Last Day of Pre-K, AR Party & Dallas Trip

My goodness, is it just me or has Crosby grown a LOT since the beginning of his PreK year??!!  I had to double check the date on this first picture because I thought maybe it was actually from 2012.  He really did change this much from August to May, which is hard for me to believe.  :(  What a great year he had.  Though I'm sad for this chapter to end, he is ready for Kindergarten!

1st week of Pre-K, August 2013...Last day of Pre-K, May 2014

We took his teachers a small thank you gift on his last day, May 15th.  We found these cute summer blueberry tea towels at Target and (because I like a themed gift) added a blueberry muffin mix and decorative muffin liners.  Target rarely disappoints, but it was not helpful in the card supply area this particular day, so we made our own with blue and white card stock and colored pencils.  

Tied up with blue ribbon, signed by Crosby and ready to deliver to his wonderful teachers!

We love his amazing teachers, Mrs. Susan & Mrs. Vicki!  Mrs. Susan has actually had all three of our kids for Pre-K4!  We're thankful for the way she has prepared the kids for Kindergarten!  I didn't take a picture of them, but the teachers made the cutest portfolio and scrapbook binder of C's Pre-K year--such a treasure.  I always love looking at those keepsakes.  After I snapped a picture of C and his teachers, some of the girls requested another photo with him--what cuties!  He's made lots of sweet friends and learned a lot about life in a classroom setting.

Friday the 16th was busy.  After morning carpool Crosby and I stayed to help set up for the semester-end Accelerated Reading (A/R) party that would be held at 1:00 that afternoon.  Then we went to the grocery store and hurried home to finish packing for our weekend trip to visit friends in Dallas.  We had to be back at school at 12:15 to help with last-minute party prep.  Alexee and Rhett both met their reading goals for the semester so they were invited to the A/R Celebration in the dining hall. 

(Thanks to my friend Emily for sharing her photos!)
Alexee & Kylie having fun together at the party!

Rhett in his new shades, a party favor!

One hundred eighty-five students met their goals and attended the event.  Each one walked across the stage and received a new book and a treat bag.  Hopefully it was a fun time for all the kids!

The car was packed up and we were ready to leave straight from school to drive to Dallas (Keller) to see our friends that moved from Little Rock last August.  We still miss them terribly.  They've been back here for several visits, but this was our first time to go to their new house.  We had a really great time.  It's always so good to see them.  We got there around 7:45, I think.  The first thing they wanted to do was SWIM!  The water was cold, but they didn't seem to mind that at all.  Then G and R got the idea that it would be fun to go to a late movie (10:15 late), and G's dad was such a good sport that he agreed to take them!  There is no way in the world I could have stayed awake.  They saw Captain America and had fun--I think the best part (for them) was being able to say that they came home after 1 a.m.!  This was definitely a special treat...this is not our regular schedule--Ha!

Saturday was so nice.  No agenda, just playing together, riding bikes and scooters, a walk to the park and more swimming.  We loved getting to hang out with our friends and catch up.

Saturday evening we went to the Southlake Town Square for dinner and ice cream.

They've been friends for almost a decade!

Fun fact:  Long before I knew Steven & Lianne, Steven's dad was one of my favorite college professors.  Small world!  :)

The kids loved playing at the fountain.

When we got back from dinner, they had a short flag football game in the front yard.  The boys (and sweet little L in her pretty dress!) loved this.  :)  Alexee wanted to ride the scooter instead.

The visit was really fun, but just too short.  It went by so fast, and we were back in the car heading home.  It was a much easier drive than I expected. We were home by 3:30, the kids took early baths and ate dinner then I went to pick up our babysitter because our Bible Study group was having our last meeting.  And they were very sweet to host a "farewell dinner" for us.  We met at Russ & Emily's house, the food was all delicious, and they gave us the neatest painting for our house in MO.  We will think of our group each time we see the Numbers 6:24-26 painting.  I don't know why I didn't think to take a group picture--wish I would have remembered to do that!  We've been so blessed to be a part of this group.

