September/October 2019

I'm way late in posting this....yet again!  I've been subbing a bunch and the girls have been busy too.  Can't believe it's almost Thanksgiving.  Where did fall go?  We've had wacky winter weather in Texas too, so it really feels like I missed out on fall.

So what have we been up to you may ask?  The girls are still loving school and learning lots.  They've had some fun dress up days, the favorite being book character day.  We've also done Field Day and I got to go with Hannah's class on a field trip.  Both girls have also been chose as Star Student for displaying the character trait of the week.  So proud of them both.

We've spent TONS of time at church lately....even more than usual.  The girls got to sing a special quartet part on Sunday with the adult choir and orchestra.  They are also part of the select ensemble for our upcoming Christmas program.  And the kids choir just did their yesterday.  Hannah was part of the drama cast, though she didn't have any lines.  Lots of rehearsal hours put in and they both loved every minute.

This blog is mostly about the girls but I have to mention my silly kitty every once in a while.  Hannah got a loft bed for the birthday almost 2 years ago. We've put Domino in it before and he never seemed to care.  He just recently decided it's a nice place to sleep.  It's hilarious to watch him climb the ladder to get up there.  Silly silly kitty boy!

We had SO MUCH FUN with our Halloween costumes this year.  We've done a family theme for the last 4 years but I think this one is my favorite.  We chose Wizard of Oz.  I must give my mom all the credit for helping make costumes and taking the amazing photographs.  Yes the yellow brick road was created in Photoshop, but it looks amazing!

Stay tuned for more updates....maybe even on time. 😋

March and April 2019

I'm WAAAAY behind again.  Going to combine March and April, even though this month is totally over yet. 

Spring break was at the beginning of March and we enjoyed another great trip to AR.  We love getting to go visit Daddy's family.  We were happy the weather cooperated and we got to play at the park.  The rest of the week was cool and rainy so we went bowling one day. It was lots of fun and now the girls have played more than just Wii bowling.

Abigail got to play in her very fist piano festival.  She has been working really hard and did great.  Both girls have another contest coming up this weekend.  I am so proud of how much they have learned.  Abigail seems to enjoy piano just as much as Hannah...yeah!

At the beginning of April I got to go with Hannah's class on a field trip to the Perot Museum.  They have lots of really cool science exhibits you can touch and interact with. It was a fun day!  I've been working a lot up at the school lately, so it was fun to just be a parent.

We're so thankful we've had beautiful weather this Easter weekend.  We've tried to spend lots of time outdoors....we know the heat is coming.  Daddy has been working with Hannah to help her learn to ride her bike with no training wheels.  She still has a few things to learn, but she is doing awesome!

We had a great morning at church yesterday, including a fun photo booth and baby chicks to hold.

January 2019

We always start the new year running with birthday celebrations! Guess that's what Abigail (and I) get for having birthdays in January. 😆  Abigail chose a penguin theme this year.  My mom got the adorable cupcake toppers of Etsy.  Still can't believe my sweet baby is SEVEN!!  We tried to tell her she was again backwards and was going to be 5....but she wouldn't go for it.

The adorable stuffed penguin was purchased by Hannah at Sea World this summer.

I was excited to join Abigail's class on a field trip to the Outdoor Learning Center.  Even though the kids go every year, it's still a fun trip because they learn about something slightly different.  And we got lucky that it wasn't freezing, just a little cool.

Our school always does College Week in January. They talk about the importance of education and setting goals, etc.  The girls are always happy to represent Baylor.  Sic 'Em Bears!!  We had a new dress up day this year where the kids dressed as their future career.  It was so fun to see what all the kids chose.  Hannah picked librarian and Abigail chose artist. I thought their costumes turned out super cute!!

It feels like we did way more stuff this month, but at the moment I can't think of anything else.  Stay tuned for more.

November 2018

Hannah participated in a piano competition at the beginning of the month.  This was a unique contest in that everyone who entered in her division played the exact same piece.  Hannah worked really hard, learned a lot, and ended up winning 4th place.  So proud of all her hard work.

I also got to go on another field trip with Hannah's class.  There is a retired electric train car in the middle of downtown Plano.  They give tours of the car and there is a small museum behind it as well.  3rd grade has been studying life in early America so it fit in with their curriculum nicely.  This train car and museum are located at a park our family has visited several times, but we've never gone inside.  It was fun to get the tour and kids also got to picnic lunch and play at the park for a few minutes.  It was a really fun field trip!

One of the girls good friends from school got a part in a play at a local theater.  The play was Phantom Toll Booth which was one of Nathan's favorite books as a kid so he joined us for the show. It was so fun to see sweet Ava perform.  She did a great job and clearly LOVES the stage.

