Firecracker, firecracker

Faith has learned this cheer "Firecracker, firecracker" from Champ's classroom however I have not been able to get her to do the chant while in her new cheerleader outfit from Pa Pa. Complete with pom poms and skirt she is quite a cute little cheerleader. As if she couldn't get any cuter tonight I found a University of Illinois cheerleader outfit that was to small. Instead of it being a dress we turned it into a cute tank top. Having brotherly ties to the Fighting Illini, I was proud to see these blue and orange colors worn so well. Now if only I can get her to perform like a cheerleader, life will be great.

Great grandpa

Faith visited her great grandfather today. It had been a year since they had seen each other. He is 89 and doing well but a forgetful memory has got the best of him. Faith and I are going to play BINGO with him this afternoon. I am realizing how important great grandparents are. They have stories to tell that one may never know and the more time we can spend with them the more we learn about their lives. It is my hope that Faith remembers this trip back home especially her great grandfather. He is her only surviving great grandparent. Faith is such a loving spirit she went right to him to hug him after she was asked if she wanted to. So watch out nursing home, BINGO player Faith is on her way to win her great grandfather some tickets for chocolate.

Memories

What is going to be the best memory of this place when we leave in a month and a half? It is going to be the beautiful nature that surrounds our house. The mountain in our backyard with the sun setting over the horizon, the rollercoaster hills as we approach our driveway, the sunrise over the sod field each morning, the toads mating calls, the sense of peacefulness that I have when I let each of my children outside to play, the long rocky driveway, the horses following us along the fence, my children climbing the fences to just get a skim of the horses' fur, and the barn cats that have become like our own without having to feed them. This place is undescribeable. I have a billion and one memories of this place and more still to come. I believe God put us here to find peace. Peace from the city for Bud, peace from traffic for me, peace and quiet for my children to learn what it is like to entertain themselves. As our house begins to empty with material things and return to the boxed state that it was three years ago, I am flooded with emotions. Excitement brews but sadness remains.

All by myself

Today Faith did her first and probably only horse riding lesson. The little girl across the street rides a pony and today she taught Faith all about her. They began with grooming. Loralei was so sweet as she would show Faith the correct way to brush Penny's main, tail, and coat. Afterwards Loralei got on Penny to get her warmed up. Penny is 23 years old so she was not too excited to be rode but safe for all parties involved. Next up was Faith and she practiced holding the reigns, sitting up straight, and keeping her balance. She liked it until Loralei decided it was time for Penny to trot. The anxiousness showed in Faith's face as she felt herself off balance. She had a wonderful time.

She has also been practicing riding her new bike without training wheels. We bought this bike Memorial Day weekend after her seat broke off the other one. After practicing maybe four times, last night she took off on her own; perfect balance and all. She was amazing. "Let go" she called. My hands came off and my heart beat faster as she rode away. We turned around, peddled back to the van and headed out one more time. This time she veered to the left and headed down the hill towards the woods. I yelled for her to stop but she continued to coast down the hill through the tall grass only to crash at the bottom. She laughed it off and got right back up.
I'm so proud to see her accomplish new things and try new things without being scared. She is going to be going everywhere on her bike when we travel to the Midwest next week

We're back!!

Being without internet is rough. I never realized how dependant I am on it for everyday life. For one thing, I journal write on both of my children. When I looked today and realized I hadn't wrote anything in the last month about Faith I felt sad. She is a rising first grader now. Graduation was last Thursday. She did a reading during graduation. She has come a long way and has gained much confidence. As she prepares for summer vacation in the midwest she is excited yet sad to not see her friends and her favorite teacher who has become like an adopted mom to her. I will miss them all too. Teaching has become part of me and I'm not sure what I will do without it.
To sum up the last month's activities would take a long paragraph to complete so I will write a few of her favorites. A visit from Bud came at the end of May and she was excited. He stayed for Memorial Day weekend and we visited the creek.
She earned a trip to Chuck E Cheese after being a consistent good listener. She was excited upon arrival as we were the first in the door and the first to grab 176 free tickets from the previous night's games. She said they knew that she was coming and saved them for her. Too cute! Field day happened last Friday at school and she did the slip and slide for the first time ever. She loved it and even asked for one. The dish soap did help her slide really fast. Last but not least she is enjoying our new sandbox filled with tractors and sea shells. This was a gift for Champ for his birthday but she does great playing nicely.
I am still in awe over the fact that I have a rising first grader. She is going to do so great in her new school. Our move back to Motown occurs the end of summer. I am excited over this new venture and opportunities for growth. Faith has always had me in her school. She has always been able to get a hug whenever she needed one. A time for growth for both us is heading our way.