caimbree heads to preschool

 You know what has been a really difficult transition for me?  Sending each kid off to school.  You know what has been an overwhelmingly difficult transition?  Sending the youngest off to school.  She was ready to try what her sisters had done and in spite of being so shy, she didn't shed a tear, but this mama has shed enough tears for the both of us.  She only goes twice a week for a half day, but I don't like being alone.  She doesn't like having both sisters in school full time either.  She misses them and wishes she was in school full time with them.  My heart can't even take the thought of what that is going to feel like.

Caimbree doesn't say much at school, but she has made some friends and really loves recess.  She really doesn't like doing the work or writing her name.  The first week she couldn't remember everything that happened so she would make up stories that we found hilarious.  She told us there were kids in her class named Trashcan, Beetle, and Rock Star.  It took quite a few weeks for her to admit that there weren't any kids with those names
 haha.  She doesn't say much at school, but the second we walk out of the doors, she talks NON STOP, barely taking a breath until we get her sisters.  She also talks non stop on the days she doesn't have school.  It's like everything that has been on her mind that she can't say with two older siblings saying everything on their mind just comes spilling out.  It is funny and I love hearing her voice.  We love this blue eyed beauty and we are so happy she is excited and happy about entering the world of school!

kindergarten for savanna

 Kindergarten came for this sweet girl on August 2!  She went for a day of testing with four other kids.  Then she went back the following week for a her every day kindergarten adventure.  She was ready to go and she loves it!  She has a fantastic teacher, Mrs. Beth Williams!  She has quite a few preschool friends that are also at her school and that made the transition easier.  She loves school and I love how quickly she is learning.  Her teacher is so good at doing lots of music and rhymes and that is totally Savanna's learning style.  She comes home singing songs about sight words and counting by 10's and a million other things!  We are just so grateful for all of the teachers who give their time and talents to teach our babies!  We love education and learning and we want our girls to be strong academically and we feel they are getting a great start at the school they are at and with the teachers we have been blessed to get to know and love!  Savanna is going to rock kindergarten and her teacher and classmates are so lucky to have this happy soul in their world this year!

first day of second grade

 This girl headed to second grade on August 1.  As usual, she was ready, I was not.  It's true that once they start school the years go by even faster. 

She got Mrs. Laura Ferrell, which is exactly who she was hoping for!  She learning so much, she loves going to school, and she has a really great class with really fantastic kids.  It's going to be another remarkable year!

heidi at eight

My goodness this girl is such a beauty.  My friend, Jordyn, took these pictures and they turned out so well.  Heidi really wanted a long dress and I found this beautiful one that she was so happy about.   Eight really is great and we really love watching her grow and learn, even though a piece of us is sad the growing part is happening so fast!

*Heidi is the best student.  She is the one any teacher would be over the moon to have in their class.  She is obedient and respectful and thorough with her work.  She hangs onto every word they say and soaks in information like a sponge.  She reads between the lines and understands social cues at an adult level so she is extremely helpful and can interpret things the teacher isn't saying directly.  She is also enthusiastic about learning and loves to learn new information.  She is also very, very kind to her classmates and has the amazing ability to notice when someone feels sad or embarrassed and she reaches out to them in the most kind and loving way.  It is not unusual for me to get notes from her teachers letting me know kind things she has done or how much they adore having having her in their class.  We are so proud of her for being such a good students because we value her education and we know that doing well in school is so important!

*When Heidi isn't at school, she loves to play school with her stuffed animals.  She uses her whiteboard and reads books and has book discussions.  I love hearing her play school.

*Heidi loves a good book.  She is an incredible reader, but she also is in heaven when I read to her...and it is our favorite activity to do together.  I look forward to reading to her every night.  We are currently reading Harry Potter.  I love her insights and I absolutely ADORE watching her reactions to funny parts or shocking parts. 

*Heidi is a perfectionist.  She gets frustrated if she can't get something perfect the first time she tries something.  This is frustrating for both of us!

*She loves to talk football with her dad and I think it's adorable. She thinks it's hilarious to make up names for teams and she follows teams and scores.  She gets so excited when the Titans or Redskins win!

*She loves to do anything artsy. She loves to paint and draw and is really good at it!  She likes to sew, but is a little impatient with the learning process.  She would rather just know how to do it without having to learn haha.

*Heidi is very clever and witty.  She is fun to talk to because she just "gets" stuff.  Her teachers love this about her, her aunts and uncles love this about her, her friends love this about her.  She just has a great sense of humor. 

*She is getting very good at the piano and is trying choir this year and enjoying it.  She likes music and learns quickly.

*We took a break from soccer until spring but she has gotten really good and quick.  She is a fast thinker and that helps her play well. She is an awesome little goalie. 

*Heidi loves to take care of people and be in charge.  She is so good with little kids and they adore her.  Let's be honest, everyone adores her.  Her sister's friends all think she is the best thing in the world, all the kids at school in all grades know who she is and love to tell her hello. 

*She is an awesome little prankster.  She loves a good prank and she can keep a straight face and expression far better than I can!  She is also really good at taking a joke.

*Heidi has great insights when we read scriptures together as a family.  She was so excited to get baptized.

*She loves LOL dolls and Legos.  She builds great Lego creations.

*She is the master at coming up with creative games for her sisters and her friends.  She has great ideas and her sisters and friends generally follow her ideas.

We love you so much, Heidi!

We are so proud of you and so proud

of your beautiful heart.

You are such a remarkable example to

everyone around you.  You are fun and funny

and smart and you have a bright future ahead of you!

You can do anything you put your mind to!

XOXOXO

celebrating heidi

 We had a great day celebrating our beautiful birthday girl!!  At church she was so excited to be sung to and to get her birthday ticket from primary to collect a giant candy bar from the bishop. 

She chose German pancakes for breakfast, chicken nuggets for lunch, and hamburgers for dinner!  She was so excited to open presents and slowly read each card and note with equal excitement.  She was excited for some new boots and new books to read and especially to open an LOL doll.  We had a great time celebrating our birthday girl!