Mara's Kindergarten program last spring was so very cute. There were kids dressed as pigs, sheep, cows, farmers, probably some more animals I can't think of since it's been seven months since the program, and some very cute chics.
Here's Mara doing the very cute "Cute Chics" dance.
And my cute chic after the show.
Can you see it in her eyes?...."Can I take my costume off now?...How bout now?....I really want to take it off now....Now?....PLEASE!"
Mara's 6th birthday party was at the skating rink...the same skating rink I used to go to in middle school. So much fun!
The girls did so good after we figured out there was a such thing as "slow-roller" skates.
Look how little Becca Sue looks in these pictures.
Emily was the dare devil of the bunch. She did not want to hold your hand regardless of how many times she wiped out. You can just see the lack of concern for bodily harm in her eyes here!
Love this picture...I think she wore Papa out!
Blowing out the #6 candle. I can't believe I need to buy a #7 in just two short months!
And here's the present opening frenzy...
I can not believe how fast my baby girl is growing up. She's such a lady, and I couldn't be more proud of the person she's becoming. So here's a happy late #6 birthday little lady...love you so much!
How in the world did she go from this...
...to this....
...in what seems like overnight. 
Seriously. 
I'm afraid to take a potty break cause she might be going to college when I get back.
After reading the President's address to school children yesterday and asking a couple of questions to Mara's teacher, we decided that Mara would indeed watch the speech live at school. I talked to her this morning and told her that she was going to get to hear the President of the United States talk to her today. I reminded her that his name is President Obama. Her response?....."Momma, that's kind of like Joe Mama!" Ok, that teaching moment was over so I just told her that I was excited that she would get to see the President today.
When she got home I asked her if she saw the president today. She said yes, so I asked her what he said to her.
Mara: He said that you never know if you can do something unless you try.
Me: Wow, that's awesome Mara. So we should always try our best, right?
Mara: Yes, I think I want to try skating.
Me: So what else did the president say?
Mara: Mom, when can we go skating?
Me: Mara, what else did the president talk about?
Mara: I really want to try skating.
Me: Do you remember what the president looked like?
Mara: Ummm....
Me: Do you remember his name?
Mara: Ummmm.... I don't know Mom, can we go skating now?
So evidently the President talked about skating today...or so my five year old thinks! Aren't you glad that there was so much controversy over a speech about skating.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.
5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.
My little girl is a Kindergartner. Can. Not. Believe. It.
Monday was registration day when we got to meet her teacher for the first time. Here's Mara with her teacher...
She is very sweet, warm, caring, motherly, etc....makes the transition for this momma a little easier!
After meeting Ms. Cockrell and hanging out in her room for a little while, we got to go on a Mommy date. I don't get to spend much alone time with the girls so this was a real treat. (Nana had Emily, Becca, and Sam...Sam screamed most of the morning and Becca Sue got two time-outs from Nana....so thanks just doesn't seem a good enough word to say to Nana!)
We started out at Starbucks to talk about where else we wanted to go...
She got her very own Mocha Frappuccino!
She decided that she wanted to go shopping so we went to the dollar store to pick out some cheap toys. Then ended the morning at Chuck E. Cheese...as much as I hate that place, I really had a blast with my girl. She talked, and talked, and talked, and talked. I needed a nap when we were done!
The only problem now is figuring out how to keep time from flying so fast!
Up next is first day of school pictures...
Someone please tell me that I did not just register my firstborn for Kindergarten.
And for those of you who have been here before....tell me when my tears will stop!
At lunch yesterday we were eating grapes and the following conversation took place....
Mara: (sucking on a grape) Mmmmm, Momma this juice tastes so good.
Me: Yum. I like grape juice too.
Mara: What? This is grape juice?
Me: Yes, grapes have grape juice inside.
Mara: Really?
Me: Yep. If grapes have grape juice inside....what is inside oranges?
Mara: (the light coming on) ORANGE JUICE!
Me: You're right! What about apples?
Mara: Apples have apple juice inside!
Me: Right again. What about strawberries...what's inside strawberries?
Mara: (pausing to think) Hmmmm. Oh, I know....Strawberry Milkshakes!
Sounds good to me....Pass the strawberries!
Mara Lin has been asking tons of questions and talking a lot about salvation lately. Well, she doesn't use the term 'salvation', but rather says..
