Runway Star

This past weekend was quite busy for our little Miss. She received her soccer medal (pictures to come soon), went to the Strawberry Festival in Buckhannon, and had a birthday party to attend! Here she is posing in her strawberry outfit for the festival....she's such a ham.

Then we were off to Elkins to go to Morgan's friend Lydia's Fashion Show in the Park birthday party! Morgan, Lydia, and Gianna (who had the roller skating party a few posts back) have been friends since birth. Even though we don't live in the same cities, the girls remain good friends.

Our fashion model, ready to walk the runway!



Morgan had such a wonderful time at the party! She loved being able to wear her princess dress and walk on the pink glittery runway. Happy Birthday Lydia!

Preschool Graduate

Today Morgan hit her second big school milestone....she officially graduated from preschool! All of the parents were invited to come to the school for the graduation ceremonies. It was so sweet, bittersweet really. It's great that she's ready to start kindergarten in the fall, but my baby is growing up and as much as I hate to admit it, that's been a little hard on me lately. She's been wanting to do so much by herself lately (open her own car door, shower and wash her own hair, etc) and I've been very cognizant of her independence. Today was a very special day.

Here's the graduate, ironically wearing the same colors (green and yellow) that both her Mama and Daddy wore at our high school graduations (and we went to different high schools!).

Place of Grace has always been wonderful about providing awesome program keepsakes for all of their major events. And this was a MAJOR event!

Morgan's thoughts on graduation. Wonder what she'll say in 13 short years?!?!

The pre-K schedule, to remind her of what her first school days were like.

She was in the front row and I got a lot of these pictures, of her smiling great big and enjoying the attention from the parents.

Receiving her completion certificate from her teacher.

The happy graduate.

What a ham!

Morgan and her teacher, Ms. Christine Lane

Morgan and her assistant Teacher, Ms. Lori Rigby

Congratulations baby. You've grown to be such a big girl this past year. I know great things wait for you at St. Francis and Kindergarten! We love you so much.

Roller Skating Fun!

Yesterday Morgan got to experience another first in her life. She was invited to her friend Gianna's 5th birthday party at the Bridgeport Skate Land. Morgan has a little pair of plastic roller skates that she got for Christmas, but this was her first time at a roller rink and on "real" roller skates. She was so excited to go and try something new!

Morgan and her friend Lydia (both first time roller-rink skaters)

Skating with her Daddy....they were so cute together!


She was ready to let go of Daddy's hand fairly soon after getting started. My little daredevil. And she did REALLY well for a first time skater.

Her falls were much more graceful than her mother's! (which if you don't follow me on Facebook, you don't know that I fell HARD and suspect that I cracked/broke my tailbone in the process)

Here's our happy skater, tired from skating and ready for cake! Happy Birthday Gianna!

Ladybugs Soccer

Soccer season is in full swing here in West Virginia. In between the monsoon-like weather we have had (25 rainy days out of 30) we have had a few patches of sunshine to get out and kick the ball around. Patrick and I even got to run practice as the assistant coaches one Monday evening. We had a blast with the kids. The field was muddy and we all came home tired and filthy. Just the way soccer players should!

Morgan is loving soccer this session, and I couldn't be happier! She is actively participating, having fun with her teammates, and dare I say learning a little about the fundamentals of soccer. Her team was named after the Rodney Dangerfield movie "Ladybugs" and also because their jerseys are red, white, and black. They certainly look cute on the field!

Here are a few pictures I took the day of team pictures. Enjoy!

Beautiful Flower (and a pretty bush too!)

Circus Time Under the Big Top

The Circus is in town! Or well, the circus was in Charleston, WV, which is where we were today to watch the greatest show on earth. We got there early enough to go down on the floor and visit with the performers. Morgan LOVED the clowns, and at one time was laughing those deep belly laughs at one who "spit" on her with water. She also enjoyed watching the elephant paint a picture. This year's circus featured tigers (as always), 7 motorcyclists in a steel ball (yay! Morgan and I liked this one), some strong men, some flexible women, acrobats, and other fun acts.
The elephant is painting a picture that was later given away to an audience memeber.

Mommy and Miss Amie being so silly.

Morgan and "Lady" her circus horse (and girlfriend of Maximus, the horse from Tangled)

Morgan and Lydia ready to enjoy the circus.



The Ringmaster, and some of the performers. Notice the guys on Segways with no handles!

Morgan loved the mermaids!

Ouch! THREE women in that box!

Overall it was a good circus. Afterwards we went to Chuck E. Cheese where Morgan and Lydia ran off their circus energy. Morgan managed to stay awake on the ride home, but I think she was asleep before her head hit her pillow at Nannie's! We are looking forward to the circus next year already!