn. Absolutely delightful.

We interrupt this excessively long bloggy break to do a little bragging

My dad has written a book! It sounds fantastic and I'm really excited to read it! I've already pre-ordered a copy from Amazon.

I can tell you that my dad absolutely practices what he preaches on this topic. My entire life my dad has affirmed me. His affirming words have been a blessing to me and are a large component of our relationship. I am so thankful for my dad and for his affirmation!

I've seen firsthand as he has affirmed the people in his realm of influence, including employees, co-workers, church members, extended family, my sister, my mom, my husband, and now my children!

I can't encourage you strongly enough to read his book. I am certain it will be beneficial to your own relationships!

In case you couldn't tell I AM SO EXCITED TO READ THIS BOOK! And I am so, so, so proud of my dad!