Jon, Miranda, Mary-Evelyn, and Georgia-Kate: August, 2012

August was a month full of firsts! Mary-Evelyn, like I said before, is at the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) this year. It is an amazing 4-year-old program that is part of the Tupelo Public School District. I had heard so many great things about ECEC from friends. I wanted Mary-Evelyn to be able to experience it! She loves her teacher, Mrs. Katie Pannell. She is so nurturing and structured, two characteristic that Mary-Evelyn needs. Parents get to participate in "a day in Pre-K" once a month, where you go and work along side your child to see what their days consist of. They are learning to read, the basics of math, and many other everyday life skills. She brings home a new book about every 2-3 weeks to read to us. They read the book and disect its components at school, and we reinforce what she is learning at home. They really stress following up at home on what they are learning during the day at school. I love it! Everything they do is in groups, so she is learning a lot from the other little children also. So precious! Mary-Evelyn also started ballet and tap this year at North Mississippi Dance Centre, which is where I took for 14 years! Mrs. Sarah Karrant was my teacher, and now her daughters, Beth and Mary Frances are teaching my child! Such tradition! Mary-Evelyn takes it so seriously and loves going every week. I love seeing those sweet girls in their little leotards and tights! Georgia-Kate goes to my mom's house on the days that I work. She and Mia Catherine (my sister's 3rd child) are best friends and get to be there together. GK is only 8 weeks older, so they will get to grow up together! My mom has them learning so much - preparing them for preschool! The highlight of GK's week is going to church on Sundays and Wednesday nights. She loves all of her teachers and friends at "chuch." We are trying to get her interested in pottying, but aren't having much luck. She's just not interested, although her teachers at church say that she goes for them! Maybe she'll come around for us sometime soon! Take a look at these pics from August.

Mary-Evelyn with Mrs. Pannell - her sweet teacher. They did a stagger entry the first week. 4 kids came each day of the first week. This was Mary-Evelyn's first day during the stagger entry week.

This was her technical first day of school with all the kids there. Jon takes her in the morning since it's on his way to work. I went with them the first couple of days and quickly realized that I couldn't handle seeing her walk away from the car into the building. It just breaks my heart, and I guess it will be that way til she finishes college!

They had a Trike-a-Thon for St. Jude. Mary-Evelyn was able to raise $75 all by herself, and this is a picture of her on the day they rode the trikes.

ECEC fall festival. Mary-Evelyn gets a little bit sad when I come to things at her school because all she can think about it when I have to leave. That makes her sad!