Glasses for the Girl

Maeve did not pass the kindergarten hearing and vision screening. What? What else can go wrong in kindergarten? 

We rescheduled her Friday appointment due to her having a stomach bug again! And sure enough, we ordered glasses the day of her appointment. She got them just a few days shy of being six. 

She went straight to the pink sparkly rims. I veered her toward some more practical ones. 

I am not sure how I feel about my baby girl changing her looks so! Glad she can see now. Perhaps this has been the root of her K tears the whole year. 

Snow Day, Where are you?

We are waiting patiently. We are doing snow dances. We are watching weather reports. Where is our snow day? 

We went to sleep hearing that the snow was coming during the night, but woke up to rain drops instead of snowflakes. That was until about 6:45. Then we saw big white flakes dropping from the sky. Kids were excited but confused because in Georgia if snow is falling, school is closing. We slowed our morning pace and paused to take in the beauty before us. 

Cam insisted that I take Pearl back out to see the snow. She had never seen flakes before. She stopped in her tracks and watched the white stuff coming fr the sky. Then she pounced at it and was ready to attack it. The snapped at a few flakes them licked some too. She was a backwards Dalmatian as the white spots showed up vividly on her black coat.

We never got our snow day call so we cruised on to school marveling at the white covered landscapes before us. Things that normally don't standout are highlighted by the snow. 

We were greeted by excited little ones who were beaming as they reported, "I had snow in my hair!" or "Did you see how big the flakes were?" The slower pace and the purity of the snow heightened my sensitivity to grab hold of a teachable moment. I gave myself permission to steer off the lesson plan and the pacing guide and focus on the rare moment of school being in session while snow was falling. We watched it. We shared our stories from the morning surprise and we wrote about it. While we wrote our stories or our opinions or our snow facts, we listening to music that was put to the backdrop of falling snow. It was a glorious classroom time. It reminded me of all the reasons teaching was my chosen career. My teaching heart was full. Or maybe it was blanketed with snow. 

So, even though my snow day has yet to conspire, my break from the everyday hustle and bustle was just what I needed most. 

Dance x5

Maeve got to go to her first official Daddy/Daughter Dance. Although she has been to all of the MBES dances as a tag along of her chaperone mother and her DJ daddy, this one was extra special because she was really supposed to be there. She was a date of her daddy. She had friends there too. She got her hair done by someone other than mama. And she wore her first corsage.

 

Super Cam IX

Not sure how nine years have passed so quickly, but this boy is celebrating another year! 

He took a friend and the boys to Dave and Busters, had his friend spend the night, and then had family over on the big day. I think he felt lots of love. 

We sure do love him and the young man he is becoming! 

A Year Without You

It has been a year since we had you in our life. A lot has changed in our year without you. We live in a house that you never lived in with us. We aren't sure you would like living here anyway. There isn't nearly the privacy that you were accustomed to. We are kind of glad we didn't have to uproot you again to another new home. 

Just the other day we were reminiscing about you and thinking about what it would be like if we still had you with us. Cam helped to soften the memory of the dreaded day when you left us as he convinced me that you would likely not be with us even had the tragedy that took your life not have taken place. 

We have a new set of paws that have walked into our hearts. As much as we would like to think of what life would be like with both of you, in actuality, if you were here, she would not be. 

She has helped to heal the hole that you left in our hearts. It is much different having a puppy around compared to a dog nearly a century old in dog years. She is fresh and new and full of life. She prefers playtime as opposed to rest time. She chews and chews where you slept and slept. She dusted off your old toys that were barely used and proudly plays with them each day. She snuggles in your old bed in the new laundry room while we are away and at night.

 She never knew you yet you share the same spirit- mostly sweet with a hint of wild! She loves Cam and Maeve but I am her person. She has tried her best to soften Tony, but he won't ever be a dog person. 

We will see you again. Until then, we will continue to be a dachshund family. You were and will always be my first fur baby.

Christmastime's A Comin'

We LOVE this time of year! So much to do, and so many memories to make. 

We made a gingerbread house and then Elfis came back! 

The babies were dedicated.

Enjoyed the hometown Christmas parade. These three loved seeing the new sights! 

We are trying to find just the right spot in our new home for our Christmas decorations. Someone keep rearranging them though! 

Gathered with extended family and got to open the first gift of the season.

Went to church- Eric Church. Merry Christmas to us from Mr. TMC! 

Polar Express Day in kindergarten. Maeve and Layla wore the same pjs. Since then, she has gone around and shaken a bell. She will tell you if you believe or not. 

Elfis brough elf hats for all- Pearl included! 

We had cookies with Santa and the cutest little friend! 

Santa visited Moo's house during our Granny Christmas gathering too! 

2015, Here We Come!