Anna takes Brady for a walk (by herself!)

Anna, Anna, Anna.....Anna is such an independent and curious child. She is a got getter, nothing intimidates this child. Ms. M, her preschool teacher told me at conferences that she has never had a child like Anna before. She is the most confident and independent little girl that she has ever had. I guess that is a compliament, right? That is the end goal, to raise a confident and independent woman that is able to succeed in the life on her own. Well, today a classic Anna story took place and I just had to remember it forever. Greg was working on the retaining wall on the side of the house with all three kids playing outside with him. I was at the gym. Greg realized that Sam and Anna were missing for an extended period of time so he thought that he would look inot what they were in to. He found Sam inside. When Sam was questioned about where the whereabouts of his sister was, he had no idea. After soon searching, Greg found Anna 4 houses down the road with Brady! When Greg approached her and asked her what she was doing, Anna's reply was, "him wanted to go for a walk." She thought nothing of taking Brady for a walk by herself because that is what we do, go on family walks with Brady. We had some talks with her about who takes Brady for walks and where she is allowed to be outside without an adult.

Sam's last preschool spirit of Music week :(

As the children grow up, I learn more and more about the intense feelings that they bring out in me, particularly pride. Pride is such an overwhelming feeling. Sam is in his last year of preschool this year and being that he is my first born, I have always felt so excited for him to experience everything for the first time. I was really looking forward to him going to Kindergarten and experience new things, that is until the paperwork came in the mail. So I filled out the paperwork and was excited, but a little sad that my little boy would be starting "the big school" in a few short months. This week was Spirit of Music week at Southminster, which means family comes in to participate in a music class with their child. So, there we were in the very same room that I was with Sam only 3 1/2 years ago when we where just a family of 3, and I did mom and tot class with him. Only this time, Sam was singing the songs and doing the hand motions and participating in the songs! The class stood together and sang the most beautiful song about building a better world. My eyes suddenly began to swell up with tears as I sat there and thought about my baby boy and how proud he makes me every single day. He has grown into such a wonderful little boy and will continue to amaze me I am sure as the years go by. As the class sang that song, it was if time was frozen for those couple minutes. Everything around me just stopped and I just focused on Sam. I also felt Sydney as I held her in my arms and just took in how she felt in my arms, so little and cuddly and thought about how in a couple short years she was going to be where Sam is now. Pride is such a wonderful feeling and I am sure my children will continue to make me feel proud throughout their lives.