Cole, Alex, & Anna Grace

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

First Day of Preschool



Anna Grace has been beyond excited that she was going to get to start preschool. She is only going one morning a week, but she has been looking forward to this day for months!
Last night she was just sure that she was going to have a spelling test on her first day of 3 year old preschool, and she needed to do her "homework." I did let her practice writing her name a few times last night while the boys worked on their assignments.

Anna Grace insisted on wearing her backpack around the house all morning.


She was so excited to walk to her class like a big girl with her friend, Omi and play with another one of her best friends, Carly.



Anna Grace had a great day, but she does not quite know the rules of the playground and walked right into someone on the swings. She got knocked down and has a very scratched and swollen face now.



Poor baby. Right now she is watching her favorite movie, Angelina Ballerina with an ice pack on her face.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Back to School


School has officially started along with the busy schedule that will last the school year. Cole started 5th grade this year (his last year in elementary school), and Alex started 3rd grade. Cole was excited to see his friends while Alex was excited that he will begin the gifted program just like his big brother. He has talked about wanting to be in the gifted program since he was little, and he finally tested in at the end of last school year.


Both boys announced after the "Meet the Teacher" event that they were too old for me to walk them into their classrooms on the first day of school, and they could go by themselves. Part of me did agree with Cole when he said, "Seriously, Mommy. I am 10 years old. I can handle this!" But Alex is only 8. I wanted to cry when he said this. Finally, as I was tucking Alex into his bed on "back to school-eve" Alex said, "Mommy, I don't remember how to get to my classroom. Can you walk me in?" My outward reaction was a calm, "I will do what ever you need me to do for you." But, inside I was joyfully thinking, "Yes!!! He is not too big to be seen with his mommy after all!"


Anna Grace's first day of preschool is in two weeks. After listening to her brothers, she has decided that she is also too big for me to walk her to her classroom on the first day. She says, "I big. I do it all by myself. I not need you." Seriously. That is where I put my foot down! I will be taking a little time off of work to meet our sitter (who will normally drop her and pick her up from school) at the preschool so that I can take pictures of her first day. I just hope she does not get too disappointed when she realizes that the school bus will not be bringing her home!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Gifts for the orphanage


We have been busy gathering things to send in a package to Anna Grace's orphanage. We are able to read about some of the needs of the orphanage on their website, so we gathered some of those items along with a few cute things that were donated by one of the local stores in our area to include in our package.

Our box will include:
6 toddler and infant sized hats
2 infant girl outfits
2 infant boy outfits
18 pairs of girls' underwear
12 pairs of boys' underwear
9 pairs of girls' socks
6 pairs of boys' socks

I wrote a letter with an update to send to Anna Grace's orphanage back in June, but I had not sent it to them yet. Then we received an email in July from the orphanage requesting some updates and pictures. The nannies in the orphanage want to see how the adopted children are doing in their new homes. I was so happy to learn the email address of the director and have the chance to correspond with him. We are forever grateful for the director and his staff for preparing Anna Grace for adoption and allowing her to join our family. I hope that we will be able to continue our contact in the future.