First Day of First Grade!

Hellllllo! Thought I would pop on here and document Parker's first day as a big first grader. 

Parker was very excited for a new school year which makes me so happy. To be honest, when he started kinder I was really nervous he would have a hard time adjusting since he doesn't like change and also likes to be at home so much--BUT, so far, that hasn't been the case and I'm praying that it stays that way!

The night before school started was filled with prepping lunch food and picking out clothes and doing a last minute haircut before bedtime. All of the kids were in bed by 8! Hallelujah! I love when school starts. ;)

I stayed up and finished all the things and put out Parker's clothes, backpack, and school sign. I did this last year too but forgot to take a photo.

The first grader was up and mostly happy at 7am. He was for some reason surprised that I wanted to take photos at the door before we left. I feel like he should know that this is what we do now, ha!

So handsome and so willing to let me take his photo!

Bryan stayed home working on the first day of school so I was able to take Parker by myself without the two little kids. He let me hold his hand as we walked to his classroom (I was very aware that this may be a "last" for hand-holding on the first day of school....) I also snuck a few photos once we were in his classroom but he was no longer into smiling.

We anxiously awaited his arrival ALL day and I was reminded of how much he helps to entertain and even calm the little kids during the day. They very obviously didn't know what to do without him and spent a lot of the school day being restless and fighting. SUPER fun! (This was all a week ago and we still haven't 100% adjusted.)

I picked him up (and got in trouble in the carpool line for looking at my phone, also super fun) and was excited to see that he was all smiles!

He got some drawing in before dinner. I made chicken casserole. It was a good night.

I am out of steam and time, but two nights before school started we headed to Meet The Teacher night and had a blast there, as well! I'm so excited for another great school year!

Last Day of Kinder!

Hello! I'm back from the blogging dead for at least today! Woo hoo! 

We've had a very busy few months and weeks (May-cember, anyone?) and I'm am JUST now feeling recovered from the very exhausting end of the year events for my three children. 

I figured a little recap of Parker's last days of Kindergarten was on the ticket if I'm ever going to get back on the blogging train again...

Parker's class party was the day before the last day of school so we braved the POURING rain to see him with his classmates one last time! 

It's so weird to see him outside of our usual home environment. He is so confident and happy and it was obvious that is he loves his friends and teacher, Mrs. Womble. 

Hayes and Lily hung around Parker and the big kids the whole time. It was cute. Hayes wants to be big SO badly. 

Lily was all snuggles for big brother. She also turned on and off the class computer (and in turn, the projection screen) several times before the party was over. So fun. 

Parker got the "Amazing Artist" award for his class--are we surprised? No, we are not! 

He was SO proud and it was adorable to watch him get his award from Mrs. Womble. HE initiated a hug and a high five! What world are we living in? He has for sure come out of his shell at school!

One of Parker's friends mom's asked to get a picture of a couple of the boys so this is my not-so-awesome side-shot as I trying to prevent Lily from grounding up rice crispy treat into the carpet. 

And here is our Mrs. Womble! I could not have asked for a better teacher for Parker this year. He grew so much both academically and socially and I know a lot of it had to do with her. We will miss her so much. I gave her the book "Oh The Places You'll Go" to sign for Parker that our family friend Jan Kempf gave me at Parker's baby shower. She wrote the kindest note and it made me cry, of course. Have I mentioned I'm pregnant?

Parker was also one of the students that got an art award from the art teacher for his class. Look at the face of pride! He's loved art this year (again, not shocking) just to brag a little--the school actually asked if they could keep some of his artwork to display at the McKinney ISD main office. He didn't care but I thought it was cool!

Parker refused photos with the cute backdrop but brother and sister were more than willing and are looking super sweet here.

This was saved to my phone...so I'm posting it. I loved this story! 

I gave Parker a much-needed haircut before the official last day of school for his photos. 

We went to his last pep rally (Again I cried--why? It was literally 600 kids just screaming. I don't understand hormones.)

After the pep rally they had the whole school and all the parents line the halls to send out the 5th graders. Also cried for this. I am so lame.

And then we listened to the obvious choice for the last day of school as we headed home for our first few moments of SUMMER. Alice Cooper and a minivan are a perfect mix, by the way. 

And now we have a big FIRST GRADER! WHERE IS THE TIME GOING????

I feel like this post is terribly written but it's midnight and I have 1% left on my computer. Bye!

Oops!

And just like that....I forgot to blog for 2 weeks! Or maybe more? Actually I didn't forget; I've thought about it every single day but never got around to it. Wah-wah. And I was doing so well!

I'm back!

I have so many things backlogged in my mind and I'm afraid I'm not going to remember half of it now that I've sat down on here to write this thing.

Where did I leave off?

I believe Judy was here the last time I blogged and I promised a picture, so here I am fulfilling my promise. ;) We went to Parker's school one morning for lunch (yes because they have lunch at 10:30 in the morning....) and I snapped this of Grammy and Parker. Parker was so excited and talkative and proud to have us at lunch with him. It was fun!

