Windy Day at the Farmer's Market

Last Day of Preschool

The girls with their teacher gift.  Super cheap and cute!

Today was the last day of preschool for Emma and Taylor.  They had a performance and each got a certificate.  I was feeling a bit sad.  Not because they were finishing preschool, but because that means its the beginning of kindergarten.

The girls had been singing the songs at home all week, so I was very excited for the program.  Please forgive the bad pictures.  They are very important in the retelling of the events.

 The children entered and the teachers passed out shakers and spoons.  Emma is on the front row in the yellow dress and Taylor is on the second row in the blue dress, behind the boy in green.

They started singing and Emma immediately started crying.  Very dramatically.

She refused to sing, do actions, or stand when it was her turn.

I was horrified.  But at least only a few people knew she was mine.  Until the song was over.  She then started yelling for me.  If only I were small enough to hide under the chair.

Her teacher dismissed her to sit with me.  She came down the stairs, couldn't find me, and yelled because she couldn't get through the rows of chairs and baby carriers that were blocking her way.  I had to stand up.  Everybody at that point knew she was mine. 

She sat on my lap and continued to cry and talk loudly.  She said, "Everybody keeps looking at me!"  I don't think she realized the commotion she was causing.  We wanted to take her out, but we still had one child singing on the stage!  They finished singing and I was able to hear most of it.  It was really very cute. 

They then passed out certificates by calling the children's names.  We prepared Emma by telling her they would call her name and she could just go from her seat.  She was ready.  They went in alphabetic order.  She should have been first, but instead they called Taylor.

They didn't call Emma.  They just gave hers to Taylor too.  Emma was devastated.  We finally told her she could go wait on the edge of the stage to show the teacher she was ready.  She didn't stay on the edge of the stage.  She ran and interrupted the kids who were getting their certificates and stood in their pictures.  Could this get much worse?   Yes.  The teacher got her certificate back from Taylor and called Emma's name.  Several people cheered for her.  This would make things better, right?  Nope.  This is Emma getting her certificate.

A big thank you to my friend, Karie, for catching this very special moment.

They dismissed the rest of the kids to sit with their parents to watch a slide show with pictures from the year and sappy music.  During the first song Emma said, "This sad music is what made me sad to start with."  I then knew what was happening.  Emma was sad that school was over.  She was going to miss her friends.  She was going to miss her teachers.

When the program was over, her teacher confirmed what I was thinking.  She said Emma had been sobbing that morning saying that she would miss school. 

Emma feels things very deeply, but doesn't know how to express her emotions with words or actions.  I've been working really hard on this with her.   Hopefully she figures it out before teenage years, or else we're in for a lot of trouble. 

I can't help but remember the last day of sixth grade.  My teacher had just finished reading "Oh, The Places You'll Go", by Dr. Seuss.  I was crying so loudly in the bathroom that my fourth grade teacher came in to see if everything was alright.  I, too, was a pretty emotional child.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day - A few days late!  We had a garage sale Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so we were all pretty worn out on actual Mother's Day.  I chose to spend the afternoon with us all taking a nap.  It was wonderful.  Yes, my kids were still awake at 10:00 last night, but those two hours in the afternoon were Heavenly. 

I wanted to take a moment to tell you about my mother.  I'm doing it in a poem.  That's what she said she wanted every Mother's Day growing up.

My mom is an incredible woman.
Seriously, one of the best.
She's a woman I'd love to be like,
She taught me to work and to rest.

My mom is accepting and loving.
She welcomes everyone into her home.
He listening ear is always available.
Far from her, I never would roam.

My mom is amazing in the kitchen.
Her chocolate chip cookies can't be beat.
Her meatloaf and fried chicken - mmmm.
And her chili has just the right heat.

My mom lead by example with money.
She showed how important it was to save.
You can find good things wherever.
Now garage sales and thrift stores I crave.

My mom loves the Lord deeply,
He puts a song in her heart.
She passed that song down to me,
Teaching me God's love from the start.

I love you, Mom!  Happy Mother's Day!

The Love Monster

The Love Monster came to visit us last night and brought along her baby.  This monster only gives hugs.  Nothing scary here.