This Year, Last Year

First Day of Pre-K this year:

First Day of Pre-K last year:

Little Miss Independent went on a date with Mama last night. We discussed important things like how she really wishes she could fly, what to do on the first day of school and why guacamole tastes so good.

I found out the thing Miss HJ was looking forward to the most this year as a Pre-K 4'er, is getting to walk UP the stairs to go to her classroom. Only the big kids' classrooms are upstairs. HJ also declared that she did not NEED me to walk in with her. She REALLY wanted to be dropped off in carpool.

So I did.

Then I parked and came in to see how she did.

I found this once we arrived UPSTAIRS:

She came in, hung up her "bee bag," picked up her table work and sat down to get started.

Once we came in, HJ confessed to AE (who starts Kindergarten NEXT Monday) that there was something wrong with her letters. You can see the bottle caps with each individual letter, but there were are few of the wrong ones there.

Once she got the right letters, all was well.

Then we tried to get a picture of all of us!

And one with JUST HJ AND ME:

Sort of:

Can you see sweet screaming SJ being carried away by AE? Ha!

Now to do it all over again next week with AE!

First Day, Last Day

There they were back in August 2010:

Ready to start an exciting, new school year:

How quickly a school year goes by:

May 2011

One is ready for Kindergarten, while the other can't wait to be "in her big sister's class."

I just hope come this August, HJ understands that her sister won't be in the same room!

We're Number One!

The end of the preschool year has also brought the end of the year cheerleading presentation. Both the girls have been taking cheerleading at their school once a week since January. Both were so excited to show off their new skills!

All the cheerleaders entered waving patriotic ribbons:

The first talent was the SOLO spirit run:

HJ was a big blur: she ran fast and yelled LOUDLY.

Each girl ran across the stage yelling, "Go team, we're number one! Go team!" Each child's personality came out as she braved the long trek to the end of the stage.

AE on her spirit run:

A jump in the middle of the stage! When asked, AE said that that was her "spirit."

So proud after her run!

My girls were just about the LOUDEST! Not shy at all!

Going through all the positions they learned

Spirit cards

Blue, Red, White!

Having a great time, HJ watched me during the entire presentation.

Mid cheer

Time for some pompom skills!

Love it!

That's a "K"!

Jumping!

G-O! G-O! Go, Wildcats, Go!

We're number one! We can't be number two! We're going to beat the whoopsie out of you!

This one is for Nana!

Pompom time

Getting trophies

Cheer sisters!

Cheer daddy!

The girls with Mrs. Wilhite, their cheer coach

After such a successful season of cheerleading, the girls will probably take gymnastics this fall and HJ will continue taking cheerleading at the preschool.

Mama

Each of our girls celebrated Mother's Day with a special tea in her respective classroom. There were snacks, special gifts and songs for all the moms. It was a precious time with each of my girls.

Mama and HJ

The table settings with an original art piece displayed on a teeny, tiny easel. HJ titled her creation Mommy in a Flower Garden. Inside the card was an original poem by HJ.

My silly girl

HJ presented this necklace to me as the key to her heart!

Then she sang a song for mama.

AE greeted me at the door with a flower and escorted me to a table set for us moms.

She and her classmates sang a song about mothers.

Ever the hostess, AE went to the buffet and made a plate for me and poured my tea all by herself.

AE and Mama

AE is right on with her assessment of mom.

HJ's portrait of me doing pilates next to a flower.

I really like my age in this one!

The girls were so sweet to me on Mother's Day. We drove up to Atlanta to surprise Nana and Mema, and boy, were they surprised!

The Daddy and his brother (with a little help from Uncle C's girlfriend, Alyson!) cooked everyone a beautiful dinner. Our short and sweet visit "back home" was just what the doctor ordered for all!