July

Preschool & Grace

Grace started attending a Czech preschool at the end of November! The first week or so was a bit rough for her, but things have gotten much better. And we are all glad about that! She was so excited to start going to school like a big girl. Picking her up after the first day was so hard because she just seemed crushed. She told me that she wanted to be a parent so she didn't have to go to school anymore and that she "didn't never want to go back to that school again!" We knew that it might be a hard transition for her. We are incredibly thankful that it only took about a week (3 school days) for her to decide she might stick around ;) The turning point for her came on her 4th day - Friday, December 4th - when the Czech Santa Claus (Mikulash) and his angel visited the school and gave her a bag of candy, fruit, and nuts (and a piece of coal!) Apparently, all the children were well-behaved that day as they all know the threat that usually comes along with Mikulash. Thankfully, his devil did not come to the school, but I'm pretty sure all the children know about him and are afraid! This was good for Grace because none of the children who had bothered her before messed with her on this day :) After 3 weeks now, she no longer complains about going to school!

This first picture is Grace showing off her cute school uniform outside our apartment door. The second is just inside the gate to our complex. I think she was wondering just how many pictures Daddy was going to take before letting her go to school! The pants are not part of the uniform but it's cold here ;)

Tomorrow, Grace will be a sheep in the children's play at church! All the kids in her class made sheep masks during class last week and practiced with the other children. She has made a good friend at church and we had the opportunity to visit this family's home for dinner last week. It is so amazing to watch two children who don't speak the same language play together! We are hoping that having Grace in school will help her learn the language more quickly. She is always amazing us and we can't believe what a big girl she is already!