Little Cheerleaders

This year, we had two cheerleaders in training during football season.  The cheer opportunity came earlier in the football season than normal because of a heavy away schedule in October.  It made for a busy week for us, but I am pretty sure it always does. 

Ellie decided that it would be fun to try this.  She had watched Madison the past two years.  She was a little hesitant, but she performed well.  She really watched what the lead cheerleader would do and try to follow it. 

         

    

Madison had fun, as always.  I think she just enjoys being out there and part of the action.  She was all smiles the whole time.

    

It was a beautiful night for the game.  The Bulldogs took on Fairless and pulled out a dominating win.  We were able to also see one of the youth we work with at church play.  He did a great job, as he had in previous games; it was good to see it rather than read about it the next day. 

Who knows if we will have cheerleaders in our future or not, but it is fun to watch them try out new things.

Kids’ Garage Sale

Last Saturday (Labor day weekend), I went out to TWO breakfasts.  Yep, just spent all morning socializing with two different groups of women.  First, I went to the Salem Ladies’ breakfast at Time-Out Cafe.  Then, I went to Kidron Town and Country Restaurant for Sandy’s birthday breakfast.  (It was a surprise that I almost ruined!)  It was relaxing and good to be with other women.

I returned home, took two steps (literally!) inside the house, and was accosted by my little ladies with big ideas for the day ahead.  They had been working all morning making bracelets out of yarn and plastic beads. 

     

They wanted to sell these along with their stuffed animals, hot chocolate, cupcakes, and more outside.  I was supposed to contact all kinds of people to make this happen.  Jeremy and I gave them every single reason this would not work.  They could not be thwarted.  Since they had been asking to do this same thing pretty much all summer, I finally gave in.  And spent the rest of the day baking chocolate cupcakes with homemade chocolate frosting with Madison.  And banana muffins with Ellie.  Then, we pulled out the canopy, hauled up tables and chairs from the basement, made signs, posted an invite on facebook, sent out some personal texts, and made a phone call. 

If you build it, they will come….

The girls had a great time, despite the drizzle that threatened to close down the sale.  There were a couple families that stopped in, some grandparents, and some other friends. 

 

We sold out of the cupcakes and muffins, handed off some stuffed animals, and reduced our bracelet inventory.  It was a good way to spend the day.  It was also not on my agenda for the day.  I don’t know if I ever really got done what needed done, but sometimes the trade-off is worth it.

First Day of Kindergarten

It finally came for Ellie. She had watched her sister go for years.  And this year, she sat and waited through two long days while Madison boarded the big, yellow bus before it was her turn to get on it herself.  Oh, she was so excited.  She and Madison had talked about what the first day would be like, how to ride the bus, if Madison should walk Ellie into her classroom or just to the door in the morning, what the cafeteria was like, what food was good, and so much more.  Madison is such a good big sister.  And Ellie is the best little sister! 

Grandma Yoh had taken the girls shopping for their first day of school outfits, so Ellie already knew what she was wearing.  And even though it was a little cool that morning, she stuck with her sleeveless shirt with leggings.  She knew pictures would come.  Jeremy obliged.

   

Then, they waited for the bus.  They even used the binoculars to spy it in the gap between the trees behind our house.  

    

Finally, she loaded the bus.  Boosted with confidence of being with her big sis, her mentor and best friend.  And welcomed by an awesome bus driver!

    

I was tinged with a bit of sadness that I didn’t expect that morning as I headed to school before my girls.  I was jealous of Jeremy being able to see Ellie off on her first day.  I wanted to do that.  I realized that we have just moved on to a new phase.  A school-age phase.  A time when our lives fit into the rhythm of the August to June year.. with a few months of unscheduled time before the next year begins.  It dawned on me that my littlest one was going out on a brand new adventure, and while I was completely confident that she was ready to take it on, I wondered how it would work for her.  Would she raise her hand to answer questions or sit shyly in her seat smiling her little smile?  Would she ask questions if she didn’t know about something?  Would she be brave enough to go to the big bathroom stalls by herself?  Would she make room at a table or on the playground for kids that needed a friend? 

