Summer Ends and School Starts

Well Summer has come to an end, and 16 months after being home, my baby girl is ready to use her wings and fly off to school.


She loved staying with Ashlee Gail and it was a great adjustment for both of us. She spent the first 14 months with me, every day, and I think it was harder for me than for her.

Here she is last Friday at Dawsons birthday party with Cici (spelling???) they will both be in K4 at the same school, there are only two K4 classes and wouldn't you know they are in different classes. Isn't she cute as can be.

Grace had so much fun at the party, it was at the county park.
Her last week with Ashlee. Special Breakfast.

Making cupcakes.

Yo Gabba Gabba cupcakes!




Their first picture together. My, how they have changed.

Well last Thursday we had meet the teacher night at school First, we were in Chapel, and let me say the Head Master is a Basketball Couch type, tall and loud. Grace knows you have to be still and quiet. After about 5 minutes of him talking she turns to me and says" He's giving me a headache" OH MY!

Back to the class. When Grace tested back the first of the year a K5 teacher tested her, and I loved her instantly. I love her heart, she seemed so nice to me and I thought it would be great if Grace got her. I love how God works, don't you know who Grace's teacher is, yes, Ms. Wendy is now a K4 teacher! It put me at ease, and I was good until tonight anyway. Well out of 16 kids in her class I think there are 4 girls. Grace sits right next to her teachers desk. Before we left one little girl and her parents came over to say hi. They asked Grace her name, then Grace asked her, her name. The little girl replied, Empress, I said, Oh that is such a pretty name! Do you know what my sweet little girl said to the girl and her parents, BUT NOT AS PRETTY AS MINE! Yep, wanted to crawl in a hole right there. But in her defense, she has needed reassurance from day one and I know that is where it comes from. She is such a sweet child and I explained we don't want to hurt anyone feelings, so lets hope that doesn't happen again.

Yesterday, we went with Lyndsay and my mom to see Lynds wedding dress and to order the flower girl dress. Sorry you cant see it until March, but oh they are both beautiful.

I bought Grace a special book for tonight. (this is also the first night she has gone to bed with no tv on) We read The Kissing Hand, its a wonderful book for a child who is starting school. I am just hoping to get through tomorrow morning without being a blubbering fool.

Glad to report she fell asleep right away.

Here is the link to her prayers tonight.

Grace Gets Mail

This is the look on her face when I told her she has mail! She loves getting mail.

Grace was so excited to get a postcard from her new teacher! My little girl is so ready to learn and grow. I just want time to stop. I'm not ready for her to go to school. I may need some good medication to get through Monday morning.



We are are going to miss seeing Ashlee Gail everyday. She is such a sweet child. I hope my Grace turns out as well as she has. She is sweet, loving, and smart as a whip, her ONLY fault is (ok, its not really a fault) she is all about sports. She plays basketball and softball. I thought it was funny when I pulled up one day and she had Grace outside with a softball. Sorry, girl, I don't think so! We love you Ashlee Gail!


For those that are wondering, that is my mattress in the floor in the living room. Its too hot to sleep in my bedroom, I'm hoping the parts come in Soon to fix my AC!

Bring Harper Home

This is unbearable. This family traveled to China to bring their daughter home and had to leave her because a new rule in effect as of July 1. Please go here and read their story.

My heart just aches for this little girl. There is a link on the webpage that is 17 minutes long with the heart wrenching good bye. There is also a link for you to go and sign a petition regarding this new rule change.

If you know of anyone that can help get this little girl home, please forward this to them.

Please pray that that this family gets to bring this child home SOON!

Radom Stuff

I made a nice long post this morning only to realize I put it in the old blog. Does anyone know how to move from one blog to another.

Here is the link, if you'd like to read it.

http://ourbabygirlgracie.blogspot.com/2009/08/random-stuff.html

What a Beautiful Smile

Here is a pic of Teresa's (Continuing the Journey ) newest daughter. I'm so happy for them. I can not wait to see pictures of Meggie, Carson and Molly together.

A Great Big Congrats to two of my friends.

Teresa, whose Gotcha day was yesterday!!!! and to Carrie who FINALLY got her LOA today!

Dance

I got Grace signed up for Dance class today. She will be attending the Kinderdance class at The Classical Ballet Centre in Summerville.

Paul Ray was hoping when he said he didn't want Grace doing the hip hop stuff and that if she was going to dance she should just do ballet. Now, what he was saying was, I don't want her to dance, he just wouldn't come out and say it. Come on, he should know better. I would not push the hip hop, I can understand that, but dance, come on. All the years of wanting a little girl, I always saw her dancing.

Anyway, I learned a little today. The director who was as nice as she could be explained the kinderdance program, its for 4 and 5 year old. She said they are not mentally or physically ready to study ballet until they are at least 6. So for two semesters, September - December and January - April she will have fun learning the correct stretching and hopefully learn to love ballet.

This is from their website, it gives a little history on the director.

Terry-Ellen Shields received her training from Antony Nelle, American Ballet Theatre and the Ballet Russe in NYC. After a professional career in Boston, New York and St. Louis, Ms. Shields and her late husband, David Shields (The Royal Ballet), co-directed the Dancers Studio and the Boston Festival Ballet in Massachusetts.

Ms. Shields has served on the Dance Faculty at the Boston Conservatory of Music, Boston University, and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. During the 1988 and 1989 seasons, Ms. Shields was invited to teach at the internationally known Chautauqua Institution. Ms. Shields has also been a guest teacher at the Ridley Arts Educational School and the Southeast Theatre School in England.

In 1983, Ms. Shields came to Summerville, SC and established the Classical Ballet Centre and its performing company, The Classical Ballet Centre Dance Theatre (formerly the SC Children's Ballet Theatre). Since establishing the school, a number of students have gone on to distinguished careers: notably, Jenifer Ringer, Principal Dancer for the NYC Ballet; Amanda Miller, Pennsylvania Ballet and co-director of the Phrenic New Ballet; Christine Williamson and Kim Larvey, NC Dance Theatre; Andrew Kelley, soloist with the Netherlands Danse Theatre, to name a few.
During the past few years, fourteen students have been accepted into the SC Governors School of the Arts in Greenville, SC. Three students have been accepted into the year-round program at the North Carolina School of the Arts. One student was accepted to the Virginia School of the Arts and another student received a full scholarship to the Houston Ballet.

Ms. Shields' goal is to foster a love of ballet and its related arts and to help young people develop standards of personal excellence, self-discipline and responsibility in an atmosphere that is warm and encouraging.

Many of her students have gone on to study or dance professionally. There is no recital. She does have a production company that the students can choose to perform in, but they must be through at least beginner classes which is around age 8.

Classes start September 1st. I hope she enjoys it.