Lyla's preschool graduation

Wow, Lyla graduated from preschool! I still can't grasp this. Just last year she was in the 3's class! Now, she's in prek and graduating on to kindergarten. I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I'm really looking forward to the fall. The girls will both be in school and I'll still be teaching 2 days a week at preschool. That means I have 3 days at home without kids...every week!!! That is huge!!! I have soooo many projects on my list of to dos already!

But on the other hand, it's kind of the end of an era in our house. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers are hard, very hard, but, they're also sweet, innocent and protected from the outside world. When they go off to school you loose your grip on what influences them and they are constantly influenced by people and experiences that you haven't "authorized". That's the saddest part for me. I'm kind of glad to be out of the toddler/preschooler stage but I'm not excited about them growing up. I know that doesn't make much sense. I would actually like to freeze them right where they are. I have really enjoyed the kindergarten/1st grade age with Grace. They're big but still sweet and little at the same time. Sorry, I tend to ramble on here.

Anyway, on to graduation day. Mimi, Papoo, Julie and Easton were able to come for the big day. Lyla was excited. She woudn't tell me anything about the graduation ahead of time because she said it was a surprise. They walked in to the Charlie Brown theme, sang a couple of songs, and said the pledge of allegience. The part that made me tear up was when they sang a song with one of our song leaders from church called "Pray for Me". Oh. My. Goodness. That song is a definite tear-jerker. It talks about remembering to pray for them as they go off to school. I'm not a crier but Julie had to hand me a kleenex half way through!

Then they all walked up to the microphone and announced what they want to be when they grow up. Lyla wouldn't tell me what she was going to say. She and Ford both said they wanted to be zoo keepers. I thought it was so cute that her and Ford said the same thing. They obviously talked about it together. Lyla sure will miss Ford! They'll be at different schools and we go to different churchs, so they won't see much of each other now.

Here are the pictures. That little face is so adorable and sweet. Notice the boo-boo on her chin and neck. This was a few days after her trip to the ER for her chin.

"Zoo Keeper"

Look at that grin! She's a big stinker but luckily she's really cute! ha ha

She's recieving her Bible and diploma in this picture.

She always tries to give everyone bunny ears in pictures.