Riding 2 Wheelers

One day last week Gracie asked me and Nic to help her ride her bike with no training wheels so of course we said yes. Nic promptly takes the training wheels off her little Dora bike. He was ready-he knew his role!! Natalie decided she wanted to try also so they suited up in their little helmets to give it a whirl! It was an absolute thrill to see them attempt this new challenge. Just seeing their excitement as they prepared themselves for the job at hand was enough to make me cry. It didn't even matter yet if they were successful. Seeing them get that pumped showed a lot about their character. They had confidence, not because they knew they could do it, but because they asked and we said yes. That is all they needed to know. We wouldn't have let them try something we thought would hurt them and they knew that. That was all they needed to know. I think that is such a cool lesson. I don't need to know if I am going to be good at something or do it perfectly, I just need to know if my Heavenly Father says yes. That is all the confidence I should need. Thank you Gracie and Natalie for reminding me of that!
They went on to do a great job. They did it. They rode free of training wheels. Sure there were some falls and we do have some work still but they kept that confidence and they learned how to give it a try. I am so proud of you both!!




Of course he got on that tiny little bike-of course he did!
He is such a nerd.

Dancing Machine

We celebrated Grandma Cindi's 50th birthday this past weekend with the most fun party ever complete with a disco ball, candy buffet, and dance floor! The party was at The Now Center in New Albany where Grandma Cindi works. The building alone was beautiful but was topped off with some pretty hot decorations! Gracie's jaw about hit the floor when she saw all of the pink! Grandma Cindi decided that her 50th birthday party would not really be about herself at all but rather a chance to get friends and family together to brag a bit about what God is doing within her group, Girls With Attitude. It was so awesome to see all the people throughout different walks of her life that came together to support her ministry. Some really cool things are happening in lives because of a girl with her bike and an open heart to serve people. I am so proud of her work and so excited to see what is next for this wonderful group!
The party was so fun for the girls. They were tearing up the dance floor with some crazy moves. Regular little dancing machines. I need to be recording this stuff for sure! I looked over at one point and saw Shiloh carrying a piece of cake over to a table with one hand. She was helping herself to some more of that good stuff. Never mind I had already given her a piece. I guess that is what Grandma's birthday is for, right?



This would be a move called hawk in the sky. For all of you that have watched Hannah Montana the movie (yes I do realize that is not many) this move comes from the hoedown throwdown. I may have seen it so many times that I know the dance by heart. Just maybe!

So you think you can dance dance dance dance! Watch out season 20 something!


Low low low low! This would have to be a move she learned from her daddy.
Happy Birthday Grandma Cindi! We love you so much!

Gracie's First Day of Preschool

Gracie started preschool today at the Grove City Christian School(located at the Grove City Nazarene) and I can't even believe she is old enough for this. It is amazing how time flies. I was thinking about how it just feels like yesterday I was cheering for her to take her first steps. Every step of this motherhood journey has taught me so much about the very character of God. I know every feeling of love and adoration I have towards my children is just a small glimpse into how our heavenly father feels about us.
As I sent her off with Daddy this morning to go to preschool, I was just so overwhelmed with pride. I am proud of the little lady she has become and I am so grateful for the gifts God is developing within her. She had such a wonderful time and can't wait until Thursday so she can go back to see Ms. Shirley and Ms. Becky. It is so cool watching her grow up.
Happy first day of preschool Gracie Bella!

Calgon Take Me Away

Calgon Take Me Away! Is that commercial still on? Anywho-that was a memory from my childhood. I remember those goofy commercials where the woman was drawing the largest bubblebath froth ever seen with her permed hair and fluffy robe saying calgon take me away. So you wonder why this is being blogged about right now right? Well, Kindergarten is back in session. Let me slow that back down for you. kindergarten.is.back.in.session
And every year, I wonder why I choose to put myself through kindergarten being back in session.
On day 1 with all of my kindergarten students(another teacher and I are sharing 33 kindergarteners) I was:
1. punching bag punched in the stomach 3 times by a FIVE year old
2. escorting a FIVE year old to the office in a trained hold with my co-teacher and partner in crime
3. told by this very same FIVE year old that he "ain't afraid of nobody"
4. losing my patience as I reminded this FIVE year old that he was just FIVE-slapped my hand on the table in front of him as I slowly said F-I-V-E(yes I do realize that this angry child was not getting my sarcasm but really dude-you are only 5 years old)
5. ducking and covering as a wooden letter U from a puzzle was heaved into the air (by another 5 year old) smashing into the ceiling and quickly bouncing back to try and attack my head
6. tripped up as I was helping another teacher escort a 2nd grader to the office in that same trained hold I mentioned earlier. He was a little bigger-SEVEN years old!
I tripped and fell right on my face into the guidance counselor's office.
You know you are a school teacher when you have a day like mentioned and somehow talk yourself into returning for another day. Now I do not hope this continues in any fashion but I do have to admit that my friend and cohort in this madness and I have some really fun times because all you can do sometimes is laugh. Well after a good cry!!

Creation Museum

Catching up here on some summer fun we had! We went to the Creation Museum a few weeks ago for a girls weekend. It is located about 10 minutes from Cincinnati in Florence Kentucky. I know, I always remember Florence Y'All on the water tower when we would travel south as a kid. Do Y'All remember Florence Y'All or is it just me??
Anyways, any trip staying in a hotel with a swimming pool is fun for the girlies. They are quite easy to please! We did have a great time. The museum was a little more geared for the older family but we enjoyed our time looking at how God created this amazing universe we live in. The best part of the trip was the exotic petting zoo. The girls got to feed an enormous camel as well as pet zorses(zebra horses) and billy goats. Gracie even got a chance to snuggle up with a Wallaby(spelling??). Here I am with my fresh Mater's Degree and I don't even know what a Wallaby is or how to spell it for that matter. I am calling for Gracie to come see the baby Kangaroo at the museum and a 12 year old corrects me that it is actually not a Joey at all, it is a Wallaby. So there you have it friends-Gracie held a Wallaby, not a baby kangaroo! What is the difference anyway??