When we were leaving, Judy noticed the veteran bulletin board that I had sent in photos for a few months ago. Look at all those brave veterans!

And here's our two! Pop and Grandaddy.

On Judy's last night, I made my friend Brenna's famous skillet apple pie and dumped a whole lot of cinnamon on it, but I thought it was still pretty delicious!

We were sad to see Grammy leave (sooo sad) but we managed to cope by finishing off all the donuts she bought for the kids during her stay.

Honestly one reason I haven't blogged is because there hasn't been a ton of really interesting things going on! Hayes has made about 36 pillow forts in the living room (with every dang pillow in the house) and it's beginning to drive me a little more crazy than usual.

I caught just a millisecond of Parker wearing a HAT. I pulled up in the pickup line last week and he was just standing there totally chill wearing a GIANT "I'm 100 Days Smarter" hat that he made for his 100th day of school and I just died laughing. He never EVER wants to wear hats or ears or anything they make at school for their heads. Of course he would just randomly decide to wear the biggest thing he has ever made. I saved it for a week just because I thought it was so funny.

I saw the cutest idea to post love notes on each kids door every day in February (I got the idea from a very cute mom blogger who goes to the same church as my parents in CO), so I started to do it, too....and then I stopped. Haha. On day three I realized the kids weren't that into it (mostly because they can't read/don't want to read). Maybe next year! ;)

Here is my first night attempt:

Parker's school did a Random Acts of Kindness Fundraiser and Parker's most anticipated AOC by FAR was getting to make breakfast in bed for Bryan. He woke up early and made him a card while I made breakfast.

He requested the tray. It was so cute.

"Dear Dad, I know you like blue and you like your job and you like me. I love you, Parker"

I can't!

Me and the little kids double dipped at Chick-fil-a last week....

This meme made me laugh.

I got the kids Valentines printed and LOVED how they turned out! I'll try and take some photos of the finished products. ALSO, my valentine cards sold so well this year and I am so happy! 

The little kids had their Valentines Parties at school yesterday and were so cute and happy. Lily took apple sauce pouches for her friends and Hayes took bubbles. 

Parker's V-day party isn't until tomorrow which I think is super strange since today is Valentine's Day (Happy Valentine's Day, by the way!), but it is what it is. He'll be taking crayons.

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Photo below is from Lily and I's second trip to Chick-fil-a. Lily likes to straight-up lick the CFA sauce from the cup and I never catch her in time. 

Bryan had taken the boys to see the new Lego movie which they loved (all three--I'm pretty sure Bryan has a boy crush on Chris Pratt.)

I did Lily's hair in pigtail braids for the first time ever! She wore her new 'do to church on Sunday and to school on Monday. Bryan doesn't think her hair is long enough yet because by the end of both days it looked like she had two "rat tails" (his words). Haha! I don't care. I cannot believe how long her hair is! 

She was a very unwilling model both days. 

This morning I sat out the kids Valentine's on the fireplace hearth (and TOTALLY forgot to take a photo), and the boys were SO sweet when they woke up to open everything. Judy left some Valentine goodies and GG had sent them all cards, so I put those out along with our traditional cheap-o chocolate roses and some Valentine's banners. 

Look at these cuties!

They are thankful for their treats Grammy and GG!

(Also: Parker's watch. I'm not sure why but I think it is utterly adorable.)

Other things worth mentioning but missing a photo:

1. Parker lost another stinking tooth!! I'm not sure what its official name would be, but it's on the top to the left side of his center teeth. The tooth fairy came by literally seconds (I'm not kidding) before he woke up and walked out of his room. Whew! We have a horrible tooth fairy.

2. My friend Aubrey and I are going to the RISE conference with Rachel Hollis this summer! I am so pumped. I've mentioned this before, but I love her podcast and general message and she's going to be in Dallas so we decided we couldn't pass it up!

3. I cannot think of anything else off the top of my head although I'm sure I'll hit "publish" on this post and remember 5000 things.

Funny kid sayings:

Lily saying "Chicken Little" sounds like "Kickin Yiddle" and it's so cute.

Lily's current pre-nap pre-bedtime songs are "Jesus" (Jesus Loves Me), "ABC",  and "Bus" (The Wheels on the bus"). She requests them in this order every time.

We call toots "toot-toots" (I actually have no idea how that started), and me a Lily were sitting on the floor last week and my stomach growled and she goes, "Oh! Mommy toot-toot!", and I was like "NO I didn't!" and got all flustered which she very quickly realized was funny and lead her to start yelling "Mommy toot-toot! Mommy toot-toot!" for the next 20 minutes. She knows she is funny and I know that it's just a matter of time before she yells "Mommy toot-toot!" and dies laughing while we're sitting in church or walking through Target.

AGHHHH I told  you this would happen! My kids have said so many funny things lately but nothing else is in my brain at the moment! I will try to remember more and will post (PROMISE) soon!