Students of the 6 Weeks

At my girls' elementary, the teachers pick 2 students each 6 weeks to be the 'Student of the Six Weeks'. It is a very big honor to be picked and ALL of my girls have been picked this year. Bailey was picked LAST 6 weeks, and this 6 weeks, Avery and Parker got chosen. They have a ceremony after school for them to be recognized. They are called up one by one and afterwards there are refreshments. The kids just love it and feel so special. I am SO proud of these girls.

Mr Adams (the principal) and the girls. Jude was feeling a little left out I think and jumped in this one. :)

I CANNOT find the pictures of Bailey at her ceremony, so...here is a picture of her and HER teacher Mrs. Sharp (at Halloween). We LOVE Mrs. Sharp. I feel like a bad mom for not having HER ceremony picture, but what can ya do??

Avery and her FAVORITE teacher, Mrs. Varner. What are we going to do without Mrs. Varner next year. This is a teacher that Avery has said she wishes was her Grandma. Now THAT's a teacher!!


The thing that I think is cool about Avery is that she does NOT make straight A's or even straight B's, the teachers chose her for trying HER hardest and being a great girl. I just love that it isn't ALL about the child's grades. Avery would NEVER get chosen if it was JUST about grades. I am SO thankful that she has great teachers this year that think she is sweet and special, just like I do.

Notice Parker's nervous feet. I thought that was so cute.

I know everyone has heard of Mrs. Reese by now, so.... here is Parker with HER favorite - Mrs. Reese.

WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!

Playing puppy - it's all about the treats!

While I don't post pictures where you can check my kids tonsils all that often, I thought these pictures were funny. My kids - ALL my kids were playing puppy and so I took their picture. They were giving each other treats for doing tricks (which I still think was their sneaky way of getting ANOTHER snack after school!) and taking turns being the dog trainer. So then I had to take a good one of them where they don't look like they are dying for a cup of water. :)


2 things to add. Yes there are Christmas presents in the back because this was before we had done ALL our Christmas with everyone. AND.....notice Jude's NEW smile. Isn't is charming??? My little Popeye.

Parker : My little inspiration

The girls all share a room. IT is VERY hard for them to keep it clean. Harder for one most of all. (Parker) She is 6 1/2, but just isn't the most tidy child. She is too carefree and fun to bother herself with keeping her bed made and picking her stuff off of the floor. So.....the rule is that they are only responsible for picking THEIR own things up. Well, this past week their room was a disaster and it was time for a good cleaning. Avery and Bailey got all of their stuff done pretty quick. Well, Parker was the only one left with things to pick up and this was what she said with her eyes filled with tears, "I was NOT made to clean!! I was made to worship God!!!"

I about died laughing when I heard that, even though after thinking about it, she was SO right. She LOVES God. She writes love notes to Him daily and talks about Him constantly. I think it is SO special for a 6 year old to be that mindful of her Creator. I can learn a LOT from her.

SO.....even though I love to have a clean house and that IS important (Don't get me wrong about THAT!) I think Parker's view on this is spot on!!!

Christmas was GREAT

Christmas was so much fun this year. It was just us and the kids. No other family was here. I felt a little weird about that, but it turned out to be great. We woke the kids up after I heard someone sneaking down the stairs (Bailey).

The kids were excited about their loot, but mom always has to have that Christmas morning picture!! :)


Avery's favorite thing was her pink cell phone and polka dot suitcase.


Bailey's favorite was her Academy gift card and a black knitted hat.


Parker's loved her Heelys.


Jude's favorite was his animals and the "big one truck" he asked Santa for.

We went to Cindy and Dennis's for Christmas lunch. Their daughter Tracy was in from DC. She is SO great with my kids. We always have fun at their house!

I talked to my mom Christmas day and she said it was my first Christmas without her there. I was OK until that moment. It just made me sad. I told her 31 years was an awesome run!! :)

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!