Mother's Tea

Mother's Day 2012 will certainly be a Mother's Day to remember.  One day in early April Grace came home from school and said, "Mama, I am planning a very special party for you. I can not tell you anything but you have to come to my school."  Grace held true to her promise and didn't tell me a thing!  She did however, trust Emmy with all of the details.

The morning of the tea I dropped Grace off at school and she said, "Mamma don't forget to come back at 10 o'clock!"  I told her I wouldn't miss it for anything.  I arrived promptly at 10:00 only to be greeted by other mothers whose children didn't utter a peep about the day's happenings.  Shortly after 10 o'clock the students made their way onto the stage, making sure to put their toes on the line.  We were then serenaded by these lovely voices.

All of the students were so proud of their hard work.  Mrs. D and Mrs. Cole were as excited as the students.

Each of them sang their little hearts out!  I still remember their first performance at the Angel Band when they were 2.  They all looked like little dear in headlights, but not at the Mother's Tea they were ready to shine!  

After singing a few songs we paused for some photo opportunities.  

Then we were escorted by our child to the classroom where he/she pulled the chair out for us and served us our refreshments on personalized placements accompanied with a card, flowers and bath soaps all made by their tiny hands.  

While eating refreshments Mrs. D and Mrs. Cole read interviews they had conducted with each child about his/her mother.  Grace reported that her mother is as pretty as her, is 5 feet tall and weighs to 2 pounds.  Her mother's favorite thing to do is to do puzzles with her.  Her mother is good at reading books and her mother loves her more than Dora.

By the end of the tea there was not a dry eye in the room.  Mrs. D, Mrs. Cole and 13 wonderful children created a Mother's Tea that will be forever left in the hearts of 13 women.

Chaleeeeeeeeey Wilson

Grace adores her cousin Charlie.  It has been so much fun watching her grow in her friendship with Charlie.

The first meeting

She began with a small interest in Charlie.  She liked to kiss him but other than that she didn't have much use for Charlie.  Then she started to realize that Charlie would grow and start to do things other than eat and sleep.  She also began to create nicknames for Charlie.  Charlie-Buns and Chaleeeeeey Wilson!

And now Grace LOVES Charlie.   She talks about him constantly.  She dreams about the next time they will be together.  She takes pictures of him for show and tell.  She counts down the sleeps until she will see him. She talks about how she is going to teach him how to ask Jesus into his heart so they can be friends in Heaven.  When they are together there is nothing but joy on their faces.  Whether they

playing at the park

playing croquet

celebrating a birthday

vacationing

or being a support at a school program.

Grace and Charlie just seem to go together.  They are fortunate to have a cousin their own age.  I am excited to watch them as they grow together.  My hope and prayer is that their friendship continues to grow along with them.

Sisters

 Sisters, sisters there were never such devoted sisters....

My hope and prayer is that Grace and Caroline's friendship continues to grow stronger as they grow while weathering the storms of growing up.  Grace is such a mother hen and Caroline adores her more and more everyday.   

Whether it be playing beauty shop.  

Making sure she is safe.

Or making sure she enjoys the fun.  

Growing up I always wished I had a sister.  I was lucky enough to find a best friend who quickly became the sister I never had.  I believe that Grace and Caroline will be provide each other with an irreplaceable bond.  When asking Grace, "What is the best thing about having Caroline as as sister?"  She answers, "Always having someone to play with me."  We will see what she says when she is 16 and Caroline is always copying her and stealing her clothes to wear.  

She wore the dress, while I stayed home...

School

Grace loves school!  Each morning she wakes up and then asks, "Where I go today?"  Her favorite answer is "school."  To say that we love having Grace at Canterbury is an understatement.  It would be my dream to have her there forever but that just isn't possible.  I love how Mrs. D and Mrs. Cole love on Grace 3 mornings a week and fill her imagination with new ideas and create experiences that Rich and I cannot give her while both working full time.

February was a busy month in the Cavalier's class.  The middle of the month featured a Valentine's party.  This was not just any Valentine's party.  Grace made her own Valentine's featuring her name written all by herself.  Rich was at the party to lead the class in a heart memory game and of course take photos.

Check out the spread of food!  

Memory game

Grace and Mrs. Cole

Next up was Dino-Dad's Night.  Grace told me that I did not get to come to school because I go to school every day this was just for dads!  I went before the night began to help set-up.  As soon as Mrs. D started giving out jobs of what needed to be done I knew Grace and Rich were in for a good time.  There was cookie decorating, dinosaur egg cracking, t-shirt painting and tasty treats.  Best of all there were songs sung and even one in French!  I met Rich and Grace in the hallway afterwards as I was coming back to help clean up and Grace said, "Mama we had the bestest time ever!"

Cookie Decorating

There was a baby dinosaur in there!

T-shirt painting

The famous Mrs. D!

I'm thankful that Grace gets to spend 3 days a week with wonderful teachers and great friends.  I'm continually blown away by what she learns and how her imagination grows.

A Teacher at Heart

The other day on the way home from school Grace informed her Emmy that she was thinking of becoming a teacher.  (I have in no way encouraged this.)  Emmy asked her what kind of teacher she would like to be.  Grace was a little puzzled by this because she didn't know there were different kinds of teachers.  She asked Emmy what the different kinds of teachers were.  Emmy told her she could teach reading, writing, math, singing, instruments, etc.  Grace reminded Emmy that she forget about teachers who teach about Jesus on Sundays at church.  Emmy corrected herself and said that those were teachers as well.  Emmy later asked her what kind of teacher she wanted to be and Grace's response was, "Emmy I'm not sure yet I'm just going to keep watching teachers and decide later."  

Grace loves to read.  She loves to read by herself, she loves to read to Caroline and she loves to be read to.

Family story time

Nightly bible story with dad

Reading in the car

School time.  Mrs. D reading to the class

She also likes to play school. Beware if you are playing school with Grace you will not get to be Mrs. D.  Grace is ALWAYS Mrs. D. If you are lucky she may let you be Mrs. Cole but don't count on it.

Changes are coming....

For those avid readers I'm changing things up a bit.  I'm not going to do monthly posts because I don't feel like they do justice to the ever growing Grace.  Instead I am going to update as things come about.  Check back often.

November/December 2011

The last 2 months have been busy!  

Grace had her Thanksgiving Feast at school.  She was a little unsure of the audience but quickly pulled herself together and did a great job!  

We Decked the Halls!

We played in the snow.  

We visited Papaw's grave and took him a flower.  

We celebrated Christmas

Caroline got Grace a Hello Kitty shirt

The long awaited pink roller skates.

Santa left the presents on the door step again.  

We decorated Jesus' birthday cake. 

For Christmas Grace got her own art studio.  She loves to create!  She plays with the playdough, stencils, crayons, glitter, glue and paint.  

                                  

She has been creating her heart out!

Some of her first masterpieces were created using marbles in a box.    

I'm pretty impressed, but then I may be a little bias.  

Until next month...