Christmas 2011

What a wonderful Christmas…6 celebrations with family and friends.  We were ALL exhausted once the celebrations ended.  Overall, a great Christmas.  I enjoyed time with the family.  I enjoyed the week vacation with my husband.  I enjoyed relaxing, watching and listening to the laughter. 

Christmas eve, it was a late night for Mr. and Mrs. Clause (they stayed up until 3am putting together a doll house, a doll bed and a marble run).  Thank goodness the kids decided to sleep until 8am.  The kids were surprised to see all the toys and fun items Santa had left them.  The big hit, Ipod touches.

After we played Angry Birds and raced the remote control cars, we ate our traditional Christmas breakfast, waffles and bacon. Yum!!!  Then it was time to get dressed and drive to Hico to spend the afternoon Jon’s grandmother, mother and brothers.  Here we enjoyed an evening with family eating a wonderful Christmas dinner and opening presents.

Day after Christmas, the kids and I went to Houston to visit my grandmother.  I really enjoyed seeing her, my Aunt Carolyn and the rest of the family.  I only wish we could have spent more time together.  Love you Memaw!

 

Final celebration, New Year’s weekend at the Wensel Ranch with my parents.  Jon, the kids and I packed up and drove 4.5 hours to Campwood, TX.  It was a good weekend (would have been perfect but Christian was sick the entire weekend).  Ugh!! This did not make for a fun time for Mommy and Daddy.  Kayla had a blast playing with her older cousins, Zoe and Addison.  I enjoyed seeing my family and driving around with Jon on the four wheeler looking for a deer that had been shot.  I really enjoy my time at the ranch.  Relaxing, quiet and peaceful.

 

What a wonderful and blessed Christmas season.

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Today we went to a small local pumpkin patch in Georgetown.  The kids were so excited and ready to pick out the BIGGEST pumpkin they could find. 

We searched over 100+ different pumpkins.

We took pictures. 

  

We found big ones and small ones.

 

We took more pictures.

 

We played bean bag toss game.

 

We took more pictures.

 

And finally, the kids found the perfect pumpkins (just their size).

Kindergarten begins…

The first day was VERY hectic and VERY wonderful.  First having to get up at 6am…that is a tough one for the Schneider family.  But we did it. I cant believe we made it and had time to take photos before leaving. It was difficult waking my sleeping beauty up, but after a few tickles and kisses she was up and ready to get going.

 

Whew! Out the door and had time to take a few pictures. 

Off to Meridian World School.  Now, being a new a school and having 110 kindergarteners and their parents (plus all the other kids in 1st-8th), you can guess the chaos and uneasy nerves in the air.  We arrived at 7:55.  At first, I felt like a cow being herded into a pin.  It was CRAZY!! Once we were corralled into the “Common Room” it was all good.  Kayla found her class line and then it was “mommy who?”  She immediately found her friend, Sierra.  The two sat together in line and then started talking to another little girl sitting next to them.  The three girls chatted up a storm as they waited to be walked to their Kindergarten room.  When Ms. Cossey’s class was finally called (30 minutes later), all the children stood and the three girls held hands and walked to class together.  I will admit, I was nervous. Will she meet new friends?  Will she enjoy her new school?  However, after seeing the three little girls smiling and giggling there were no more nerves by mommy…she would be fine.  10 steps in front of the parents and then right into the room. Never once did Kayla look back.  She was gone into the room and into her seat.  No good bye kiss.  Sniff. Sniff.  I wanted to stay around and take pictures, but it was already 8:45 and I knew the staff was ready for ALL the parents to leave so the day could get started.

Picking Kayla up was great.  The smile on her face as she ran out of the school was priceless.  A smile of happiness.  As we got into the car, she told me about all the new friends she met, all the fun activities and best of all how much she enjoyed school.  I decided to take the kids for a treat after school..so, I off to McDonald’s with some friends for ice cream.  DELICIOUS!

Two weeks have passed and Kayla is still loving school. Her favorite part of school is of course PE.  The homework is also another part of school that she is enjoying.  It is not like last years homework, practice writing your letters and memorize sight words.  So far this year we have had fun assignments like make up a game with a deck of cards, a scavenger hunt and research a culture.

Can you guess what culture we researched?

I am so happy that Kayla is enjoying Kindergarten. Even today she asked if she could stay later for the after school programs .  Wow, she must really like it.  Happy kid, makes for a happy mom!!

A Tough Little Girl

Kayla can stand with the toughest kids.  She can give that intense glare that reads “Beware!”

 

But, she is still a little girl.

When it is over 100 degrees outside…

there is only one way to cool off.

First Day for My Three Year Old

Christian’s first day in his three year old class at First Baptist Weekday Education Program was GREAT.  This year he did not cry when I dropped him off.  He did not grab on to my leg begging me to stay.  This year he walked right in and started working on his morning craft. Yah!!!

   

And as always, he was the last one to wake up during nap time (I think nap time is his favorite part of the day).

   

Love you Christian!!!

The End of Babyhood…

The end of babyhood… OKAY, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but you really notice your baby growing up when you see them put on that backpack and head off into the world of kindergarten! Suddenly, she’s no longer my baby girl, she’s a BIG GIRL!

When Kayla was a newborn, everyone told me the days of parenting are long but the years are short. I had no idea how true that was until today.

I didn't cry before their first day because I was too concerned with Kayla’s nerves. I didn't cry while taking photos on our front porch. I didn't even cry when she headed into her classroom because the look of the happy face as proudly entered the room and found her seat.

Instead the tears came as I sat down to write this as I thought about how quickly the last five years have gone. Realization that I have a kindergartener. The baby years are over, forever.

At the same time I am also excited. I am excited that she will make new friends who she may have her entire life. I am excited at her independence and confidence, how she didn’t look back as she walked in her new classroom with a big smile and no fear. I am excited for the new phase in her life.

This parenting thing is hard. And wonderful. And joyful. And amazing.

From a baby to a…

KINDERGARTENER!