Class of 2011

C’s preschool Graduation Ceremony was Friday night.  I can’t believe that his first year of school is over!  It seems like just a few weeks ago I posted these two Facebook Status Updates:

September 3, 2010 - just dropped C off at his first day of preschool. I believe the walk there was the most quiet he has ever been…wondering how long that will last

September 4, 2010 - so, I figured out why C was so quiet on the way to school...just a day earlier my Dad was telling C that "every school has a principal and you don't EVER want to go to the principal's office because when Papa was in school the principal had a "rump roaster" for the little kids who got in trouble."

It didn't take C long to figure out that his preschool had neither a principal nor a rump roaster :) In fact, within the week C had become so comfortable in his class that his teacher found it necessary to develop a complete set of sub-rules just for C and his best friend (who happens to also be our neighbor).  They are as follows:

• no playing Star Wars
• no playing swords or guns (both of which were being constructed out of everything from railroad tracks to Legos)
• keep your hands to yourself

None of that came as much of a surprise to J and I.  After all, the primary reason that we decided to enroll C in preschool was so that he would begin to understand classroom rules before he got to "real" school.  

Preschool wasn't totally smooth sailing, but it was a great growing experience for C.  As we had hoped, he gained a much better understanding of acceptable classroom behavior.  He also learned some valuable lessons in friendship and the giving and receiving of forgiveness. He seems to me to be a much "bigger" boy than he was last September. *sniff-sniff*

The Graduation Ceremony was a really neat way to end the year and definitely showcased how much these little guys and gals learned and grew through the year.

They marched in to Pomp and Circumstance (which C referred to as the "Star Wars Music" when describing it to me beforehand :)

The program was primarily student-led.  Each child participated in some way.  C led the students and parents in the Opening Prayer (the Lord's Prayer).  I was proud for their class.  It was apparent that they worked very hard preparing, and honestly I thought each child did VERY well!

Here are a few pictures taken after the big event:

Grandma made it JUST in time :)

The preschool hosted a reception after the ceremony to give the kids one last time to say “good bye” to their teacher.  At the reception, the teacher gave each child a personalized scrapbook of pictures of him/her throughout the year.  SO cool!

I'm so proud of the big boy that my exuberant, fun-loving C is becoming :)

10th Anniversary

J and I celebrated our 10th anniversary last week!

On our actual anniversary day J gave me these.

What can I say...after 6 years of dating and 10 years of marriage the man knows me well :)

Saturday night we we wrapped up the celebrations by getting the kids a babysitter and going out for a WONDERFUL steak dinner!  

Happy Anniversary, Honey!  I love you!

A Small Visitor

The kids and I enjoyed babysitting Baby Zachery this afternoon.  It has been awhile since we have spent a lot of one-on-one time with an infant.  I knew G would be excited to "mommy" a real baby, but I had forgotten just how much C enjoys the little ones.

Zachery was asleep in his carrier when his momma dropped him off.  We just let him hang out there until he woke up.  In the meantime, C suggested that he "guard" Zachery.  Not sure what exactly he was guarding Zachary FROM, but C sat there and watched him for about 10 minutes before Zachary woke up :)

Once Zachary woke up, C laid on the floor and entertained him for a long time

Peek-A-Boo!

When I downloaded the pictures from today I had a bit of deja vu...then I remembered where I'd seen this scene before.  C's always been a sucker for the little ones! :)

A Good (Mon)Day

As I was finishing up the last of my supper preparations, I noticed the strangest thing...my house was PEACEFUL!  As I was enjoying the serenity, I started looking around and began to appreciate just how GREAT a day the Lord did make :)

SWEET PEACE...not one allegation of wrongdoing during the span of about 30 minutes...UNHEARD of in this house during the "bewitching" hour (late afternoon)!

It was 5:49pm and a well-balanced supper was almost done!

AND the dishes were clean and drying (as opposed to stacked all over the counter next to the sink)!

Chores were completed well and with minimal grumbling!

The dryer was EMPTY...meaning that all the laundry actually got folded AND put away!

But alas, harmony can't last forever and thus I heard..."MOOOOOM, G painted her face!" :)

I want to be very clear...this is all totally atypical.  Normally by this time of day, the kids have been relegated to the backyard because they are bouncing off the walls, a not-always-so-nutritious supper is FAR from complete, my kitchen is a wreck, and laundry is waiting (and will continue wait until the next Laundry Day) in the dryer to be folded and put away!  

Clearly, my productive day isn't about what an awesome mother and home-manager I am.  If that were the case everyday would be like this, right?  And the fact that it was a Monday only proves my point further :)  No, this GREAT day was a Blessing from the LORD!

This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it...Give thanks to the LORD,

for he is good; his love endures forever.

 Psalm 118: 24,29

G's 3 Year Check-Up

I took G for her 3 year well visit.  Unlike most kids, she doesn't dread going to the doctor.  Both her pediatrician and pediatric ophthalmologist (who we have to go see 4+ times per year) are SO friendly and gentle that I guess she has no reason NOT to like going to the doctor :)

At any rate, it was a good visit. So, so thankful for a good report!

She is weighing in at 30.6 lbs (I believe they said that's 50%)

Height is 38 1/4 inches (75%)

She did have to have one booster shot....which she took like a CHAMP!  This was actually a bit of a surprise, as she usually tends toward drama when any occasion for a "boo boo" arises.  

She's getting to be such a big girl!

