*MAREN'S MOM NIGHT AT PRESCHOOL*

Maren's preschool had mom's night tonight. There are 10 kids in her class, 5 boys and 5 girls. Split just down the center. They all seemed to get along pretty well, too. It was cute, because at the very beginning they sat down on the circle rug like they would in the morning and all the girls all huddled together. Maren talks about all the kids in her class and names all of the little girls, so it was nice to put a name with a face.
The teacher went through their daily routine. They talk about the day of the week and each week they work on a new letter. They showed us different songs that they sing and they had us dance the waltz with them. Then the Mrs. Joanne explained how they have centers set up. Each center has a different activity for the kids. They have a play kitchen, 2 different art stations, and a station with different games. It seems like Maren always chooses to do the art station with the amount of art she brings home each day. She also showed me this clown game she likes to play where she has to balance circle blocks on a wobbly clown without knocking it down. She did really well at stacking them before they would topple off.
After playing with the wobbly clown we went and drew portraits of each other. She is getting really good at drawing. At the very beginning they all gave us crowns that they had made. Hers had the most perfectly made hearts with glitter. She also wrote her full name across it too.
I really enjoyed watching how much fun Maren has at her preschool. It is a good feeling watching her run into her class with excitement.

*GRANDMA MARILYN'S BIRTHDAY*

The girls, Aunt Rachel and I took Grandma Marilyn out to dinner for her birthday. We got grandma something we knew she would really enjoy, poker chips. The best part is that each girl got to give her a present since we had two chips.

*SME CHEER*

Tonight the girls got the chance to cheer with Aunt Ashley at the Shawnee Mission East football game with her during second quarter. Aunt Ashley is the co-captain varsity cheerleader this year, so it was extra special that the girls got to be with her. It's also her senior year, so it's their last chance to do it.
Saturday they both went to the camp where they learned the cheers and then got to cheer tonight. Both girls were great and Maren loved playing with the other little girls. We kept trying to get her to stay near Alexa and Ashley, but she kept wanting to run back over with the other little girls her age.

*MAREN'S ICE CREAM SOCIAL*

Ever since Maren found out about starting preschool, she has talked about going to her ice cream social. I don't know which she was more excited about. She finally got to go to it, but we couldn't stay the whole time. She had to go cheer at Aunt Ashley's football game. She didn't seem to mind though.
I had a chance to speak to her teacher. Her teacher had nothing to say, but great things about her. She said that she acts perfectly in class, raises her hand and minds well. I asked her if Michael and Maren behave well together and she said they were great. It was nice to know that she is being good at school and minding well.

*MAREN'S 1ST DAY BACK TO GYMNASTICS*

After the summer break, Maren finally got to start gymnastics back up for the year. She got the same teacher, who we really like. She always gets excited to go to gymnastics!

*MAREN'S 1ST DAY BACK TO GYMNASTICS*

After the summer break, Maren finally got to start gymnastics back up for the year. She really likes this gymnastics place, but everyonce in awhile she will bring up her first place she ever took.

*ALEXA GOES TO COLLEGE*

Ok, not really, but Alexa decided that she no longer wanted to dance and she really wanted to act. I went online and found out that Starlight was offering classes at Johnson Community College. Alexa was so excited to start.
She came out of class all wound up. She loved it. She explained all that she had learned about stage positions and the different acting games she got to play. This is definitely something that was made for her.

*MAREN'S INTERVIEW*

Maren's interview was super cute. She was telling everyone how awesome her first day of preschool was. So of course when I asked her said "Awesome!" Also, when I asked her about what she learned, she said "Writing an elephant." Of course I heard "Riding and elephant." I couldn't figure out what she meant. I thought maybe they read a book about it or there was a big stuffed elephant in the classroom. I had to ask her to explain and she said, "You know. First you write a circle, then some legs." I exclaimed, "Oh, drawing an elephant." It was funny how I had thought something completely different.

*NIGHT AT THE CIRCUS*

Alexa, Maren, Aunt Rachel and I all went to the circus and met the Sweeny's and Smykay's there. it was a good show this year, with all the usual action. All of our favorite is always the upside down walking. People are upside down on the ceiling playing tennis, watering flowers and a ton of other things all while they are upside down. Aunt Rachel enjoys the motorcycles in a ball. I don't think they had it this year or we missed it at the very beginning when we were getting the girls food.
During the second half Audry and Trey came down and sat by us. Trey bought the largest popcorn ever and while eating it accidentally dropped it. Luckily my purse was there to catch it all. We just laughed and I picked up the purse to give to Alexa to eat all the popcorn out of.
Audry was a little squirmy at first, but then she saw the elephants. She just kept pointing and looking back at me to check to see if I was seeing them too. It was pretty funny how she watched closely to everything going on.
Overall everyone seemed to have a great time this year at the circus.

*MAREN'S FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL*

It is crazy to think that my little bear is finally old enough to attend preschool! It's scary to think that we are only one year away before she starts kindergarten!
She was the perfect little girl when we went to preschool. When we first got there we had to wait in front of her classroom for her teacher, Mrs. Joanne to open the door. While we were waiting we saw a friend, Lucy waiting too. Maren and Lucy met several times at the park and at soccer games. Lucy is the sister to one of Alexa's friends, so Maren knows her pretty well. Once the teacher opened the door, she ran in, put up her backpack in her assigned cubby, then sat down at the table ready to go. The teacher told her to go ahead and sit down on the rug in the classroom. it's a big circle rug with the letters of the alphabet going around the outside, so Maren ran right to the M and sat right down. As I was leaving I had to beg for her to come and give me a goodbye hug and kiss.
Today was a short day, so it was only an hour and 15 minutes long. Being a short day, I was able to stay and pick her up once classes ended. Once the door opened to let them out, I walked in and found Maren and Michael. Of course we had to have them take several pictures before leaving. They also showed us their silly bands that their teacher had given them.
Maren seemed to have a great day. If you ask her how it went she will tell you it was "Awesome!"

This is what her grandma Marilyn had to say when she saw her first day of preschool pictures:
"Maren looked so cute today. Little did she know as she took her first
steps it is only the beginning of what will be a very long journey.
She looked so happy and eager to start out.
We have all traveled this road. It was a joy to see her.
Thanks for sharing."

*NIGHT BEFORE PRESCHOOL*

We have talked a lot about this night prior to it happening. We explained to Maren how when preschool started she would have to have a bedtime and go to bed like a big girl (without mommy or daddy laying next to her.) So the time finally came. We picked out clothes, Alexa read Maren her night time story, and it was time for her to go to bed on her own. For the first time ever there were no tears or fighting. She laid down, kissed me goodnight and started in on her milky. the only question she had was when Rollie would be coming to bed. (the kennel is in her room this week) Not once did I hear a peep come out of her room. I was pretty proud of her. Hopefully each night will be this easy.