Blan's Birthday Celebration

Happy Birthday, Blan!

Notice the color of ball she chose!

Taking a break from a strenuous round!

Not sure who had more fun!

Endings

Today was the last day of preschool. This year the day is bittersweet. It was Carver's last day ever of preschool. I can't believe that we started this journey four years ago and today that chapter ended. What a fabulous four years it has been...he has grown in ways I could not begin to imagine four years ago. He has been taught by wise, loving, encouraging teachers. He's made precious friends. He's learned to be a leader and a helper. He's been pushed and challenged-and he will never be the same because of his time there. It has been a blessing in the truest form. As we walked away from school today he burst into tears. He gets it. This chapter is over and although the next chapters will be wonderful in their own right (and he is so excited about his new kindergarten) he also understands that things will never be quite like this again.

To sweet endings and new beginnings....

Big hugs before heading off for their last day.

Mrs. Byrum

Mrs. VanNort

Miss Lindsay & Miss Julia

Memorial Day Picnic + 7 Plus Mile Bike Ride=

a family who should sleep well tonight!

We were invited to celebrate the day at a picnic a little more then 3.5 miles away...being that we'll be spending much of our sabbatical on bikes we thought this was a good chance to break in Carver. Let me say that there were several tough hills and it wasn't exactly cool outside, but he did great! Not so much as a whimper. I was so proud of him-and he of himself! We all arrived back home ready for nice cool showers and big glasses of water, but it was a very fun adventure.

Slippin' & Slidin'

Yesterday afternoon found us playing with old friends. Vail and Haven's mom, Sydney, is a college friend of mine and it's always so nice to spend time with her while the kids play. Sydney had just picked up a Slip and Slide and the warm sunny day made a perfect chance to try it out.

The kids had a ball-although the hose water's temperature was

not matching that of the sun's! Carver and Vail
Sydney and I laughed that the Slip and Slide has not changed since we were children-
it's still just a sheet of plastic that doesn't stay very straight when you slide on it!
Someone was a genius though because the fun never grows old.

Springer wasn't the best at sliding, but she thoroughly enjoyed the water!

Big Girl!

Two weeks ago we began (and have been mostly successful with) potty training. If one change was not enough I decided this was a good time to go with the whole 'big girl' theme and move her out of her crib and into her big girl bed. To do this required a little construction and she moved downstairs to the guest room (or more fondly referred to as Pop's room) for about two weeks. During her stay downstairs she regularly checked on the progress of her 'big girl room'. Well, after many days of working it is mostly complete and on Wednesday night we moved her into her new bed. She declared "I wuv my big girl room!". When reminded that she was not allowed to get out of her bed she proudly responded "I don't want to get out of my bed!" And she hasn't...so far so good. Here's a shot of her room and her in her bed on the first night. She looks like such a such a little pea in the big ol' bed!

Sundaes on the Patio

On Monday we celebrated the graduation of the all the children heading to Kindergarten in the fall. The children's cherub choir sang, they climbed on the 'big tree' (a huge, well loved magnolia) and then enjoyed ice cream sundaes with every topping imaginable. As always Carver hit the ground running and I don't think I saw him until it was time to go...but I did get a shot of his "what I want to be when I grow up picture." No idea where this idea came from!

Money and ice cream do make the world go 'round!

Family Fun Day

Each year the children's school holds Family Fun Day-bouncy things, snow cones, tattoos, fire trucks, bubbles...it's a great way to begin the year's end.

This year's festivities did not disappoint. Springer takes a snow cone break with Daddy
The ONLY shot I got of Carver...now that he's the big man on campus
he runs around doing his own thing.
I only managed to capture him when I called for lunch!

Springer's favorite: bubbles!

Mother's Day with Pops

My dad continued his tradition of spending Mother's Day weekend with us and another fabulous visit was had. Although I did a terrible job documenting our time with him it was a great fun. We played at the park, rode bikes, rode the light rail, grilled out, laughed, read, laughed more and cuddled. After he left (and we all cried) I asked Carver what his favorite part of the weekend was and he said "just being with my Pops". My feelings exactly!

Enjoying a cold drink before getting back on the light rail...
We love you and look forward to seeing you in just a few weeks!

Miss "Party All The Time"

Springer had quite the weekend of parties...

first she celebrated Abby's 3rd birthday

as a princess. Springer went as Tinker Belle

(almost a princess, don't you think?)

complete with painted (hot) pink toes-a first!

She loves her toenails...many times

a day she'll just look at them and say 'do you wuv my toenails?!'

She certainly does.
The pretty princesses wait for their cake...
Abby, the birthday girl, is the first on the left.


On Saturday, Springer celebrated her friend Ellie's third birthday.
Springer, Abby and Ellie will all be in class together next year.
Their older brothers, Zach and Wyatt, have been friends of Carver's
since they were little as well.

The birthday girl and Springer wait for their pink cupcakes.
Springer kept saying, "I'm ready for the birthday."
She meant the birthday CAKE!

The cupcake didn't last long...after carefully licking all the icing off
Springer put it straight in-all at once!
All partied out!