The Millsap's have had such a relaxing and wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. We celebrated on Thursday with my mom, stepdad, my aunt and uncle and some of my aunt's family. It was very low key and nice. We cheered on the Titans and ate a lot. My aunt and uncle from Lexington were not able to come because my aunt broke her wrist a few weeks ago and was unable to make the trip. They were greatly missed!!
I took on the task of painting Hannah's playroom. It is pretty much the only room in our house that was not painted and it has been on my to-do list for a while. We painted all the walls pink and then I did yellow squares on one wall. It turned out so good and Hannah loved it. David painted some frames for me and also a shelf that we had. I am so glad to be able to mark that off my list.
We took Hannah to see Bolt with the Taylors and both her and Jenna liked it a lot. It was the 3D version and very good.
We still have some Christmas decorations to put out (including the tree), but that may wait until next weekend. The outside is done so that is a start. I can't believe tomorrow is December 1st.

Thanksgiving always makes me realize how much we have been blessed. Far beyond what I deserve for sure.

Happy Birthday Mama!!

I am celebrating you today. You are the most fabulous woman I know. You have taught me how to give unselfishly and how to love with with absolute abandon. We have lived through things that no one else would ever believe, but it's not those time I remember. It's the laughs and the triumphs. It's surviving when all the odds were against us. That is what I remember and those are the seasons that have made us into who we are today. You bring so much joy to my life and it is you I want to call first when I am happy and you I want to call first when I am sad. You always know the right answer and you celebrate like only a mama can.

So, happy birthday to my mom and my friend. I love you madly!!!

Kindergarten Rewind...

Okay it has been a while... nevertheless, hold on as we re-live the past few months of Kindergarten.

Awards Assembly

These were taken at Longview Elementary School Student Award Assembly. This Assembly was to recognize outstanding student achievement. Dr. Ulrich called each student up and presented them with their award and then they ran in the "Reptile Relay" (Longview's mascot is a Lizard... go figure). We ended the day by joining some of Hannah's friends at Applebees for dinner. Way to go Hannah! we are so proud of you!

Gentry's Farms (Kindergarten Field Trip)

This was a really fun day. The Kindergarten classes from LVES went on their first field trip to Gentry's Farm in Franklin, TN. Gentry's farm ranks as a must do for Williamson County residents. The farm has been in the same family for over 118 years. It was so much fun for the kids. Each class traveled around the farm on tractors and wagons. They got a chance to visit 3 of the barns that are listed on the national historic registry (who would have thought...a barn). The day came to end with a visit to the pumpkin patch where Hannah chose a pumpkin that still resides on our front porch.

Scarecrow Day

This was a fun project and a fun day for Hannah. Plaid was something that we had none of in our house. Hannah suggested "let's go to Target." Off we went where she found a shirt and a straw hat (notice that according to Hannah it had to match), this had us going back to get another shirt to cut up and make patches. The things we do...

Reptile Ruckus

Most schools would call this a Harvest Fest, but remember LVES is very proud to be lizards (or as Hannah would say...yizards). She had a great time playing all the carnival games. Nana and Papa joined us for a while. It was fun but there was so much to do and her friends were everywhere so she had a hard time choosing what to do first! The best part was Hannah dunking her teacher in the dunk tank.

Well that catches us up on all Kindergarten happenings.

How fast they grow up...

The pictures say it all...

We're Alive and Takin' Kindergarten By Storm

It has been forever and so much has gone on since the last post. I have come to the conclusion that I really stink at updating this thing. I will try and do better. The biggest thing in our household is that we have a Kindergartner in our midst. For those wondering I didn't cry hardly at all. The main reason being that she went about 100 different days before it was even the 1st day of school. So, I never knew when I was officially suppose to cry. She had testing one day and then went another day for 1/2 day orientation. Then she went two days for 1/2 days to get accustom to everything. By the time the 1st day rolled around - I was ready. Here is a picture of the official 1st day.

The moment I teared up was at this point. David and I were walking her to her class room and she was leaving us in the dust. She looked so grown up and was ready to take on the world. Eyes straight ahead. She was not the least bit afraid and not the least bit apprehensive. She was ready for this. Mom - not so much :)

This is how we left her - sitting at her table and about to take on her 1st Kindergarten task. Coloring this picture. She had this in the bag :).

