On the inside : May 2015

Today marked the end of First Grade for Kylie and Preschool for Madilyn. How did this happen? Wasn't Kylie just that little bundle cuddled up in the swing in the corner of the room? My how she has grown! Seven is just around the corner for her, and it just seems like yesterday I brought her home from the hospital. When people say to cherish the years you have with your children they weren't kidding. This year has been a struggle in some ways and has been just everything I could ask for in other ways.

I started the year off with high hopes and, naturally, as life wore on me my enthusiasm began to dissipate. School days were long, lunches and snacks to be packed were a hassle and I just couldn't wait to get to the end. Because the end always means that something new is around the corner. Boy, I wish I hadn't willed away the days. Time is important, and especially for someone who is constantly on the go like I am.

I made it! My first official class of Preschool and Prekindergarten has come and gone. I never realized how full my heart could get. When I met my husband it was love. I felt like I could never love anyone as much as I loved him. Along came Kylie and she changed my world, and my view of love. I don't love her more than her dad, but I love her in a different way. I was in heaven when she was born I felt like my heart was at capacity with those two...and then came Madilyn. My heart is overflowing. I never thought I could have any more room in my heart. Now that I have had 17 wonderful students I realize my heart can continue to receive love. My those kids each hold something special. My memories of them may fade over time, but I will never forget them. I had a wonderful class, and though at times made me rethink my decision to be a teacher, but they will always be a part of me, a part of my story.

As I watched my students graduate/promote onto their new grades I got teary eyed. Those are my babies! No one knows how they have changed me and how happy I am that everyone trusted me with their children! Today I felt God's calling strong in me. This is what I am meant to do! I am meant to mold minds, shape children, and give back to the world. This is my calling. This is my passion!

With the end of the school year comes the end of my daughter, Madilyn, being in school with me. When I first made the decision to enroll her in Annoor Academy I was hesitant. It is an Islamic school after all and I wasn't so sure I wanted her raised around this environment. Boy was I wrong! Although they do believe some things that I do not, I have found that Madilyn really grew over this past year. I have seen her learn to count, figure out all her colors and shapes, and even make friends with children who didn't share in her faith. It is amazing. You put in a Christian in a pool of Muslims and they play. Just like they have known each other forever. There is beauty in this world. I saw it with Jannat and Madilyn. It is beautiful. Love is beautiful. I watched my daughter strive to be a better person and it was more than I could have asked for. She made friends with children I was scared to pronounce their names. She loved them right off the bat when I was nervous to join them. It is what Christianity is all about. Love. It is what Islam is all about. Love. Madilyn taught me not to be afraid, but to embrace this world around me. I was really nervous starting a new school that didn't even share in the same faith with me. I found that these people are wonderful! I couldn't have asked for better co-workers. They believed in me, they trusted me and they have all grown on me. I have learned to open up to new ideas, new people, and things that may seem a little different or scary to me. These people are just like me. They hurt the same, they love the same. God placed me here for a reason and I am forever thankful for that.

It's the end! My girls made it through another year (and Madilyn's first year of real school) and I made it too. This summer will be filled with relaxation, because we all deserve it. Even though school is over the learning NEVER stops! We will continue working on skills and improving. Here's to another wonderful summer!

Today was an end, but it is also a new beginning!

Ms. Dana and Madilyn.

Madilyn with her promotion certificate

Last day of school no time to be serious

First and last day of Preschool

First and last day of First Grade

Goof balls

Another year has come and gone. My baby is no longer a baby. It happened. And even though 4 years old is still really young, she is in that preschool age where she is becoming hella more independent.

Madilyn loves math! Who knew? I hate math. I. HATE. MATH. No questions about it, math is not my subject, never has been. But Madilyn loves it. She has a little math workbook that she asks everyday if she can "count" and do "problems." Before she turned 4 she was counting to 39 (which is the TN state standard for those entering into Kindergarten!) She thrives off math. She learned recently that 2+2=4. She feels like a genius. She would say to her friends at school, I know that 2+2=4 and she would smile and ask, "right momma?" Correct. I love seeing her make connections and learning. It is so fun for me!

As her birthday edged closer I was getting excited. 4 brings on a whole new world! She will be starting Prekindergarten in the fall (which she is totally excited for) and she has recently learned to write Madilyn all by herself without my telling her what the letters look like. I am proud of her. She scored really high on her brigance testing (the second highest in the class and she is with Prek3 and Prek4 this year). And although I think that test is a little silly I am still proud of her. She soaks in knowledge. Everywhere she goes.

4 is the stage of incessant questions. Which can be really annoying or really fun. She has been asking about all kinds of things lately. "Why am I not a baby?" "Why does my body grow all the time?" "What was I like when I was a baby?" "When will I go to CCS with my sister?" "Will I be scared?" "Will we get to play?" etc. etc. I can get annoyed with all the questions at time, but I would never tell her that or show her that. Asking questions is how you learn. I want her to learn about the world, and herself. What better way to do that than to answer her questions.

Her birthday has come and gone. She is officially a 4 year old. It was like a rite of passage for her. She celebrated a few days before her birthday with an incredible "Frozen" themed birthday party. She loved it. She had a bounce house, food, pinata, Pin the Nose on Olaf game and Elsa came. She told me later that was the "best birthday ever!" As stressful as the balloons, Elsa and the inflatable people were it was totally worth it to see her face. She got to play with her friends, eat the most beautiful birthday cake I've ever seen, and open presents. Speaking of presents I like to have Madilyn open her gifts in front of everyone because she is hilarious. She genuinely loves everything she gets and she is the most thankful kid I have ever seen while opening gifts. She squeals with delight and her eyes light up.

