~Preschool Art Show~

I have really enjoyed our experience at St. Timothy's preschool for the last few years and think the teachers are amazing.  Mrs. Lynch has been the teacher of at least one of my kids every year we have been here and she never ceases to amaze me with her ideas and ability to work with the children and introduce them to new things.  This year was no exception.  She decided to do an art unit and helped the kids put on their very own Art Show.  It was AWESOME!  The kids each got to make their own or contribute to a master art work piece using different styles and media.  

Elyssa's very own modern art mixed media Piccasso.

The preschool class making their splatter paint Jackson Pollok. 

Tiny dots made waterlillies like Claude Monet.

Wet chalk made swirly Starry Starry Nights in the style of Vincent van Gogh.

Working together, making their own circles to duplicate the Wassaly Kandinsky circles.

Even the hors d'oeuvres were very artistic play on words relating to their artistic creations.  It was so fun having Elyssa walk me around and explain the different art to me, and tell me how it was created.  I was beyond impressed and was kicking myself the entire time for not bringing my camera.  Luckily this wonderful teacher took some pictures and posted them on her preschool website so I could steal them.  Thank you, Mrs. Lynch for being totally awesome in every way!

~My girls~

I can't help it but love it when they love on each other like this.  It always makes me so happy when I see them play together and get along.  They are so lucky to have one another and I think I am pretty lucky to have them!

~Elyssa Turns 5!~

Someone turned five.  FIVE!!!!

This little girl has been waiting all year long to turn five.  She was pumped and she was ready because in her mind five means that you are big.  Five means you get to go to school.  Five means you get to hold up a whole hand when people ask how old you are.  Five is NOT little.  

Trying to get Elyssa to give me a real smile can be a challenge sometimes.  She would prefer to make a silly or awkward face.  I think most kids go through this phase at some point and Elyssa was no exception.  She likes thinks the way she likes them, wants her hair the way SHE wants it, and wears what she wants to wear most of the time.  She

Showing off her beautiful genetic warfare green/brown eyes with the best little goof grouchy face she could come up with on the fly.  This little girl is bursting with personality and spunk.

She loves to have fun and really can be SO MUCH FUN to play and spend time around. A warning to the wise: Just steer clear of her "fire breathing dragon" act.  It's a doozy.  

Even at 5 this little girl still loves to cuddle up with her Mama any chance she gets.  She'll spend hours doing artwork, making books, and trying to figure out how to write words.  She loves to read and is often found with a pile of good books, and entertains herself so well during Cordy/Mommy afternoon nap time.  She can be the ultimate sweetheart when she wants to be and we can't imagine life without her.

Height: 41 3/4 inches (32%), Weight: 39 lbs (43%)

Dearest Elyssa,

Happy Birthday, beautiful girl!  It is so fun watching you grow and being your mother!  I get to see all the wonderful sparkling things about your life and see how you change and grow in a very intimate way.  You are a spark of energy in a room, with so much excitement and desire to learn and try new things.  I love seeing your mind at work and finding your many artistic creations around the house.  You bring home such fantastic artwork from school and then spend two hours almost every afternoon creating more.  I love it!  I also love watching your love for books grow.  Seeing you sit alone with a stack of books and immerse yourself in the pictures is such a treat.

You are a great help to me with your little sister and big brother.  Though you may not always get along, you can also play together so well and entertain each other and love each other for hours on end.  I love that you love having sleepovers with Alec and playing babies and princesses with Cordy.  You can be such a wonderful friend to others when you want to be.  I think it's really cool that you have the ability to jump into any game, and make friends anywhere you go. 

It is especially wonderful for me to see you learn and grow in your faith of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, and the gospel.  Listening to your heartfelt prayers and sincere desire to have more faith touches my soul.  I so very much want you to grow up to be a woman of faith, a woman who knows her worth and value and the worth and value of others.  Almost every night I remind you that you are a child of God, Heavenly Father loves you, Jesus loves you, and Daddy and I love you very much and we all want you to choose the right so you can be happy.  I hope that is internalizing somewhere in your mind and in your heart.  

Thank you for being brave and passionate, for being a good friend to others, and for reminding me to always pray for more faith.  I love you so very much, my darling, and am so excited to continue to watch you learn and grow in the coming years.  

With all my love,

Your Mama

~Silly Sisters~

I know I've said it before...

and I will likely say it a million times again...

 but these two are so lucky to have each other.

And I am pretty lucky they are mine. :-)

~Elyssa's 1st Day of Pre-K!~

Little Miss Lyssa Lou was ready to start school a good month before her actual first day.  

She already knew her teacher since Mrs. Lynch had been Alec's teachers for the previous two years, and she even knew most of the kids.  No apprehension here.  She was ready to go.  Pre-K, watch out cus' here she comes!

I can't help but post a link from last year.  It's so much fun to see how they grow!

