Inaugural Spirit Day!

B and Katharine

With the school year wrapping up, Shades Cahaba Elementary celebrates the pending summer break like many other schools...with a spirit day!  SCE has each class rotate through the school hitting a variety of activities, including a picnic lunch.  Parents were invited to attend any of the day, so I came for lunch and the afternoon field activities.

It was a hot afternoon, but the kids didn't complain and had so much fun competing in tug-o-wars, relay races, scavenger hunts, and much more!  I was happy to cheer on Bennett's class, and spend time with her on such a fun day!  Here are some photos of her competing during the challenges.

Mrs. Greer's class

Cooling off with a popsicle

she did awesome with hula-hooping

All smiles!

Bennett's 6th Birthday Bash!

Since Bennett's birthday falls on the last day of school, and we leave for vacation the following day for 8 days, we decided to have her birthday the week before.  We went back and forth with various options.  Bennett was quite flexible, but we ended up settling on a pool party at the Shades Valley YMCA so boys and girls could attend.  They have just completed a multi-million dollar renovation, complete with two slides and a splash pad area. 

The birthday girl!

I tried to be creative (thank you pinterest) by sending out mini beach balls with the party info written onto the ball for the invitations.  Then we had her favorite chocolate birthday cake decorated like a pool with a slide and large beach ball on it.  Finally, we ended by giving a swim noodle and freezer pop as a favor to each of the kids.  Though mother nature didn't cooperate like we hoped, it was sprinkling and cooler, the pool was heated and the kids all seemed to have fun splashing around.  After an hour of swimming, there was a crash of thunder, so we were forced to clear out, dry off and go inside to eat dinner.  It was perfect timing really because Bennett was complaining of being hungry.



Steve with the kids

Caroline, Mary Case and Katharine

Once everyone got dried off, we enjoyed some pizza and goldfish crackers.  When their bellies were full, we sang "Happy Birthday" to my baby girl.  After the cake and ice cream, it was 7:30 and time to wrap up the party.  Bennett and Henley concocted a plan to stay together for the night, so we headed home with a car load of presents and one extra kid.

Bennett was super excited to open her gifts, so she tore into them when we got home.  Then she and Henley decided which one they would play with first.  Several days later, she is still making her way through the new loot she got from her grandparents, cousins and friends.  She received clothes, an American Girl horse, barbies, make-up, a lego set, several games and several art/jewelry sets.  She hasn't received our gifts yet, but she has cashed in on everyone else's and is over the moon thrilled with all of it!  Here are some photos to capture the fun had at her 6th birthday party!

Making a wish!

One photo of me with my baby girl

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Today I had my best mother's day yet!  I was able to sleep in until 8:00, and then be awakened by my two sweet kiddos with kisses, cards and gifts (thanks to their teachers and Steve).  I received priceless homemade gifts, three boxes of my favorite candy - milk duds, two pedicures at my favorite salon, and as always...the most appropriate store bought cards, thanks to Steve.  The card from Pres was one of the singing ones with a dancing hamster, which is so appropriate because Pres loves to sing and dance.  But the best one was from Bennett! On the front it says "I raise a glass to you Mom" and on the inside..."but not over the carpet, only over the counter.  Are you proud?"  I mean really....that card was written FOR ME!

My celebration began Friday at Preston's school when I was asked to join him for a "Mother's Day Tea" where we dined on cookies, fruit and lemonade.  At the party, Pres presented me with all of his homemade goodies.

 



 

Following my special wake-up, Steve cooked me breakfast (my favorite as Bennett mentioned... bacon and eggs).  Then we all went to church, before enjoying a delightful lunch at Brio with Myra and Louis.  It was a gorgeous day, so after we got home, we immediately got on our bikes and went riding around neighborhood.  After an afternoon snack at Steel City Pops, we headed home to feed Spencer dinner.  Who knew we would be out riding for several hours?!

 

What a wonderful, relaxing day.  I was with those that I love most all day...my hubby and the two blessings that God chose to give to us.  Happy Mother's Day to me!





