A Year To Remember

I have to say that I'm a little sad this year has come to an end. Both Brody and Case had great teachers who loved and respected them. They both had a super year meeting new friends and keeping some old. I have loved being able to help in both classrooms and getting to know their teachers better through it. It has been fun. Today was a tad bit emotional as I was able to help with Brody's class party and then stop by Case's class to give his teacher her cute gift. In Brody's class, we had an awesome mom who volunteered to make a hand print quilt that had $5.00 attached to each hand. It turned out so darling and Miss A. looooved it. This same mom volunteered to put together a gift for Miss Hebting. She made this adorable paper purse and we all stuffed it with goodies that you find in a purse. Libby made a super cute note using all words that started with purse. It was too cute and both Mrs. Hebting and Ms. Cindy got a kick out of it. I feel so lucky that both Brody and Case have such great groups of friends. It seems like Brody's same friends from Kindergarten have kinda just moved up class by class with each other. I've really been able to get to know most of them. Being Case's first year at RMRE, I am really proud of all the Friends he has made. They are darling and nice, kind kids. I am a little nervous for next year not so much for Brody, but Case. I worry about how his new teacher will react to him. Sometimes he can be hard to understand. But boy once you get to know him, you realize how truly kind and awesome he is. I hope she will see that right from the start. For now, I don't want to think about school. I want to enjoy my kids being home. I want to enjoy seeing them swim, golf, play basketball and relax. I want to escape to the cabin and run in the cool mountain air. I hope these little darlings can behave so we can enjoy our summer together. Cheers to Summer!

Miss Anderson and her second graders. This is a good group of kids. Where's Brody?

The hand print quilt Thelissa made for for Miss A. It turned out so cute!

Mrs. Hebting has been so good for Case this year. She is very structured which is what he needs. I hope his teacher next year will love and appreciate him like we do.

Ms. Cyndi has been so helpful this year. We will miss her next year.

Talent Show

Can I just say how proud I am of Brody. Today he was able to perform his piano recital song, "Trumpet Tune," in front of the whole school at the school talent show. When he told me he wanted to try out I was a little nervous. He had just found out that he didn't test into the ELP program for next year and he was super upset. I worried that if he didn't make the talent show, this would be another blow to him. I signed the consent form and and hoped for the best. The music teacher held 2 tryouts. The first day was for music and singing numbers. The second day was for dance, gymnastic and miscellaneous numbers. The day of his tryouts, I loaded all the kids in the car and headed down to the school to wish him luck. I literally almost passed out when I saw all the kids who were there to try out. It was honestly half the school. The multi-purpose room was packed and I could hardly find my 8 year old amongst all the fifth and sixth graders. When I finally found him I think he was a little relieved to see me/us. The music teacher asked all the kids who were going to play an instrument to meet in the music room. We all headed in there and waited. Luckily, Brody was not to far down the list for tryouts. He got up there and played that song just like he has so many times before. I was a proud mama. We left following his tryout thanks to a wandering Miss B. and hungry Ledger. And then we waited to hear back. I was nervous. So Friday rolled around and Brody calmly mentioned that he had made the talent show. I was so happy for him. He needed this. The talent show was scheduled for the last day of school. Lucky for Jeremy, Ledger, Miss B. and I, Brody was about number 10 out of what seemed like 40 on the list of performers. He walked calmly up to that piano and played his little heart out. He didn't play it as great as he did during his tryout (he may have been a little nervous) but he still did fantastic. My heart was beaming for him! I was so proud of him for wanting to do this. I was proud that he had the confidence and courage to try something like this. It was a great way to end the school year.

Going Buggy

I am going a little buggy, but that's not what I wanted to tell you! Tonight Brody's second grade class performed "Going Buggy" for family and friends. Brody had auditioned weeks early for a certain part but didn't get it (I know, lots of let downs lately.) He did however get the part of, "small fly" in which he got to pretend to play the trumpet while going across the stage. He looked adorable and did a super job. It was a fun night for us.

And now, playing the part of small fly...Brody Felstead!

Brody and Hunter. These two boys have been friends since kindergarten.

I don't know why, but I was not expecting Brody to go trumpeting across the stage during the middle of the performance. He was so cute pretending to play the trumpet.

G.G. and GPa were kind enough to meet us at Venezia's for dinner and then go to the performance. Since Sugar and Jim were out of town, it was nice to have them there.

So happy Nanny and Papa could come to the performance too.

Oh Brody...you make me Buggy these days!

Water Day 2011

Have I told you how lucky I am to be able to be a stay at home Mom? Although I miss teaching, I don't think there is a better job. Today I was able to help the P.E. teacher at the kindergarten through third grade water day. I have done this for the past 2 years and have really enjoyed it. I had a sitter lined up and was ready to help when he cancelled on me last minute. I called the P.E. teacher and left her a message telling her I would be unable to help because of my 2 younger kids. She called me back about 10 minutes later and told me to just bring them. Maybe she was desperate, I don't know. I loaded them up and headed to the school. Thank goodness she put me in charge of Otter Pops because we were able to hang out under the Ramada on the playground. It actually worked out perfect. Miss B. and Ledger did super. The kids were all so kind to them. The funny thing about water day was that Case came home and said, "Mom, I did NOT like water day!" When I asked him why he told me that the water was waaaaay to cold (it wasn't a very hot day). Libby told me that at the station she was helping at Case said, "Raise you hand if you don't like water day." The sad thing was, quite a few kids raised their hands. Hopefully next year he will have a better time. Needless to say he was wiped out that night. I'm so happy I was able to help. Hooray for water day!

