Nutcracker Field Trip

Today, I was able to join Mackenzie and her Kindergarten class for their first field trip--to the Nutcracker! The class rode the bus while the parents followed behind forming a caravan. Here's a picture of Avery and Mackenzie sitting side by side, ready for the show to begin!
I was surprised by the number of Dad's who made the trip in place of the Mom's who were otherwise occupied! I counted at least 8 Dads, and maybe 4 Moms. All the kids were happy to see parents at the auditorium as they got off the bus. It is fun to see the kids recognizing who's parent is who's, and it is fun to be greeted by multiple children, too! :)

Thanks to the Mease's for keeping Josiah this morning so that I could attend the field trip. It was a huge help to know that he was in good hands and having a fabulous time! He woke up at 5:45am, asking to go on over to the Mease's house. By this afternoon, he was tired...and crawled into his sleeping bag in the warmest spot in the house where the sun comes in the windows, and he fell fast asleep. Don't worry, I pulled the top back so he could breathe! ;)
And to think, he even fell asleep while Avery was here to play! He was definitely tired. The two girls had a great time playing on this Friday afternoon, though!

Inviting a friend from school

Mackenzie and Josiah have both been begging to invite Avery over to play. I finally found an afternoon that would work, and we invited her to our house. The most fun part for me? Getting to pick one of Mackenzie's friends up from school and bring her home to our house to play! That may sound funny, but I have such wonderful memories of having friends over to play, as well as going to their houses to play, that I was really excited about this! I don't know what they were doing, but they were laughing so hard that I just had to grab the camera! :)
Mackenzie driving the Mustang and taking Avery for a ride down the street.

Now Avery's at the wheel and Mackenzie's along for the ride. I have to say, they're both pretty good drivers for five year olds! We had so much fun, and I'm so thankful that my children have such wonderful friends. Friendship is truly a blessing.

Avery's Birthday!

Tomorrow is Avery's (Mackenzie's dear friend) 5th Birthday, and Mackenzie was thrilled to be invited to celebrate with her today! I love this picture of Mackenzie and Avery together!
Here is Avery blowing the candles out. (Yes, her attentive parents rescued her hair before it caught on fire.) ;)

And here's the girls celebrating together as Avery "adopts" her baby doll for her birthday! What a cute party and neat idea! All the girls enjoyed the games and celebration. Afterwards, Mackenzie got to go home with Avery's family!! She was completely excited and had a great time. Meanwhile, I got to go shopping all by myself!!!!! Thanks to Avery's family for taking care of Mackenzie, and thanks to David for spending some one-on-one time with Josiah. I can't believe Mackenzie is old enough to go home from the mall with a friend by herself!

David and Josiah spent some time in stores, then they went to feed the ducks and play at a park. Apparently, they stayed busy. This is where I found Josiah when I arrived home this afternoon...

...sound asleep on the stairs!

Mackenzie Completes Preschool

This is almost a week late in coming...but here are the pictures from Mackenzie's school program and certificate ceremony for completing her four-year-old class. The pictures that follow are actually from last Tuesday, May 19th. Our videographer for Mackenzie's program! Well, Daddy's little helper, anyways. :)
Josiah loved getting to help man the camera during Mackenzie's performance. Well, prior to it, anyways. ;)

She was on stage with her class, as well as the 3's and 5's from the Tuesday/Thursday Mother's Day Out program. They sang two songs with lots of motions! One song was called, My Father's House. The other song was great, too, but I can't remember what it was called. It was about never giving up our love for God even as season's change. Very upbeat and wonderful song!

Mackenzie's best friend, Avery, is standing beside her (picture left). Sweet kiddos!

I love this smirk on Mackenzie's face! She had been so focused on singing the right words and doing the right motions at the right time, that she did not smile during the songs. As soon as the song was over, she gave us her "I did it!" smile. She was obviously pleased with her performance and I think she loved all the applause all the kids got from the very proud audience! :)

Here is her entire class, with their teacher, Mrs. Melinda (picture right).