She has big dreams, this one.  Dreams of being a vet (even though she is terrified of almost all living creatures with fur) or a doctor.  She loves to snuggle and cuddle.  She wants to hold hands and tell stories.  She loves to sing and act.  She wants to be brave and try new things… and sometimes she does.  I know God is with her, prodding her along a path of greatness that will bring glory to Him.  She talks about God in ways I didn’t know five-year-olds did.  She asked me the other day if Papa Yoh and Great Grandpa could see her.  I assured her they were smiling on her and loved watching her grow up.  Often she says that death would be fine because then she could be with Jesus.  And I wish that I could say that with the same confidence.  I am so rooted here that I lose the vision of what glory awaits us.  Through the mouth of babes.  I pray that she continues to live fully here on earth, but with her eyes trained on the prize.  That she grows in her desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  It will be a journey worth watching! 

Blessings, Ellie, as you begin your educational journey.  May it be one that brings you joy.  And when it doesn’t (because sometimes it will be hard), walk with eyes on the prize.  We love you!

Open House and a 2nd Grader

We had open house night about two weeks ago.  This year we had TWO excited girls on our hands.  Ellie was very excited to go see her room, meet her teacher, and put her supplies in the room. 

    

Madison knew the drill, but was equally excited at the prospect of seeing her room and formally meeting her teacher.

 

The very next day was the first day of school for Madison.  A 2nd Grader!!!  How does this happen?  They say it goes fast.  Actually, recently, someone said that the first 12 years go a bit slow and then it zips by at the speed of light between 13 and high school graduation.  I can only imagine.  This year, Jeremy was on his own getting Madison prepped for school with breakfast, bookbag, and to the bus.  And get a picture before she left.  I had started my first day back in the classroom an hour before she started hers.  He did a great job.  (Although the sunnier picture was after school so we could see the outfit she picked out; it was a bit chilly in the morning.)

    

Madison is confident, loves school, and enjoys everything about it.  It makes my heart happy.  I work with kids who have a harder time digesting school academically.  I can imagine the battle their parents must face some days.  I also know kids who take education for granted and don’t put much effort into it.  Madison really enjoys it.  She even comes home and continues to play school some days.  It blows my mind.  And it reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for. 

Two things she has shared with me since the beginning of the year (since I am actually posting 8 days into the year..): 1) I always thought math was boring, but it’s not.  I learned all these math tricks today and it’s cool.  Thank you, Mrs. Thiel, for breaking down the bad math stigma!  2) Today at lunch, one girl told another that she wasn’t her friend anymore.  And I said, “Well, I am still your friend.”  Mom, I never thought I would have to do that!  Oh, how proud I was of her!  The courage it took to say speaks volumes of the girl Madison is growing into.  I pray for them to be the hands and feet of Jesus and love those that feel a bit sad or are left out.  My prayers are being answered.

We love you!

Family Pictures

It has been about four years since we last had Ediger family pictures.  My sister-in-law, Steph, gifted a photo session to my mom this year.  It was a win for all of us.  Jeremy and I are horrible about getting family pictures done, or even the girls individual pictures professionally done.  We take plenty of pictures of them, but it is nice to have a good quality photo, too. 

So, earlier this month, we got all gussied up and headed to the Seacrest Arboretum.  It is a beautiful place for pictures, and it is where we had our last photo shoot.  I haven’t picked up the photos from my mom yet, so I’ll just post my candids and posed shots and add to this later. 

We had some good ones of our family:

              

We had good ones of the grandkids with the grandparents:

We had a good one of just the boys:

We had some good ones of just the girls (more of them because they liked to pose…):

              

Then, we had some fun ones:

         

Then, the little girls decided they wanted to hold their own photo session with my phone.  Here are some of the results:

              

And probably my favorite (from 2013 and this year…):

    

It was two hours of fun, and surprisingly cooperative kids!  I am thankful for the family I have.  It is not perfect, but we work at being good to one another, an encouragement in hard times, and prayful as other’s make decisions.