CCS Spirt Wear, Gracie’s Eyes and DollyWood!

Sunday Pic with the bright purple blooms.  I love the bright colors of these tress down south! 

Sweet sisters! 

Sunday pic! 

This week the girls both sported their spirt attire to school.  Maggie is really enjoying being able to wear her “Charger” T-shirts and quite upset that she does not have as many as Gracie does!   

Maggie insisted on her Charger shirt! 

Gracie frequently wears her athletic shorts and some school spirt shirt! 

Daddy and his youngest daughter!  I love this! 

Maggie writes her name backwards right now and while I know its not correct (and we are working with her on it) I think its sweet! 

Maggie and Addison working on letters with one of the high school aids.   We are so impressed with her new PreK and the love of her teachers. 

Maggie at school talking with Mrs. Davenport!   She looks like she is up to something….

Gracie sine school started has been struggling a little.   While she is the youngest in her class we always expect a slow start, however this slow start was also combined with headaches almost every afternoon.   She was able to do her math flashcards and do 28 to 33 in a minutes (the goal is 30), however when she was tested on paper each week she was getting about 9.  It was so frustrating to us as patents to know she worked hard and knew the material but it was not showing on paper.   We decided it was time to have her eyes tested again.   I had her tested 2 years ago to ensure we had a base line so when I called Dr. Miller’s office to explain what we were facing they quickly got her in on Friday.   We are so thankful they could.  I wish I could have videoed her expressions when they put her prescription on and asked her to read several times she was struggling with before.  She lit up and said “that is much more clear”.   So she has 20/40 vision without correction and with its perfect.    She was eager to get her glasses and begin to wear them    Dr. Miller was so sweet and spent so much time talking to Gracie about her eyes, what to expect and when to tell Mommy and Daddy to bring her back.   Due to my poor eyes, I am very particular about who I will see and have been so pleased with Dr. Miller over the past 10 or so years and know he treats the girls wonderful too!    Now Maggie is quite insistent she needs glasses!  I have her initially appointment scheduled with Gracie’s follow up next year. 

Wow!  She can now see clearly, looks even older and get told more that she looks like her mama!  

We love long weekends!  We enjoyed DollyWood with some friends for the day.  It was so much more fun than I had expected. I had to laugh at Gracie’s response when we told her we were going earlier in the week “Finally, all my friends at school have been”.    One thing is for sure..we have two girls that love a trill!   Maggie was not quite tall enough to ride some of the rides, but those she could she loved.  We are ready for them to both be tall enough to hit Cedar Point in Ohio!  

Riding in back of the Tahoe headed to DollyWood. 

Ready for some rides...

Anderson, Gracie, Maggie and Keaton! 

Front car…they loved it! 

Daddy and Maggie on the Elephants!   

Smiles! 

Gracie was hot, tired and hungry….a bad combination for someone who is half Whitmer!  We quickly went to find lunch! 

These too rode about everything together!  They are so sweet! 

To prove how much I love my children …I rode on a water ride with them!   These were two happy kids (we had the older two and Jonathan and Nicole had the younger two)

Maggie was not tall enough for one ride so Ms. Nicole got her cotton candy!  She was happy then! 

We had a great day together!   Until next time…..

So tired! 

Maggie's First Day of PreK at CCS!

Wow!   Since we began exploring CCS as an option for schooling for the girls over 4 years ago, our biggest prayer was that CCS would add a PreK when Maggie was at the right age.  That finally all became a reality this summer and she started Monday!   Deep breaths...I did make it through dropping her off without crying.  I guess I am getting use to these beautiful girls growing up, but it still is hard.   Our baby is finally out of daycare, sitting at a desk (sometimes), and on the same schedule as her sis.  God is so good at how he orchestrates our lives for such a time.   

Lunch was packed! 

She is ready!  (I made her wear her green Converse because I thought they were too cute, it was quite a fight but she did pick her outfit and her "Maggie" headband) 

Sister Picture on the first day of school for Maggie (Gracie had already been in school a few days) 

Daddy loves!   She sure adores him! 

Wow, I really can't believe my "baby" is in PreK!   

I had to incude this picture since it captures her rolling her eyes!  She is quite proud of her new expression!  

Daddy, Maggie and Mommy before we left for school.  

Maggie, Tyler and Addison---all three buddies from daycare and in the same PreK!   This pictures really makes me giggle with Maggie's expression but also so blessed these three are still together! 

Class Picture! 

One morning before school she was down early!   Wow….I am praying she settles into the routine quickly and starts sleeping better/ longer again!

We received the sweetest note from her teachers this weekend “Maggie has had a great first week of preK!   She has enjoyed working in all of the centers--she has spent a lot of time exploring in the science center.  Maggie is participating in whole group activities and interacting with others.  We love having her in our class!   Thank you for your prayers and support!”   I love the time her teachers take to communicate and the love they show each student daily.   Our hearts are full knowing the girls are right where God has called them to be for this time in their lives!    It makes all the sacrifice and juggling worth everything!  