****Soapbox Warning****

One thing I didn't love was the American Academic of Pediatrics handout* the doctor gave me before we left.  Basically, it's a sheet of the most likely ways for a child G's age to get hurt/die.  Honestly, this little sheet drives me nuts.  I understand the motivation behind it, and parts of it have merit, but after reading this I'm wondering why they didn't just tell me to lock her in her room until she turns 4!  Seems that's pretty much what they are implying.

• "Your child is at special risk for injuries from falls, drowning, poisons, burns, and car accidents." - [YEAH - well, Happy Birthday to you too!]

• "Your child can fall off play equipment, a bicycle, out of windows, down stairs, and off anything that can be climbed on."  [Really...she can fall...WHO KNEW!]

• "Your child should play in a fenced yard or playground." [Guess I'm REALLY glad we have a fenced in back yard...I suppose the mothers of kids without fenced yards are supposed to hike it to the park every day to get in their child's recommended 60 minutes of outdoor activity?!?]

• "Remember, the biggest threat to your child's life and health is an accident." [DUH...at this age, isn't that what I spend my ENTIRE day doing my best to prevent!]

Anybody that knows me will probably tell you that I am, if anything, over-protective.  So obviously, I don't advocate that parents set aside all common sense; donate their car seats and send their kids into the street to chase balls.  But to me this handout seems over the top...almost like they said "Let's take every mother's worst nightmare(s), give her some ridiculously difficult (even unattainable) tips to implement and then tell her that this is what "responsible" mothers do."  Yeah...that helps!

We have seen our fair share of accidents in this house. Praise God none have been of great consequence. I pray that would continue to be the case.  I also pray that God gives me wisdom and discernment to be a watchful parent.  Beyond that, I am reminding myself of these wonderful promises:

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4: 6 - 7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  1 Peter 5: 7

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  Psalm 121: 2 - 3

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*In the interest of being fair, here is the link to the 2-4 Years Safety Sheet text in it's entirety if you care to read it for yourself.  (I think it is a slightly newer revision but the gist is the same). 

Mother's Day 2011

I LOVE Mother's Day!  J and the kids are always so thoughtful!

They started up the spoiling Saturday afternoon when J and the kids washed the Silver Bullet for me.

Don't think this good deed did not go without a small amount of michief :)  Do you see the 2 gallon bucket of car washing soap on the left-hand side of the picture...well, while J was helping our neighbor with a stuck window and I was distracted by the Better Homes and Garden magazine in my lap - C and G decided they needed to make MORE bubbles.  So of course they dumped the remaining (at least 1/4 gallon) of soap into the bucket :)

Plotting....

Looks like G enjoyed all those bubbles

Attempt # 1 at a group shot...

Attempt # 2...J's no better than the kids...

I give up - this is as good as it's gonna get :)

Meanwhile, I'm over here...have I mentioned that I LOVE Mother's Day!

For supper we ordered up one of my favorite meals - Hawaiian Pizza (from THE BEST local pizza place around!) and Regular (fully loaded, fully caffeinated awesomeness) Coca-Cola!

This morning J and C got up extra early, put the coffee on (SOOOOOOO important!) and brought back Bojangles biscuits in time for breakfast before church.  

After breakfast, the kids gave me "their" presents.  A new set of pjs and a robe.  But my FAVORITE part of the present was the card.  J picked it out (so of course it was humorous) but instead of just signing (or having the kids sign) their names.  He asked them what they wanted to "say" to me.  Here is what they said:

C "wrote":

You look pretty and I love you.

We love you Mom.

You love me.  I love you.

G "wrote":

"Happy Mom's Day." and she told J she wanted to give me a flower so J drew a flower

Geezzzz I love these kids! :)

These are some pictures J took right before church.  Of course, there wasn't ONE picture where everyone was looking and smiling :)

We went to church then home for lunch (J cooked spaghetti).  Naps in the pm (ahhhh!)

G's Birthday Weekend

This was the conversation when I went to wake G up on Friday morning.

Me:  G, it's time to wake up.

G:  Mommy, am I fee (three) now?

Me:  Yes, honey. Happy Birthday!

G: Can I have choclate cher-o cerall (Chocolate Cheerio cereal)?

Me:  You sure can!

You see, while I was getting my hair cut the night before, J took the kids to the grocery store and let G pick out her special birthday cereal.  Her selection this year was Chocolate Cheerios...which she thoroughly enjoyed :)

C approved!

After C went to school, G and I worked on her birthday cake.  Her request:  a Pink Chocolate Cake.  I made this Too Much Chocolate Cake cake recipe (YUM and SOOOOOOO easy!).

Later that afternoon, Mom and Hayden (my nephew) arrived.  We had a great time playing. For supper we ate pizza (And since it was my birthday too, J let me order one with bell peppers and black olives without giving me any grief...yeah!)

Saturday morning, I finished up her cake using Wilton's Buttercream recipe (tinted pink - of course).  Then off to the ball field for C's T-Ball game.  After the game, we got ready for the party. My cousin was kind enough to bring one of those bounce-house things so the kids really had a GREAT time!

And of course, they enjoyed the swings!  My Uncle Rusty is SUCH a good sport - I'm pretty sure he spent 2 hours pushing swings :)

J made burgers and hot dogs on the grill.  Per G's request, our side was Macaroni and Cheese and chips.  Then on to birthday cake and ice cream.

It was a really fun day!  So thankful for G and the family and friends who were able to join us!