Preschool Christmas Program

Ruth had her Christmas program this morning.  She has been looking forward to it for weeks.  Everyday she sings the songs and does the actions to go along with them.  Ruth LOVES to sing and it is truly a joy to listen to her sweet voice as we drive to the sitter everyday.

I suggested for her to wear one of her Christmas outfits but nope, she picked out the outfit below.  Oh-well, I survived with her not matching the Christmas theme.

Afterwards, they had a delicious lunch prepared for us all.  Very kid friendly.. grilled cheese and grapes and for the adults...chicken and rice soup in a bread bowl.  

Preschool Open House

Ruth's preschool had Open House a while back.  She loved showing me around and also her most favorite station...the craft table.  Everyday she brings home her 'creations' from the day.  I neglected to take more pictures of our time there. 
Her teachers say Ruth is doing wonderful and is a great positive role model.  She is soaking up all of the songs they are singing and learning lots too.  Lately, she is always asking her dad and I to tell her a letter so she can write it down.  I need to take photos of her notebook pages/white board FULL of letters.  Ruth writes her letters well, and I'm impressed with her fine-motor skills.  Her conference will be later this month and I look forward to hearing what her teachers say about her.

Ruth and her teacher Mrs. Keller

Homecoming

A few weeks back, Olivia had a couple of friends come home with her on the bus and they were going to the game together, then spend the night too. 

Clare photo bombing the photo.

2nd try-No Clare

Ruth wanted to join in the photo too.

The BIG 4-0!!!

Phil turned 40 on Monday.  We had a little celebration on Sat. with ice cream cake and gifts.  My cousin came in town for her daughter's gymnastic meet, and so I thought we'd have dinner and cake too.
For his actual birthday, the day was a little more crazy than we would have liked it to have been.  It started off normal...making lunches, eating breakfast, saying goodbyes.  Then at 7:30am, I get in the van and it wouldn't start.  Thankfully, I have wonderful friends, Angie from work came to get Ruth and I.  She dropped Ruth at the sitters, then we even got to work by 8AM.  I called Phil to tell him about the van, and later that morning he called to tell me he was taking the day off to get the van fixed.  We NEED the van for our carpool duties and for all of our running around.  Our night was planned to watch Andrew play football so getting the van to the mechanic wasn't in our schedule tonight.
The van was towed and fixed...battery.  One high point from the day was Phil stopping in at my school to have lunch with me from my favorite places...Chipotle.  I swear, he picked it, not me.
Phil looks forward to watching Andrew play football, which he had a game at 4:30.   Actually, watching Andrew play sports is his favorite thing to do and never misses any of his games whether is be football, baseball or basketball.  Well, I didn't end up going since I came down with a terrible cold and had to stay late for a make-up conference.   A little after 7pm, Andrew walks in the door limping. NOT GOOD!  Phil took him to the clinic, and the doc thinks he pulled or strained his upper thigh muscle.  He was trying to juke and felt the pull.  This happened the first play of the game, so Phil didn't get see Andrew play much football. What a bummer for both.  Hopefully, Andrew will recover quickly so he can play is last game against Urbandale next Monday. 

What a Birthday to remember!!!

Just realized Clare has something covering her teeth.  Hum....wonder where she gets that crazy idea from.

Flips

Natalie can do a series of flips...years of gymnastics.

Olivia's first try

Clare worked on her front flip until she stuck the landing.  

Cedar Falls Fun

Late July, the girls and I took a road trip to Cedar Falls to visit my cousin and her family. It was nice to head out of town to visit them since it had been a couple of years.  Michelle and her family usually travel down to DM.  While we were there, we played in their backyard, had smores, had yummy cupcakes from Scratch, which has a location in DM too, played at Palmers Family Fun for a few hours, swam, gabbed for hours catching up.

Hangin' in the new renovated club house.  Natalie picked out the paint colors.

Playing volleyball with the cousins.

Michelle and I relaxing in the club house

Natalie and Clare toasting their marshmallows.

Clare working on her front flip.

Ruth playing mini golf for the first time.

Working on her driving skills in the go-cart.  

Clare's favorite activity at Palmer's.

Ruth LOVED playing with Natalie's American Girl dolls.

1st Day of Preschool

Ruth has been waiting a LONG year to go to 4 year old preschool.  We chose not to send her when she was 3 since she wasn't shy and she already is VERY social.  The best thing about her going to preschool is our daycare provider will take her and her best friend to school 4 days a week.  I look forward to watching her grow this next year before she heads off to Timber Ridge with Clare.

She picked out her outfit...a little short of a dress and a mixed matched purple sweater.  Oh, well.  I survived by her not wearing the outfit I would have liked her to have worn. 

Phil was able to walk Clare to her first day in 3rd grade.  This usually doesn't happen very often as Phil and I are both back to teaching. 

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