Allie Kate had a wonderful Kindergarten year with a teacher who showed her so much love and encouragement. That was exactly the thing our girl needed to leave momma for 5 straight days, all day long for the first time ever! The beginning was tough. She cried, I cried, even daddy teared up at drop off. Raising these babies is not for the weak! She made the sweetest little friend, Gayle. Allie Kate loves that Gayle speaks Spanish and I am thankful she found such a sweetie to share her Kindergarten days with. She enjoyed dance, tumbling and soccer and earned principal pal, Student of the Month, Award of Excellence in Dance Reflections and ended the year with a good character award. Our hearts are so full! We sure love our girl.
Clayre Jessye also had a big year! She started Scissortail Day School twice a week for 1/2 day. She, also, had a kind and understanding teacher who helped her transition to her "school days." She went to Tumble Time once a week, and we watched her perform in her first recital. In June, we celebrated her THIRD birthday. She asked for Elsa and we celebrated at one of her favorite spots...the park! Our girl is getting so big. We love her so!
The most exciting thing that has happened in the past 12 months is Allie Kate's decision to be baptized. She had been asking several questions about baptism, the meaning, etc. One night she came to us and told us she wanted to let our Pastor, Chad, know she would like to be baptized at our church. The next Sunday, she went by herself up to him after service to let him know. He scheduled a baptism celebration right away, and that same Sunday 7 others joined her, including her cousin Carter. It was a beautiful service. If there is one thing Clay and I want for our girls, it is for them to know the love of Christ and grow in their relationship with him as they mature.
We randomly put our home for sale in March. Nine days later we had a buyer and were packing our bags! We never planned to move far and broke ground on our new home (just across the street) in June :) We stayed with my parents for the summer, and the girls LOVED living with Taylor, babysitting her puppy, swimming and endless time with Nae Nae and Pop Pop. In July, our Grandma Ann and Papaw decided to purchase a home (with a lake view for Papaw) that became available a few streets away. For now, they are keeping their Tulsa home and traveling back and forth, so they offered the house for us to live in while we are waiting for our new home to be finished. What are so grateful!
We celebrated the 4th of July with sweet friends at the cabin! What a great time!
Allie Kate has Mrs. Bear this year. She was very excited when she learned she was a "bear cub", and she is off to a great start. I can already see her learning new things!
More exciting news for now is my sister (Aunt Tay Tay) got engaged! Clay and I drove out last minute for the celebration and even snapped a few pics on the golf course the next morning :) Here are a few of my favorites!
I've already been listening to the "wedding talk" between her and my mom and I must say, it's going to be stunning! Can't wait to see her become Mrs. Watson!
I think that just about sums up "big stuff" the past 12 months :) maybe I will stay on top of things and blog again soon! Hope everyone's school year is off to a great start! We are super busy as always, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Much Love,
The Andersons
