Christmas Activities

We are always so busy in the weeks leading up to Christmas! I've tried to condense the majority of our month into this one post. These are just the highlights, but you get the idea. We had a blessed and memory filled Christmas season.
Each of the girls had a school party. Kaylin had a brunch on the 16th of December.
Annlee had a Polar Express Pajama party on December 17th.

Maryella had a program on the 10th of December and a party on the 17th.


The kids all sang in church one Wednesday night in the Children's Christmas Musical Extraveganza.

Kaylin performed in the Nutcracker as a toy soldier and did a beautiful job!

She was so pretty!

After school was out, we had a week to fill with fun before Christmas arrived. Mema and Papa visited and brought gifts for all of us.

The girls had been begging for this Barbie Jet, so it made a BIG hit!

They also looked really cute in some hats from Aunt Jan.

The same day, we had a pancake breakfast with Santa at church.

The candy canes are a favorite with my candy loving sweeties.

The rest of the week was filled with crafts and fun. We made candle holders with jars and tissue paper.

They turned out really cute!

The girls painted a Christmas tree that lights up.

They spent one whole morning dancing to Christmas music in their jammies.

We drove to Stephen Foster Park one night and saw Santa and some really pretty lights.


They decorated cookies for Santa.

The first row on the left is Elianna's, with help from Mama. The next row is Annlee, then Maryella, then Kaylin.

We also made a Christmas cake to take with us after Christmas to Alabama.

The girls did almost everything and did a great job!

Maryella's first day of school

Maryella had her first day of school yesterday and overall had a great day! She cried (screamed) when I left, but got ok pretty quickly. She's got some sweet teachers who are very patient. One of them took her out of the classroom until she calmed down and then she was fine. Her second day got off to a rough start also, but there was no screaming involved (that I heard). We're hopeful that things will get easier soon. I think she really does enjoy being there. She's just got to make some really good friends and feel a little more comfortable.
Here are her first day of school pictures...

All ready to go! So excited to get to take a backpack this year!



In front of the school - still excited!


Elianna wanted a picture, too.


Playing in the classroom - still having a good time!


With her teachers - "I'll look, but you can't make me smile."

Back to School - Kaylin and Annlee

My big girls started school today! I can't believe I have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader this year - wow! They grow so fast! I took them this morning and walked them to their class. Kaylin said I didn't have to walk her in, but I told her I wanted to take pictures and help carry all the classroom supplies for her. As we were walking up to the school, she quietly told me that she had forgotten where the 3rd grade hall is. Aww, she still needs me after all...
Annlee wanted Kaylin to go first so we went to Mrs. Keen's classroom and Kaylin was so excited to be there. She handed Mrs. Keen the cookies we had brought for the class, posed for a picture, found her seat and was done with me. I told her goodbye, but she completely ignored me on her way to the pencil sharpener to get going on her day.
Then it was Annlee's turn and I could tell she was nervous. We got to her classroom and handed Mrs. Robinson the cookies for their class and got our picture. Then she took my hand and we walked over to her seat and she gave me my hug and kiss and I told her bye. She didn't say anything and I left. She was fine, just shy and nervous.







This afternoon when I went to pick them up, they were both full of fun stories of the day and are looking forward to tomorrow. They both love their teachers and they are going to have great years! I'm looking forward to it all!
And just for fun, these are pictures that I have taken at the sign in front of the school every year since Kaylin started kindergarten. My how they have grown! (I can't believe that Maryella will be in this picture next year!!!)
This year - Kaylin, 3rd grade Annlee, 1st grade


Kaylin, 2nd grade Annlee, kindergarten


Kaylin, 1st grade


Kaylin, kindergarten

Carnival Time!

Maryella's last week of school was certainly a fun one! They had a carnival two days and I helped one of the days with face painting. I was so busy painting faces that I didn't have a chance to take many pictures, but these are a few that I got after the carnival was over. And a couple I took before she left for school that morning. She looked completely adorable that day!

Summer Time for Maryella!

Maryella had her last day of school today! She is officially on summer break! I can't believe that she's done with 3 yr preschool. So bittersweet! Last week she had her end of the year program and got her certificate. She was so proud to sing on the stage and she did a great job! Here she is on stage. With some of her friends from school. With her teachers. These teachers are so special! We love them so! God has blessed us by placing our girls in their care for these preschool years! Umbrella cookies I made for the reception afterwards. Posing in the photo op the moms set up. Showing off her certificate. And check out this picture of Annlee with her certificate when she completed 3 yr preschool.