Mid Fall Check In

 Madison- Fourth grade has been a rough year for you. You are settling in now, but there were many tears as you started the school year. The behavioral expectations are quite different from the "fun" school years from K-3. You thought your teacher was being mean and didn't like you, and that the material was so hard. For a minute, you wanted us to remove you from AGP, but we assured you that you could do it. Afterall, your grades were straight A's the entire time (even when you wanted to be removed). You just put so much pressure on yourself and it breaks our hearts. Your teacher, Mrs. Mayson, loves you and praises you all the time, so I think you've found a rhythm and are enjoying it more now. We are so proud of you and your achievements at school, but hope you won't put too much pressure on yourself and realize that your worth is not found in these things. You are a daughter of God, first and foremost, and everything else will fall into place from there. 

You are playing tennis two days a week and doing the "Run Hard" program at school twice a week too. You loved to be active and play football with the boys most days at recess. We love this about you (and love that it off-sets your desire to eat sweets all day long if you could) Ha! 

You are SUPER into football this year (especially Clemson) and have enjoyed going to the games with Daddy and cheering like a crazy person. I love the memories you are creating with him (and that we all are creating at the tailgates since Andrew and I don't always go into the games).

You are slowly developing a love for reading and doing less fussing. Your attitude continues to be sassy and your will strong. I pray that one day this is all focused for the good and have confidence that it will make you strong and successful in all that you do! In the meantime, it may kill me. Ha! As I type, you have lost your IPAD for the week for being sassy and talking back. As Daddy and I try to remind you daily, if we didn't care or love you, we'd let you get away with it. We love you so very much and want you to be the best version of you that there is. You make us proud (even though you don't always believe us) and you are a completely normal 9 year old! It's your job to push our buttons and our job to teach you not to. LOL. We love you dearly and forever no matter what!!

Fourth Grade

 Well we are back to school and you are in fourth grade with Mrs. Mayson. You have the same classmates as last year, with a few added in that are back from virtual school.  You were very excited to go back to school and see everybody and you are very excited about Mrs. Mayson. She showed ya'll her desk drawers on day one and they are filled with candy, so needless to say you are in heaven!! Currently, you want to go to Clemson and be an architect. Only time will tell, but you can do anything you put your mind to. I pray it's the best year yet for you, sweet girl!!

9th birthday!

 You told me that you’ve always wanted a surprise party when I asked what you wanted to do for your birthday this year. I knew we weren’t going to do a “real” party because of covid so I planned a different surprise. I picked up your friend, Ava and then came to school to pick up you and your other friend, Hannah. I took you guys to a cool ice cream shop way across town that makes these huge creations! You were so surprised and you and your sweet friends had so much fun! Happy birthday, my love! 

Christmas 2020

 We had a great time at Christmas this year. Grandmommy and Grandaddy stayed with us for a week. We attended Christmas Eve at church (strange since had to make a reservation and wear masks this year with COVID) and on Christmas day, Grammy and Grandpa Tom came over as well as Uncle Rob. Then, the next day, we went over and had Christmas with Uncle Mitch and Aunt Stacey and all the cousins. So much fun! 

Your favorites this year were: helping to bake and cook, your cook books and chef hat/apron, and your electric scooter.

Kindness Matters!

 You received the student of the month for kindness and it makes us so proud of you! You are so many things- smart, beautiful, creative, funny, etc. but the fact that you are tender-hearted and kind to ALL people is what makes us the most proud of you. You see the world through eyes like Jesus wants you to and treat everyone fairly and compassionately. We pray you always stay this way and realize that this is what makes you successful instead of worrying about worldly success and values. We love you big!!! 

Third Grade Bible and catch up on the year

 You got your third grade bible at church a couple of weeks ago. You were so nervous to get up in front of the church and wanted to know exactly what you would have to do. I don’t think you believed us right away when we told you that you simply had to walk up and take your bible. Your nerves didn’t show a bit as you walked up with your head held high and we were super proud. Dad and I enjoyed going to bible boot camp later that Sunday to learn all about using your new bible. We pray you use this as the main book in your life and source for all the answers you seek and comfort you need. 

In other news, you are back in school four days a week and are so glad! You rocked having to be at Seven Oaks Park by yourself and keeping up with your virtual schedule, but it was a lot for an 8 year old to keep up with. There were definitely some stressful times and times when your emotions won out, but overall you were a rockstar and handled it with more maturity than lots of older kids. You are in Ms. Barrack’s talented and gifted class and are doing well. However, you put so much pressure on yourself. We pray that you will seek your worth from God and know that no matter what your grades are that what matters most is that you’re a kind person and always try your best. We’ve had that conversation many times lately and we’re not sure it’s sinking in yet, so I hope your older self is reading this and believing how awesome you are!! 

We love you and are proud of you. Let’s pray that the next update is back to normal and covid is gone!!!!

(You wanted to try ice skating again when we both were off for election day. You first wanted to give up when it was hard at the beginning again, but you got back out there and ended up doing the best you've done yet and we stayed the longest we've ever stayed. I had so much fun with you! 

Halloween 2020

 A horse, a knight, and a dragon had a great time trick or treating for Halloween 2020!