This week tested our ability to balance this thing called work and the girls schedules with homework.  I traveled for a few days which always means Jimmy is Super Dad!   He juggles the girls solo each morning and evening I am gone, does homework, loves on them beyond measure and somehow manages to be be patient with me with my million questions and texts about all three of their days!    Ahhh.....blessed to not have travel over night for work the next three weeks!    We are all celebrating!   

Maggie in the foam pit at a gymnastics party this weekend!   She is eager to start back to gymnastics classes this next week! 

G Bug in the pit too!  These are two girls that sure love to jump and tumble! 

Gracie and Lilly Scott!   These two are so sweet together! 

First Day of 3rd Grade and more...

Sunday Pic 

Sweet Sisters! 

Sunday Pic 

My Mini Me!  

Gymnastics girl! 

Love the hair and that smile!

The girls wrapped up summer with Ms. Tiffany a few days before school started, including Monday lunch date with Mommy and Daddy after “desk day”.     CCS does such a wonderful job organizing the start to school and the chaos that is sure to follow as everyone gets into routines.      We are so thankful for the sitters that God has brought into our lives who care for the girls while we are working or away on date nights!   More and more we are making date nights an even bigger priority for us and for our girls and the sweet sitters who help care for them so we can do that are very special to us. 

First day of school is always filled with much emotions for me.    I love the fresh start, the new routines (that are really old routines but perfected more with each year), new friends, old friends and the building blocks on learning of course.  BUT also is my reminder, as if I needed any more, how quickly my girls are growing up and gaining a greater level of independence with each passing day it seems.    So once again I take a deep breath, smile (while I want to cry) and watch as Gracie embraced 3rd grade!   Gracie, you are becoming such a young lady.   Daddy and I are so proud of how helpful you have become without prompting, how your manners are often natural without any reminder, how you cherish our family and your sweet friendships, and how you pray!    

Our 3rd Grade!  

Classic Gracie look! 

She is so sweet to be so patient while I take pics!  Some day she will appreciate them! 

Lunch is packed! 

Back to school signs…Maggie starts Monday! 

Mommy and my girls! 

My oldest! 

Gracie and her Daddy! 

Love the sparkle in their eyes!  

One last pic together before we leave for school.  

These two could not had been more excited to see each other!  

Kenzie and Gracie 

Check out those smiles!   3rd Grade here they come….

We had to giggle as we drive home after the first day of school, Gracie shared her day and the changes she had with all her questions of things she was trying to figure out while I shared mine about my new computer at work and not knowing how to find anything.  Jimmy paused and with so much wisdom said “you do realize this is the same conversation?  It becomes more clear to me as she gets older how much you two are alike”.  Gracie, that is the biggest compliment your Daddy could pay you as I know he cherishes me beyond measure!    

With my parents in town for the weekend to watch the girls while we flew to Baltimore for a wedding, we wanted to take them out to dinner before we left.  So of course we selected our favorite date night place, St. Johns.   It was so nice to have time to sit and visit with them!   

We stayed in Nashville then flew out early Friday morning for Baltimore for Rob’s wedding.   It was an adventure!   Jimmy was the Best Man and was eager to support Rob through the wedding.  However, before we even left Nashville he was sick and immediately knew it was the kidney stone issue again (just like vacation several months back).  He slept through the rehearsal and dinner then we went out to get meds our doc had called in.  By Saturday he was doing great!    While he waited for Rob to be free from family obligations we managed to enjoy a few hours down at the Inner Harbor and lunch at City Cafe (Maryland Crab Cakes).  I also enjoyed a few hours quite reading while the guys were getting ready.    Then onto the wedding reception.  I must say Jimmy did a wonderful toast and made me get teary as he shared our words to each other often.   “I encourage you both to embrace all that marriage has to offer, the ups, the downs, the busy times and the quiet times together.  After Rachael and I were married we had the normal run of ups and downs, and I said to her that I would never trade the worst of our times for the best times of anyone else.  I would not do this life thing with anyone else, and I hope as you embrace marriage together that you can each say the same thing.”

Baltimore Inner Harbor 

The only picture we snagged at the reception!   Love you baby!   I am so blessed to do this life however simple it is with you!  

It was a late night and an early morning flight back followed by a trip back to Chattanooga today.  What a greeting to be embraced by the girls big hugs and my parents too!  They were so kind to travel in and spend so much time with the girls.   They had fun filled memorable days that I enjoyed hearing all about!    Plus they made dinner and a delicious birthday cake for Jimmy!   Since we celebrated his birthday in Baltimore (a big inside joke was the wedding was just a cover for a big surprise party! ha), the girls enjoyed singing and loving on him!   

Maggie spent Thursday and Friday with Gjysh and KK while Gracie was at school (and Ellie too).

Ellie looks like she is gaining quickly on Maggie in height, but Dad said its an illusion!  They sure look like they were having fun! 

Maggie convinced my parents she needed a new "softy" so they all went to Build A Bear! 

Gjysh and Maggie 

the adventure of getting ready in the mornings!  Thanks Mom! 

A little time with Uncle Gabe and Aunt Katelyn's dog! 

What a great welcome home!

Happy 38th Birthday Daddy!  We love you! (and a special thank you to my parents for making such a yummy cake!)