Parent/Teacher Conferences

A week or so ago we had parent/teacher conf up at Granger.  Our first was with Addyson's 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Kaplack.  For some reason, going into that conference I was emotional.  I'm so very proud of Addyson, she makes wonderful grades and she's a great student, but she's super critical and hard on herself when it comes to school work.  It makes me sad that she puts unneeded stress on herself.  Her teacher reaffirmed what we know, she smart, works well with others and is right on track.  Mrs. Kaplack says she's reading on about a mid year 4th grade level.  We're so proud of her and tears came to my eyes during our conversation with the teacher.  Love my Addyson.

Next up was Lane's conference with her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Nar.  I seriously had no idea what we were going to walk into with this conf.  Laney is such a trip.  She's a smart kid, but she loves to chat and be silly so I was wondering what her teacher would say.  Mrs. Nar told us that Lane is one of her best students, she follows instructions well, she does her work, and helps other students.  She told us there was one problem though.  My stomach sank.  She said, "You know, Delaney loves scissors, she loves to cut things, even her hair". What?!  Oh this child.  Yep, teacher says she finds these small chunks of Lane's hair under her desk some days.  I was mortified.  I hadn't even noticed, this girl is good at hiding stuff, such a stinker.  So, the teacher has to really watch her when she has scissors.  Great.

I'm pretty proud of my little ladies.  They work hard and get along well with their peers, pretty important life skills I'd say.  Love them so.

Happy Birthday, Delaney!

Laney Lou is turning six today and that is crazy!  Didn't we just bring her home in that little carrier on an 80 degree day in Katy, TX?  Today it's snowing and freezing and that warm day was six years ago.  Oh how we love this little girl.  She's hilarious, smart, sneaky, lovable and CUTE.  I think it's safe to say we've lost our minds over her.  She loves her animal siblings so much and they love her.  Hammer Johnson is the first one she looks for when she gets home from school, and she loves to lay on Baxter boy.  She and her big sister are pretty tight.  They sleep together at night, play together, and could chat and play games for hours.  Definitely the best of friends.  Laney is great about sharing, if she has something, she wants Addyson to have one of the same thing.  Pretty special.  She enjoys her church primary class and can tell you about Jesus and how she can't wait to live with Him again one day. I love this kid so much it hurts, I thank Heavenly Father for her everyday.

11/12/13, a birthday and a first snow

It's been quite the special day in these parts.  Our youngest turned six today and we got our first snow fall of the season, FUN!  

Sweet Sisters

Our girls each have their own rooms but they love sleeping in the same room at night.  Laney feels scared in her room, and Addyson loves the company of her sister in her room.  We usually give them a few minutes after lights out to talk before we call up to them good night.  Tonight when it was time for me to call up they started singing this really sweet primary song from church.  It melted my heart.  At that moment I realized just how much I need to cherish these young years that I have them both under our roof.  We can still protect them and love on them as much as we want before sending them off to adulthood.

Some days these girls can wear me out, but I wouldn't trade any of it for the love I have for them.

Halloween Hayride

Up in Ohio, at least in our neck of the woods, they trick or treat a bit differently than what we're used to.  I'm still not sure why they do it this way, and I don't ask.  Different townships and towns trick or treat on different days the week of Halloween.  We are in Granger township and our designated day this year is the 27th.  That fell on a Sunday, and normally we don't do anything but church on Sundays, we try and keep the Sabbath day holy, but to a kid, trick or treating is kind of a big deal so we made an exception this year.  

Our neighbors, the Williams, volunteered to take all the neighbor kids around trick or treating on a hayride and it was so much fun.  I overheard Addyson telling one of her friends, "this is TONS of fun!"  Loved that.  It was a fun time with great weather and great friends.

39 going on 9

So we got Ryan your usual dad birthday presents this year.  Some ties, some cologne, an ice cream cake, just sort of blah.  But then a week before his birthday my neighbor is talking about her son's Rip Stick that he got for Christmas that's too big for him, so the wheels in my head start turning.  Ryan would be all over this thing.  My nephew Bailey has one that Ryan rode a few years ago and I'm pretty sure loved it.  He was definitely reliving those pre-teen years!  I ask my neighbor if she'd be willing to sell her son's Rip Stick and she said she would.  Done.  A favorite birthday present had been bought.  Score!

Rainbow Loom Bracelets

There's this little(I mean HUGE) trend the kids love called Rainbow Looms.  

Back in march, I get a call from brandy and she tells me if I have not heard of rainbow looms I'm missing out.  She says that Addy would love them, etc.  I jump online and get Addyson a loom kit.  It came in the mail a few days later and the rest was history.  No one around here in medina knew what these looms were so it was fun to discover something new and show friends.  By August the trend had really exploded and now these kiddos breathe, eat, sleep and play these bracelets.  Ryan has even gotten in on the action and the girls love that.  It's a fun thing to do instead of playing a computer game or watching TV.  I see even more of this going on once the snow starts falling!