We're back, Baby!!

We had a great first day of first grade! It was so different than Kindergarten: we allowed more time in the morning for pictures, she wasn't nervous and I didn't cry! :) It's really hard to believe she's a first grader though! There was one girl that really got in her head last year. She's a major tattle-tell and she draws things out of Beatle and then Whamo! raises her hand to tell the teacher. Honestly, there are several other things that point to her not being a Christian and not having a very good home life; all things that Beatle's sensitivity led her to see too even though Meyah wears her smooth out. Last year, Beatle had to sit by her most of the second semester so Beatle was longing for a break from her this year. We get to class and whose name is taped down right beside Beatle's?? When Beatle read it, she just melted with helpless laughter. I felt very strongly that this was not a coincidence; God placed Meyah in her class and right beside her again to rub off God's love and truth on her some more. Beatle accepted the challenge but even yesterday when she got home there was some Meyah drama. Meyah told Beatle that she didn't have any friends besides her "precious Bailey" and that hurt her feelings and she started naming off friends she did have and threw a "boyfriend" in there too. Meyah's hand shot up and B got reminded that there are to be no talks of boyfriends. Beatle was feeling discouraged. Later, M said she wasn't going to be Beatle's friend, "....unless you give me one of those sequins (off of her new shirt)." So, Beatle tore one off to give to M and it started unraveling and she lost several more during the day. She came home feeling a used and manipulated; I really think a life lesson was learned yesterday that will hopefully help her in dealing with her classmate. Together, we examined the choices she made when she chased after Meyah's approval. I'm sure there will be plenty more M drama to come but there are Meyah's everywhere and I want her to figure this stuff out while she's just 6. On the upside, Beatle really loves her new teacher!

She lost a tooth on Sunday night, literally. She pulled it herself and she put it in the pillow we have for it and there was major tooth fairy confusion! I guess there was a coin from last time already in there and while she was messing with it her tooth fell out and she didn't know it. So, she thought the tooth fairy came and took the tooth but didn't leave her any money for this time...it was crazy! But she put the empty tooth pillow under hers and in the morning there was a written explaination for the confusion, along with a gold coin. Whew! Now, mom and dad have to find that baby tooth in the living room before she does!

Beatle was a dancing ma-chine at Aunt Suzy's wedding!!! It was SO funny! Her intense expressions and endless moves crack me up. Her flower girl dress was a wreck--stained and ripped. She passed out in the backseat on the way home. It was like she was a party girl on her 21st birthday. Like my friend Amanda said, "She'll remember this as being the best night ever." Birdie came through as a flower girl right at the last moment. She was ready to go about a minute and a half before it was her turn and when we stopped her, she crumpled. I had to go, Beatle had to go, leaving my dad, sis and the wedding planner to work their magic. It was like she came to her senses and relized she almost missed her chance so she started running down the aisle and then she'd stop and start running again. I was so glad for Brent's parents that night; I didn't fully realize how busy all of us would be and they helped so much with Birdie, making the wedding more pleasant for us all. Suzy looked beautiful! They both looked so happy and I'm so happy for them!

Being in so many beautiful homes while in OK, I've been inspired to up my game a little. I realized that with all the busyness of fostering and life, I've just been maintaining my house, maintaining my clutter and maintaining my schedule. Well, it's time to overhaul some things and I've been taking some hard looks at all of those and my school year resolution is PEACE. I want a manageable schedule, minimal clutter and lots of family time. I'm committed to giving it my best shot.