Amelia receives her diploma

Amelia has now graduated from St. Paul's Nursery school on May 21, 2008.  She received her diploma proudly.  Thankfully, she is moving on.  Amelia came home one day to tell me, "Daddy, hugging and kissing is not allowed at school."  

Oh really, "what happened?" I said.  

"Vince kissed me," Amelia bashfully exclaimed.

        "Where?"

         "On the playground."

         "No, Amelia where?"  Amelia points to her left cheek much too close to her lips!

     "But I told my teacher and they told Vince that kissing and hugging is not allowed.  But Daddy Ben is really funny and he liked Lauren, but then Ben and I got to be line leaders and hold hands and now he likes me."

          

      

     

Cruising Amelia

Look! No training wheels.  I'm not even five and I'm riding free.  Joel & Andrew watch out.  My ride is my one speed princess bicycle, and I wear a cinderella helmet.  Don't ever underestimate the speed of cute!

The big news after the weekend--Amelia has pierced ears. She's been asking since age 2. We waited a while before agreeing to this change. I half expected her to chicken out once we got to Claire's. Instead she sat quietly in the chair, held completely still and then let out the biggest smile I've seen after it was over. No tears, no crying, no complaining, just contentment. She's taken complete responsibility for twisting her earrings and cleaning her ears. And will get to change her earrings at Crescent Lake. We wanted time for her ears to heal prior to going to Cameroon. 

Grammie's Visit

Amelia and Meredith have been enjoying Grammie's visit for the past week. They've gone to the park, Nature realm, shopping, decorated cupcakes, gone to the library, read volumes of books and colored for hours. The girls will really miss her when she leaves tomorrow. 

Meredith is finally saying some new words, "book and ball." She is trying to walk down the stairs and is quick to escape the house if the door is left open. 

Amelia recovered from her illness this weekend.  She checked-out a book with Grammie called, "I lost my tooth in Africa." The girl places her tooth under a gourd and gets 2 chickens. Amelia is already planning what color her chickens should be when she loses her 1st tooth.

      Amelia and Mom made a special date to Akron Civic's Theater ballet performance of Cinderella.  Here you can see Amelia getting ready--glass slippers, purse, gloves, tierra, for a magical evening.  

Mother's Day Photo

A Whole Month

Somehow my intentions to write weekly turned into a 5 week absence. I think this testifies to the busy month I've had at work and how quickly time will continue to go before we leave. 

Spring has finally arrived in Akron and we are grateful. Last night we biked as a family to Subway for dinner. Amelia ordered her favorite sandwhich: turkey and mayonaise. 

Two weeks ago I participated in a fundraiser for the Women's battered shelter by getting pictures with the girls. We dressed up on request of Amelia and if you look closely she's wearing the pearls Auntie Ana gave her just like me.

Tomorrow is a day filled with the ordinary, playing with the kids, meals, laundry, cleaning the house grocery shopping and hopefully going for a run.