Audrey and Claire - The Last 7 Months

Audrey and Claire had a great summer full of camps and activities.  Claire attended several camps at her preschool where they explored different countries and customs, traveled back in time to the Old West and got down and dirty with bugs and plants. Audrey attended a variety of camps - art, science, track and field and guitar camp.

In August, we had a very special event for our family. My youngest brother, Kyle, got married to a fabulous young woman, Briana, who is definitely the perfect match for him. Audrey and Claire were asked to be the flower girls and they were so excited to be a part of the wedding party.  The wedding was wonderful and the bride was beautiful. I am very thankful that our family was blessed with such an amazing sister-in-law. I will be officially getting another one in less than a year... Tyler proposed to Christina last winter and they have a January 2013 wedding planned. 

Audrey and Claire with the bride at the salon  

Audrey and Claire waiting for the bride to walk down the aisle

Did I mention that Audrey got her braces off just in time for the wedding? She was so excited... She wanted (and got) a smorgasboard of all the things that she couldn't eat with her braces. Our first stop was Steak 'n Shake.  

Claire had a very special August as well... She officially became a student! Her first day of Kindergarten was great! She is a very independent child so there wasn't any issues with saying goodbye. In fact, she didn't really want to be walked to class... Luckily for me the school requires all Kindergarten students to be walked to and from class. But I am sure that next year we will be using the car loop drop-off.  

 Audrey & Claire with Daddy at school

Claire began playing soccer this fall. Not only did she enjoy it, she was really good at it. She is very excited about the spring season which starts in March. Santa brought her a soccer goal to practice in the backyard and a Mia Hamm soccer video that she has watched almost every day.

Audrey is still concentrating on her music and developing her talent in amazing ways. She composes music and is currently working on a song with lyrics - all of which she is writing herself. I find myself in awe of her natural talent every time she plays. She is in the process of recording a CD with her compositions.  I will post a new video of her playing soon. 

Claire's First Day at VPK

Today was Claire's first day of VPK, which is, for those of you not familiar with the program, a pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds designed to help get children ready for Kindergarten and the beginning of their school career.  The program is three hours a day, five days a week.  Claire is very excited about getting to go to school five days a week (just like Audrey).  Last year, the Mom's Day Out program that we enrolled her in was only two days a week.

This morning, after we dropped Audrey off at her school, we packed Claire's lunch box.  She picked a very healthy lunch - peanut butter and strawberries wrap (no jelly for this child), some carrots and a cup of applesauce.  She was very pleased with her selection and Mom was too. :)  Claire is in the afternoon class which starts at 11:20.  This allows her to have lunch at school with her classmates, something she was quite happy about.  At carline, parents do not get out of the car.  We pull up, put the car in park and the teachers come out and help unload and load your child.  When Claire left the car today, she didn't give saying goodbye a second thought.  "Bye Mom!" and a quick wave and she was inside her "new school".  I love the fact that she is so independent and doesn't need me as a security blanket when she starts something new.  She is a big girl and we are all very proud of that!

 At home with Duke before her first day at VPK!

First Day of Fourth Grade

Wow!  4th Grade!!!  It seems like I was just getting Audrey ready for Kindergarten and now she is a big girl in 4th grade.  Fourth grade just seems so big... I know all of the older moms (those of you whose children are in high school or college or even grown with children of their own) are thinking that I am crazy for feeling like my little girl is growing up so fast.  I know one day she will be going to her first prom, graduating high school, moving away to college and all of those things that come with your children growing up, but I am living in the now and right now, my little girl is going to the big 4th grade.  I am very excited and, if I'm being honest, a bit terrified at the same time.  This is just one of the reasons why I listen to the advice of older moms when they tell me to "enjoy every moment".

Anyway, this is about Audrey's first day of fourth grade.  She is very excited about this year.  This will be her first full year at her new school.  She has quite a few friends from last year's class in her class this year, so she was happy to see some familiar faces in her new room.  She is also excited because as a fourth grader she can join chorus.  She is very musically talented and is looking forward to the numerous concerts and events that they host throughout the year.  Below is a photo of Audrey at school.

 Audrey - the Big 4th Grader!!!

Claire's V-Day Party

Claire was very excited about her Valentine's Day party at school. "We're having a Valentime's birthday party!" she said over and over. And yes, it was "Valentime's" with an "m"... I tried to correct her, but it was too cute... and she will say it correctly soon enough and I know that I will miss it. So for now, she can call it Valentime's all she wants.

Claire and Aaron, a friend at her school, have a preschool crush going on. He likes to stand really close to her or sit really close to her (all of the time) which she doesn't like. So she tells him to move. He does... for a minute and then he is right back next to her. This has gone on for a while. He doesn't touch her - he just sits/stands really close. But his efforts have paid off. At home she talks about him quite a bit. Not so much about how he annoys her, but about how silly or funny he is. I caught her looking at him during their party... It looks like she may think he is a great friend too...

At the party, Claire gave out her Valentine cards... Here are some photos...

~ Getting her cards organized ~

~ Front ~


~ Inside ~

~ With Candy ~

Audrey took the same cards to her friends at school. Her class did not have a big party - just a card exchange.

She did it again!

Report cards came home today...

And I am very proud to tell you all that Audrey made
the "A" Honor Roll again!

Audrey did very well on her district assessments too. The teacher's comments on the report card were glowing. She wrote that Audrey "is a great role model for the classroom" ... "works hard, completes her work accurately and in timely manner" ... "is willing to help others as needed" ... all things that make parents puff up their chests with pride! Brock and I know that Audrey is a very bright child and we are both so very, very proud of her and her accomplishments!

Cheers to Audrey!

Audrey made the "A" Honor Roll for the first grading period!

Audrey has always been a great student, but being recognized for her hard work was quite rewarding for her. She enjoys school - Math and Art are her favorite subjects. She amazes me with how well she grasps the math concepts that are being introduced this year. She has also created many wonderful art pieces that are displayed throughout our house. Many visitors to our home ask where I found the art that is displayed and I love being able to say, with great pride, that Audrey made the art! I will dedicated a post to her art soon.

"Cheers!" to Audrey for a job well done!