The Night Before School

The night before school, the backpacks were packed and the kids were snuggled in their beds, dreaming of what a new school would be like...

Tomorrow marks a few new chapters in our lives. Sophia is starting Kindergarten, John is starting 1st grade at a different school, and I won't be at school with them. 

These are 3 huge things and they have impacted our lives the last couple months. There has been a lot of preparing, a lot of talks, a lot of tears, and A LOT of prayers that have went into these new chapters. And now it is here...the page is about to turn and the chapter will begin. 

Sophia is so excited for Kindergarten. She has her first 5 outfits picked out and ready to go. She has had her backpack hanging up and ready to go since she got it for her birthday in March. She is so excited to make friends and have homework. She is ready to learn! However, there are lots of questions, especially comparing Kindergarten to Pre K. She is so ready to go and this momma can't believe that it is about to happen. I have prayed daily that she will keep her spirit, her creativity, and her love for people as she starts school. 

John is not excited...or so he says. He is scared and nervous. He had me at school with him last year and he knew a lot of teachers and had a lot friends at that school. He loved everything about CME and hates change. This is the hard part about being a parent - pushing them towards what you know is best for them, even when they aren't sure. I have prayed daily for this kid and this upcoming school year.

This new chapter is hard for me too. I don't think I realized how much it would affect me in the ways that it has. I feel like I am a first time mom sending my kids to school. I got to see John at school last year throughout different parts of the day. I knew the people well that were taking care of him. This year, I will drop John and Sophia off and then be there to pick them up. For some, this is no big deal and I know at some point it won't be a big deal for me. But for tonight and tomorrow...it is. When I made the decision to resign my position, I was fully aware that this would be a part of my life I would lose. I knew that I would lose being "in the know" and being in the behind the scenes parts of school. Yet, I also knew that it was what I needed to do for my family. I knew that God had a different path for me to take and he showed me that path when I took the step of faith to resign. He provided another job for me within a week. A job that would be flexible and allow me to work at home. It would allow me to walk my kids to school and be there to pick them up - with my full attention. It allowed us to keep a 2nd income (smaller, but still more than nothing) and provided benefits for my family. He gave me an even bigger passion to help students with disabilities. God is good.

Dear Heavenly Father, 

I praise you and I thank you for this new opportunity. I pray for the teachers, the administration and the staff as they open FSE doors tomorrow. I pray for the students that walk through the building. Please be with John and Sophia as they make new friends. Lord, let them shine your love into others. Help them in the choices they make throughout the day. 

Amen

A Girl and Her Shoes

Nora LOVES shoes. When I say love, I mean like both of her Nana's love shoes! As soon as she spots her shoes, she brings them to you so you can put them on her. She especially loves her sparkly tennis shoes. The first time we put them on her, she wasn't so sure. She would lift her knees really high, as if she were saying, "Hmmm...these are heavy on my feet and I am not sure how I should walk." The big kids loved watching her walk in them the first time. They thought it was a hoot! 

Now she is a pro and practically runs in any shoes that she has on. She thinks she is so big when she has her shoes on. Her love of shoes is quite cute now, but it could end up being an issue as she gets older :)

A Few Good Books

                                               
                                               

A few years ago, I posted about a great book called Sparkling Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend it. My sweet friend Sarah Beard told me about it. I read it on the plane as we headed to California and laughed out loud. (Like the kind of laugh that people look at you from across the aisle.)

Below is the book: 

                                                     

So since Melanie wrote the book above, she has written the two books below. The first one, The Antelope in the Living Room is about marriage. OH MY GOSH...her words are so true and so hilarious. I am not sure my husband found some of the stories as funny as I did. I would read parts of the book out loud and sometimes I got a chuckle from him, while others times, I got a blank stare. I told him he needed to read the whole book. He said he would pass and just trust me. 

                                                        

Then my sweet best friend Jessica sent me Melanie's lastest book about friendship. I am in the middle of reading it and it is precious. It has helped me realize how blessed I am to have such great friends in my life. 

                                                       

Melanie also has a blog that I love checking when I have a moment and am trying to avoid cleaning or doing laundry. Check it out here. It is called Big Momma Blog. 

The great thing about these books is that they are easy reads. If life gets crazy , just as you started one, you can go back to it later on where you left off and they are still just as good. 

I hope you get to enjoy! 

Nora Turns 1

 I look at these pictures above and it just seems like yesterday that this was Nora. Her first year of life has been a whirlwind. In some ways I am sad that it was such a whirlwind, but in others, I am so grateful of the events that took place this year. Nora has not only grown, but she has made me grow in very big ways.

 I remember being so ready to have her and meet her. I actually thought she was going to be a boy. I remember when Matt saw she was a girl, his first comment was "Oh boy..two weddings." I remember laughing and then looking at each other because we were so happy. 

