The First Last Week of School

Our 5-year old recently finished her "first" last week of school. It was 4 days of fun-filled activites that completely wore her out. The highlight of the week (from this parent's point-of-view) was Wednesday morning--The Dance Festival. 5 and 6 year-olds strutting their stuff to "The Chicken Dance" created a memory I won't soon forget.



Other memorable "firsts" from this school year include:

• Learning to read and completing a first chapter book
• Losing a tooth
• Learning to ride a bike without training wheels
• Riding that bike home from school without parental supervision
• Attending the Fall Carnival
• Participating in the Halloween Costume Parade & Christmas Sing-along
• Enjoying mom's weekly visits as a classroom volunteer

To celebrate the completion this first year of school we took the kids to see the new Disney movie "Up." It turned out to be a fitting choice because the theme of the movie centered around making the most of every moment you have together, but also being able to make your own adventures when the time comes.

I love my family. That may sound trite, especially at a time when so many forces are trying to destroy tradtional family values. But it is true. I have loved every "first" I have had with my husband and kids and I look forward with hope to the many more "firsts" to come.

Thomas the Christmas Stag

Last Friday night I awoke with a start from my oh-so-close-to-sleep to the sound of our doorbell -- it was 10:30pm. "Don't get the door [daughter]," I said in a mild tone, just in case the bell awoke her also.

"Who could it be?" Nancy asked? "I don't know, but nothing good ever comes from the bell ringing this late." I responded. I thought it strange that the bell only rang once. Surely if it was a neighbor needing some help they would be knocking also - or would have called first.
By the time I had put on some shoes the bell rang again. I sauntered to the front door with my emotions bouncing between worried and put-out.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear, than a some bright Christmas lights wrapping a Christmas reindeer. I smiled immediately and recalled a conversation I had last month with a family I home teach. Other neighbors had thrown away the reindeer mads of sticks. My home teaching family had rescued it -- knowing it was to be a joke later on. We laughed together of how they could write a note and put it on a neighbors porch and doorbell ditch.

Who knew that I would be the neighbor they would select. The deer came with a note that we were to take care of the reindeer and pass it from neighbor to neighbor - helping everyone remember the Christmas sprit. But on Christmas, the deer was to return home to the original neighbor who threw it away. I love our neighborhood. We have fun neighbors. Oh - and our daughter fell in love with it and named it Thomas.