Eli the Soccer Star!

Eli started soccer this week. The whole family went out to cheer him on. He is in the 4 to 5 year old group and it is so cute to watch the kids play. He is the 'ball hog' though. He's an aggressive boy, so he just runs up and takes the ball from whoever has it and runs it all of the way up the field. So....we have to work on sharing and letting other people have a turn. But his coach said he loved his energy, so I guess that's good. He had so much fun and it is a great way to get the energy worked out of him. He really wants to play football, but he's too little now so I think soccer will be his sport for the next couple of years.

I Pray that You Are At Perfect Peace...

My Grandfather passed away yesterday. I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood of being at my Grandparents home. My Grandfather had been ill for a long time and I know that he is in a much better place now. Our family will miss him.

Preschool...

Monday was the first day of preschool. Eli had gone last year, so he was very excited to start out a new year. Sophia was very nervous. I had to stay right with her. Eventually she started enjoying herself and following along well with the class. That all ended when I told her I had to go to work. She started crying and would not stop. My friend who watches Eli and Sophia during the day for us came and spent the rest of the time with her.

I was very nervous about what would happen today. If today went like Monday, then I was not going to bring Sophia back to try again until January. My friend took Eli and Sophia in to preschool. Sophia was nervous and teary eyed for a while and then got into what the class was doing. My friend slowly backed out of the room and hung out of sight in the gym and Sophia never noticed and was fine for the next 2 hours of preschool. No more tears or anxiety. She told me tonight that she had fun fun fun at preschool and wanted to go back.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to hear this news today. I was almost in tears. Sophia is so smart and I just knew that she would excel in preschool. But I did not know if emotionally her little heart was ready. I want to give her the opportunities to do things that will help her grow, but not overwhelm her and cause regression. Today was a win for her. I am so happy that she is going to be able to have this experience this year. She came home tonight and went to the coloring table and pulled out some coloring lesson books and counted and worked in the workbooks for almost an hour. She truly is just absorbing everything. Her English is amazing. I know that everyone thinks their child is a genius, but truly....my girl is very smart.

I think that with each new experience, she just needs to know that we are not leaving her. I truly believe that is the core. Once she understands that we are going to come and bring her home, she relaxes and takes in everything she can. It's as if she understands that she is in an amazing world with so much to show her and she's willing to explore as long as she knows she has her anchor in us. I know that I am going to have an amazing journey ahead of me as her mother. I am just in awe of my girl.