Our little graduate

(Disclaimer: This post is going to be long. Not a lot of words, but a LOT of pictures. Just wanted you to be prepared.)

Last week, Madigan "graduated" from the nursery department at church. Since Madigan isn't crazy about having lots of people looking at her, I wasn't sure how this would go.
The kids got to start out eating. So far, so good...Then they stood up and sang some songs for the parents and grandparents. Madigan stood but didn't participate in the singing. I wasn't very surprised by this and to be honest, was just grateful that she stood with the other kids. Then came the time for her to go up and get her new bible and diploma. This is what I got...She finally allowed me to walk up with her and get her stuff. But on the way back to her seat, everyone started clapping. Madigan burst into tears. Oh well, we'd made it longer than I thought!!

Along with some other "treats", the nursery teachers gave each kid some photo albums that chronicled their time in the nursery department - from cradle roll to the 2 year old class. Madigan has spent literally hours going through the albums and telling me everything she remembers about her bible classes. Such an amazing gift for us parents who don't get to see the kids in class. I've scanned some of my favorite pictures to share here.

Cradle Roll

I love this picture because of Madi's expression and because she's being cuddled by one of the sweet ladies who spend their bible classes loving on our babies.

Pretty cozy, don't you think?
"Oh, we get to chew on these toys? I like that!"
Sporting her first Easter dress
Reading the Bible
And eating her Bible...
"Give me that thing!!"
This was her last week in cradle roll. I think she's saying, "You're crazy to think I'm leaving this class!"

One Year Old Class

But the new class DID have cool chairs...

And cool toys!
Madi loved looking at herself in the mirror :)And she was great at getting her baby ready for Bible class...
It was really in this class that Madigan learned to love her Bible
And bow her head to pray.
Plus she got to spend some time on the phone...
She was very content in this class and got to spend way more than a year in there because of her late birthday.
In fact, she thought she was the queen of the class by the time she moved up!

Two Year Old Class

But the time came for her to move along and into the 2 year old class she went.

One of the themes they went through was "God Made Me". God made our eyes,
Our noses,
Our mouths/tongues,
And our feet. :)
They also talked about community helpers at one point and got to wear the different hats.
Nurse Madigan...
The fire fighting duo...
Hard at work...
Baker Madigan...
I'm actually not sure how the baseball helmet fit in to these lessons, but I like it. Ted, on the other hand, wasn't so thrilled with the choice of teams. :)
They also learned how to lead singing.
As you can see, this was a funny part of the class!
And they talked about praying. How cute is this?
Although I'm sure Madigan had some moments where she acted like a toot...
Her Bible class teachers treated her like a Princess.
We are so grateful to the ladies in the Nursery Department for all of the time, effort and love they put into teaching Madi through the last (almost) four years. Words can't express the joy we feel to hear her "teaching" us what she's learned in class. God has blessed us with an amazing church family and we will forever be grateful to those who have helped to teach Madigan to love and serve God.