LOVE having the entire week of Thanksgiving off of school.  We typically stay in town, but we always try to squeeze in some family fun.  Monday we went to the Heard Museum.  Daddy technically still have to work (from home) that day, but we was able take a break a join us.  Dinosaurs Live was the featured exhibit.  It was chilly outside, but sunny.  We had lots of fun!

Friday we headed to the Perot Museum.  We went back in January and only saw about half the exhibits.  It did not disappoint we had lots of fun!  I think our favorite parts were the human body and the engineering section.

At the end of the summer Nathan and I had the privilege of praying with both girls as they put their trust in Jesus!!  When children make this decision our church has them go through a little class and then meet with the children's minister to make sure they fully understand the decision they have made.  Once those things are done you can then get baptized.  It was such and awesome morning watching BOTH Hannah and Abigail proclaim their faith in front of the church.  And I LOVE LOVE that they got to do it together!  I posted the videos to FB so I'll just share a few photos here. (photo credit Jack Hess)

September 2018

The girls were super excited to spend the night with Grammy and G-pa over Labor Day weekend.  They had fun swimming, baking cookies, going out for ice cream, and watching movies.  Nathan and I enjoyed some time alone too. We did a little shopping, ate some yummy food, and watched a series on Netflix.  Nothing fancy...but definitely enjoyed!!

The weather has either been super hot for pouring rain so we haven't gotten to enjoy any time outside.  Hopefully cooler fall temperatures will be here soon.  We've had lots of indoor fun with legos, puzzles, Wii games, and visits to the library.

Hannah's class already had their first field trip.  We went to the outdoor science center that they visit every year.  3rd grade is there for a little longer than previous grades.  We started with a picnic lunch (brunch...it was 10:30), then did an hour hike in the woods (SUPER HOT) and finished with the indoor animal room.  The kids were finding evidence to make conclusions.  All in all a fun day!

We finally had one morning that was cool enough to ride bikes to the park, but it started raining shortly after we arrived so we left.  Thankfully it wasn't pouring so we were just damp and not soaked on the way home.  Looking forward to some cooler weather.

May 2018

The month of May is always CRAZY busy and this year was no different.  I can't believe another school year is almost over.  It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready to start school.  I am however excited about summer and getting to spend more time with my girls!

The month started off with a bang with 3 events in the same week.  The kindergarten classes at school did a performance for all the parents entitled "Going On a Bear Hunt."  It was so cute and they all did a great job.  Our music teacher is awesome and I know she worked really hard on getting the kids ready for this.  I didn't get any great pictures, but I promise Abigail is up there in the middle.  😁

The next day we got to hear Hannah play at her piano recital.  She did awesome as did the rest of the kids.  Hannah truly loves to perform and doesn't seem to get nervous before playing like I always did.  Abigail is counting the days until she gets to start lessons....mid June....so very soon!

Then that Sunday the kids choir at church did their spring musical.  This year it was called Let's Rock and taught the kids about how we all have to work together as the body of Christ.  No one job or talent is the most important.  Hannah sang another solo and Abigail's class this semester was black light puppets.  They performed a song too.  Abigail is the orange puppet in the front between the skeleton and green one.  Hannah picked a drawing class this time and loved it.

Every grade at our school gets to go on two field trips each year.  One is to the Outdoor Learning Center which ties into the science curriculum.  They have nature trails and lots of indoor rescue animals.  It's a neat place.  Both of Hannah's field trips ended up being in May this year and I was able to go on both...yeah!  I am a little sad that Hannah only wanted to sit with me on the bus on the way back to school on both trip and with a friend on the way there.  Guess that means she's growing up...sniff!!  Their other field trip was to the Sci Tech Discovery Center.  They had lots of cool hands on exhibits. We were there about a little over an hour and then we headed to a nearby park for a picnic and some playtime.  It was a state testing day for older kids at school so it was really nice to be gone almost all day. It was a really fun day!! Here's few pictures from both trips.

I volunteered at Field Day by myself this year.  Abigail was super excited to be an official participant this year and not just my assistant. 😁  Everyone had lots of fun despite the heat and humidity.  Let's just say I had to come home and take another shower when I was finished.....yuck!!

We finished out the year with the end of year party.  Kindergarten had a summer theme with a popsicle craft and then they got to eat real popsicles for their treat too.  2nd grade went super easy and had ice cream sundaes and then played on the playground. 

Even though both girls LOVE school they are ready for more play time and a relaxed schedule.  We have several things planned so we'll stay busy this summer.  I did my substitute renewal training last week so I'm all set to work again next year.  I really enjoyed being back in the classroom but with the flexibility to do volunteer things as a parent too.