1st Field Trip

Coco's first school field trip was to the library. Like any doting mother, I went along to capture all the preschool Kodak moments. One day, me & my camera will no doubt embarrass her. But for now, she still loves to smile & say "Cheese!" So, until the day the eye rolls start, I'm going to keep snapping!

This is her sweet class trying their best smile in the sunshine.

The class girls pretty in pink!

Jansen & Coco

We got to hit the playground afterwards; I was thrilled to watch her play with her friends.

Levi & Coco

Her teacher laughingly tells me they have a on/off relationship.

This must have been an "on" day because she wanted her picture made with him.

Don't you know, it's cool to hold hands in preschool?!?

I suppose this is how runny noses & stomach viruses get passed and passed and passed around! But, it sure made for a cute picture.

Spoiled Rotten

Memaw has a family tradition of spoiling her grandbabies. Sebastian is no exception and enjoys her pampering. After dinner one night, he asked for a snack. So, she does what any great-grandmother would do...lifts him up on the counter, opens the cabinet doors and lets him go for it. I think he came down with a piece of candy, a cookie and a mini candy bar. Memaw and Sebastian share a special connection; before I have attributed to personality compatibility. Now, I'm thinking there could be some bribery going on!

First Day of 4K

Coco started her first day of 4K at Methodist Presbyterian Nursery School. We are so excited that she and her cousin/BFF Jansen will be in the same class this year. I love this nursery school because you just get that warm & fuzzy feeling every time you go in. There isn't a drive-thru pick up line; I actually get to walk in and pick her up at the end of every school day, chat with her teacher and if I'm early enough, peak in and see the children "in action." It's also so much fun chatting with the other parents in the hallway. While our quick relocation back home was unexpected & very unplanned, Coco being able to attend this school has been one of the many blessings to rise up from that chaos.

Coco & "Miss" Debbie McDuffy

(Not often seen, this is my girl's shy smile.)

Debbie is such a wonderful teacher. Having taught 4K for over 15 years, she is seasoned to perfection and gives just the right balance of love, learning & laughter in her classroom.

Breathing again

Has it really been over 2 weeks since my last post? I suppose that's a sign of how crazy our life has been lately. But it's been a good crazy! We are breathing again and marveling at how God continues to work everything out for us. For those who were kind enough to pray for us while we traveled through uncertainty, thank you. We would not have made it without you. I have lots of fun picture posts to add but wanted to give an update on our family first. I am working full time again at the freckled frog and loving every minute of it. Coco is thriving at MPNS and Sebastian is playing hard every day at "Mimi June's." Want to hear the best part? (Insert drum roll here.) Donald has a job! He absolutely HATES it when I use the terms "real job," "unemployed," or anything remotely close to those words. But hopefully, I'll never have to use them again. He is working for a good friend Steve Acree at his rockin' business Seismic Audio. The job began as temporary and praise the Lord is going to be permanent! Finally out of the manufacturing world, Donald is not having to get up before the rooster crows and actually getting to eat breakfast with his family. We are living upstairs at my parents and will (hopefully) start a house hunt after Christmas. While our current living arrangement may not be ideal, we are super grateful for the roof over our head and refuse to rush into a home purchase. I have already warned Donald I will be super picky because I do NOT want to have to move again for a very, very long time! Now, those are words I never thought would come out of my gypsy mouth. Finally out of what seemed like a hopeless situation, we are reminded that God's plan is far greater than any one we could ever create. (Romans 8:28)

9/11: We will never forget

It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years since the 9/11 attack. Like most people I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was driving to work when the radio waves were interrupted with beeps and panicked announcements. Once I got to work, the entire firm was huddled around a t.v. in the conference room. We all had blank stares and exchanged no words. However, and maybe unlike most people, I'm not sure I grasped the gravity of the situation. At nearly 22 years old, I was still so "green" and didn't fully comprehend that this attack would forever change the history of the United States. Kathryn Schurch, my good friend and co-worker at the time, said between her tears that day, "America will never be the same again." She was a little older and much wiser than me. Filled with naive and unrealistic optimism, I couldn't understand why she would say that. Well, 10 years later, I understand exactly what she meant. I also have come to better understand the tenacity of the America spirit and that freedom is not free.

The Twin Towers: awesome structures and symbols of democracy, freedom and the American dream.

The attack: gruesome. cowardly. barbaric.

The Memorial: Proof that the American spirit will not be silenced and that we will never forget.

Weekend with Buddy Bear

Coco just finished her first full week of preschool. (I have cute pictures from the first day of school that I can't get off my camera yet. It appears the printer power cord is just the first of what is sure to many things missing from the fast & furious move.) Anyway, her first week ended with a double-whammy treat! She got 10 "good behavior" stickers earning a trip to the Treasure Box. The diva glasses in the picture were her treasure treat. Buddy Bear was the other treat! Buddy is the class bear and Coco's name was the first one to be drawn to take him home for a weekend visit. Lucky girl! We had a low-key but very fun weekend with Buddy. She didn't want to take him EVERYwhere she went because she was afraid "someone would take him." She played dress up with him, slept with him, put a bib on and fed him a banana, swung with him in the tree swing and did manage to take him to Taco Bell of all places! We completed her homework in the Buddy Bear notebook tonight and she was super proud. I'll keep my fingers crossed she maintains her enthusiasm for doing homework.

One in a million

I have this amazing friend. She is one in a million. She flew 1,000 miles to be right beside me when I was at my lowest and needed help. I don't know what I did to deserve her friendship but I do know that life just wouldn't be full without it. A big, gigantic, ridiculously HUGE thank you to Sara for flying down to Florida just to ride back with me. She made the 2 day trek in the "sassy Sienna" packed to the brim with 2 kids and so much stuff the rearview mirror was pointless. What could have been a completely miserable trip turned out to be a completely wonderful trip, all because of my one in a million friend. Much love to you SaSa!