Tribute to Mrs. Petra......

As I said in the last post, Aubrie just finished her 2nd year of Kiddie Kollege. She has enjoyed both years so much, mainly because she has had such wonderful teachers. Mrs. Petra was her teacher this year and boy has she been through a lot. Her husband was in Iraq for most of the school year AND she spent the whole first half of the year or more with a huge brace on her leg from a terrible injury. Do you think any of this stopped her even a little? No way! She was there almost everyday, dispite her personal life and she did this b/c she LOVES these little ones so much! She potty trained Aubrie too for the most part! Thank you, thank you! Aubrie would come home everyday and instead of talking about her friends at school, she would talk about her teacher instead. It makes it so much easier when you know your child is happy and content when away from you! She learned so very much, but most importantly she developed such a beautiful teacher/student relationship with her Mrs. Petra - which is so special since I myself am a teacher. It feels so good when you really connect with a student! You feel like you are really making a difference. When I asked Aubrie who she wanted to invite to her birthday party coming up and the first person she named was Mrs. Petra! So sweet! So this post is honoring her and what she's done for my sweet girl! Thank you so much, Mrs. Petra! Here are some pics that she took of Aubrie throughout the year! Enjoy!

This was her "Meet the Teacher" day. I was still in the hospital after having Emma.
Do you think it phased her?

On picture day! I only remember b/c she has pigtails and that was the ONLY day she wore them. She HATES to wear her hair up! In fact nowadays she won't even talk about it.

Helping Mrs. Petra!

This was taken on a firetruck the day that the firemen came to visit.
My little clown on Halloween!

Playing with instruments.

Partying hard at the Christmas party!
I didn't take this picture, but I'm guessing she was pouting. Am I right, Mrs. Petra?

I've seen this look too many times!
Fun with the girls!
On the playground!
In the gym!
Must've been someone's birthday!

Various events this week.....

Emma is growing so fast! I can't believe she will be 9 months old this next week! She will eat ANYTHING you put in her mouth (except green beans). Aubrie had completely stopped eating baby food at 8 months old, so I really had to be creative with what I fed her since she didn't have many teeth. So, I am enjoying Emma's "non-pickiness". We are introducing her to some adult food here and there. Here she is eating her first real banana.

This is the first bite! Not quite sure! "Okay, let me try that."
Not a huge fan yet, but we're workin' on it!
Happy (much) belated Mother's Day to everyone. Here is Aubrie, Emma, and me outside our house before church that morning.



Don't they look cute in their pink? They are starting to really interact with each other and it is so much fun to watch!

These next few pics were taken by her daddy. We always joke that she doesn't ever smile when I am taking her picture. You can tell from the below pics who's girl she is!


She'll really smile for Daddy!
Last Sunday night, my parents' life groups from church met at their house, so we decided to visit. It was such a beautiful evening in their backyard. Here is Emma with her Poppy, just hangin' out. I swear Aubrie was NEVER this still at this age.

Emma is so obsessed with the remote. She would prefer to play with it over ANY other toy. And guess who always let's her have it! Yep, Daddy!

That's her skirt on her head by the way.

Tuesday night we traveled to Oklahoma for a our friend Langdon's graduation! She was valedictorian of her class! We're very proud of you, girl!
Here's mommy with her girls before the ceremony began. I think this is the first (or atleast in a long time) picture of me and all 3 girls! I'm always the one taking the pictures.
Kaitlyn was making Emma laugh and it was so sweet!
All 3 girls acted so good for the whole graduation!
Aubrie is starting to fit into some of Kaitlyn's clothes that my mom made her way before she came along. Here is one of the dresses that was Kaitlyn's. She wore the hat ONLY for the picture. She wasn't even going to look at the camera as you can see.
But then mommy made her laugh! What a dirty trick!

I just like this picture! It really has no story.
Thursday night was the closing program at Aubrie's preschool. She was so cute! Here is one final picture of her and Mrs. Petra and Tinslee.
Emma & Lexie waiting for the show to start!

Walking in with her class. Look at those hands behind her back! Such discipline =)!
My shy little girl! I can't believe she just finished her 2nd year at Kiddie Kollege!

Saying the pledge

Once they started singing, she kind of just stood there. This is very out of character b/c any other time she would be putting on a show for whoever will watch. She is constantly singing at home and her music teacher Mrs. Tammy says she sings all the time in class. I guess this time it just wasn't her idea! Who knows?
She spent most of the time saying "There's my Daddy!" and pointing to the sound booth where he was running sound.
FINALLY on the very last song she let er' rip and sang! They were all so cute!

Bluebonnet Photoshoot, Softball, & Kids' Hope Picnic

Okay, please prepare yourself for some VERY bad photography by Lindsay! This past weekend I had the great idea to take the girls to have their pictures made in the bluebonnets. For Mother's Day, I was going to give my mom and Michael's mom a beautiful picture of their three granddaughters! NO SUCH LUCK! First of all, I drove almost to the Sulphur Springs turn off on Hwy 19 just to find a small patch of bluebonnets. I waited a little too long! I didn't realize that they come and go so fast each year. As you can see below, my intentions were good, but the pictures definitely weren't! Aubrie, you're not supposed to talk....just smile!
Emma did NOT like the sticky grass on her legs! Can't say I blame her though!
1 looking, 2 not!
This would have been a good one if they all were looking!

Over HERE, Aubrie!

It helps if I can see your face, honey!
No idea where she gets this attitude?!
Okay, let's try Kaitlyn standing and holding Emma! Aubrie picked a bluebonnet - don't tell!

See my pretty flower, Momma!?
Kaitlyn is saying, "She' getting heavy!" Emma just wants to take a nap!
Could she look ANYMORE like her daddy!?
I've had enough!
Well, I've figure out why Aubrie wouldn't cooperate in the group shot! She wanted the spotlight all to herself! This was actually a good thing though b/c the other reason I went is to get a good picture of her for her birthday invitations!
I just like this one for her hair!

If you would like to vote on your favorite, please comment and let me know which one between the ones I have numbered! I'm torn between #1, #2, & #5!
#1

Not this one, I just like this expression!#2
Not this one either, just like this expression, too!
#3
#4

#5

Kaitlyn is playing softball again this year. She is on the Hot Shotz. She is getting to be quite a good player. I think she is into it more this year. We made her choose between softball and soccer this season b/c we just couldn't do it all. She's also in gymnastics. To those of you that can juggle more than 2 activities, my hat goes off to you! This was the team after their most recent victory!On first base!
From the dugout!

First Baptist church and the school I work at - Justiss have partnered together since last year in a mentoring program called Kids' Hope. It is kind of like Big Brothers/Big Sisters in that it puts a trained adult with one of our less fortunate kids that need extra encouragement and TLC. Last weekend Kiwanis sponsored a picnic for these kids and their sponsors at Camp Kiwanis. Michael was working, so I took the girls out there to visit. Emma was sooo good and just sat in her stroller the whole time and smiled for everyone.Aubrie enjoyed riding her tricycle around the pavilion. She wouldn't look at the camera though - imagine that!
Both girls were asleep by the time we got back to the highway to go home! They had a blast!