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.

In Loving Memory of My Uncle Tom

Uncle Tom was an amazing man who always had a smile on his face. Almost every picture I can pull from memory he was smiling... In fact the only few memories I have with him not smiling was when he was working in the yard and was usually beet red from the sun. Of course when I think about that I laugh because I immediately remember summer trips of him in his hats with his neck covered with his hanky. Uncle Tom always carried a hanky. He loved all of us so much. He has been a witness to every major event in my life. He is my Godfather and supported & attended my confirmation, high school graduation, college graduation, my wedding, welcomed both my babies, went to both their baptisms, celebrated my send off to TN & traveled to the south twice to visit me. He treated me, my sister and my brother like his own children. That is on top of all the camping & fishing trips, summer breaks, & amusement parks. I remember when we played 'hunting' at Grandma's house & he would always tell me where my cousins were hiding & he would wink! He didn't yell at me when I caught his hand with my fish hook, when he was trying to teach me how to fish. He simply said 'sweetie I don't think you were listening.' He nursed my foot almost every 4th of July after I stepped on a sparkler with out shoes. He always dished me out ice cream every time he got him some. He bought me a new bed after my back surgeries so I would be comfortable when I came to visit. He made me laugh, he hugged me tight & always wanted to know what I was doing. Not just how I was, he always wanted details. I remember the summer before last when he came to Tennessee for Charlie Mae's 5th birthday and I took him to my office. He wanted to know exactly how the wheelchair mini van worked. He asked me more questions then any customer I ever had. He really enjoyed me telling him about my trip to the manufacturers plant and wanted to hear all about my tour. He knew right from wrong & taught us all by example. He loved my children and would see them every chance he got. He didn't care how far he had to travel to get there. He spoiled them at Christmas and their birthdays. This past month was hard on us. We all struggled and we have all have been in shock. Being so far away and being updated over the phone day after day... and feeling so helpless. This past weekend has been extremely emotional. I hadn't been to central California since my Grandma's funeral. The emotions I felt the minute I went over the Grapevine was so intense. I have cried so much these past few days, we all have cried. Saturday morning I drove my Aunt Karen to Fresno and visited my Grandma's resting place. It was probably the most intense and emotional moment I had felt. It was all so much at once. Losing my Grandma was so hard on me and I talk to her everyday. She is in my heart and has been my role model for how I live my life and how I raise my children. Getting all those emotions out as I see her grave and marker for the first time mixed with me getting prepared to send off my Uncle Tom was such a powerful moment in my life. The only two deaths and funerals I have experienced personally in my life have been two of great importance. I am still emotional and I still cry while I remember and sit in disbelief. As we say 'farewell' I will hold onto my faith as much as Uncle Tom did his whole life. All of us 8 cousins being together brought a comfort I didn't anticipate. We had not all been together in over 3 years. It as been since my Grandma's funeral. Spending those tough days with family and remembering our special moments together, I know that Grandma is looking down on us so proud of the family she has created. I am sure she is welcoming Uncle Tom in heaven with a blessed meal. I love all of you - family is our heart. I love you Uncle Tom, thank you for being you, an amazing Man, Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother, Godfather and Grandfather. Rest In Peace.