First Day of School

All of the excitement for school actually began the Wednesday before school started. At 5pm all the class rosters were posted. Here is Laney-bear looking for her name.It really has been so fun seeing Laney's excitement for school. We've spent many hours eating lunches with Ashlyn, being a part of class parties, cheering everyone on at Field Day. And now, for my precious middle child...it is her turn!
Ashlyn and her best friend, Avery, were pleasantly surprised to be in the same class. They were in different classes last year, so it's a fun treat to be back together again!

The whole gang (minus baby Phillips in utero). Arranged marriages look better and better as the years go on. The parents are trying early to get Brady and Reese together...so far it's working! They are so cute together.

The following day we had Meet the Teacher night. Here is Laney in her desk. She has a teacher new to the school, Ms. Brown. We already like her!

And my 3rd grader (WHAT?) sitting in her desk in Mrs. Eicke's classroom.

Finally, the big day arrived. Here is cutie-patootie #1 all ready for her first day of kindergarten (sigh).

And cutie-patootie #2 on the first day of 3rd grade (sigh and another WHAT? 3rd grade?!)

Cutie-pattotie #3 couldn't miss out on the photo op, so here are all 3 precious girls on the First Day of School in 2010!

Laney was a shy giddy about the whole thing so it was a ton of fun to be a part of. I didn't get teary at all...

until Reese and I walked out of the school, just the 2 of us. Then the lump formed in my throat and the tears pooled in the bottom of my eyes. Sometimes, I wish time would slow down a little. Please, Lord Jesus, may I cherish these moments and keep them close in my heart!

We celebrated at the end of the day with a little frozen yogurt action. It's going to be a good year!

A Gampa and His Girls...

The week leading up to Ashlyn's birthday, my dad came into town. Gampa and his girls packed in about as much as you can in one week's time. They swam, they ate, they saw horses, they shopped, they read books, they made their traditional trek to IHOP for breakfast. I'm just not sure if they love him quite enough...what do you think ?

She's 8!!!

In so many ways it seems like yesterday I was hugging my mom at 6 in the morning ready to go deliver this precious gift of a daughter. I had no idea that early hour how much my heart could love someone. And now, the girl, my big girl, is 8 years old.

We started off the day with Ashlyn opening up some presents from her MiMi and Papa D and great-grandparents. A cute dress that will be perfect for school. Seriously, how beautiful and grown-up is this girl?
Gampa was in town for the whole week and they had planned early on for a Gampa/granddaughter date full of breakfast at IHOP and shopping! Here is the handsome couple before heading out! I warned him that our sweet girl definitely has her Nana and Mimi in her when it comes to shopping...she likes every minute of it.

FIVE hours later (!!!) they arrived home and we got ready for her party which this year she chose to be a bowling party.

You know those little crane machines that supposedly people win stuffed animals from, but you never see anyone actually win? She won! And not just once, Ashlyn won two different stuffed animals, completely on her own, from 2 different machines. It was a fun treat for the birthday girl.

Here is the birthday party gang.

My precious Ashlyn Jean, You are not just the daughter of our flesh, but the daughter of our hearts. We simply could not have asked for a greater gift from the Lord than you (and your sisters too). I'm so thankful for your selfless heart, for the kindness with which you treat people, for your sensitivity to the Lord and the things that make His heart joyful and also His heart sad. You are a blessing in every sense of the word. We love you, sweet girl!