What a wonderful weekend!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

It has been a great Mother's Day weekend.  Friday night Alexee and Crosby were super excited to have a sleepover at Kylie and Cole's house--they had a lot of fun!  Then Kyle, Jillian & Jack picked them up on their way to our place on Saturday morning.  We got to keep Jack for a few hours!  He is 6 months old now and so precious.  We love getting to spend time with him.  It makes me sad to think of moving away from their sweet family.  Alexee did a great job holding him and feeding him squash.

Those sweet legs!  That sweet face!

Saturday afternoon Alexee went to a birthday party for her friend, Rachel, at River City Gymnastics.  Then we decided to get outside and enjoy the beautiful afternoon at Pinnacle Mountain.

Here we go!

Taking a break along the way.  Crosby was bird-watching.

We made it!  It's such a beautiful view from the top.  The kids all did great, and I enjoyed this special time with them.  They're getting so big, but I love the ages that they are right now!  It's fun to be able to go out and do things like this together.  (We missed Lane though!) :(

We should have taken full-sized water bottles!  It was hot--I love their little red faces though.

Crosby kept saying, "WOW!  Look at this view!"  :)

Little explorers!

I think we live in such a pretty place!

After the climb back down...our feet and legs were TIRED!

*****

This morning the kids had gifts for me.  I'm so blessed to be their mom!  Alexee made beautiful cards and a pink and blue rainbow loom bracelet for me.  I told her it was perfect--pink for being her mom and blue for being Rhett & Crosby's mom!  Rhett had shopped for me after school on Friday when we stopped by Kroger--he bought me a box of chocolates, and he'd also purchased a bag of West Rock Coffee for me from their school coffee shop, and he made me a precious handprint card in his class!  We all had a chocolate for breakfast.  :)  Crosby had already given me his gifts from school (previous post) THANK YOU, RHETT, ALEXEE & CROSBY!  I love you SOOOOO much!

Lane was on call overnight but made it home in time to go to church with us--so glad that worked out!  I had him take our picture on the deck before church (for some reason my phone camera was blurry so we tried another one after church).

BEYOND BLESSED!

I love being their mom.

Today was my last day to serve in the cafe at church.  I've loved being a part of it--I truly enjoyed the people that I worked with, and it was such a blessing to get to help serve breakfast to people on Sunday mornings.  I started volunteering there before Alexee was born.  I've had the wonderful opportunity to get to know Nancy (and her husband, John) over the years there, and I will really miss seeing them on a regular basis.  We had John take our picture today.   Nancy is such a fun person to know--I treasure her friendship!  I wish Tracye had been there today--I always especially enjoy the Sundays the three of us get to work together!  I hope they will come visit us!

I took a nap after church today--GREAT Mother's Day gift!!  :)  Then we took the kids to the park, went to Home Depot then went to dinner at Bravo.  We waited too late to make lunch reservations, so we decided to have sandwiches for lunch and go out tonight instead.  It worked out great!

Yummy dinner at Bravo--perfect way to end the weekend!  Thank you to my family for making me feel special!

*****

AND WE WANT TO WISH A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY MOM (MO), LANE'S MOM (GRAMMY) AND MY GRANDMOTHER (MO NINA)!  We are so thankful for you!

(I love this picture from Crosby's birthday back in March because it has all three of these special ladies in one photo!)

Science Fair, Art Show & Pre-K Graduation

It has been a fun week!  Last Sunday night we went to Señor Tequila with Ali and her family.  Cinco de Mayo wasn't until Monday, but we weren't sure if Lane would get home in time to go out to eat then so we celebrated a day early!  It was a fun night!  

Rhett's teacher sent me a text on Monday saying that he would be getting a science fair award on Tuesday, but to keep it a surprise until then.  So proud of him for getting an Honorable Mention in the 4th Grade Science Fair.  He worked hard, and did a great job.

I love Alexee's creativity.  She made this rose from pipe cleaners for her teacher (teacher appreciation week).  The theme for the day was "Thanks for Helping Me Grow".  We also sent the teachers flower bookmarks.  

Crosby found a baby turtle (tortoise?) on the sidewalk on Wednesday.  I let him keep it until he went to Cole's house to play that afternoon.  They set it free at the park.

