chrafty kids

First day of 1st Grade!

Bella's first big day of school was finally here! She couldn't have been more excited... she was counting down the days all week until Monday. Here they are saying goodbye on the front porch (Violet was still inside focused on eating her yummy cereal)

Both assume a very typical pose for the first shot.

Then a giant hug and kiss...

she's our little lady

here she is standing right outside Mrs. Nester's classroom, Nate took her that morning as he does every morning, since he is working in the next building at the high school. I just knew if I went I would only cry... just can't believe she is already this big, plus I never anticipated sending her to school this young! (long story there)

She found her desk and got right to work... she was so excited to finally get started

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Here she is in the background and her teacher is in the brown dress taking pictures too. She is very sweet & experienced and we like her a lot.

After her first day, Bella was so thrilled with going to school that she told Landry, "I wish you could come with me, it is so very, very, very wonderful!" She loves her teacher and wants her to come over and play at our house. Hah!
I ask her what her favorite thing is about school and she says 'all of it'.

It has been a huge adjustment for all of us, including Landry and Violet. We are working on getting a good early bedtime routine. Somehow, everyone has started waking up as early as Bella, even though we switched the rooms around so the two littles could sleep longer...

It's been an exciting and exhausting week... we are all glad tomorrow is Friday!

Arboretum in summer

we said goodbye to baby Orin before he traveled back to Colorado with his mom & dad...

...while Cole and Luke stay behind with us in Texas to play with their cousins
and stay at Nanna & Poppa's house!

Nate & I took all the kids to the Arboretum for a picnic
and some exploring in the Pioneer Village.

Bella and Violet claimed a house of their own,

and Violet made herself right at home tucking herself in bed.

discovering an insect is always an exciting event

"CHEEEEZZE"

bella's birthday with family

We waited for the Davidson's to come visit before we celebrated Bella's birthday in June. So fun to have Cole, Luke and baby Orin here with Jad & Becky! We had a fun party full of kids and chaos with both grandparents and Kim & Bea, Katelyn & Taylor from Canton too.

St. Patrick's Day is Poppa's Birthday

Thumbs up to one of our most favorite persons in all the world... our Poppa!
Violet couldn't quite find her thumb in time for the picture.

We had a fun day in McKinney for Poppa's birthday. We ate at Hutchins barbecue which is hands down the best ever! Free ice cream with sprinkles for the kids and complimentary peach cobbler with every meal-- does it get any better than that?

Next we visited the Heard Museum of Natural History and enjoyed the beautiful weather on a nature walk on one of their many trails.

We all wore green to be festive and had lots of fun with our Poppa.
We love you Poppa-- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Show & Tell Ballerina

So we are going to this Homeschool program on Mondays where elementary age children gather as a group to do activities and lessons together. Here is Bella during the "Show & Tell" portion when the children can choose whatever they want to share with their classmates. This is her second time to go to this program (she has one good friend Dannielle, but doesn't know any of the other children yet). I was very surprised she did not get too shy on stage. Looks like she was born to dance. Thought I would point out that we did not rehearse any of this, we just listen to this classical CD at home whenever the girls want to dance. I was very impressed with her impromptu routine! She did not even know what song I was going to pick and we forgot her ballet shoes. No matter, this girl can dance in her sleep!

Our little Violet Grace turning 2!

dancing around after her face was painted,
waiting for her guests to arrive...

her "thumbelina" fairy cake that was actually
an accident with a happy ending

this is her demonstrating "2" when I ask her to
show me how old she is

4 little fairies
I did face painting for the girls and they all wanted
a fairy on their cheek

almost finished and look how clean she still is!
wow- she just might be growing up :(

2 peas in a pod...
landry with a mouthful of sweethearts trying to smile

violet snuggles with Grandma and her new puppy she got for her birthday

bella and violet sorting out Vi's new hair accessories

and turning the headbands into necklaces and crowns of course!

This is the ballerina dress Nanna found for the birthday girl...
as soon as Violet opened it,
her face lit up and she started taking off her other
skirt to put this dress on.

little doll

We can't believe you are already two! I still remember your sweet chubby newborn face asleep next to me on our bed, you just looked like an angel so peaceful and perfect sleeping there... I didn't even mind losing sleep as I stared at you in amazement wondering how we were blessed with such a perfect little gift! You have brought so much joy, laughter and sunshine to our family and I am thankful & humbled beyond words to be your mommy.

bella dancerella

dreams come true
Bella has finally started taking Ballet lessons...

after lots of searching and prayer for an affordable option
we found a perfect ballet class
right down the road at our neighborhood rec center.
(Thanks for the tip Karen!)

I signed her up the evening before the first class!
So I got to tell her before she went to bed that the next morning we were going to a dance store to pick out special ballet slippers for her, she flipped out! For the next 30 minutes or so she was either blissfully dancing and flitting around the room, or jumping up and down squealing with glee, Yay- I'm going to ballet!

She made her first friend, Carla, before class.
Violet wanted to be right with the big girls. She kept trying to put on ballet shoes and tutus when we were at the dance store fitting Bella's slippers.

the littlest one is Pamela and she is really good... they say the 5 ballet positions aloud as a class when they practice them and she is the first one to say it and gets it right every time!

Bella's teacher is very sweet and wonderful with the girls.

Thanksgiving with Chrastina Family

We all enjoyed a nice yummy meal together with everyone gathering in our home. Janice got to relax this year and supervise Lisa, Barbara and I put together the final preparations for all the food. Lisa & I brined our first turkey and really like the way it turned out.
There was plenty of the famous Pumpkin Praline Pie for dessert.

Please note: you may click on any of the photos to enlarge them