Good-Bye First Grade

First grade has been very emotional for me.  There are many reasons why, but mostly because Mother taught first grade.  In almost everything Luke has done, I would think, oh how Mother would have loved to see this, or know that.

It is so hard to believe he is leaving first grade, seems like he was just starting!

Luke has grown so much this year.  He has absolutely loved his teacher and learning everything she has to teach.  I am so thankful that he has again had such a wonderful teacher.

Some Fun things Luke did in First Grade:

• Reads 107 words a minute
• All A Honor Roll for the Year
• Took a walking field trip to the Fire Station
• All A Citizenship Honor Roll    
• He has learned fractions
• Music Award 
• Field trip to the Zoo
• Learned about money
• Learned to tell time
• Learned about the King Cheetah in his research project and created a fact poster
• He now has "the bestest friend any other friend could ever have as a best friend" as Luke likes to call him.
• In his writing journal he wrote Episode Seven of Star Wars (spoiler alert:  Luke Skywalker goes to the dark side!)
•  Learned about the Presidents

·          I am so very proud of our Luke and I am looking forward to all that Second Grade brings us!

 

 

A Recipe and Some Fun

You must make these.  They are easy and they are delicious!  They are perfect for your kids to help you make!

 

You can grab the oh so easy recipe here.  Confessions of a Cookbook Queen -- Cherry Limeade Pie 

(I think I need to eat another one of those now!)

And when you are done making them, and done eating them, you may be like us and have some whipped cream left over.

And if you do, and you are like us, you will not want to waste it.

So, here is what I suggest.

Yes, just go ahead and sugar up the children.  (you will probably want them to play outside afterwards) 

But if that is too nice and clean for you.  You may want to try this. 

Let's face it, I knew he was not just going to squirt that cherry whipped cream in Luke's mouth.  Oh no, Daddy wants to make a mess and have fun!

Thing got a little out of control.

And it only got worse.....

And by worse, I mean hilarious and cute and sweet.

A lot of that ended up on the floor and Hank was more than happy to clean it up!

Happy Tuesday to you and I hope you have a great week!

 

Baptized!

Luke was baptized this Sunday!

I have no words to say, except that it was a wonderful day shared with family and friends.

I was more emotional than I thought I would.

I cried.

I cried the happiest tears that my sweet son has asked Jesus into his heart and he is obeying the Bible by showing his decision and going public.

I cried as I looked around the pool at all who had come out to watch this big day in Luke's life.

Thank you to those who were able to make it out.  It means so much to us all, especially Luke.

And a huge thank you to The Sister who took these awesome pictures so that I did not have to watch through the lens of a camera.

The Graduate

It is hard for me to realize that the little girl with long brown curls that I used to babysit is old enough to graduate from high school.  It seems like it was just the other day that I watched her put on singing and dancing shows while standing on the coffee table in the middle of the living room.  It seems it was not too long ago that Josh and I stood crying as we watched her and her parents drive off, moving to South Carolina when she was only a toddler.

It was not too long ago that she would worm her way in between me and her Bubba because she had to be beside him at all times.  Wasn't it just yesterday when she was the cutest little flower girl in our wedding?  I vividly remember the New Year’s Eve when she was about one or so, Josh chased her down the hallway and she tripped, busting her head on a door hinge.  We rung in that new year with him rocking her in his lap because he would not put her down.

Time has flown by.

How did we get from this…

To this…..

So fast?

We arrived at the graduation early so we could get the exact seats Charity wanted us to be in.  They were perfect.  We were right there on her row and had a great view of her.

The ceremony could not have been nicer.

But the entire time we sat there, I just kept thinking how I could not believe she was old enough to graduate. 

That is one proud Bubba.

And that is one proud sister.

I am so blessed to be apart of this family and I cannot wait to see what all the future holds for Charity. 

SURPRISE!!!!

With the help of Joshua’s parents we pulled off a huge surprise that has been in the making for over a year.  I cannot thank them enough for helping us to pull this off.  As the day of our arrival got closer and closer, Charity kept asking them if they were sure we were not coming.  They had to keep telling her we could not come and had to keep seeing the look of disappointment on her face.

About a year ago Joshua and I began discussing that we would go to South Carolina this year to see his sister graduate from high school.  We also decided that we did not want to tell her, but to surprise her!

As soon as this school year began Josh’s Dad found out her graduation date and it was sooner in May than we were hoping.  She would graduate on May 18^th, and Luke would still be in school.  We were hoping she would graduate closer to the end of Luke’s school year so we could drive out and stay a week and a half or so, but it did not look like that was a possibility.

So, we decided that we would fly out and make a long weekend of it.  Not only did Charity, not know about this, but neither did Luke.  There was NO way we could trust Luke not to tell his Aunt Charity about this!

As her graduation got closer and closer Charity would say how she really wished we could go out there, but she understood that Luke was still in school.  Each time she said it, it broke our hearts to hear her, but we became more and more excited about the surprise that was planned for her. 

On the MORNING we were to fly to South Carolina we woke Luke up and told him about the trip!  He was super excited to find out we were going to South Carolina for a long weekend, but he was beyond excited to hear that he was going to fly there!

