Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2011!

Already? Time goes by so fast! (and saying that makes me feel SO old!) I plan on getting back on track with my blog, but I think that was last years resolution... well, here's to hoping!

We spent New Years Eve, as we have the past 8+, with the Seal's! We went to their house and the girls giggled and played for a while.

(the girls in their pj's, having TOO much fun!)

One of the exciting things that will be happening this year... in just a few short weeks to be exact, is that Kaiya will become a big sister! Tristen and Jamie are expecting a baby boy in February! While we were there, the girls got to feel the little guy partying it up in his own way on New Years!

(the girls, feeling baby Seal kicking and moving)

We ate lots of snacks and visited while the girls played and chased each other like crazy people. Then the REAL fun started... we broke out "Just Dance 2" for the Wii. The girls cousin, Joey, got them this for Christmas. It is SO much fun! Everyone took turns dancing around...

(Kaiya and Haylee gettin' down, gettin' funky)

(Rick and James... dancing to "It's Raining Men"!)

Tristen and I did our share of dancing but for some reason, none of this was caught on film... thank goodness! =}

As always it was a great time! Here's to 2011!

Happy New Years!

Last Day Of School 2010

Today is the last day of school for the girls.

This time of year makes me a little apprehensive... I start thinking about their next year in school and wondering who their teacher will be.

Will next years teacher be as good as they one they just had?

Will they grow and learn as much as they did this year?

Will their teacher love them as much as this years teacher did?

Will they love their teacher as much as they did this year?

And you know what??

I have NEVER been disappointed.

Each year Hannah has had a wonderful teacher: one year she had a teacher who loved and taught her and made Hannah love coming to school each day; one year she had a teacher who went the extra mile to help her with math, telling me if I brought Hannah in 15 minutes early each morning she would meet with her and help her to better understand the math they were working on; one year I just mentioned that I had a concern and her teacher discussed the situation with the principal & assistant principal, the specialist, last years teacher, etc. and got Hannah into a program at school... all because of a simple question that she could have easily not given another thought.

Thank you Mrs. Lewis for all you've done for Hannah this year!

Hannah and Mrs. Lewis, first day of school

Hannah and Mrs. Lewis, last day of school

Haylee started kindergarten this year. It was a very rough first week for her and she cried every day that week. But Miss Strange was there to love her and help her transition to the world of "big girl school". Miss Strange has taught her how to read, when to sit quietly and when to visit (ok, we might still need a little work on that but it's getting there!), fun little songs, days of the week, months of the year but most of all Miss Strange taught her that school is so much FUN! She has given Haylee a wonderful gift this year... the gift of Loving to Learn.

Thank you Miss Strange for a great first year for Haylee!

Haylee and Miss Strange, first day of school

Haylee and Miss Strange, last day of school

Both girls are very sad to be moving on to other teachers next year and to be honest, I am too. I'm sure we won't be disappointed next year but that doesn't make "Goodbye" any easier this year.

Fairy Tale Day in Kindergarten...

Haylee recently had Fairy Tale Day and she got to dress up as her favorite Fairy Tale character. Can you guess who she was???

That's right! Goldilocks and the 3 bears! So cute!

Look at those "locks"!

Here are a few friends from her class... Little Mermaid, Snow White, a Knight, Sleeping Beauty, Goldilocks, a pirate, Cinderella, Jack Sparrow and a Wolf!

Here is her awesome teacher, Miss Strange! One of the aids in kindergarten dressed up as Snow White and all of the teachers dressed up as her dwarfs... Miss Strange was "Sleepy"

They also had a Fairy Tale Feast where they dined on Snow White's Applesauce, Pigs in a Blanket ala The 3 Little Pigs, Gingerbread cookies (run, run as fast as you can... you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread man!), etc.

So much fun in kindergarten!

February Snow

We received a TON of snow (for Texas) this week!

There was talk of snow on Thursday... possible 1-3 inches for our area and it wasn't supposed to come until the afternoon. When we woke up Thursday morning the ground was covered and it was continuing to snow! Our district canceled school for the day; however, the district where the preschool that I work for is located did not cancel school so I had to take the girls in with me. That district did decide to cancel school at 11:30am and we were free to go... see, that district wanted to get in the hours it need to count as a full day. Smart for them but if I was a working parent and had taken my children to school then gone to work, I would not have been very happy!