Nora has been the best baby from day 1. She has had the "go with the flow" attitude since the beginning. She found her voice early and has been called Noisy Nora ever since.

Here is a glimpse of her 1st Birthday...

We selected the Hungry Caterpillar because she will eat anything!

She is so big!! Look at those sweet dimples.

She did not dig into the cake like I expected. She really wanted me to feed her. This is probably a bit of Matt and I's fault, since we didn't play by the rules with her and allowed her to taste sweets (a few times) before her first birthday. Oh being the 3rd!

           I absolutely love this picture. Words can't express how much I love this sweet baby!

What is happening at 12 Months...

- She is standing on her own and walks along things all over the house. 

-She actually took her first 3 steps today (May 29) at the Library. Needless to say, we broke the library's quiet rules when she took her steps!

-She loves food - especially Nana's meatballs and graham crackers. 

-She loves to get into things, especially drawers and cabinets. 

-She wants to be with her big sister and brother when they are playing.

-She loves swinging outside. 

-She is transitioning to whole milk from formula and all is well.

-She still has sensitive skin and needs natural diapers. 

-We haven't taken her to the doctor yet for her 12 month appointment so I don't know how much she weighs...but we will get to the doctor soon!

-She won't say "daddy", she says "Matt".

-She loves saying Momma. (LOVE IT!)

ADDED BONUS... 

This is Sophia in the same outfit on her first birthday! You can definitely tell they are sisters! 

Last Days of School

 John had his last day of Kindergarten last Thursday. Man, that year went by quickly! I look at the pictures of his first day compared to his last day and there is a sense of relief. It doesn't appear that he has changed much. However, I know that is not true at all. He has grown so much in all areas, such as reading, writing, math, and most of all being a friend. He got to be a Brilliant Bohannan this year and I am forever grateful. He will start a new school in the Fall and even though he and I are a little nervous about it, I know that it will all be okay. I could not have asked for a better start to his elementary life. He is loved at CME and I know he will be loved at FSE next year.

 Sophia finished up Preschool at Play to Learn on May 15th. We have been at Play to Learn the last 3 years and it was WONDERFUL! I am sad that we won't be there next year, but I know Nora will one day be able to attend at this precious place. If you want a place where you child is loved unconditionally and teaches your child about being a true friend - this is your place. I have never seen more caring individuals than the people that work at this preschool. Sophia started at Play to Learn a shy, quiet child. Her first year "End of the Year Performance", she sat and didn't sing one word. At her PreK graduation this year - she was the loudest singer! They have brought her out of her shell and she is so ready for Kindergarten. I can't wait to see how Kindergarten goes for her. I am also so excited to have John and Sophia back in school together. Next year will be a year of excitement!

A Sweet Story

Most people know the story of John NOT wanting another sister when he found out we were having a baby. At first he was not even going to come into the delivery room after the baby was born. He then decided that he would at least see the baby and if the baby was a girl - he would say hi and then Matt and him would go to Strikers. 

Well, this all changed once he laid eyes on Nora. He has loved her since the first time he saw her. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was and how much he actually did love her. In our house, both John and Sophia, think Nora can do no wrong. 

John has become quite the writer at school. He publishes books like it's no one's business. I was invited to his Writing Celebration yesterday at school (a perk of working at the same place he goes to school). His teacher had told me to get ready because this story was a tear jerker. Yup - he was right! John wrote a story about Nora. He dedicated it to her (an also put "I have another sister too."). He wrote about what he was doing before he met her for the first time. He described what he thought when he met her and the words "adorable" were used in his writing. He wrote about the first time we brought her home and our house full of people. 

I am still amazed at how this little family works. I worried and fretted about adding another baby to the mix and hoped that the big kids would hate it. Now, we can't imagine life without baby Nora and the kids keep asking for another baby. (Yeah...that ain't happening) 

Thank you Jesus for my family. 

Kindergarten - Ready or Not!

We enrolled this little one for Kindergarten this past week. WOW - is all I can say about this. I think I am having a harder time with her going than when John went. I have tried to figure out why because she is totally ready. She would do John's homework if I would let her and let's face it, John would gladly let her do it anytime. I have decided that part of it is fear. My sweet Sophia walks to the beat of her own drum and I love that about her. She makes me see things outside the box and helps me to slow down and smell the roses. She has the creative side that is amazing to watch and hear. I just don't want those things squashed out of her when she heads to school. Her preschool has been wonderful to help her build those qualities and now we face a new place in just a few months. I do love the school and John loves it to, so I think I would have reservations about anywhere she would go. 

Well enough about that - 

Little smartie pants got screened for Kindergarten as well. Even though she is 4, I had her take the 5 year old screening test. She got a 87/100! 

She is so ready to go...