Spring Fling

On Saturday, March 20, Brickey McCloud Elementary School had their Annual Spring Fling from 10am-2pm at the UT Federal Credit Union.  My Mom and Dad were in visiting, so we had lots of fun spending the day with them outside while supporting Lily's school.  When we first arrived, Katy wanted to get her face painted.  She got a cute ladybug on her cheek and the lady sprinkled it with red glitter.  Katy was so excited!

Maddy got a bumble bee:

And Lily chose a Power T for her Daddy:

They had clowns making balloon animals.  Katy stood back, a little scared at first:

But then the girls got a picture with the clowns:

Lily got a pink balloon puppy:

Lily played "Tip-A-Troll."

The girls colored T-shirts:

Then Maddy wanted to rock climb for the first time!  She was the youngest to try it.  Here she is getting her harness:

On her way to the top:

Yay Maddy!  We are so proud of you for being so brave!

On her way back down:

Then it was time for lunch.  Yummy hotdogs and chips!

After lunch, Parker wanted to play "fooffall"

The girls played on bouncy balls, jump ropes, and hula hoops:

Parker coloring with jumbo chalk:

Cooling off with some yummy chocolate ice cream!

Thank you, LORD for a beautiful first day of Spring and special time together with our family!

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.  Isaiah 61:11

My Apple Dumplin' Darlin'

Last week Lily's 1st Grade class was studying plants in Reading.  The three plants they were focusing on were apples, cranberries, and strawberries.  Her class learned how those plants grow, are harvested, and some of the ways they are used.  Each student was asked to send in a product that contained one of the fruits and bring it in to share with the class and it could be store bought or homemade.  Lily was assigned apples and of course she wanted to bring in something homemade.  She loves helping me in the kitchen.  We haven't ever made anything with apples, so I asked for some help from my FB friends!  I got several responses and Lily and I had a hard time deciding.  Everything sounded so yummy!  We finally chose an apple dumpling recipe that my sweet friend from High School, Amy Buracker (now Amy Stitcher) had suggested.  It was a kid friendly recipe and Lily had lots of fun helping me bake.  She was so excited about her apple dumpling recipe that she didn't even mind waking up 20 minutes earlier on Friday morning to help me!  They turned out so good and the recipe was so easy that I thought I would share!
Here are the ingredients:
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored
2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough
1 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle Mountain Dew
 
Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2.Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.

(The recipe makes 16, but we had to do 1 and 1/2 the recipe so we would have enough for Lily's class.)

3.Mix butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl.

 Spread mixture over the apple dumplings. Then pour Mountain Dew over the dumplings.

4.Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown

Serve warm and with vanilla ice cream if desired!

Lily couldn't wait to share her apple dumpling recipe with her class:

Lily is enjoying 1st Grade this year and is having fun learning lots of new things!

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.  Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.  Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 

Psalm 17:6-9

A Frosty Friend

On Tuesday, January 26, the first grade teachers at Brickey-McCloud Elementary School hosted a special event for their students called "Build-a-Snowman Night." Once again Lily and I got to spend time together doing crafts and she was so excited.  Lily loves her school and God has blessed her with amazing teachers the last 2 years that have not only pushed her to excel academically but have also encouraged her walk with the Lord!  God is so good!  Lily wanted me to take a picture of her in front of the school because she is so proud! 

The teachers set up the "Build-a-Snowman" event very similar to the Build-a-Bear workshop.  When we entered the gym, Lily got to choose a snowman:

Then we went station to station adding the different parts.  Here she added some wiggly eyes:

Then a "pipe cleaner" carrot for the nose: 

Then she added a pretty pink scarf:

She glued on cute little orange feet in the shape of a heart:

Then she filled out a birth certificate:

 

And here is my sweet Lily with her new frosty friend that she happily named Snowflake:

Lily and I had a great evening together and we are both so thankful for the wonderful teachers at BES and all of their hard work and dedication to their students.

God will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people.

Hebrews 6:10 

The Bus Stops Here

Lily begged and begged all last year to ride the school bus, and we promised her that when she got into First Grade that she would be allowed to ride the bus home. The only way we agreed to this was because we live less than 5 miles from the school, and the bus stops at the stop sign right in front of our driveway. A couple of days before school started, we memorized the bus # and I made sure Lily could still recite her address. So, on the first day of school I was waiting for her with my camera all ready to snap some pictures. Well, the bus came, and I kept watching kids get off, but I didn't see my Lily! The bus driver motioned for me to come to the bus door and he asked, "Are you Lily's Mom?" I told him yes and he informed me that Lily had gotten off at the previous stop. At first I thought he meant at the top of our street, but then I saw that he was motioning over toward the neighborhood right before ours. You can only imagine the panic that swept through me! I got in the van and prayed and prayed that nothing had happened to my sweet girl! Thankfully she was safe, just a little traumatized! We both cried and held each other for a long time! After we both calmed down, we talked about what happened and decided not to give up. Sometimes we have to experience hard things in order for us to grow and put our faith in God that He will take care of us! So that night we drove the bus route and I showed Lily exactly where she needed to get off. She tried it again the next day, and this time Lily made it home! She was so proud of herself, and now she rides it home everyday. Thank you, Lord, for keeping my baby girl safe!

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm91:1-2

The Apple of My Eye

Today was Lily's first day of 1st grade! She was so very excited, but a little nervous too. When I tucked her in bed last night, she gave me a big hug and said, "I'm going to miss you tomorrow, Mommy!" It melted my heart! The kids and I had such a great summer together, and I was not looking forward to sending her off to school this morning. I knew I would miss her dearly! I have shed lots of tears, but have prayed for her and feel at peace knowing that God is always with her and is holding her in the palm of His hands. Here is Lily before we left the house wearing her new apple dress and watch: She was so proud of her new butterfly backpack: Her teacher's name is Mrs. Davis and 1st Grade's theme this year is "Wild About Learning." The hallways were decorated so cute. Here is Lily outside of her classroom door:Every morning that she arrives before 7:40am, she'll sit outside her classroom and choose some books to read while she is waiting. Reading is Lily's favorite thing to do, so she will be looking forward to that every morning. Unfortunately, parents weren't allowed in the classroom this morning so I don't have any pictures of her desk and room (very sad about that!), but when we visited last Friday, her room looked very warm and inviting and everything was neat and organized with everything in its place (my kind of teacher!) I know that God placed Lily where He thought was best for her and that she is going to have a great year. We love you, Lily, and can't wait to see all that you learn this year in 1st grade!

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver! Proverbs 16:16