For lunch on Wednesday we packed a picnic and went to the park (Crosby calls this one "Reid's Park" because it is near his friend Reid's house).  He's so very sweet and fun to spend time with.  It was a great day.

practicing the monkey bars again--good job!

Thursday morning was the Mother's Day Art Show at his school.  He was so proud of his artwork, and I LOVED having him show me all the pieces he had done.

These sweet gifts were on the tables in the classroom--the mother's day keepsakes the students had made for us.  Oh how I wished I could just freeze time when he was giving these to me.  The look on his face was so precious and absolutely made my day!!!

On the trivet:  a sun, cloud/rain, a flower, a butterfly...and a camel.  I'll cherish it FOREVER!  And the questions the kids do about moms are always so cute to me!  I liked everything about mine...even if he does think I'm already 40! ;)  He drew me with red hair and green eyes though!

Thursday night was also Pre-K graduation, so I sent this in his lunchbox that day.  I was thinking about how Crosby was only about 6 weeks old at Rhett's Pre-K graduation, and my friend Barb held Crosby wrapped up in a blanket at the back of the Great Hall so I could take pictures of Rhett during the program.  Five years flew by and there Crosby was on stage!  Does not seem possible. 

We got him this book for a graduation gift.  We also gave him a paint set and paper because he'd told me that painting was his favorite thing to do in preschool (nap time was his least favorite).

(by Marianne Richmond)

If I could keep you little I'd hum you lullabies

But then I'd miss you singing your concerts big surprise

If I could keep you little I'd hold your hand everywhere

But then I'd miss you knowing I can go you stay there

If I could keep you little I'd kiss your cuts and scrapes

But then I'd miss you learning from your own mistakes

If I could keep you little I'd strap you in real tight

But then I'd miss you swinging from your treetop height

If I could keep you little I'd decide on matching clothes

But then I'd miss you choosing dots on top and stripes below

If I could keep you little I'd cut your bread into shapes

But then I'd miss you finding hey I like ketchup with my grapes

If I could keep you little I'd tell you stories every night

But then I'd miss you reading the words you've learned by sight

If I could keep you little I'd push you anywhere

But then I'd miss you feeling your speed from here to there

If I could keep you little I'd push your ducky float

But then I'd miss you feeling the wind behind summer's boat

If I could keep you little we'd nap in our fort midday

But then i'd miss you sharing adventures from camp away

If I could keep you little I'd fly you with my feet

But then I'd miss you seeing sky and clouds from your seat

If I could keep you little I'd keep you close to me

But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!

We were so glad Lane's parents came up to celebrate Crosby with us.  They treated us to a great dinner at Bonefish Grill before we all went to the school.  He was excited to open his gift...but was not able to hide his disappointment when he saw that it wasn't something super-hero/Power Ranger related.  :( I felt really bad that he was disappointed, especially since I thought the paint set would be something he'd be excited about based on what he'd told me the day before about school.  Hopefully the book will be special to him someday down the road.  We all wrote a note in the front cover, and I wrote a Bible verse and some of his comments about preschool in the back of the book.  Crosby, you are always such a joy to us.  We love you more than we could possibly tell you, and we know you will do great in Kindergarten!

We also celebrated Mother's Day a little early with Grammy!  So thankful for such a wonderful, caring mother-in-law.  She is a blessing to us too!!

Crosby had to go to his classroom before the program to change into his graduation t-shirt and get ready to go on the stage with his friends and teachers.  I asked him to show me his favorite toy there, and he held up this yellow tow-truck.  (No surprise there!)

The gradation program had a Mother Goose nursery rhyme theme, and the props were adorable!  Several of the teachers had worked so hard on them, and I thought they were super cute!

They recited lots of nursery rhymes and sang many cute songs.  Each student had a chance to come to the microphone to say a wish, and C said he wished for a firetruck.  

The kids also played the handbells.  They have such a great music teacher (Mrs. Mary)!

2014 Graduating Class

Mrs. Paige, Mrs. Susan and Mrs. Vicki giving the medals and diplomas:   (C was waving at us.)

Congratulations, Crosby!

Thank you, Bobba & Grammy, for being a part of his special night!

WE LOVE YOU, CROSBY GRANT!!!