The First Day of School!

Wow! Summer is over and the girls are back in school! Charlie Mae started the first grade and Addison began preschool! I just can't believe I have a first grader! Charlie Mae in the first grade... It is amazing how fast these little ones grow up! Addison is enrolled in preschool too! I remember when we first moved to Tennessee and one of the first places I went to by myself was First United Methodist Church to talk with them about enrolling Charlie Mae. She was just about to turn 3 years old and Addison was only 6 months old. I was still lugging her around in her carseat. I just loved the staff and I immediately fell in love. Charlie Mae had an amazing 2 years there and I am so excited that Addison will be attending too. I just know that place will never be the same! Addison has only 6 little kids in her class and they are all 3 years old and will be 4 shortly. Her teacher's name is Ms. Danielle and she is in love with our little Addison. Addison goes everyday Monday- Friday from 8-noon and she loves it. She is really enjoying herself and is having so much fun. She has been able to make some new friends and has even been invited over to a few birthday parties. Ms. Danielle describes Addison as a sweetheart who is always the first one over to circle time because she is such a good listener. She has really learned how to color in the lines and is learning her letters and numbers. I have been really impressed with Addison's music ability... she loves to sing and picks up on the notes and tune so quickly. She has music class every week and I think I am going to enroll her in piano lessons as soon as she is old enough. Addison was so brave on her fist day of school and wasn't shy at all. She held on to my hand a little tighter than normal, but didn't cry. She was excited to see her name on a hook and went right into her classroom and found her seat. She wore a pretty pink dress because pink is her favorite color! She also had picked out a bright pink Minnie Mouse backpack because Minnie is her favorite too! She is doing a ton of fun projects and has already gone on a field trip to the library. I just love getting home and opening her backpack to see what I will find! She is always so proud to show me her little happy face too! Everyday her teacher puts a happy face on her calendar for good behavior! Addison is so loving and tells me how much she loves me everyday. She is always giving me hugs and talks in the sweetest little voice. Oh and her smile... That smile will melt any heart. I really can't tell Addison "no" to anything she asks me for. I take one look at her and say "yes baby." We are so blessed. Charlie Mae is loving the first grade and loves her teacher too! She has made some new friends and is feeling independant... She is walking into her school all by herself and I drop her off in front. I was surprised at first that she was comfortable to do that, but I am sure it is good for her. Charlie loves reading and is learning so fast! She brings home 2 new books a day and then trades them in for 2 more the very next day. Now who does that remind you of? I am amazed at how fast she has learned to read and write. She is already writing full sentences with punctuation and everything. Charlie has a spelling test every Friday and always gets a 100%. We treat her to ice cream at Baskin Robins every Tuesday for doing so well on her spelling test. One of the nice things about the first grade is I haven't had to argue with her in the mornings about waking up in time for school. Last year it seemed as if every morning was a battle to get her going and motivated to get ready on time. Not this year! She is waking up all by herself and getting dressed all by herself too! Another big change for her is PE. When she was in kindergarten everyday started with going to the gym first thing in the morning. She really never enjoyed it. This year she only goes twice a week. I am sure that fits her style a lot more! Charlie tells me her favorite subject is math and she loves playing on the computer. She has computer class once a week and music once a week as well. She thinks she is super cool because she carries a binder in her backpack. It is purple of course and she adds to her reading log everyday. She has an agenda in her backpack and that is how her teacher and I communicate. She comes home with a blue star on the date everyday. The blue star tells us she displayed good behavior. Charlie told me that the blue star is better than a happy face and is the best she could do! She is already our little over achiever! Charlie Mae is still a very sweet girl and has a very warm heart. She is so caring and always helpful. She loves to share and give. When we go places she always wants to get two of whatever it is, so she can give one to Addison. She is very nice to her little sister and always encourages her and helps her! We are so blessed to have 2 healthy beautiful sweet girls. They both amaze me everyday. As Scott and I are growing up, we are learning so much from our children. Those two little girls have taught us what this life is all about.