Peyla's Kindergarten/Montessori Graduation

Well hello little blog...it's been a while. Lots of things/life have been happening in between the photographs. Tomorrow is a BIG day for Peyla girl. She is graduating from her Kindergarten year after a three-year cycle at Dynamite Montessori! As I sift through the photographs in search of the "first-day-of-school" pictures, I am reminded of the first day I sent her to pre-school. Brendon and I had toured several schools in the area and DM was hands-down the best one we found. Something about the rich, natural learning environment just seemed to fit our girl so perfectly. From day one, it has been a place she loved! I can remember vividly the first day she ever went...I walked her up the steps, hand in hand. She looked up at me, with a look that was equal parts uncertainty and excitement. I walked her into class and was greeted by Ms. Tina, her lead teacher. We exchanged our quiet greetings for the first day, then Ms. Tina calmly reached her hand out and Peyla let go of mine. She took a few steps to Ms. Tina and together they walked through the classroom. I couldn't leave fast enough that day, as I was fighting back my own tears. There's just something about letting go of your child's hand for the first time and watching someone else step in, even for a brief time. I've always been grateful for the time Peyla spent in her classroom at DM. The friendships she developed, the skills in her education, but most of all- I am grateful that she started her love for learning in a place that was so fitting for her little heart. Ever since that first day, Peyla has loved school...always wanted to go, never really a tear shed. Her teacher has repeatedly told us over the years at Parent/Teacher conferences, "That Peyla girl! I never have to worry about what she's doing. That girl loves to learn! She will find anything and everything to do or accomplish." Now she's embarking on the next step in her education...1st grade at a new school! My only hope is that she continues to have the spark and passion for learning that she has today. We are super proud of you Peyla girl!

Her official 1st day of Pre-School, January 2014 (3.5 years old)

The beginning of her second school year, August 2014 (4 years old)

Her Kindergarten year at DM, August 2015 (5 years old)

 Showing a friend a lesson

 World Peace Day 2015

 Halloween with Ms. Tina, October 2015

 Halloween with Ms. Maria (Assistant Teacher), October 2015

 Thanksgiving Parade, November 2015

 Holiday Party, December 2014

 Holiday Party, December 2015

Easter Egg Hunt, April 2015

Ramblings of an Un-Runner...Marathon Day

 

I started this journey almost four months ago, and here I am on Marathon Eve...tomorrow it is Finish Line or bust. It's hard to sit back and reflect on the days and months it took me to get here. I don't have the emotion that I thought I would...instead my stomach churns constantly and the anxiety of "what if I fail" looms over my head. Don't get me wrong, I will finish this race. I just hope I finish it with the grace and strength that I expect from myself. I think about the miles that I've racked up over the last few months...what a long road it took for me to get here! I had more thought-provoking moments, more sunrises, sunsets, more encounters with nature and strangers, more run-ins with my own ghosts than I had planned. It's funny what you take away from solitude...which I admittedly don't experience much anymore. But when I'm quiet and I let my mind drift, it takes me down so many different paths...I thought about the past...family...friends both here and lost...my grandfather...my darker years of youth...my beautiful children...what spirituality means to me...my story, my fight, my hopes...all of these things and many more wandered in and out of my heart. Some days were blind running. Some I spent lost in my own soul. Even more were experienced with hope and gratitude for every blessing I have..for humility, forgiveness and dreams of the future. So I suppose in a way my "marathon" began quite some time ago...tomorrow will simply be the chance to prove I can see it through. And to show off my hot pink shoes. ;)

 

I came across this song one day on an app for my phone. I had not heard it before and it soon became my end-of-run tune. If there was ever an answer to the meaning of life, it would be understood in the words of this song..."We are how we treat each other, and nothing more".

 

Nothing More by The Alternate Routes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tXzlVjU1xs

 

 



It's Christmas Time!

We sure had fun celebrating Christmas and enjoying all of the fun festivities around town in December! It seems like every year, the holiday season passes in a blur but I'm thankful to have so many pictures and sweet memories to hold on to!

 

 The girls lined up their "Christmas friends" just about every day and asked for their picture to be taken!

 And another one! I will spare you the other 37 shots.

 Tinker McJingles (our elf) brought the girls their first pair of gloves for the tree excursion!

 Many carols were sang on this "stage".

 Hot chocolate face! Heading up north for our Christmas tree.

 Cozy little road trip!

 Clifford the Big, Red Dog hosted a story time at Desert Ridge!

 Ali and I hit about every Santa stand in town. lol

 The giant tree at Desert Ridge!

 Decorating cookies at Mimi's house.

 Someone ate a LOT of sprinkles!

 Such concentration!

 Checking out the Frozen themed gingerbread house at the Marriott.

Team Dahn/Frigard is having their huddle!

 Peyla's holiday party at school was so much fun!

 Many parents signed up to host craft tables for the kids...

 ...homemade makes the best ornaments!

 Yours truly even got crafty!

 Peyla and her best school buddy Sophia!

 Silly face! I was proud of her for venturing off and doing her own thing at the party.

 Holiday carols sound so much sweeter out of the mouths of babes!

 We made it to Christmas Eve before mommy finally caved into the candy cane requests!

Random- iPhone update

 Will this fit in our living room??

 Little artist at work during story time.

 A very demure Elsa...hey, your roots are showing! lol

 Puppet theater- Little Bunny's Halloween!

Broomstick riding with a witchy Ms. Tina~

 Busted! The morning after Halloween!

 Train park play date with our favorite little man!

 She's so chill~ ~ ~

 Side note: I dressed like a black cat for Halloween (I'm so creative). I used my black eyeliner to give myself whiskers and a kitty nose. Well, several days after Halloween- Ali hide in the corner with a marker and made her own "kitty mask". Here she is crawling around, doing her best kitty impression!

 Play time with Grandpa!

 Dressing up with daddy's tie...good thing he doesn't have to wear one every day!

 Sometime in November...when the inner Christmas junkie in me

decided to have a Christmas movie night with the girls.

 Peyla decided she didn't like her hood (or "helmet" as she calls it) always falling down. So she took matters into her own hands and solved the problem with about a dozen barrettes! lol

 Making sand "potions" one late fall afternoon at the park.

 Finally the weather started to change and we were able to dig out our warmer gear!

 Park day with Lala Dahn!

 Four instant friends...Peyla and Ali loved meeting the sweet boys of my dear friends Wendy & Matt.

 Roman, Peyla, Rocco and Ali! I love how Ali's got one protective hand on Rocco..."he's mine!"

 Aside from my feelings about Thanksgiving and all that it historically entails, Peyla enjoyed her Thanksgiving Feast at school and dressing up to honor Native American heritage. They did a traditional chant before the meal and seeing her in this photo, reminded me of one that my mother has of me at 4 years old.

 Just because!

 Ali serenading me with Frosty the Snowman!

She has a very captive audience. :)