Unfailing Love: KINDERGARTEN!!

Vincent Gerard

This is my hubby. Also known as Vinny, Dowey, Dowebally, and (as of last night) Pickle Juice. (You may learn that I have an affinity for nicknames, comes from my daddy!) Unbelievably, the hubs and I have been married for 9 years! I can't believe it! Seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in college and my friend introduced me to this hunky senior with a hot red car! Vince is working hard to support our family and traveling here and there. Vince is a WONDERFUL father and his girls (all of us) are the most important things to him!

Barclay Kathryn

What to say? I'm Barclay, usually known as Barclay (not much you can do with Barclay). I was an elementary teacher for fours years until I had Bella. Now I am doing the job I have wanted to do ALL of my life, being a mom. I love these two girls more than I can possibly express and it is my joy and privilege to be able to spend each day with them. I recently entered the blog frontier, and although my blog followers will probably be able to be counted on one hand, I thought it would be exciting to be a part of something so neat. I love that there are many other moms out there facing the same joys, hardships, questions, surprises, and challenges that I am. I also hope to be a sort of medium to spread awareness for others that need prayers, help, or just someone to walk through life with!

Isabella Kathryn

Usually referred to as Bella. As well as Bells, Bellie, Belly Boo, Bellsie Bubs, Bubs, Bubba, Bells and Whistles.... Bella is our first born daughter. She is 6. Bella enjoys school, reading, riding her training-wheel free bike, she could color and write for hours, she loves singing to the Momma Mia soundtrack, anything princess or pink, having bows in her hair, playing dress up, and her little sisters! God blessed us with Bella a month early but she was perfectly healthy. In six years she has become such a bright, outgoing, sensitive, and fearless little girl. Bella really is the sweetest girl you will ever meet. She is eager to please. If she hurts or disappoints someone it literally crushes her to tears. This last year she asked Jesus to be her Lord and Savior and we could not be more proud!! Love this sweet, blonde, blue eyed beauty!

Bryanna Karina

Usually known as Brynn. As well as Brynnie, Miley, Miley Moo, Geegs, Geegers, Brynnie Boo, and many more. Ten days before Bella turned 2 years old we were blessed with another beautiful, healthy girl by planned c-section. This time I was able to see my baby right after birth, watch her get weighed, bathed, etc. I couldn't wait for Bella to meet her. Brynn is now 4 and keeps me laughing all day long. Brynn, since she was about 2 months old has been the smiliest baby I have ever met. All you need to do is look at her and she will flash you a world class smile. Brynn is smiley, more shy and reserved about things than her big sis, can be quite the clown when she feels safe or gets in a silly mood, amazingly brilliant, she's been speaking full sentences since she was 19 months and continues to amaze us with what comes out of her mouth. She loves doing whatever her big sister is doing, dressing up, looking at books, her blankie, being held, twirling in her dresses, singing, and dancing whenever she hears music! Brynn is my compassionate baby, she hates to see people hurting. We just love this sweet, shy, snuggly, smiling little girl!

Brooklyn Blythe

Also known as Brookie, Brookie Cookie, Cookie Lu, Lulu B just to name a few. Sweet, sweet Brooklyn is our family's latest addition! We welcomed Brookie into our family on August 23rd 2010 at 12:23pm by planned c-section. I was nervous she would be a bit high maintenance since she came out screaming bloody murder and continued to wail anytime anyone touched her- get her footprints, take her temperature, etc. Amazingly, she would instantly stop the moment the Hubs touched her or began talking to her. And since her birthday, we have barely heard a peep out of her..... And fast forward 18 months, she definitely makes plenty of peeps now! :) We are full blown in the the terrible twos (which IMO last from 18-36 months) I believe. To make matters worse she's also cutting her 4 molars. She definitely knows what she wants but can't quite articulate it, so gets frustrated. Eating is also a hit or miss these days which is very foreign to me. Mixed with the crabby days though is the funniest personality ever. She is a riot! She LOVES chasing after her big sisters or having them chase and imitate her. She also has this adorable chubby face and will peek out of the corner of her eyes and just melt your heart! She is definitely shy at first but if you can get through to her she will keep you in stitches with her antics. We love you little BB and couldn't ask for a sweeter addition to our family!

Monday, October 24, 2011

KINDERGARTEN!!

Our next big event that I missed sharing about is our precious first baby started Kindergarten. I just can not even believe those words are coming out of my mouth, crazy. Its so surreal, after being a teacher myself, to be on this side of things now is just weird. I'm currently planning Bella's Halloween party and its such a dream come true. This may reveal how crazy I am but ever since I can remember I have dreamed of having children. Even in junior high when other kids were dying to look at clothing stores or what not, I was scanning Target's baby isle and picking out what I'd pick when I finally had children. I know I'm crazy. :) I always imagined myself going in and helping in my child's classroom and now its a reality! So crazy.

Anyway, its here. And my daughter is officially in elementary school. Wild. Well Bella was beyond excited about it. We prayed and prayed a friend of hers from preschool would be in her class and the Lord answered those prayers! We are so thankful that Kaitlyn and Bella will be growing up together.

We were hesitant about her taking the bus for several reasons and she also expressed not wanting to take it, so we had planned on taking her to school. However, when two neighbor friends of hers, in first and second grade, asked her to take it with them she was all about the bus! Can't even describe the feeling I felt watching my baby drive away from me. Only thing holding me together was we had family in town that was there too and the others at the bus stop of course. The other day I was really sadden as it struck me that my daughter is off making memories that don't involve me. Up until now for the most part, where she went, I went. I have memories of my elementary years and now she's forming her own. This excites me for her but also really scares me.

She's doing great and just loves it. She is already reading simple sight word books which makes this former teacher proud. And just warms my heart with all that she's learning. We really love her teacher. She has such a big heart for her students, she's a mom of young kids, she's very organized, and she emails updates 2 to 3 times a week! But most of all we love that Bella has Kaitlyn. We love that she has a friend that shares her faith. That she can quietly pray with before snack and can talk about their beliefs. We're just so thankful.

Here are some of the pics from Bella's new adventure!

This was orientation night, where Bella got to meet her teacher and see her future classroom: