Valentine's Day

Mackenna's party at school was fun!  The kids all made valentine holders at home, so it was fun to see their creations.  We decided to cover a shoebox with blue fabric (her favorite color) and pink pom pom trim and then she put stickers all over the top.   

 Mackenna and her friend both had curls today!

 

Mackenna always loves going to Addison's party too!

 

It has become our Valentine's tradition (I think this is our 3rd or 4th year) to have a homemade heart-shaped pizza, candle light family dinner together.

Loom Bracelets and Valentine's Day

Loom bracelets are the rage right now with elementary age kids.  Addison didn't know much about them until she was given a package of loom bands for Christmas.  Her niece taught her how to make the most basic bracelet without using the actual loom.  And she loved it!

While she was at school one day, I decided to look online to see if I could find a place to buy more bands for cheap.  Wow, there is so much out there on loom bracelets!  I ended up watching an instructional video on YouTube and learned how to make the fishtail bracelet.  And since we don't have a loom, I used a cork with two thumb tacks (saw that idea on pinterest).  Addison loved the bracelet I made her and immediately started making more!

We usually find a cute printable valentine online and print our own and we've seen several cute ones this year that involve giving a bracelet instead of candy.  So, of course, this is what she wanted to do.  She worked hard and made enough for her classmates.  She chose the You're Cool & Friends Forever valentines, found here.

And wouldn't you know, if Addison's giving bracelets, Mackenna wants to also!  Thankfully I talked Addison into helping me make them for her class.  I don't mind making them, but it went much quicker with her help! Mackenna chose the Let's Band Together valentines, found here.

Christmas Parties

Last day of school today!
The beginning of Christmas break...yippee!!!
We're excited to sleep in, spend time together, see extended family, celebrate Christ's birthday and eat some good food!

Both girls had parties today at school.

 Santa and Mrs. Claus visited Mackenna's class!

 

At the elementary school every year, the whole school gathers to sing carols together in the afternoon before the class parties.
It's a lot of fun to watch and the kids really enjoy it too.

 The 2nd grade teachers! Addison's teacher is in the middle.

Pre-K Christmas Singing

This morning, Mackenna's Pre-K class sang at the apartments at the nursing home.  Several of the ladies there are ones we try to visit often, so Mackenna enjoyed singing for all of them.

 Both of the girls love Mrs. Thelma!

And here's some video for the grandparents!

 And one more...

 

Thanksgiving Play

Mackenna's Pre-K class did a Thanksgiving play and sang songs at the nursing home the week before Thanksgiving.  It was fun to see them perform in front of people!

 Here they are sailing on the Mayflower!

 Mackenna was a pilgrim! 

First Day of School 2013

Both of the girls are in school this year!

It's hard to believe they're both old enough.

Addison started 2nd grade.

Mackenna's in Pre-K every morning.
She'll also get to go two afternoons a week to work on her speech and other developmental skills.

  

 

Addison was so excited for Mackenna to go to school.
The picture on the right is my most favorite of them all!

Addison and her teacher, Mrs. Smith.

Mackenna and her teacher, Mrs. McGolden.

She made the cute frame for all the students to take their picture in!

 Two of her friends, Bret and Embassy

 

Our 1st day after school snack...

I almost burned the house down making it!

Fire in the oven.

Dough dripping everywhere off the pizza pan.

But I managed to save most of it and put it in 2 pans.

And thankfully, the 2 cookies turned out delicious! 

 





Last Day of School

 

First day of 1st grade (left) and last day (right).  Addison wasn't too thrilled that I wanted to take her picture on the last day!

 

Here are a few pictures of Addison at the 1st grade awards assembly.  She got a medal for reaching a certain amount of Accelerated Reading points.

 She looked so nervous standing up on the stage!

 Getting her medal and shaking her teachers hand.

 

I love the first and last days of school!  Maybe it's because I was a teacher and I know how excited I always was.  I love to do something special for both days. This year, Mackenna helped me make and frost cupcakes.  I printed off these cupcake toppers, cut a few out and taped them on sticks we already had.  Didn't take too long at all. And last year, I printed off the hello/goodbye toppers and I still had them in a file, so I used the 1st/2nd grade ones this year.

 

It was a fun day and a great start to the summer, but to be honest, I am sad this year is over.  Addison had such a great year.  I (and Addison too) absolutely loved her teacher, Mrs. Clark!  On the first day of school, Addison came home and told me, "she's awesome!"  And she was right, she was an awesome teacher and a great fit for Addison.