This boy has wanted to fly in a plane for a LONG time!

Josh’s parents went back and forth on how to let Charity find out that we had come, but in the end, this is what happened.

Josh’s Mom and Dad picked us up from the airport and we made a stop for lunch and at the store for some poster board and markers.  Luke needed to make a sign for his Aunt Charity.

Charity's Bubba made a sign too.

We went to their church to make the signs and waited for her to arrive.  The Music minister of the church called Charity and told her she needed to go up there early for band practice.

We hid and waited.

Luke was beside himself and could not wait to scream SURPRISE at the top of his little lungs!  Truth be told,  I was super excited too!

And THIS is the face of a girl who had NO CLUE that her Bubba, Sister, and Nephew had flown into town see her.

(can I just say it is stressful taking pictures of a surprise!  I was shaking and so worried that none of them out turn out.)

It took her a second to realize that we were standing there, but when it all clicked, she set down the guitar and began to cry as she went over to Josh.

They stood like that for a while.  The stress of planning this was beyond worth it in this moment.  I tear up every time I see this picture.

These two are like twins, 16 years apart. 

Luke wanted in on the hugs, but Charity was not letting go of her Bubba!

Charity, we would not have missed your big day for the world!

Love you girl!!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!!

Ten Day Whirlwind

A LOT went on in a ten day period for us!

A run down……

Friday, May 11^th – Rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for Daddy’s wedding!  Josh was running late due to traffic, so Luke stood in and pretended to be Josh until he got there.  Then he went to the grandkids’ aisle and hung out with his cousins.  The night was fun, except for the part where Josh got us lost going to the restaurant for dinner.  No further comment…..

Saturday, May 12^th – Daddy and Lee got married!  The wedding was simply beautiful.  I totally forgot my camera at home and I could not even remember to take pictures with my phone.  But, thanks to my new Sister, Melanie, we have photos!!

At one point, all the younger cousins had run off doing who knows what, and all of the sudden they run back into the reception and Luke runs over and says, “We are about to play a game!!”  I said, “Oh fun!” and paid no more attention.  A minute or two later, he comes back and says, “We are going to play catch the gardener!!!!  What is catch the gardener??”  Then I realized, the garter toss was coming.  But, more importantly, then I realized that because this was explained to Luke as a “game” he REALLY wanted to win.  Not exactly sure where the competitive nature comes from.....  So, when Daddy got up there to “shoot” the garter in the air, I did what any good Mother would have done, I cheered for him!  And wouldn’t you know, he caught it!   We were all clapping for him as he was so happy to have “won” the game.  However, the next thing I know, I turn around to see this!

I turned to Melanie and I said, “There is something somewhat disturbing about seeing him with his Grandma Lee’s garter on his head!!”  Thank you Luke, we all had a good laugh.

Saturday night Luke and Josh gave me my Mother’s Day gifts and took me out to Salt Grass for dinner.  My Luke painted me a canvas picture for my office!  I was told to close my eyes and I teared up with I opened them to see my sweet boy standing in front of me holding this canvas with a huge smile on his face. 

He also made me a necklace and a beautiful card.  And Joshua bought me a new lens for my camera!  Dinner was fun and the strawberry cheesecake had no chance with the three of us going after it!

Sunday, May  13^th – Luke got up and started telling me Happy Mother’s Day right away.  I heard it no less than 100 times that day and I loved hearing each and every time.  We went to church and then headed out to the ballpark for a night of Rangers with 20 family members!

We went to batting practice and Yu Darvish tossed up a ball for Luke.  He was excited!

In this picture there are my nephews, two of my first cousins, the son of one of my other cousins, and Luke.  I think they are all second cousins to each other, but I’m not real sure.  Regardless, they all had a great time.

It was a fun night with Josh, my brother and his family, Melanie, Aunts, Uncles, and friends!

Tuesday, May 15^th – I took off work and went with Luke and all the first graders to the zoo!  This trip was a lot of fun, but confirmed my great decision in life to not be a teacher!

 

Luke fed a giraffe!

Wednesday, May 16^th – I left work at noon and took Hank to the vet where he was boarded for a few days.  And then started packing.

Thursday, May 17^th – We woke Luke up and had some exciting news for him.  He was about to have his first plane trip!!

We were on our way to South Carolina to surprise Charity for her high school graduation!

Charity had NO idea we were coming.  Needless to say, she was surprised.  More to come on that!

Friday, May 18^th – I stood alongside my husband, child, and in-laws as we watched my sweet Sister-in-Law graduate from high school!  I am so thankful we were able to fly out and surprise her and see this huge event in her life.  I am so proud of her!  More also to come on the graduation!

 Later that night we went to a festival that was downtown.

Saturday, May 19^th –  Josh's parents had a cookout for all the family to celebrate Charity's graduation.  It was a fun afternoon of baseball, eating, and laughing!

Monday, May 21st -  We had to do the not so fun thing and say goodbye to Josh's parents and sister.  We did a little shopping first, had lunch, and then headed to the airport to return home.

These ten days were crazy, but fun.  I would not change a thing!