Little miss Cordy wanted to get in on the picture taking action as well so we let her have a turn.  She was pretty bummed that she didn't get to stay at preschool with Lyssa, and asked about her the rest of the morning.  It's a whole new world being at home alone with Mama all morning, but don't worry.  She got used to it pretty quickly. :-)

~Little Ballerina~

This summer Elyssa decided to give ballet a try.  Honestly, she would have started over a year ago, but I decided we would wait until pre-K before we start paying for our children's activities.  She was so excited!  I put her in a four class summer program to give it a try before signing on for an entire school year.  She loved it!  She takes her ballet very seriously, and listens to her teacher and follows instructions well.  

She is very excited to spend her Tuesday evenings for the rest of the school year dancing and preparing for the big recital in the Spring.  I was not exactly excited to sign away every Tuesday evening, but I do  love watching her dance!

~Swim Lessons & Erin Comes to Visit!~

Alec and Elyssa were pretty excited to start swimming lessons again this year.  They jumped right in and got to work from day one.  It was so fun to watch them work hard and learn new tricks!

Cordy was pretty annoyed that she didn't get to jump in the pool and swim too.  Thank goodness Erin was there the second week to help entertain her.  Yay for Auntie Erin visiting!

Blueberries made the best snacks.

During the last week of lessons Alec started diving from the side of the pool.  It was so cool!  Erin actually got a video of his first dive ever and it's pretty impressive.  Unfortunately I can't find the video. This picture will have to do.  

I am so thankful we found this swim lesson program and have been able to do it for the past few years. The teachers are awesome and the kids learn so much in such a short amount of time.  I am really impressed with the progress my kids continue to make, especially since I can't get in the pool with them and practice as often as I would like.  Can't wait to do it all again next year!

~Elyssa's Last Day of Preschool~

Her first exciting year of preschool came to a startling close.  Going out of town for two weeks at the beginning of May threw us off and it seemed like all of the sudden the school year was over!  Where did all the time go?  And when did she get so big? 

Elyssa's teachers this year were Mrs. O'Toole and Mrs. Voung.  They were great teachers and Elyssa loved them both.  

One of Elyssa's good friends from church, Hailey, was also in her preschool class.  Hailey was moving away literally minutes after school got out.  They gave each other big goodbye hugs and I must admit it was hard not to shed a tear or two.

Elyssa's very best school friend this year had to be Reese.  I heard about Reese ALL THE TIME!  I sometimes felt like Elyssa practically worshipped the ground Reese walked on.  It was fun to see her make her very own friend for the first time without any input or help from me.  Sadly for Elyssa, Reese has moved across town and is not likely to be in the same class next year, but these two little ladies were practically inseparable at preschool this last year.  

It's kind of amazing to see how much she has changed over just the school year.  She is such a little model, posing for the camera any time she gets.  She has grown in so many ways.  It's so exciting for me to see how much she loves to learn and thrive in social experiences.  

I love you to the moon and beyond, Little Miss Lyssa Lou!

~Burning Rubber and a Visit from Grandma Shannon!~

After lots of prodding from his dad, Alec finally decided he was ready to give it a try and take off the extra wheels.  

Look Mom!  No training wheels!  I was so impressed.

Look at that smiling boy!

He has conquered his bike and he is oh so proud.  

He started out with Nick giving him a boost but after a few minutes he was able to start all by himself.  He would go a few feet and then stop.  Then he would go a little further and a little further until he was ready to make his way around the block.  It was so cool!  I was so impressed.

"Mama, take a picture of me by this tree!" This little lady is such a poser, to which Grandma Shannon said "Just remember, Lyssa, that if anyone ever tried to convince you to be a model just say no." Cracks me up.

Crazy face Lyssa.

She was pretty excited about her new big bike and wanted to pose with that as well since we were getting so many pictures of Alec on his bike.  Strike a pose, little girl.  

Grandma Shannon came for a week long visit and this is the ONLY picture I took of her the entire week! What is wrong with me? Either way, I think it shows that she had a pretty fabulous time with my kiddos. We were sure in HEAVEN having her here!   We were all totally spoiled with attention.  We went to the Omaha Zoo, took many walks, ate good food, went shopping, played games, had great talks... it was awesome.  

I was so sad to say goodbye.  Good thing we would get to see her in ten days.  

~Spring has Sprung!~

I came back into town from Spring Break to find that Spring exploded in Iowa.  Everything bloomed six weeks early!  My yard looked amazing.

My beautiful front tree burst into full bloom.

 With everything so lovely we had to spend every single chance we could outside. While Alec was at preschool we had a little sisters photo shoot. 

Brown hair, big bright hazel eyes....

 Blonde hair, big bright blue eyes...

These two are so lucky to be sisters.

Welcome Spring!

~Before School~

When my kids head off for preschool in the morning their hair is perfectly combed, their clothes clean, faces washed, and teethy shiny while I am usually a disheveled mess.   While I really try not to get caught up in how they look day to day, I still wanted to document that first thing in the morning look.  

 

Alec

Elyssa

Cordy, with her favorite toothbrush in hand.

 By mid-day they look like most kids their age, smudges of dirt here and there, costumes on, hair going this way and that, food stains, etc. I don't really care too much as long as they are healthy and happy.  We lived pretty charmed lives so I think it's safe to say we are all pretty happy. :-)