Mason, Brody, Hunter and Jackson

Logan and Ryan

Look at all the darling girls in Brody's class. What a cute group of kids!

Eliza, Kailey, Marcor, Mason, Jackson, and Brody. This is a fun group of second graders!

I love this picture of Miss B. and Brody. I love that he still thinks she is darling and fun to be with. He was not one bit embarrassed about having her or Ledger at his second grade water day. We'll see how long that lasts!

As always, Case was super intense about every water game he played! Looks like he's having fun to me!

Case, Matix and some of his Kindergarten friends.

Kindergarten Graduation

Today I was able to attend Case's Kindergarten Graduation. It was a tear jerker to say the least. From the minute Case walked in to the classroom with that graduation music playing, to the minute he received his diploma, I was all teary eyed. This year has just flown by and I can't believe this kid will be in First Grade next year. His experience this year has been great and I am amazed and proud of all he has learned. I worry deeply about this kid. He is all boy and sometimes the decisions he makes are not so great. He is a hard boy to get to know, but once you do, you are in love. He is kind and considerate and thoughtful and sweet, but he will make you work for it all. Case will make you earn his trust. He is not going to charm you when you first meet him like my other boys. He is a different kid. I worry about him next year. I worry about who's class to put him in. I worry he will not show his teacher how truly smart and capable he is. I worry his teacher will not understand him and love him the way I do. I worry about him not being able to keep up academically. He is a smart boy, but you will have to pull it out of him. I worry and wonder.

Hanging on the bulletin board was this piece of writing. It says,

"In kindergarten I learned how to do subtraction."

I love this kindergarten graduate. Jeremy missed the graduation because he was stuck in a meeting. Case was so sad and even leaned over to me and said, "Where's Dad?" He is a daddy's boy!

Case with his friends Austin and Chase

Case and Jefferson...Best Buds!

Thank you Mrs. Hebting for a great school year!

Case next to Lucy Blackhurst and Matix Cooklin.

Last week we received a note home explaining all the details of graduation. One of the rules was that we were only able to invite immediate family. I quickly called Mrs. Hebting and asked her if I could trade my immediate family for the grandma and Jim. After all, 6 of us versus 4 of us would be a lot better right? She said that would be fine and so my Mom and Jim were able to attend. So happy they could be there! Sorry Brody, Ledger and Miss B.

Not again!

Case lost another tooth today. I am getting really good at pulling them. In true Case fashion, Case lost the tooth the first night we pulled it out. We found it and then he forgot to put it under his pillow. By the third night he was lucky enough to get $5.00 for that lost tooth. Loosing teeth means a boy is growing up. I don't like that one bit

!

Happy Mother's Day To Me

For Mother's Day this year my boys, all 4 of them, took me to City Hall for dinner. We had the rudest waitress you could imagine. I think she was upset that we had our kids at such a nice restaurant and that we weren't ordering alcohol. She was so rude to us the whole time we were there. We almost complained but decided not to let her ruin our evening. When we got home, the boys had me open my gifts even though it wasn't officially Mother's Day. Jeremy had taken Ledger and Miss B. on Friday to Tempe Marketplace and got me some cute little shirts and shorts. I was thrilled because I needed them so badly! I especially loved all the handmade cards and even the key chain Brody made me at school. It was the best Mother's Day ever! I love you sweet kiddos. Thanks for making me the happiest mom on earth!

Case lost a tooth

Oh happy day! This boy has been wanting to lose a tooth since he realized that the tooth fairy brings money. Brody was loosing them left and right there for a while and Case has just been patiently waiting. Today, after much pulling from Jeremy, I yanked that puppy out of his little mouth and sent him off to school. The poor tooth was so wiggly but for some reason Jeremy couldn't get it out. While brushing Case's teeth this morning I couldn't take it any more and I pulled it out like there was no tomorrow! Now, what will the tooth fairy bring Case...?

Jeremy is so bad at pulling teeth.

Case was freeeeaaaakkkking out when he was trying to pull the tooth!

Oh you handsome little thing. Please stop loosing teeth and please stop growing up!

Thank You Teachers

My friend Libby and I signed up to be on the teacher appreciation committee at the school this year. At first it sounded like a great idea. Our task was to remind the teachers what a great job they are doing by giving them monthly reminders and cards on their birthday's. Sounds easy right? Not so fast. We were constantly late getting the teachers cards and gifts on their birthday's. The months flew by and we often forgot to express our gratitude. We were not so great at our job. We did however, throw a mean breakfast today in the workroom. We served fruit, muffins, bagels, cinnamon rolls, juice, and breakfast bars. It turned out really great. After the breakfast we headed over to my Moms house to finish up 60 of the most adorable luncheon invites (thanks Leslie for the idea) you have ever seen. On Friday we will be serving Matta's to all the teachers. We can hardly wait to fiesta with all the awesome teachers at RMRE.

Hello Beautiful

This little lady loves all things pretty. She looooves getting her hair blow dried each morning. We're talking the round brush and thermal active spray. She loves rubbing Aveno lotion on her little arms and legs. She loves Jan Marini eye cream and BioMedics moisturizers. And now apparently she is ready to try my Dior Mascara at $25.00 a tube. She hasn't quite mastered how to apply the stuff, but one day soon I will show her. I can hardly wait!