Addie with a huge grin--- "I still can't believe it!"

Was stuck behind the bus watching the kiddos get off hoping to catch Addie and Samie's glance so they would know I was there but then I saw Addie getting off the bus met by cheers from kids and adults alike-- watch out it's the WINNER of the third grade STEM project. In Addie's world, it was the closest to a celebrity she's ever felt.

All evening she kept saying, "I still can't believe it. I can't believe I won." I guess when they announced the winners, her entire class cheered to have the winning student in their room and hugs were flowing. Addie says she clung so long to her teacher that she finally needed to say it was time to let go. :-) Samantha was equally thrilled to be the sister of the first place name announced over the load speaker! I love this about Samantha, by the way, the easy flow of joy for others.

I just had to capture this moment as a mama... so so happy that our sweet, innovative Addie got to have of of those Cloud 9 moments and that I got to watch part of it. And boy, nothing makes an accomplishment sweeter than to celebrate it with friends. Thanks to everyone who cheered our girl today and made a lasting memory.

Jess

Ellie figuring out the pump

http://youtu.be/n7DberbCJs8

WHO made that?

Ellie is in that delightful stage where she is discovering and processing the world around her as if she is truly SEEING things for the first time. The other day on our way to Lynnie's early in the morning, and the day after the time change, she saw the sun round and bright and just on the horizon and exclaimed, "Wow. That's beautiful. WHO made that??!!" I searched for the best answer and decided on "Mother Earth. God. Nature. The Universe. Magic. I don't know."

New questions keep popping up, and I do my best to provide answers or multiple answers depending on the complexity of the question and my own knowledge base (AACK. Why does it rain exactly? Need to look that up.).

Her pure joy, curiosity and awe bring me to my own spirituality and sense of what is good and right in the world.

So, it was pretty sweet to receive this email from Lynnie today-- BTW we are still trying to figure out why I am purple mama. She calls me that all the time. Her word for dark brown hair? My aura?

So the sky came up in conversation again this morn:) Ellie points out towards the street so I didn't immediately catch on and asks "who made that?" So once we established it was the sky we were discussing I return the question to her. I said hmmm, who do you think made the sky? She says I have to talk to my purple Mama. She's Jessica and she's purple and she tells me who makes the sky:) Then walked away:)

Elisabeth and Corrine --- buckets of fun

Samantha's Graduation from Lynnie's

I am making myself feel better by knowing Ellie is at Lynnie's for 4 more years; Samantha will have more "Lynnie" days, but... let me also soak in that our sweet Samantha is moving on to her next chapter of childhood. As of next week, we have two children in elementary school.

At breakfast today we talked about what graduation means and the importance of thanking our teachers and guides for how they have formed us. Graduation milestones are an important time to remember our accomplishments but also a time as the graduate to be mindful of who made these experiences possible. So thank you Lynnie and Lynnie families for being such a huge part of our Annapolis community.

Lynnie, thank you for helping teach our kids how to spend their time (outside), how to get what you want (just ask and share, when needed), how to enjoy (laugh a lot, draw, tease, dance, don't take things too seriously), and how to love (cherish people, your relationships and your memories).

Samantha, Lynnie's poem, as always, says what needs to be said perfectly.

You have a beautiful glow.

Maddie and Rosie are your wonderful buddies

Lynnie is always watching over, not too little, not too much, just right

Cousins

Our truck- loving climber