Here's my snapshot of Mackenzie receiving her certificate and her "badge" as she called it! Again, you're getting to see her pretty proud smile. :)

Here's Avery and Mackenzie checking out their awards/badges!

I had no idea that Mrs. Melinda was going to have a special ceremony for the children in the classroom after the program. It was a wonderful surprise! We now have some pretty neat keepsakes from Mackenzie's time in "preschool." It is hard to believe that chapter of her life is already finished. The next step is Kindergarten in August! Needless to say, I'm thrilled to have the summer to totally enjoy my children. If I just don't think about Kindergarten, it won't happen, right?!? Sigh. I really am proud my my precious baby girl and her accomplishments. I know she will be ready for the next step. I just pray that I'm ready, too!

Friendship

After thinking long and hard about what to type for this post, I've decided to keep it short for fear I get too emotional otherwise! This pic is of Mackenzie and Avery. Notice they were playing dress up and crazy hair?! Cute girls. Precious friendship. I am thankful for Avery and her family. I am thankful they are in "school" together. I am thankful they will be in Kindergarten together, too!!! Just within the past week or so, both girls have been to play at each other's homes. I guess we're officially to that stage now...you know, the stage of inviting friends over from school to play. Have I mentioned that I'm thankful for Avery and her family? I felt 100% comfortable with Mackenzie going to play at their house, and we loved having Avery come play with us today! :) Friendship truly is a blessing. (BTW, Josiah had a blast playing with the girls, too! He just didn't stop playing computer games long enough to get in this picture with them! Ha.)

School Hayride

Mackenzie's Mother's Day Out program had a hayride for all the kids yesterday. They went class by class, on a trailer pulled behind a tractor, around the school grounds. Parents were invited to attend if they could and wanted to...I was thankful that Josiah and I were able to join them!
Mackenzie's in the middle with Josiah on her left and Avery on her right. I sat right in front of them and Josiah climbed on my lap for the hayride.

After the hayride, the kids lined up on the curb before heading back inside. I thought I'd take the opportunity to snap a picture of Mackenzie and Avery...with Josiah way back in the background!

Close up of Mackenzie and Avery.

Emily, Mackenzie, and Avery. Sweet girls!

Friends

Avery and Mackenzie

I enjoy hearing all about Mackenzie's day when I pick her up from school. The problem is, sometimes she talks ninety-to-nothin' about the day and other times she hardly speaks at all, leaving me to wonder about it. Well, one day within the past two weeks as I picked Mackenzie up she informed me that Emma says Mackenzie is not her friend. Mackenzie told me that she is Emma's friend, but Emma says she does not like Mackenzie. I simply told Mackenzie that I am glad she is choosing to be Emma's friend, even if Emma won't be her friend.

Then I asked, "Who are your friends?" Mackenzie did not miss a beat in saying, "Avery's my best friend, Momma! She likes me and I like her, too." She went on to say that all the boys are mean except for one named Jared. "Jared's nice to me, Momma. He's my friend, too. I sit at the same table with him." So, after learning all this, I was surprised and excited when we received an invitation to Emma's 4th Birthday party at Bounce USA! We went, of course, so that I could attempt to get names and faces together.

I very quickly met Avery as Mackenzie beelined for her upon our arrival. I also met Avery's mom who was quick to exclaim, "So this is Mackenzie and you're Mackenzie's mom! We hear all about Mackenzie!" We launched into a full conversation, during which I found out that Avery tells similar stories about friendship issues as Mackenzie does, including that Mackenzie and Avery's friendship is very mutual. To watch Mackenzie, Avery, and Jared all play together at Bounce USA was a treat. Sure made me feel good about the friendships Mackenzie is forming at school. Good kids from good families. The pic I snapped of Avery and Mackenzie was taken at the party.

(I realize I need some more posts about Josiah soon...we'll see what he's up to these days and come up with a good post on him in the not-to-distant future.) :)