Girls Scouts and T-Ball Come to an End!

As the school year wraps up, so do all activities!  Choir ended a couple weeks ago, soccer last week, girl scouts on Friday, and t-ball today.  Whew...it has been a busy spring for the kids!  Here are some photos from the past week.

The Girl Scout Year-End Party and Awards Ceremony was a fun afternoon!  Since our brand new little troop sold a ridiculous amount of cookies, our troop was able to make a $1000 profit!  The girls decided they wanted a fun party to celebrate, and since our troop is splitting...we blew it all!  Friday after school, all of the girl scouts and their siblings were invited to the Homewood Park to enjoy jumping on the largest inflatable I have ever seen, as well as one of those tall, double slides.  After an hour of jumping, the kids were excited when Yogurt Mountain came with frozen yogurt cups and a topping bar!

Batch, Luke and Pres (happy little brothers)

Awards Ceremony

Congrats to my little Daisy Scout!

This morning Pres played his final t-ball game of his first season.  He made remarkable improvements over the course of the season, and we are all sad to end the season, as it has been fun to watch the little team play each Saturday morning.  Steve ended up being the assistant coach, and loved every minute too.  He has a lot of patience, and understands the game, so it was the perfect combination.  Over the course of the season, all of our family has come to watch him (THANK YOU), and he so appreciated the love and attention.

Before batting

line drive down the middle!

baseball cupcakes!

Pres with his cousins

Preston with Uncle Dan

Preston's fan club at the last game

Another trophy to add to his stash

Pres with the Asst Coach and his biggest fan!

We are so proud of our two little blessings and all of their accomplishments!  We love you!

Spring Soccer is OVER!

After Preston's third season of playing soccer, it really started to click this year.  Unfortunately, with the shortened season due to several rain outs, he was unable to really master it.  However, his last two games he rocked it, scoring three goals at each game.  He really hustled down the field and was more assertive.  It was a fun year, playing on a team with three of his buddies. 

Showing off their medals

 

practicing before the game

Going after that ball!

Getting one of his goals!

"I got three goals!"

 

Preston's Team



When we ask him what he likes better, t-ball or soccer...he says "I like both since I get snacks."  But then he reluctantly states that he likes t-ball better because he likes hitting the ball.  We will see if he feels the same way in the Fall because no more Spring soccer for Pres due to the busy 3 day a week t-ball schedule for 5 year olds.  One sport down, another to go.....

Kindergarten Musical

This morning was the kindergarten musical.  Bennett (along with the other children) have been practicing the songs and moves for the past couple of months.  However, it wasn't until this week that she started telling me about it and showing some of her dance moves.  I knew she was excited, so I was too!

Bennett is in the front row with purple apron on right

With Steve out of town, I tried to be prepared....charge camera (check), charge camcorder (check), get there early to secure good seats (check).  However, once I got settled in the FRONT ROW (yes I was that early), I realized I didn't have the SD card for my camera (wa, wa, waaaaa).  Then as I was recording, only halfway through, and not to Bennett's class yet, I realized the camcorder was almost full and was about to shut off (wa, wa, waaaaa).  So I had to get out my cell phone and record the rest of the show on it, breaking up my recording of the musical which I wanted to show Steve (wa, wa, waaaaa).  Needless to say, I wasn't prepared at all, and was livid with myself!

Regardless of my technical mistakes, Bennett did great and the show was just adorable!  "Hats" off to her music teacher, Mrs. Coker, for doing such a great job.  Coincidentally, the name of the musical was "Hats," and each class wore a different type of hat and sang a song that coordinated.   Bennett's class by far had the cutest song: Pizza Love, and they all wore chef hats and had little Italian mustaches painted on their faces.  See for yourself (Bennett is in the front row on the left side):

 

Afterward, the kids were able to come out to the crowd to greet their parents, grandparents, etc. 

Alicia, Bennett and Pres

Bennett and Pres (he winked at her while she was performing)

So proud of my little "chef"

Mimi and Papa came to watch her performance too!