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. 

August 2017

Oh summer, where did you go!!!  We had so much fun this summer and the time just flew by.  I do love the routine and schedule of being in school though.  And since we live in Texas, it still FEELS like summer outside.  It could actually cool off just a little and I'd be happy.  =P

During July and August I had a the girls do a few learning activities so we could use our brains.  We practiced some handwriting, Hannah did some logic puzzles, and both girls did creative writing.  I wanted to make the writing fun so I found some cute prompts on Pinterest and then we listened to classical music while they wrote.  It took 3-4 "writing sessions" to finish their stories because we only wrote for about 15 mins at a time.  Both girls had so much fun though.  Then we decided to type the stories and illustrate them.  They turned so so cute!!  Love their creativity!

It is still crazy to think that both girls are in school this year.  My house is REALLY quiet while they are gone.  They are both having a blast and love their teachers.  I'm getting several things done around the house, but I really miss them while they are gone.  I plan to substitute teach part time at their school this year.  I've only worked one day so far, but it will pick up.  And I think between teaching and some church activities it will be a nice balance between being busy and having time at home alone.

Below are pictures of both girls with their teachers and some of the back to school photos we took with my mom.  We stuck with tradition and did our first day of school pictures a few days before the REAL first day of school. Way less crowded.  We also did an old fashioned photo shoot with Abigail similar to the one we did before Hannah started kindergarten.  Love all these cute photos!

Mrs McCary and Hannah

 Mrs Kirby and Abigail

We celebrated a successful first week of school by going out for a donut breakfast last Saturday.  There's a little donut shop right next to our neighborhood that we like to visit a few times a year.  We definitely limit the amount of sugar the girls eat so it was totally a treat. Making family memories is the best!

May 2016

We started off the month by watching Hannah's spring church choir program.  The performed the Go Tour - about taking the gospel to the nations.  Hannah picked dance as her class this semester and had so much fun.  They performed to an Indian themed song so they got to wear saris.  It was a great performance. Photo credit goes to Jack Hess

The baby Canadian geese we've been watching finally hatched.  We've taken several trips up to the college to see them.  So so cute!!

These girls are awfully cute too.  =)

For those who are not on Facebook you may not have heard that Nathan has been stuck in Philadelphia for over a month.  =( =(  He works for Verizon and they have union employees up north (NY, NJ, PA, MD, RI,etc).  Their contract was up in August and everyone thought they were going to strike but they thought they could negotiate.  Things were going nowhere and so Verizon drew their line in the sand on April 12.  The union was not happy and walked April 13.  So all employees with an Emergency Work Assignment (EWA) were notified at 5 am on April 13 to book a flight to their assigned location.  So while the union workers stand outside and walk the picket line, those with an EWA are doing their jobs, going into people's houses to repair phone and internet lines.  The hours are bad: 12 hour day, 7 days a week.  Thankfully they get paid overtime for all hours over the normal 40 hour work week.  We all HATE that Daddy is gone, but are trying to make the best of the situation.  Nathan was able to come home for a visit the 2nd weekend in May.  We loved having him home and had some great time together as a family.  It was hard to say goodbye again and send him back to Philadelphia.  We are praying things get resolved soon so everyone can return home to their normal jobs.

Hannah had her kindergarten performance a few weeks ago.  It was so cute and the kids did a great job.  They sang about 10 songs and each one demonstrated a concept they had learned this year in music class.

Abigail and I got to help with Field Day too.  It was fun to be on the other side as a volunteer and not the teacher.  The coaches did a great job planning things.  It was very well organized and had lots of really cute games.  Hannah had fun and so did we!!

Can't believe school is almost over and I will have a 1st grader.  Looking forward to lots of summer fun!

First Day of Kindergarten

I still can't believe sweet Hannah is in Kindergarten.  She's grown up so much in the last 5 years, but she'll always be my baby girl!

I knew I wanted two different styles of school photos and my mom was kind enough to take them for me.  I am so so thankful for all the pictures she takes and the many hours she spends editing them.  So many precious memories I can look back on.  These first pictures are from our vintage school photo shoot.  My mom has an awesome friend that let us borrow all her antique things.  I think we ended up with almost 30 pictures, but here's just a few of my favorites!

I also wanted more traditional pictures of Hannah at her school and with her backpack. The first day of school is CRAZY!!!!  Lots and lots of parents and rushed for time, so we cheated and took them early.  We went up to school the week before and told Hannah this was pretend first day of school. LOVE how these turned out too.

We live about a block and half away from school so it's only a 10 minute walk, much better than sitting in the crazy long carpool line. =) Nathan was able to work from home the first day so he got to walk with us too. Hannah loves her sweet teacher Mrs Beckham and she's making new friends too.  It's been a great first week!

I'm still getting used to only having one child at home.  It's much quieter!!  And I keep trying to sign up both girls for childcare at various church activities and then realize I only need to sign up one.  Abigail seems to enjoy being the only one and having Mommy to herself.  =)

March 2015

We started off the month with more winter weather.  Nothing most of the winter and then 3 big storms in 3 weeks.  CRAZY!  We got quite a bit of snow, enough to completely cover the grass.  By lunchtime the sun had melted the snow enough for it to stick together.  So we took the girls out to build a snowman.  They actually had lots of fun running around in the snow and making tiny snowman.  Nathan and I did all the work on Sally (as Hannah named her).  I didn't realize until after we were back inside that one of Sally's eye fell off...ooops.

The arrows are pointing to the tiny snowman. =)

We took a weekend trip up to Arkansas during spring break to visit Nathan's family.  We had a really good visit with family and friends.  The girls ran Paw Paw all over his apartment.  =) Thankfully the girls are really good in the car.  We do have issues with sleeping though since they have to share a room.  They like to stay up really late (like 9:00) and talk instead of actually going to bed at night.  And they always wake each other up early in the morning too.  Silly girls!!!

After all our crazy winter weather and lots of cloudy rainy days, it finally feels like spring.  So thankful to see the sun!! We've enjoying spending time outside.  My mom and I took the girls out to the Arboretum last Friday. So fun!

They loved the pinwheels Grammy brought.

Our view during our picnic lunch!

Hannah is now officially registered for Kindergarten.  Where did the time go?!?  She can't be that old right, she was just born yesterday.  I'm excited for Hannah, she's going to have lots of fun.  We live about a block and a half away from our school so most of the time we will walk.