Couldn't Be More Proud

I haven't blogged in forever.  The last 5 months have been so crazy with our move, and I have SO much to catch up on.  But the Reagan-story from yesterday I need to write down NOW before I forget any detail.  My sweet girl made my heart BURST yesterday.  I mean really.  So I have to record it... now.  :)

Reagan is at a new school this year because our new house is in a different district.  She is SO MUCH my introverted child... actually, her Daddy's child.  :)  She does make friends easily, but she is admittedly quite shy.  So, she was nervous about school but has done great so far.  And I'm super happy with the school as well... just hoping she finds her "place" and her "somebody."  This is the second week of school, and she told me earlier in the week that she saw a boy who must be deaf because he had a grownup lady signing to him all day.  We talked about how cool that was... that he was getting the help he needs, that he can go to a school like all other kids, etc.  And I asked her if she could understand anything they were saying, but she said it was all too fast.  :)  That was about the end of the conversation. 

But signing has been back on the forefront in our household because I am starting to teach a  Music and ASL class at Brooklyn's preschool.  So, we've been signing more, reviewing all the songs we used to sing and sign with Brooklyn a few years back, etc.  I think it got Reagan excited about ASL again.  But maybe it was this little boy....

Yesterday she came home to tell me that she saw him playing by himself at recess (he is not in her class, not even sure what grade).  She told me that she walked over to him and signed "friend??"... and that he grabbed her hands, did a little happy dance, hugged her really tight, and laid his head on her shoulder for a moment.  Then they "just played together for the rest of recess."  So she decided at lunch to start teaching some of her new friends the signs she knows "so he can have more friends" and wants to sign more with me at home.

Be still my heart!  That is NOT in her comfort zone to approach a kid by herself, but she noticed that he might need someone... and she might just be that someone.  We talked about how hard it must be to feel like no one can talk to you and you can't talk to anyone... and she is out to change that for this little boy.  My sweet tenderhearted girl... Jesus is doing amazing things in that heart of hers.  I'm proud of her beyond belief, in her best days and her worst days, no matter what.  But yesterday, she busted my heart wide open.  And today, she is equipped and ready to introduce herself to him, spell her name, ask him his name, and tell him "nice to meet you."  :)  Can't wait for 2:40 to hear all about it.

She was Light in that dark place for this boy.  And she is impacting her friends in her class for his benefit too.  HER OWN MISSION FIELD!!!  School is her world, and she is really starting to "get it" that she is "in" the world but not "of" the world.  God put her there for a reason, and I am humbled beyond belief and pumped about it!!  Love her.  I grew in my walk with Jesus yesterday because of the actions of my girl.  :)

More March Madness

The girls, taking pics of each other on my phone.

 One day, before David and I left on vacation, I checked Reagan out of school early because we had an "appointment."  Best way to play hookie.

 Field Day!  It was freezing first thing that morning.

 Brooklyn crawled up in Mrs. Parker's lap (Reagan's teacher).

 This is where she spent the rest of the time, on her throne.  :)

 Reagan - far left.  She was so funny... this race, she won first place blue ribbon.  Her next race, she got a red second place.  So she told me that she really wanted to get 3rd and 4th place in her next two races so she would have one ribbon of every color.  :)  Priorities, people!

 Her throne.  She always draws a crowd, my little extrovert.  I really try to remedy this as best I can with Reagan's feelings in mind... it's hard.  But I tell her that her friends LOVE Brooklyn because she reminds them of her!  :)  Truth.

 Class competitions.

 Quick Change Relay.  Run, Iverson!!

 Gotta LOVE the tug-o-war!

At the end of March, the girls started swim lessons.  These pics are horrible since they are off my phone, through a glass wall, through a humid indoor pool area.  But they are LOVING swimming!!

 Reagan getting her award at the PTA meeting for her artwork display in Feb.  I love this pic of Reagan... so "her".  Natural pics of her are hard to come by...

First Grade Easter Egg hunt!!

 With her BFF, Amory.  Sweet friends, these two!

 I just happened to have my camera close by while she was drinking her coffee-milk one Sat.  Love it.

March is Rodeo Time in Houston.  Each year we take them to the stock show and fair on a Sat.  It was COLD this time... so weird!  But they loved wearing their hats and hitting the rodeo.

 Baby Longhorn

 

YEEEEEHAW!!  Pony Ride!

 B was funny... kept reaching down and patting her horse... "Good girl, Tiki. Good girl."

 The egg/chick area is always a hit!

 We had to take this pic for Uncle Ronnie... since we met Ronnie the pig!

 Bunnies!!

We don't always do this, but this year we bought tickets for some rides.  SOOO worth it, since every pic I have has smiles just like these:

 Had to eat inside because it was so cold... CROWDED.  So, the floor became our friend for our fair food.  So fun.... the Rodeo is one of my favorite things about being in Houston.

Easter!!!

Starting off March with the end... Easter pics!

On Saturday, David made easter egg pancakes with chocolate chips.  A little chocolate and food coloring goes a long way into the hearts of my kids.

That night, the baskets appeared and brought big squeals on Sunday morning.

 My beautiful babies who are so not little anymore. :(

Speaking of getting big, Reagan asked me earlier that weekend if I would let her wear a headband with her dress. "I'm just not that in to bows anymore, but I'm really in to headbands right now."  My heart just SUNK.  She never seems to really care about how she looks or what she wears (except she really enjoys dressing for comfort, like with "soft pants", which she comes by naturally).  But I guess she is growing up.  So, we found a perfect pink and silver headband for her dress... and I bought a few more with sparkles and flowers to add to our hair "wardrobe."  Goodness gracious, how did she get so big?

 ~

After celebrating our Risen Savior with a great service at church, we headed to Aunt Mary and Uncle Kyle's for lunch and egg hunting!

Off they go!

 Etta was big enough this year to really participate.  Her attention span didn't last long, but it was fun while it lasted!

 As the oldest and biggest, Reagan was serious in her hunting.  :)  But she was sweet and left the easy ones for the littles.

 I love this look I'm getting from David.

 Right before, at lunch, Reagan bit into her sandwich... looked at me with eyes WIDE... and told me that her tooth had just gotten "waaaaay looser."  So, David pulled it!  So, sweet girl went egg hunting with her huge front gap.  :)

 Jumpin'!  (I love how Austin and Jonathan are watching!)

 Jumpin' again!

 James and his Mini-me.

 

 Finding just a couple more before she was all hunted-out.

 

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter!!!!