First Day of School

Kaitlyn and Kenleigh the first day of school.  Kaitlyn is entering the 2nd grade and Kenleigh is starting to preschool, and mom is going back to school too to be an elementary teacher's aide.  I am so excited.  

First day of school outfits!!

Kenleigh and I before school.  

Here are the girls outside with their backpacks.  Kaitlyn's is Wizards of Waverly Place and Kenleigh's is Barbie that Granny and Papaw got her. 

Kaitlyn and I.

Kenleigh at her new preschool!!  She was so excited.  

Kenleigh in front of the preschool sign.

For years now it has been a tradition to have a back to school party where we have a party at the house the first day of school and everybody gets to tell about their first day of school.  I got this idea from a friend I used to work with.  Thanks Jill!!

All the back to school guests:  Kaitlyn, Lacey, Johnathon, Sarah, Kenleigh and Jayden.  We had a giant sized cookie and I also made dirt cake.

Granny and Kenleigh.

Lacey after eating some of the giant cookie!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this posted.  I love my new job but am very tired when I get home in the evenings, so I don't always have time to get on my computer.  I hope everybody is doing well.  I miss getting to blog and to read everybody's blog.  

LORI

New Beginnings

I have not blogged in a while.  I have been busy or just wanting to spend some quality time with my kiddos although I don't have them right now.  My sister-in-law came and got them yesterday.  She wanted to spend some time with them before school starts.  My girls absolutely love their aunt Tina.  They would move in with her if I would let them.  She is just as much of a kid as they are.  She gets in the floor and plays barbies with them and just focuses all of her time on them while they are there.  

Tomorrow will be the first day of school and I am full of all different kinds of emotions:  Nervous, excited, sad, etc.!!  Kenleigh will start to preschool.  She is 3 and has never been in a day-care or preschool.  She has always either been with me, my mom or my mother-in-law.  So I am nervous about her starting to school although I know she will do fine.  She is very excited.  She has already been to the preschool and visited for a few hours and absolutely loved it and wanted to go back.  Kaitlyn will be a big 2nd grader.  I cannot believe she is already in the 2nd grade.  It just doesn't seem possible.  I will be starting a new job at the same school where my children will be which is great!!  I am so excited but I am nervous.  I have been praying for this for a long time now.  I worked at a medical center for 7.5 years as a medical transcriptionist and then lost my job there and came home to be a in-home medical transcriptionist, which everyone thinks is great right?  Not exactly.  I lost all my benefits, retirement etc.  So I have been trying to get a job at the school for the last couple of years now.  I even took some courses last semester in order to get my CDA (Child Development Associate) that way I would have a better chance of getting hired in the preschool or in elementary if something became available.  I believe good things come to those who wait.  I have been waiting for a long time, but I am still a little nervous but so looking forward to tomorrow.   I am going to be a teacher's aide in the elementary school.  

I have the girls' backpacks and first day of school clothes laid out as well as mine.  We are going to have a back to school party as we always do but this year will be extra special since Kenleigh and mommy will both be going to school.  I will post pictures from that later.  I hope everyone has a great first day of school and please say a prayer for me and my kiddos.  God is good...................All the time!!  

LORI

Awards, Awards, and More Awards!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I am just a little bit of a proud mom, but I must say, I was so, so proud of my daughter when I attended her awards ceremony Friday at school.  I knew she had all A's and I knew she had perfect attendance but I never dreamed she would walk away with all the awards that she walked off with.  She has struggled with Math this year and trying to do homework has been a nightmare, but I am beginning to think that she really knows what she is doing, she is just giving me a hard time about it.  She received highest grade in Math, an award for excellent behavior, highest average in spelling, highest average in reading, a trophy for perfect attendance, highest average in accelerated reading, and 2nd place books read in accelerated reading by reading 61 books!!  Wow!!  Way to go Kaitlyn.  Your daddy and I as well as granny, papaw and Mimi are so, so proud of you. 

My pictures didn't turn out just real good. The awards ceremony was in the high school gym. But here is Kaitlyn with her boyfriend Levi after receiving her first metal.

Here is Kaitlyn with her cousin Madison. They both received perfect attendance.

Here is Kaitlyn and her friend Katrina.

Here is Kaitlyn with her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Brandy.

Here is Kaitlyn and some of her classmates with Mrs. Shannon.

Kaitlyn and Mrs. Sheila here reading teacher.

Kaitlyn and her BFF's.  Breanna, Abreanna and Turner.

I am sad that the year is over with because that means she will be older next time she goes to school.  She is growing up way too fast.  I am so proud of you baby girl!!  Keep up the good work.

LORI

Mrs. Brandy's Surprise Baby Shower

Kaitlyn's home room teacher is having a baby and so some of us moms and the kids got together with the help of some of the other teachers and had a surprise baby shower for her this past week.  She was so surprised and excited.  The kids were to all bring at least one to two jars of baby food and Mrs. Sheila was going to put all of the baby food in a decorative basket.  It turned out really well.  The kids all got a cupcake a piece and a drink.  Mrs. Brandy got some other gifts as well.  Mrs. Brandy has been an awesome teacher and we will truly miss her and Mrs. Sheila next year and we wish Mrs. Brandy all the best with her new bundle of joy.

Here is all her gifts and the cupcake cake that we presented her with.

Mrs. Brandy was scared to death.  She didn't know what was going on.  She was so surprised.  Good job kids!!

Here is one of Mrs. Brandy's gifts.  It is a bib that says, "I love my Big Sister."  I love it!!

Kenleigh got to go with me to the baby shower. She was so excited to be at sissy's school. She told her the night before that she would be coming to her school the next day for a party!!

Here is Kaitlyn and her best friend since preschool, Alexis.

 

 Here is Kaitlyn with some of her other BFF's Abreanna and Turner.  

Good luck and God bless your new addition Mrs. Brandy.

LORI