Blessed Beyond Measure: November 2011

Monday, November 28, 2011

Visiting Grandparents and Meeting Newest Niece

My Grandparents pretty much the best there are. I am so blessed to have always had them in my life. I do not take for granted that they are there. I can't imagine my life without them. There have been very few if any trips to Oklahoma since we moved that there hasn't been a drive to Moore, Ok to see them!

Here is Caden with his Great Grandpa Apple and My Mom, Grandma and 3 kiddos. I wish we could of had someone take a picture with me in it but that is okay I am thankful we have this one!

After our trip to Moore we headed a little further South to Norman, Ok to meet my newest niece Khloe. I couldnt' wait to get my hands on her and neither could Carolina.

I did not get any great pictures this day because there was no light. A lamp gave me the light in this picture. And a flash on the one above.

Isn't she beautiful though! So precious and perfect! God is so good to us!

Shoe Boxes

On our way to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving Break I was talking with my friend. She suggested that the kids and I come to the church to help decorate some shoe boxes that needed to be filled and mailed via Samaritan's Purse. Most of the younger families make their own boxes and stuff them but some people donate money and everyone chips in and decorates and stuffs those boxes. I thought that that was a wonderful idea. So the kids and I headed to the church Saturday morning.

Macy, Caylea and Isaac taking a break from all the hard work to pose for me.

Carolina and Katelyn working on a box

My Brother in Law Aaron and Lizzie working on a project for their box.

Samuel made a tiger shark on his box :) If you know Samuel than you know that that fits him perfectly!

Caylea and one of her boxes

Carolina and one of her boxes

Caden and his only box :)

My kids made 5 boxes. I decided to pay for shipping them it's not much but I know it adds up and it is such a great cause. I have the tracking code so I will know where they end up. I think it was a great lesson for my kids to think about others that do not have very much. As a bonus they had fun decorating the boxes and hanging out with their friends they had not seen since July.

Little Indian's

Some of the parents of kids in Carolina's class at school went up to help the kids make Indian costumes for their Thanksgiving program. While we were in the hall helping some of the kids paint the other children made these Indian's.

Carolina painting her Indian shirt for the program

Carolina with some of her friends working on their projects.

The day of the program. Carolina chose to dress up as a Pilgrim. Well I should say I chose to dress her up as a Pilgrim. In the end she chose to stay in that outfit when she had the opportunity to change.

Kindergarten Program

One of Carolina's thankful leaves for the thankful tree.

Thankful Tree

Happy 6th Birthday Carolina

The weekend before we left to go out of town for thanksgiving we had a little Birthday Party for Carolina at the park. She chose a few of her best friends. It is so cute to see her having her own little friends. I have to say I am pretty happy about the friends she has chosen because all of their Mommy's are super sweet!

Here are the girls from left to right Brooke, Kathryn, Caylea, Caroline (Kathryn's sister), Carolina, Saniyah and Aubrey. Such little cuties!

The birthday girl Carolina

Another of Carolina and her friends: Brooke, Saniyah, Kathryn, Caylea, Caroline, Aubrey and Carolina.

Caylea enjoying some pizza :)

Love these girls!

Carolina had so much fun!

My sweet girl!

Caylea reading one of the birthday cards to the girls.

Proof Caden was there :) lol

Everyone had a great time. It was a great celebration of 6 wonderful years with my Carolina. I love you sweet baby girl and am so proud of who you are and can't wait to watch you grow and grow for many many more years!

Skating Party

The girls and I went to a skating birthday party for one of the girls friends Aubrey at the beginning of November. They did great for their first time skating. Carolina was making me laugh so hard because she kept jumping and then falling. The child has no fear. Leah (Aubrey's Mom) was helping the girls get around to start with. She is so sweet she just loves the girls.

Time to party!

Caylea, Carolina and Aubrey ~ Aubrey is in 4th grade. She rides the bus with the girls. Aubrey had Mrs. Miller last year. Mrs. Miller introduced Leah to me one day at the school and we hit it off. I really enjoy hanging out with Leah and the girls love Aubrey. God is so good to us giving us such sweet Christian friends.

After the party we went to Aubry and Leah's house and hung out with them and some of their family that was in town. The kids still didn't want to leave but eventually we had to :)

The day had started off with a garage sale. Christina a friend I met through Anthony's job came all the way from Marshall, TX to help me. It was fun but a lot of work. Not completely sure if I will do another one or not. I think Craigslist is a better way for me to go. Then donate what I don't want to sale. Anyways it was such a fun day.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Mrs. Mann

Carolina had a student teacher in her class for the first 12 weeks of school. Her name is Mrs. Mann. She was so great with the kids and the kids love her! She has been back several days since her "last" day to help out with special projects. It is obvious that she loves the kids as much they love her!

This was from her going away "party". The class got her this blanket and a pretty picture frame with a picture of the class in it. She loved it!

Carolina and Mrs. Mann

Mrs. Mann was sure a blessing to Carolina and I especially as we adjusted to Carolina being in school. She will always have a special place in our hearts. I have heard her talk about substituting at Stockwell Place and I sure hope that that leads to her teaching there. I would so love that and I know many others would also!

Halloween

On Halloween Carolina had her field trip to Papa Simpson's farm. When we got back to the school we passed out the kids Halloween treats. It was not an official party because the kids only get two of those a year. We all had a whole lot of fun though.

Carolina with her goodie bag and sucker from Mrs. Green.

Carolina working on a coloring page.

Caden was sick on Halloween and so he stayed home with Daddy. The girls had been fighting a cough/cold so we decided to go to an indoor carnival that some friends had invited us to. It was so much fun! The girls had a blast with Aubrey and I had a good time hanging out with her Mom, Leah and Dad.

Caylea playing some carnival games.

Carolina playing some games.

The girls got to ride a horse and a pony. They loved it so much!

It was a great night for us. So much fun!

Pumpkin Patch

Carolina's first school field trip (well besides the fire station across the street from the school) was on October 31. It was to Papa Simpson's Farm which was a pumpkin patch. It was so fun! I rode down there with a couple of other "Mommy's"

Carolina's class saying "The Pledge of Allegiance " before the field trip. The do keep God in The Pledge! AWESOME!

On the way out to the bus :)

It is so great seeing my girls doing so great in school and making new friends but I have to say that it is also so great for me to get to make new Mommy Friends.

This little girl that is holding Carolina's hand her name is Aubrey. She lives right down the road from us. We can just walk to her house in 2 minutes. So fun!

This is Carolina on the horse tire swing being pushed by her friend and our neighbor Saniyah. We sure do love her and her family also!

Carolina's Kindergarten class. The teacher with the red hair on the left is Mrs. Green. The teacher on the right with the sun glasses is Mrs. Mann. She was the student teacher. However she finished her time the week after this field trip. However I have been up at the school several times since then and have seen her most every time. YAY! She loves our babies and she is such a sweet sweet lady! She doesn't have to be there anymore but she chooses to be!