Bryanna Joy Deeren

Welcome to the family. What a true joy!!! Boy does this bring back memories. She looks so much like Sierra did. She is about 5 pound in this picture but was around 4 pounds when she came to live with Bryan & Suzanne. I'm so glad we got to meet her. Bryan & Suzanne have 4 children already, now with Bryanna they have 5. She is sure surrounded by love. Three older brothers and one sister, all 7 and under. That sound like a whole lot of work. Also a whole lot of blessing. If you are curious about their family I have a link to their blog to your right.
Shawn and Sierra felt a connection with her right from the start. Sierra especially. Sierra also shares Bryanna's middle name, "Joy". What more can be said.

Shawn and the older boys are quite the buds. Caleb, on the right, requested a visit to his friends house (cousin really) for his birthday. How sweet. They live near Grand Rapids and we only see each other every 6 months or so.
The boys are wonderful caring big brothers for their new sister.

CC Loves the Snack Table

Sierra is lucky to have her Kindergarten teacher again as her 2nd grade teacher. Sierra is in a 1st/2nd grade split this year and not only does she have Mrs. Johnson, she also has Mrs. Enderson every afternoon. Every afternoon she and about 11 other students join Mrs. Enderson for Social Studies, Math and Science. Sierra loves her and is enjoying the small group environment. She just finished watching a caterpillar go though the stages of becoming a butterfly. A couple weeks ago they released the butterflies. She wrote about it and I can she she has learned a lot.
We must not forget Sierra's beloved Mrs. High, the speech teacher, and Mr Plum a 3rd grade teacher who just happened to jump into the picture. Sierra goes to Mrs. High twice a week to work on Auditory discrimination. Sierra is the envy of many, many, many of the children at Westwoods. Everyone wants to go to Mrs. High's room. Shawn has had a hard time accepting the fact he isn't going to get to go to Mrs. High. Mrs. High did however schedule a special lunch with Shawny last month to make him feel better.
I asked Sierra what her favorite thing in the room was and she went over to the snack table, sat down and said, "The snack table." You would never know this girl can eat by the size of her. She loves food!!

Shawn Loves School

Ok mom, I'll update my blog :) Shawn has the same teacher Sierra had last year. This has added a measure of comfort for him, also in the fact that Sierra's classroom is next door. Mrs. McMellan is a great teacher and Shawn is digging right in. Every day he comes home with books he has written and all kinds of projects he has created. One day he came home with a man he had constructed out of scrap paper. I'm not kidding when I say the man was at least ten foot long. It was stuffed in his backpack. Hanging up that piece of art work was a trick.

I just have to tell you, yesterday Shawn came home with a book he had created and read it to me. He said, " This book is called The." I said , "ohhh?" He continued, "Well it's really called The Boat but I didn't know how to spell boat so I just called it The." He is so stinkin cute!!!!
At his open house Shawn showed off his favorite place in the room, the reading area. He created a paper person and had written a letter to mom and dad and placed them in his favorite spot in the room. I'm so glad he is enjoying school and that he is a pleasure to his teacher. He's a great kid.

Hi Mom

To the best Grandma a kid could have, a wife dearly loved by her husband and a mother who is adored by her children.

Don't kill me for the pictures. I just want everone to know who you are and you look fine!!!

I'm so glad you are figuring out how to check my blog. Don't forget to visit some of my friends.

The other night, after I talked to you I decided to change my template. That can be tricky. I changed the template but in the process I wiped out all my links and extras. I had saved the old template so I could undo what I had just done, however, it just wasn't working. Long story short, I had to redo all the links and extra stuff. It's still a work in progress. Can't for you to come and visit. Thank you for your prayers for Sierra. I couldn't believe, 100% on her spelling. What an answer to prayer. She is so encouraged:)

I need to get going. I've got to get my grocery game completed so I can go shopping tomorrow. You should check out thegrocergame.com . You can check it our for a month or something like that for $1. Just don't forget to let them know I referred you:) I get some free weeks or something. Beth is the true grocery game guru though. She actually saves money on her grocery bill each week. I save money but I buy more and therefore spend more each week. Lyle's not really impressed so far but I am having more fun shopping:) Love you