Halloween at Lighthouse Academy

Liam's school had a "Harvest Celebration" on Halloween.  They were asked to keep their outfits positive... I guess there might've been too many Scream costumes in the four year-old room?  I kid, I kid.  They probably didn't want any of the kids wearing something that might scare another kid, I assume.

I made some rice krispies and tried to use store icing to write the words "Happy Halloween" on top.  I added some candy corn and pumpkins around the perimeter.  I think I will probably pass on this particular icing next time...  With all of the little divots and bumps, it looked spooky, but I suppose that's fine for this holiday! 

The 'Struction Worker on his way to day care, cracking a smile

There's that smile!!!

Finally a picture of the whole outfit, minus a few tools

A picture of Liam's class buddies who wore their costumes

Miss Myra wanted a picture of my Rice Krispy treats.  She is so sweet!

Peace, love and school ghouls,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Liam at School

Wow, I wish I could be in the running for this award? :) 

Liam still takes a great nap every day. 

Ava stopped napping at 29 months, when Liam came home from the hospital.   

I love this one.  :-)

Liam has been going to school with quite a few of the same kids since he was born. 

Frankie and Ben seem to be his best friends at school. 

They did a craft where they sent messages to each other in a (plastic) bottle. 

Ben sent a message to Liam:

The message was too sweet.

Peace, love and manly BFF's,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

A Boyfriend?

Ava and her friend Jack Passman have been attending day care together since they were 15 months old.  Out of everyone in her school, she has known Jack the longest.  We've attended his birthday party and have also seen his parents on a daily basis and at the day care's holiday concerts.

Jack is shown in the bottom row, to the far right, directly in front of Ava.  He is ADORABLE!

Fast forward to this month, when Ava mentions "me and Jack kissed at school today."  She was smiling and bashful when she said it.  Whaaa?  Come again?  I tried not to overreact, because I didn't want to make any assumptions at this age.  :)  I know it's entirely sweet and innocent...


Me:  Where did he kiss you?
Ava:  On my cheek, right here.
Me:  Oh.  Were there any teachers in the room when that happened?
Ava:  Yes, Mrs. Alicia was in the room, but we hid because we didn't want her to see us.
Me:  Okay...Whose idea was it first to do that?
Ava:  We both decided. 
Me:  But someone had to have the idea first?
Ava:  No, we both decided.
Me:  Ava, okay, but we probably shouldn't do that again. 
Ava:  Okay, Mom.


I tried to take it all in before I went telling her the wrong thing.  A little advice from Mom always helps, too.  At this age, it's sweet and cute.  I didn't want to make her feel ashamed, but did want her to realize that we shouldn't go around kissing every boy in the world .  I remember one of Philip and April Brackney's little girls running around the lobby at Rochester C of C, lips in a kiss-pout, trying to kiss a little boy.  It was cute, but she was one determined  aggressive little girl! 


The next morning, while getting ready for school:


Me:  "Ava, so about the kissing thing yesterday..." 
Ava:  Mom, I know, I know.
Me:  I just wanted to let you know that Mommy and Daddy kiss because we're married and older.  It's not a gross thing, but you should definitely wait until you're older, okay?
Ava:  I know, I'm not going to do that anymore. :-)


*phew!* 


Within a few days, she mentioned to me that Jack wanted to marry her.  I listened, didn't judge.  I definitely didn't want to make her feel "icky" about it.  I want her to always be able to come to me and talk to me, which she seems very comfortable with doing now.  Bedtime is the choice time for Ava to ask me the list of questions she might not want to ask in front of everyone.  It's so cute.  :)


The day after Jack told Ava he wanted to marry her, he told her they should probably go on a date.  I can only guess that someone told Jack "you can't just get married...you have to go on a date with someone first!"  Ha.  He is also one of the sweetest, cutest, blue-eyed blonde haired boys you'll ever meet. 


They have been in "summer camp" lately, with some kids that are older.  There is one eight year-old girl that may be playing match-maker with Ava and Jack, too.  So I would say they've had a little help.


Peace, love and five year-old smooches,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Ava's Prayer

This is a prayer Ava recently learned at school.  The first time she said it, it made me cry.  It has made me cry since then, too!

Too sweet...

Dear God:

I’ll soon be starting big kid school, I’ll learn and make new friends.

God grant me peace and keep me safe, on you God I depend.

I know that with YOU in my heart, school will be such fun.

And I’ll learn many, many things I’ll use for years to come.

Amen.

Peace, love and big kid prayers,
Shelly, Doug Ava and Liam

Christmas at The Lighthouse Academy 2010

Ava and Liam's day care had their annual Christmas luncheon.  This year the program was held in the sanctuary of the East Cobb United Methodist Church.  It was adorable.  Ava was an angel this year, although she was originally "Mary."  She mentioned to the teacher that she didn't want to be "Mary", so she decided an angel might be fun. ;-)

Even Liam's class got in on the fun.  Liam wore reindeer antlers, although by the time his class got to the stage, only ONE of his reindeer antlers actually stuck up.  It was so funny, Doug and I couldn't stop laughing!  Liam had no idea how funny it looked!   We took some video of Liam with his antler ;-) 

Ava's friend Tommy-Elyse was the angel Gabriel.  She memorized an unbelievable amount of lines for a little girl her age!  She did a great job.  So did Ava!

Here are some pictures after we all headed into the fellowship hall for lunch, as well as the kids' professional Christmas pictures from school.  I brought some homemade truffles and Aunt Linda's pumpkin torte to share.  We gave out gifts to the teachers after the festivities.  Ava and Liam also got Christmas gifts from the day care.  Incredibly sweet!  They have been our family, since we're geographically far from our own families.  Thank you, Lighthouse!

Peace, love and kid-Christmas carols,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Ava's bestie: Tommye-Elyse.

Girls just wanna have fun.

 O.M.G. This picture cracks me up.  Liam didn't want to keep his dress clothes on after the pictures were taken in the morning.  The day care staff assured me they would change him back into his dress outfit.  Check out the tie.  He looks like a monkey's uncle!

Summer Camp / Skating

Lighthouse Academy has a summer camp program for those kids that are 4 years old and up.  While Grandma Pam was visiting here in Georgia, we were able to go to the day care's roller skating outing.  Ava had a blast!  And hey...twist my arm to roller skate?

Peace, love and rink rats,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Liam, Shelly, Mrs. Barb and Ava.

Ava, Shelly and Ava's buddy Mia.

Mia and Miss Ebony

Miss Ashley, Mrs. Barb and Shelly

Miss Ashley, Mrs. Barb and Shelly

Ava's School "Summer Camp" Musical

Ava's summer camp program at Lighthouse Academy recently put on the sweetest musical for parents. 

The kids all sang and danced to "I'm Walkin' On Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves.  It was so cute.  Ava was right on time with her dance moves.  ;-)  They walked into "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," and then showed us what an F1, F2 and F3 tornado would look like, as they all grabbed hands and spun around the room in a circle, faster and faster. 

Here are some pictures of the fun!

Ava's buddy Mia:

Catching some lunch afterward.

Peace, love and a bona fide "Weather Girl,"

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam