Last day of 3K

Yesterday, Jessica completed her last day of 3 year old preschool at Eden Christian Academy.  It was bitter-sweet for me.  Although, I am happy that I will no longer be taking her on Tuesdays & Thursdays, we have made good friends through this experience & she had a great year.  Her teachers were absolutely wonderful & had such a fantastic influence on Jessie, but I know that my decision to restart my career & have the girls only go 2 days to school is better for us all (my only option to keep them at Eden next year was 5 half days…crazy, right?)  Jessie & her friends were treated to all of their favorite things this week, including painting, playing in the water table, & many of their favorite books/songs.  She was so happy to go one last time yesterday, she basically skipped into her room & gave her teacher a hug.  She's come so far this year.  When she started, I felt she was still so little, but now she seems so big & so ready for her next steps in education.  She learned all her letters this year with purpose & even all of the sounds (we even got an alphabet book as a keepsake with all of the art related to the letters).  Jessica can basically read or sound out around 20-30 words.  She made huge progress with writing & can write her name, although it's still a little rough.  She learned a lot of counting & early math skills.  She did lots of learning & growing this year physically & the gym teacher said he thought she was one of the most improved when it comes to coordination.  Her faith grew also and I feel she knows a lot of the Bible stories better as a result of the teaching she received at Eden.  Here's a look back at some of my favorite pics from this last year.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced this year with her & am so proud of our Jessie!

1st Day: Aug. 27, 2013

1st Field Trip: Shenot Farms

Grandparent's Day

Christmas Party

Last Day 3K: May 29, 2014

For comparisons sake:

And what does a girl that has completed 3 K do?  Why, go to the pool of course:

DIVA!!

We love ice-cream

We love ice cream….that is all!

Summer girls

The girls have already been enjoying our summer weather, the last week or so has been absolutely gorgeous weather.  They are mostly staying outside all day & only coming inside to eat & potty.  Jessica is already getting tan & more blonde by the day….little Ella & I are still as pale as ever,  Favorite activities this year include, collecting rocks, flowers, & drawing with chalk.  Playing in the hose & watering plants are also something the girls really enjoy.  My girls never shy away from playing in the mud & we actually have a "wallow" in our yard, which much to my dislike the girls enjoy rolling in & getting covered in mud.  I guess some moms wouldn't let their kids do this, but I figure, they are only children once, they should enjoy it, right?  We have continued our yearly tradition of joining our local community pool.  This weekend, the big pool opened & the girls are thrilled.  They just love to swim & play in the pool.  Our tradition of an ice cream treat or popsicle after the pool continues, which they plan on & enjoy.  Other things, which they love in the summer include, picnics under their swing set, picnics in the great room (when it rains), & picnics at the park....really picnics in general are a big hit with my girls ;) I hope everyone is enjoying the start to their summer as well. 

Jessie & her duck

In our house, even the stuffed animals wear dresses....& of course, Jessie's beloved Duck must be included in her latest photo shoot.  Little Jessie is struggling with life right now.  She's just a little over 4 & I have felt a shift in her behavior since a few months before 4.  She's become a lot less outgoing & has fears, which she didn't have before.  Maybe she's developing a sense of self-preservation & is growing up on me or maybe she's realizing that she's getting bigger & trying to find her place in the world.  I've sensed more angst in her lately & I am so trying to help her cope with this new phase of her life.  Most of the time Jessica seems so grown up to me & then other times she seems to want to be little again.  This clinging to stuffed animals just started again recently & of course, we are supportive to help Jessie feel comfortable (her bed is filled with 10 friends that sleep with her).  To be fair she's had a lot of changes recently: mommy going back to work, turning 4, & a whole new school while trying to finish her old preschool.  We are working through all of it & I am trying to be patient with myself & with Jessie to help us all through this transition.  Just when I think I have this little girl figured out, she throws me a curve ball....parenting is not for the fait of heart or the weak!  Well, despite all of the issues lately, I will say that she & her sister have never been closer or more interested in playing together.  They are so funny in the yard or anywhere for that matter.  I love seeing their relationship develop.  That's all for now, love my oldest!

Ella's 3 year old pics: Snow White

For this years' photos we went with a Snow White dress that daddy had picked out for Ella.  Of course, I had a grand plan of taking her to a local park & having her stand in a field of yellow wildflowers, but alas, the rain was moving in & I had limited light on Tuesday evening, so we just went for it in our yard.  Ella is such a funny little girl & was thrilled to put on her princess dress & model for me.  Jessie, as always, was my little assistant & helped to get her little sister to smile & laugh.  If I have one daughter, who is suited to wear the Snow White dress, it would be Ella.  She loves animals, is soft spoken, & gracious to those around her.  I give you our little 3 year old Snow White, didn't daddy do a great job picking out the dress??

Not going to lie to you all…I struggled with this editing, greens (although beautiful) are hard to edit to me & I struggled to get the skin tone right without messing up the greens