On her birthday we had to go to school. She attends an Islamic School so "birthday" is a taboo word. She isn't allowed to celebrate at school, unfortunately with her friends, but it didn't stop her. "Guys I'm 4! Today is my birthday!" Her teacher, Ms. Dana, even gave her a big birthday hug. Madilyn was on cloud 9. "I'm not a little baby any more I am a big girl, and I am 4!" She is so proud of that mark. I am too.

After school I took her to the store to spend her birthday money she got at her party. She was in that store for over an hour carefully selecting her goodies. She cracks me up because she is so different than Kylie Jade is. Kylie rushes through everything, never thinks through her purchases and gets the first thing she sees that she wants. Madilyn went through every toy/book/movie TWICE. She grabbed a few toys and asked me to put them in the buggy, but she didn't want to get them yet she still had to look. She picked out Sofia the First Amulet pretty quickly. She said she needed it to go with her dress up dress. In the buggy the Amulet went. As she walked up and down each isle she would press buttons on toys, pick up a box and inspect the item. She got to the fake puppy isle. There were several dogs in that section she picked up each dog, pressed the button and checked out the little jewels they came with. She picked out the brown one and asked "do I have enough money to buy this and the amulet?" I told her she did and she'd have money leftover. She was so excited. Back to the books we went. She looked at each Frozen book, a few coloring books and then she found it Sofia the first with a magic wand. She picked it up and asked, "is this too expensive?" Nope it was on sale from 14.99 to 4.48 and she had just enough. She was so satisfied telling me she was ready for her birthday dinner at Moes. It was awesome. While the lady scanned the items she asked Madilyn why she had a crown on. "BECAUSE I'M FOUR TODAY!" She shouted. The lady placed all her items in a bag and Madilyn handed over the cash/gift card. "Thank you," she exclaimed as she grabbed her bags and headed towards the exit! Watching this I couldn't help but smile. Madilyn has really come out of her shell this year. She has become so much more independent. She makes total eye contact when she has a conversation and she can respond appropriately. I can't believe she is 4 years old. It seems so BIG!

On another note school is ready to get out which means SUMMER is right around the corner. I could not be more excited!!! I am taking on a summer job this year, but I am only working 8-1 so the shift isn't long and not bad hours. The girls were excited because they want to do summer camp. Madilyn especially says she is ready. I allowed each girl to pick out a few things they are interested in (Kylie is doing more camps, but she is a little older and is used to being on the go I really want Madilyn to several weeks to just relax and enjoy her break before PREK without me starts!) So we've been researching for several weeks. Kylie Jade already knew she wanted to take on the 3 gymnastics camps this year! She had made up her mind when the schedule came out that she was going. Madilyn expressed interest in dance camp. I found one at Scenic City (which is where we intend to put her in lessons this fall) and a Disney Princess dance camp at another stuido. She was so excited, but I was hesitant to put her in two classes especially since Kylie will not be joining her in dance camp. She said she wanted to go. So I signed her up for both dance camps and paid the deposits. As we entered in the first dance camp she looked around and found the ballet bar. She grabbed onto the bar and started doing demi plies. I definitely think she is going to be a dancer, I am just hoping we find the right studio for her.

I made a list of camps. Madilyn will be attending two separate dance camps and a VBS/CHEER camp at lifesport. Lifesport is a free camp we do every year. This will be Kylie's 3rd year attending this camp. Kylie is of course doing the VBS/CHEER camp wit her sister and she picked 3 gymnastics camp, VBS camp at Silverdale and Cheer camp at her school CCS. We had contemplated Madilyn doing Little Charger camp, but the camp prices there are ridiculous so we asked her if she wanted to do CCS camp and she said only CCS cheer camp (which is for Kindergarten and up) so we opted out of that camp for her.

Of course with summer break means BEACH VACATION! John, myself and the girls are so ready for Hilton Head. We are leaving for Hilton Head on Kylie Jade's 7th birthday! She was a little sad to hear we would be spending most of her birthday in the car, but after we told her she gets to pick dinner in a new place she got really excited! I cannot wait for the sun, the waves, the sand, and some relaxation! After the girls took swim lessons this summer they both feel way more confident in the water and Kylie can basically swim in the deep end without anyone with her (but you bet she will have a parent in there with her). I have been mentally making checklists in my head of all the things we need to bring. Bathing suits, goggles, swim sticks, towels, changes of clothes, and of course food. We are going to buy food here to transport over there so we don't waste time grocery shopping when we should be hanging out in our condo/beaching it up! My girls are very excited about the beach trip. They keep asking when we get to go! Kylie Jade said it will be the best birthday ever because she will get to see the beach!

Before her birthday we will be doing a party for her, of course. I am trying not to stress out if people come they come. If they don't they don't. Kylie decided on a gymnastics party this year, and it has been so peaceful. Madilyn's party was very stressful, but this one will be smooth sailing.

We are wrapping up this weekend with a sleepover! Kylie Jade's friend, Mary Jane, is here! She is not able to make it to the party so Kylie got to have her over for a night! She is absolutely estatic to have her here with us! As we edge closer to the last week of school we prepare for Kylie's school party. She picked out a ton of doughnuts to share with her classmates so I'm leaving work early Monday to bring goodies during last recess. She is so ready! 2nd grade is right around the corner. She has done so great this year and I have seen a huge improvement in her grades/attitude/etc. I cannot wait to see what the next school year brings.

I'm going to wrap up this post since I've been working on it forever. I need to get the girls off the TV and we are gonna see if the rain will stop so we can go do something fun before MJ leaves.