Anyway, after we got home from preschool, the girls played outside until their toes and fingers were numb...

our backyard... you can see the big flakes still coming down

Hannah making a snow angel

1-3 inches...? I don't think so... it says 7 inches!

We received a call Thursday evening that school would also be canceled for Friday, too! The girls were happy but a little sad... they were supposed to have their Valentine's class parties on Friday. However, they quickly got over that! Friday morning we all got our snow clothes on and went out front to make a snowman. Our neighbor, AJ, came over to help us:

the view from our front porch

the girls and AJ making the base for the snowman

the kids handi-work, complete with mini chocolate donuts for the eyes...
they did a great job, didn't they?

Haylee and I in the snow

Poor Rick had to be out in the freezing weather for work and didn't enjoy it much. So today he decided to go play in it with Hannah and Haylee:

he just tagged Hannah with a snow ball

another one bites the dust! good times, dad, good times...

building the backyard snowman

"Hey guys, whatcha doin'?"
our little feather friend wanted to check out the excitement

the backyard version... the snow is starting to melt now ={

What fun we've had these past few days! But I'm telling you what, I really think I need to look into being a meteorologist... they said 1-3 inches of snow and we got... drum roll please... over 12 inches! You don't have to be right to get paid the big bucks. I've definitely missed my calling in life!

Daddy Daughter Dance!

Hannah and Haylee's school put on a Daddy/Daughter Dance!

Hannah, at first, was not interested in attending. And if Hannah doesn't want to go, Haylee won't go. After Hannah realized that it was only going to be girls and their dads, she warmed up to the idea!

After that, there was much excitement in the Churchwell household! Discussions of what dress to wear, how they wanted to wear their hair, etc. were held.

Rick came home the day of the dance to 2 little girls who could hardly contain themselves! Their tresses were curled and their dance frocks were on (can you tell I got a new dictionary for Christmas?) and they were ready to go! Rick got dressed up and they were off to the ball.

the girls, ready to go!

the girls and their date...

When they got there they checked in and each had a corsage/boutonniere pinned on. The line for the photos was a bit long so they went into the dance and had a great time. Rick said the decorations were really well done and they had a fun DJ spinning the tunes. Evidently they all did their share of dancing... a friends husband called Rick a "dancing machine" or something along those lines.

Everyone came home quite tired but with smiles on their faces! I'm so glad they had this opportunity to make some great memories together!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

We got snow on Christmas Eve!

For those of you that live in an area where it snows in December, this post will be boring to you... but here in Texas, we don't usually see snow until February! It was very exciting! The girls couldn't wait to get out there and play in it, as you can see by the dusting of snow they were trying to make snow angels in!

Here are a few shots of the girls playing in the backyard:


Also, let it be known that poor Rick did not find this snow as exciting as his girls! He had to be out there working in it and was frozen when he got home from work on Christmas eve!

And we actually had snow a few times in December! I wonder what February will bring....?

One of my New Year's resolutions...

One of my New Year's resolutions is to be a better blogger. So, without further adieu, here is an activity that I did with the girls in December:

For the past 3 years, Hannah, Haylee and I have gone to see the Nutcracker Ballet at TWU (Texas Women's University). We really enjoy and make an afternoon of it by including friends in a tea party at our home.

This year each girl invited one friend. Hannah invited her friend, Veronica:
And Haylee invited her friend, Jordan.

All of the girls looked so sweet in their Christmas "pretties".

The tea party consisted of peanut butter sandwiches without the crusts and "dipped" in sprinkles (on the edges), super yummy fruit kabobs (courtesy of Jordan's mom, Tina), chips, perfectly pink mini-cakes in tea cups (courtesy of Veronica's mom, Rhonda) and a grape-raspberry punch served in a teapot. The girls enjoyed their lunch and then did a little picture frame craft while the moms cleaned up.

part of the "spread"

the girls and their moms... Tina on the left, Rhonda on the right

just before digging in

After that, it was off to the show! We love the performance! It's nice to have this chance to see the ballet each year with the girls. They really look forward to it and the planning and picking out of the perfect dress!
We can't wait until next year!!