School Year Wrap Up

Somehow we've been out of school for a week now, and have had a great start to our summer. But I have to say, we're going to miss 1st grade. Bub had an amazing year, and an even more amazing teacher, Mrs. Faddis. She really got Bub and his personality, and was always able to find ways to motivate him (which isn't always easy). He absolutely adored her, and mentions frequently how much he's going to miss having her for a teacher. We begged her to loop with us next year : ), but I suppose we'll find an equally amazing teacher next year.

We put together a picnic "recipe" for Mrs. Faddis for the end of the year present. She has 5 grandsons!, so I put a big bottle of bubbles in a sand bucket and made 5 Thomas the Train place mats for them to use when they're at Grandma's. And for a special treat for Mrs. Faddis, we added a Panera gift card. Bub was really excited to give her the present!

After our last half day of school, we invited our neighborhood friends over for a picnic. It was a great way to celebrate the beginning of summer!

Because who doesn't love to eat outside???

Even if we're just relaxing and lounging between courses.

Just in the Nick of Time

Bub has had 3 loose teeth for about a month now (already lost 2); and his one hope was to lose one of them at school. As many of us remember, when you lose a tooth at school, they send you to the nurse's office to get the coveted plastic tooth box to put your lost tooth in. R has been jonesin' for this box for a while now; and the drive to get it was revved up when a friend lost a tooth about two weeks ago. This past weekend I told him it might not happen since school was almost out, but he would still be losing teeth in 1st grade so he'd have a chance again.

When I went to pick him up on Monday, he was walking with his friend J and gave a big smile while they were talking. I immediately noticed the whole in that smile and then saw the plastic tooth swinging from his neck. He was so excited and couldn't wait to show me and call S at work to tell him. Then, as soon as he got in he thought he'd see how far he could push this great news, "how about a slush from Sonic to celebrate?" How could I resist?

The coveted tooth box. Please don't look at the baby toys that vomited into my living room in the background. Really, just don't look.

Kindergarten Mother's Tea

At R's school, they hold a Mother's Day Tea each year; which is basically the Kindergarten's music program. So, last Friday, I joined about 50 other moms who were all lugging their cameras and video cameras just like me (dads weren't invited, so we had to capture it all for them). Luckily, I met up with two other moms from R's class so I didn't have to sit by myself. Yes, even at 33.5, I still don't want to be the girl sitting by herself with no one to talk to. But anyway, the kiddos came out and stood on risers and sang about 7 songs for us. They were all really cute, and they did a fairly good job - yep I'm critical. There was a bit too much yelling vs. singing for my liking, but what are you gonna do? They even did signs for one entire song and did a great job!

They were singing in a round during this song - boys vs. girls. Hence everyone looking different directions. But check out the kid two over from R. Now that's singing!

After they sang, one by one, every student came to the mic and said, "I love my mom because...". R filled in the blank with "...because she loves me." I was a bit worried for a moment what might come out, but he made me melt instead.

The standard family self portrait; we take lots of these.

These are R's best friends this year - they also happen to be twins - they also happen to be twins thanks to the same infertility dr. we used. This is the second set of twins R has latched on to that were thanks to the same dr. we used for R and the boys. It's rather eery, but so amazing!

R with his teacher, Mrs. Lynn; a saint for dealing with our energetic, rambunctious, stubborn, intelligent, loving, class clown, almost first grader!