-Hey Mom, let's talk about sin again.
-Momma, does Jesus cry when we sin?
-When did you ask Jesus to be your forever friend?
She's really thinking a lot lately and learning so much. I'm not sure if she's 'there' yet, but if she's not 'there' then she's very close.
Several nights ago, I asked Phillip to talk to her to see what he thought and here's how the conversation went.....
Daddy: Mara, did you ask Jesus to be your forever friend?
Mara: I did, Daddy.
Daddy: What about your sin?
Mara: I told Jesus that I was sorry for my sins.
Daddy: How does your sin make Jesus feel?
Mara: It makes Him sad.
Daddy: That's right. So why do we get to go to heaven?
Mara: Huh?
Daddy: Do we get to go to heaven because we're good or because Jesus was good?
Mara: Huh?
Daddy: How do you get to heaven?
Mara: You die.
I was laughing so hard at that last response that the meaningful conversation was over. I LOVE all of her questions and her sweet, sweet faith though!
...it's hurting today.
Even though it totally seems like this...
...was yesterday. It wasn't. It was FIVE years ago.
I can. not. believe. that Mara Lin turned five today.
Oh what a happy, happy baby she was. She was exactly what I needed to break me in as a mom and make me want many many more babies!
She's grown SO fast and is such a lady, so nurturing and mommy to everyone.
I'm so proud of the sweet, sweet girl that she has become,
and am SO lucky that God picked me to be her Mommy!
Mara Lin,
Since you say that you can't be four forever, I guess I'll let you be five. Just be patient with Momma as she learns to let go and launch you into the world. I thank God everyday for the amazing little girl that you are and can't wait to see what God has planned for your life. I love you so much baby girl!
Love,
Mom
Since I seem to be on a roll with sharing about the cute things the girls say, I'd better tell this one before I forget.
The girls spent last Saturday at Nana and Popa's house. At lunch Nana had turkey salad....
Mara: Nana, what's that smell?
Nana: It's my turkey salad. Do you want some?
Mara: No thanks, I like my turkey flat.
You know what Mara? I prefer my turkey from Lenny's or Subway too! We'll let Nana keep the turkey salad!
If your four year old decides that it is a good idea to put two M&Ms up her nose...
Don't try to get them out (it will be torture for her and you!)...
Just wait about ten minutes for them to get a little melty and they'll slide right out with a good nose blowing.
Lesson learned the hard way!
Emily had on a shirt the other day that had cherries on it. That sparked the following conversation....
Emily: Mmmmm, I want to eat some cherries.
Mara: Emily, we don't have any cherries.
Emily: Uh huh, they're right here on my shirt.
Mara: Emmy, don't be silly...cherries don't come from shirts, they come from milkshakes.
Mmmm, I love those cherries on the top of milkshakes, and I love that in Mara's four-year-old world cherries come from milkshakes! Oh to be four again!
Can't you just hear her telling him how he's not doing it right? Nooooo, she's not bossy!
Oh, and that's one of Heidi's boys again. And the boy Mara always says she's going to marry.
I'm late posting these (since the first day of school was almost two weeks ago), but better late than never.... right?!?
I think they're pretty proud of their new lunch boxes too.
And oh yes and the dork who wrote 9-01-08 on the sign really meant 9-02-08, but hey what's the difference!
Mara and Emily started baseball last Saturday. Mara loved it, and Emily...well, not so much. Here's Mara with her 'boyfriend' (she really calls him that) Caiden.
And I love this look on her face.
Oh yes, and this look on Em's face too. They just look like they're contemplating life.
Here's the only action shot you'll see of Emily cause she threw her hat and glove down and quit just a few minutes after this picture was taken. Not like she was actually looking at the ball being thrown at her though!
Here's Mara running the bases with the coach.
And her first time hitting a ball off of a tee.
Run Mara, Run!
And we HAVE to call DeeDee and Grand afterwards to tell them all about baseball.
Yep, still giving them a play by play.
Hopefully Emily will play more this coming Saturday. She did ok last week until she realized that people were looking at her, and then I kind of forced the issue and made her stay out there. (Imagine that, Emily and I butting heads!) It was all downhill from there. I'm just going to leave her be this week and let her warm up to it if she wants...and if not, then that's ok too. Anyway, could they be any cuter in their little uniforms?!?
