Thanksgiving Feast

Maddie had her Thanksgiving Feast at school this week.  She was so excited for it, counting down the days.  The teacher said it was okay to come in a couple minutes before the end so we could see the kids and snap a couple pictures.  I wanted to take pictures and see her, but was a little nervous she would be upset if I came.  The thing with Maddie is that if her routine or expectations are thrown off (even by a "good thing"), she can get really anxious.  For instance, a couple weeks ago the opening exercises of Sunday School were in a different room which made her anxious and she was too nervous to go sing with her friends and cried when I dropped her off at her class.  When I peeked in at the feast I could see her smiling away, but sure enough when I came in and she saw me, she got a little anxious (because while I'm generally her favorite person, she didn't expect to see me).  I heard her tell one of the helpers, that's my mommy, and she seemed to be torn about whether she should stay at the table, or run to me and then she just looked sad.  The good thing was that she did stay at the table, didn't cry and happily lined to go back to the classroom when called to do so which means we have progress!  I feel like not that long ago she would have been so thrown off that she would have insisted I come next to her or her to me.  Enough about that, I just like to document things like that because when I look back it reminds me how much she has grown and matured!  She had lots to tell me about the feast later and it was clear she enjoyed it as well as the accessories they made.

Andy and I are trying to not be insulted that when asked what they are thankful for, almost everyone else said Mommy and Daddy and Maddie said pasta.  I can't say that I blame her.

First in line!

Maddie was especially proud of this coffee can drum.

The girls were in silly moods after the feast.  I'm so thankful for them (and pasta)!