Buckets!!!!

Who knew the buckets were so important!! Today Mikayla got to play hookie with her Papa. They had grand plans to go to lunch and then over to the community pool and have a pool day. Well those plans were changed when they found out the pool isn't open on Tuesdays.... so Mikayla was upset and sort of crying then she looked up at her Papa and said, well we're just going to have to get the buckets out.... so that's exactly what they did!

I'm not sure who had more fun.... Mikayla or Jennifer!

She has been playing in these buckets since she could barely walk....... such fun!!!! She sure has always been drawn to the water..... here are some pictures from June 2007 - WOW!

I LOVE this picture!!! LOL

Pre-K Graduation

We had Mikayla's Pre-Kindergarten graduation ceremony last night. It was the most awesome experience. It was sooooo much fun. We are all feeling practically hung over today (even without drinks) it was just such an event!

It started out with a slide presentation of each of the graduates showin their baby picture and their professional graduation picture... I wish it had shown up better but I loved seeing our girl up on the big screen!


Here they are starting to come in, the lady in the black top is Miss Lauren, Mikayla is right behind her :) she got to lead her class in, she was sooooo excited!


Here is where she spotted us! I really don't know who was more excited, her or me!!! I did good with the whole crying thing.... LOL

Here is the entrance video, all the kids in blue are the kindergarten class, the red robes are pre-k. There are actually 2 pre-k classes, Mikayla is in the 2nd.

Each class did two songs (one in english and one in spanish) then they received their "diploma" then the next class came up and did the same. It was so well organized and SOOOO much fun! Here is one of Mikayla's songs, it was Jeramiah was a bull frog (edited for kids) it was so cute, she was sooooo into it (she is the first kiddo on the far left). My camera man...(Michael) drifted a few times...but did a good job!

She's waiting her turn to get her diploma...... she was so cute, she clapped for all of her friends as they got their diplomas!!!

Here is our girl getting her diploma from Miss Tanya the school director.

PHEW now we're outside in the courtyard.... the kids were SOOOOOOO tired, such a long day. When I dropped her off in the morning, you could feel the tension, anxiety, excitement everything from both the teachers and the kids, the shool was WORKED UP!!!! The ceremony wasn't until 7:00 pm so these kids were EXHAUSTED!!! Some were melting down, some were just crying... and some were just happy it was over with (I think that's the catagory we were in).

Here is Miss Lauren and Miss Ellis, they have done so much work with Mikayla, we really appreciate everything!!! It's been a great year and Mikayla has learned soooooooo much.

Her very first professional graduation pictures.... oh my, where has the time gone!!!! *sniff sniff*

Our Little Dancer

I took the afternoon off from work and went to see Mikayla's dance class. It was parent observation day so it wasn't an official recital but it was sooooooo cute!!!

Here is my little dancer starting some stretches.

I took a ton of video but these are my three favorites :)

Hip hop

Ballet

Little ballet but I love the stretching/warm up :)

Here is Mikayla's teacher Miss Stephanie, she does such a wonderful job with the kids!!! I'm so happy I went to see her in action. Afterwards I took Mikayla out for an ice cream (gasp - before dinner)....LOL!

I love days like this!

Reunited with Papa!!!!!

We had to wait and wait and wait for Papa to come home from California. He went there to visit my uncle and aunt and then he had a painting class he was going to attend.

He had just started his 5 hour journey to the class when he got into a terrible car accident. He suffered broken ribs and a broken pelvis. My poor aunt had to call me, I can only imagine how horrible it is to make a call like that (she did just fine though and was very reassuring). Dad was in the hospital for 5 days and then released to go back to their house to recover before he could travel home.

Even with the one thing that went wrong, there were soooooo many things that went right that day first and foremost that considering how and where the accident happened - that he made it through and there were no other cars involved. That while his injuries were certainly severe enough, they could have been so much worse…. I’m so thankful to God for being with him and his fleet of guardian angels that protected him. I can’t express my gratitude.

So he finally got to come home, it felt like he was gone forever. Here is Mikayla on the way to the airport. She was soooo excited to see her Papa and have him home again. She really missed him.





Naturally in the airport we were waiting at one set of elevators and he came down another set but we found him - hey he wasn't going to go too far without us LOL

Here is a very happy little girl at Papa being home again!!! (that makes two of us)

Truly a lesson to not take every day we've been give forgranted!!!

We had some special visitors!!!!

Our favorite Colorado cousins came into town :) It was sooooo good to see them and be able to spend some time!! The weather was perfect out that day too, we were able to enjoy some outside time. It is soooo nice that we've been able to see each other as much as we have! I love it!

Here is Janet and Bryce :) isn't he a CUTIE!

Mikayla and her Janet!

Princess Mikayla and Princess Janet

Isn't it funny how children's toys are so much fun for parents, here is Mark playing with Mikayla's "Tag book reader" he was making it read word but not in the order the book had them in.... but rather in hysterical sentences that he made up!!! Its a good source of entertainment and education for children and parents alike! LOL


What a great time!!!