She has already had homework and bought her lunch. I can't believe how much she has grown in just these three weeks. And - she has gotten all "green lights". Now that, my friends, is simply amazing. Here's to a good, green light year :)

Birthday Fun

As has been true the past couple of years, Hannah had about a bazillion birthdays. We have been celebrating the past 2 weeks. Here is a re-cap of the festivities...

My mom and I took birthday cookies to Hannah's daycare on the 22nd (her actual birthday). She loved passing out the cookies and being the center of attention (of course).

That night we celebrated with Nana and Papa at Chuck E' Cheese. They have the Deal or No Deal game there and I really think my mom and I had more fun than Hannah. We only knocked a couple of kids out of the way.

I really thought we had gotten over the "character" thing while at Disney World but if you will notice Chuck E is up dancing with other kids and Hannah is under the table. She literally stayed under the table until he was gone. Bless her.

The following Saturday we had her party with friends at The Monkey's Treehouse. I highly recommend this place. The kids had a blast and I love anywhere where I can show up and then leave!!

Last, but certainly not least...this past weekend we celebrated with my aunt and uncle. They along with my mom and stepdad gave Hannah the gift above all gifts. My aunt and uncle built her this dollhouse. And, let me tell you it is complete with wallpaper, hand-made curtains and hand-made rugs. Then, my parents supplied all the furniture. It is every little girl's dream. You must all come and play!!

I'm leaving you with this picture...Hannah's backpack I ordered her was waiting on our doorstep when we got home today. I'm not ready, friends - not ready at all.

Dear Hannah:

I can not believe five is already here. Everyone says how fast the time will fly and to take in every minute. I have all of these snapshots in my head of you over the past 5 years and they all bring me smiles. You are such a spark of light to our household. You never cease to amaze me and daddy with the things you know and the words you use. You keep us laughing all the time and once you know something makes us laugh you want to keep doing or saying it over and over.


We label you as strong willed and even though that can be a challenge at times, we would not have it any other way. There is never a dull moment and it keeps our prayer life active.

You love everything girl. From princesses, to Barbie’s, to Hannah Montana and everything in between – you are all girl. You have a say in how your hair will be worn and what clothes you will wear. You love to dress up and put on mommy’s shoes and you love to dance and sing. One of your favorite things to do is to pretend you are on American Idol or So You Think You Can Dance and get up in front of us and do your thing. Then we have to vote and we always have to say “Congratulations – you’re going to Hollywood” and then you will scream and pretend to cry because you are so excited. I love it. It makes me laugh out loud every single time. You are an artist and are forever drawing pictures and coloring. You love to practice your letters and try to spell things. It is so fun to be able to tell you the letters to put to spell a word and you can do it. You are just so full of life and love and I am never disappointed in what the day brings.

I love watching you as you are starting to understand Jesus. The questions you ask are already getting hard. Sometimes when we are in the car, you will say “Mom, I love Jesus” and it makes my heart soar every single time. It is going to be such a joy watching you figure out His love for you and what it means to be His child.

I can not believe in just one short month we will be saying goodbye to daycare and hello to Kindergarten. You are so ready. You are independent and social and I know you are going to love it. We are welcoming a whole new season of life and I hope it is everything you want it to be.

Mommy’s prayer for you is to continue to embrace life with the same gusto you have right now. I pray you will love with the same passion and although there will be new obstacles and new hurts you have not yet experienced, you will always know you can come home and be safe and loved. Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you and we are so thankful God has entrusted us with your care.

I love you. Happy 5th Birthday.

Swim Lessons

Things have been busy at the Millsap house the past couple of weeks. Whitley is adjusting well at our house and she really is a good dog. Hannah also started swim lessons and actually just finished her first round of beginners lessons. She made such a huge improvement from the first session to the last session. She is start the beginners-intermediate session tomorrow and she is so excited. One of her favorite parts was the slide. However, it took her about 3 minutes to get down it because she would scoot down with her hands and feet on the side so she wouldn't go fast and go under water. That is what we are hoping to work on in this next round.

Last weekend Hannah wanted me to straighten her hair. She thought that was so cool. It didn't last very long - it started curling up not long after we did it.

This little girls turns five next week and I absolutely can not believe it. She only has about a month left at her daycare before Kindergarten starts. What an exciting season in her life.