Carli's school program

Wednesday was Carli's last day of preschool, complete with a program in the evening. I think I was sadder than she was, though she kept reiterating that she would miss Mrs. Wilson and Wyatt a lot. Last night she came and sat on my lap and said, "I miss Mrs. Wilson already!"

Below: Heading out to the program. Carli's holding a pot of flowers for one of her teachers.

Below: After Carli received her certificate and Sing-a-long CD

Below: This year's couple in deep puppy love--Carli and Wyatt!


Below: Mrs. Wilson and Carli. I couldn't have been more pleased to have Mrs. Wilson as Carli's teacher. She was so creative and fun (and it didn't hurt that she really liked Carli.)

Below: Delaney and Carli

Below: After the program, we went one last time to the classoom. Olivia's favorite spot is the Reading Center, a playhouse.

Below: Carli and her boys, Liam and Wyatt.

Below: These are out of order. Oh, well. Carli and a few of her girlfriends on their last day of school: Olivia, Carli, Emily and Elizabeth.

Below: Carli on the last mornign of school.

Below: In a completely unrelated story--Carli drew this picture of our family. What really struck me was her version of Maddy (far left). Notice the feet. That was not coincidence, I found out after asking her about the picture.

Below: Carli got a new bike. We bought it from the same man who sold Glen his bike. It's brand new. Two weeks ago, someone bought it for a granddaughter who didn't want it (imagine!). So I paid $35 for it instead of $87!

Below: Some video clips of the progrom. The top one is Olivia's response to the songs. I only got half of it. The first was loud whoops of joy and clapping like crazy. The second is of one of the songs they sang.

In other news: Alyssa and I went garage saling the other day. I prayed that I'd find a bassinet, and I did! Looks like new. And I got a bouncy seat and a swing (I passed up two others for $30, and paid $10 for this one and it looks brand new.). I also found an easel with whiteboard and chalkboard for the girls, and it was well worth the $5! I make it out saling about once a year, so I was very pleased that I had a good day! Poor Alyssa didn't find anything, but we made up for it with hot chocolate!

Sunday

Above: The girls on Sunday. Note: We're getting our pics taken this week for our directory and I'm desperately trying to figure out what we can wear that we can all match or at least not clash! We all have green, but mine is a different color of green. I need Melanie!!!!! And if you don't know what I'm talking about, go to www.theclemensclan.blogspot.com.

Over this past week, I've enjoyed getting to know two moms here in town, both with little ones that have spina bifida. First, I finally got in touch (by phone) with the family whose third little girl is four months old. We're meeting later this month, and they're anxious for us to meet their little one. They have pics/video of both before and after the surgery, as well, so that should be enlightening. And then last night, I had been invited to an a la mode custom purse party, and I'd decided not to go, since I couldn't afford it at the moment. But the hostess let me know that her friend that I've been wanting to meet was going to be there and not to feel obligated to just come and talk and not shop. So I gave in and went, and I'm ever so glad I did! For one thing, I know exactly what I want when I go back to a party! I absolutely love their "go anywhere" bag and their "designer daybag." You pick your own material(s) and embellishment! (check them out at www.alamodestudio.com!) Erynn was a delight. Her oldest, Alex, is 8 with sb, and it was so helpful to sit down and talk to someone who really understands this waiting process, as well as giving me an idea what the future may be like.

So I REALLY broke out of my comfort zone this week by initiating contact with two friends. God is so good. He knew just what I needed. I am so ready to get Maddy here, and in about 7 weeks, that will be a reality!!

Hodge Podge

I've just sorted through all my pics and found a hodge podge that you haven't seen yet.

Above: Olivia in the cool shades from her Great Grandma Cessna. She's sitting on our new carpet, which we are thouroughly enjoying!

Below: On the Friday before we left Alaska, we got 10 inches or so of snow--the kind of snow that you hope for around Christmas. Big beautiful flakes and sticking to absolutely everything. The day before, it was 60 degrees. And the snow was practically gone two days later. My mom would have loved it. As you can see in this pic, the mountains vanished with the storm.

Below: Do want to know how many shots I had to take to get them all to look semi-pleasant?

Below: Carli and Olivia made a new friend (Delaney) in the airport. Notice they're all in jammies! We were hoping for some serious sleeping on the plane....

Below: ....and we got what we wished for! Our flight home was a red-eye, leaving at 9:30 p AK time. They slept the whole way.

Below: Last Thursday was a Mother's Day tea at Little School. It was a "cruise," complete with entertainment (kids and teachers), origami (only it was a washcloth instead of paper), aerobics (motions to "Ho, ho, ho, it's a pirate's life for me" and other songs), portraits, a buffet (including a chocolate fountain with fruit and marshmallows) and a spa (cucumbers on the eyes, yogurt on the face, "massage" and "manicures.").

Below: Why is it that I never thought of taking pics of me and my girls or Mom A. and her girls on Mother's Day??? Oh, well, at least I got one of Grandma and Olivia.


In other news, we went back down to Indy last week to see the neonatologist. We took along Glen's mom so she could be in on one ultrasound and seeing the NICU. Good news: the ventriculomegaly (hydrocephalus) hasn't gotten worse. That is the main concern between now and the end of the pregnancy, and if it happens, it's in the towards the end. We finally got our first print out of the ultrasound pics (we just have a DVD of the very first ultrasound, which I'm afraid I don't want to see yet). These ones are profiles of her little face--looks like she's inherited the Lacy nose!!!

We toured NICU on that trip, too, and it was very helpful to see where Madeline will be. The atmosphere was calming, and everyone was so nice. And before I forget (I know this is a little soon for such an announcement, but I'll forget before then)...You know I love visitors in the hospital, and I know this time will be no exception. But since there must be a banded parent in with the baby before you can visit, those of you driving from Kokomo (no pressure or anything, of course!), may want to call our cells to make sure someone is there. Of course, I can't imagine even leaving her side, but there may be a time when Glen runs me home to see my girls, etc, and I'd hate to leave someone hanging.

Had a nice Mother's Day...Glen gave me a gift card to Penney's and I had fun spending it! The problem is that I wanted to shop for clothes, but I'm not buying a ton of maternity clothes that I can only wear for two more months, and I don't know what I'll be needing or what size I'll be later! Oh, well. On the day itself, Glen's parents were here, and Mom A. and I weren't allowed to do a blessed thing! Jed and Alyssa came over later to hang out for a while (on some special family days, like Mother's day, we only have morning service/Sunday School so that we can have more family time, especially all the volunteers that don't get a break very often. Made it seem more like a day of rest, for sure, especially now that our Sundays have gotten a little more hectic with Patriotic musical and regular choir practice starting at 4!).

Last night, I went with Glen's mom to a Mother's Day banquet, and she asked to keep the kids! They've been asking to go anyway, so I was happy for them. Glen and I already had a date night planned for tonight, so she's keeping them tonight too! Glen is working from home today--so we're going out for lunch, and then later we'll head out with Jed and Alyssa to take in Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and some Ritter's custard! Yum.

Well, I think you're finally caught up on my news! If you made it clear to the end of this post, I applaud you! :)

Love you all!

Pam

Happy Birthday!!!!

Today is my daddy's birthday! Hope it's a good one, Dad. Don't party too hard. You're the best.

And yesterday was Glen's, so this is belated, I know. I was too busy yesterday with homework and baking ho-ho cake (and eating it of course).

So the two most important men in my life are getting old, I mean, older.

Hugs to you both!
Pam