(Kindergarten) Class of 2013!

Parker graduated from Kindergarten this morning in a special ceremony at his school! He has truly had a wonderful first year of school, and is super excited about being a 1st grader next year. Where in the world has the time gone?!

The kiddos all walked in two by two.

Getting situated on the stage.

Parker's school has four kindergarten classes. Here are the classes all together.

There's Parker!

After singing some songs together, diplomas were given out by class. Here is Parker's class!

Parker's turn!

Parker with his teacher, Mrs. Coleman! He will miss her so much!

Proud of our guy.

We were so glad that Andrew's grandparents were in town to attend Parker's graduation!

Congratulatory ice cream!

Mother's Day 2013

This post is different that my usual posts that just focus on pictures of what we've been up to. Just been thinking a lot of about this and thought I'd share with the two or so of you that read this. :) 

I love Mother's Day. I read several articles/blog posts/etc. this year from moms who talked about how much they hate Mother's Day. How it's a "Hallmark holiday" or how "selfish" it makes them. Or better yet, how Mother's Day made them feel "guilty" because apparently on that particular day they compare themselves to other moms who are *seemingly* doing a better job. I read and re-read these posts trying to understand this point of view and still walked away befuddled. Nobody is going to accuse me of being the most positive person on the planet, but come on, this just reeks of negativity. First of all, Hallmark did not invent mothers or motherhood. Second, so what if you are selfish for one day? I mean, who wants to do all of the thankless things that moms do all of the time anyway, but we manage to do it the other 364 days out of the year just fine. And lastly, this whole "feeling guilty" thing. This I understand because all mothers do it. We feel like we don't do enough or just don't know what to do. We feel like we should do everything right all the time, and we know we don't. What I don't understand it feeling guilty on Mother's Day. On a day that you should able to celebrate everything that you are doing right. On a day that acknowledges that moms have a hard job. On a day that people around you show appreciation for what you do. I mean, why would you hate that?! Let's be honest....it's probably not going to happen again for another year! I have to say that Mother's Day this year was one of my most favorite days in a long time. Not because everything revolved around me, because it didn't. Not because I got a bunch of material possession, because I didn't. Not because my kids acted like perfect angels, because they didn't. It was perfect because I felt good about my family. Oh, and because I didn't have to cook. That never hurts.

Breakfast in bed!

Love these people!

Kindergarten Wrap-Up!

In 5 days, Parker graduates from Kindergarten! How this year has flown by this fast is beyond me. Parker just loves school, and it's been so much fun watching him learn over the course of the year. As it usually goes, it has been a busy May with some special school activities.

Celebration of Learning open house

A couple of weeks ago, there was the Celebration of Learning open house. We had fun seeing some of the projects Parker has been working on and also the progress he has made over the course of the year.

Ladybug math project!

Zero the Hero book!

The kid has my drawing skills, but at least he is creative. "A volcano is a house for a dragon".

Field Day
Parker was super excited for Field Day and couldn't wait to get out there and have some fun!

Sack races.

Relay races!

Three-legged race.

Bean bag toss.

Bean bag balance.

Sadie started out really excited to cheer Parker on, but got tired as the afternoon went on.

Tug of war.

We won!

Races!

Moms and Makeovers
This was an absolute blast! Parker's teacher put together just the perfect way to celebrate Mother's day. Parker was so excited to have me there and make it special for me....he didn't stop hugging and kissing me the entire time!

Me and my favorite boy!

Performing some songs for us.

Time for makeovers!

He was SO excited to paint my nails with the polish he picked out!

Then he chose black eye shadow and had fun putting it on.

After makeovers, Parker served me this yummy treat!

After eating, we watched a video that Mrs. Coleman, Parker's teacher, had put together with all of the kids talking about their moms. I will have special memories from this day for a long time!

Turning 4....Sadie's Cinderella Party!

A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Sadie's birthday. It's so hard to believe that she is already four! She told me a couple of months ago that she wanted a "Cinderella party", so that's just what we did!

With Daddy....

....and Mommy before her party!

Party decorations and food!

Ready to eat with her guests!

 

Time to open presents!

 

Ready for cupcakes!

We love her so much....our little princess.

Our family!

A couple of days after her party was Sadie's actual birthday!

Love my girlie!

What's a birthday without chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?

I had to work that day (which Sadie LOVED because she got to play with some of her friends), but Andrew came and took the kids on a lunch date!

That evening Sadie opened some cards and presents that had come in the mail. 

She also loved her flowers from Daddy!

We finished the evening with a "picnic" and movie of Sadie's choice....Tangled.

We had a great couple of day celebrating our baby girl. Looking forward to seeing her grow and change over the next year!