Pomp and Circumstance

Andrew's preschool graduation was the last Friday of school. He was so excited, and it was a very special day. The 'graduates' were to wear khaki shorts or pants or skirts and they would be given a special tee shirt at school. The ceremony started at 11:00 and then we had a fun lunch afterwards.

Here is our boy waving from his place at the front of the sanctuary. All the classes filed in to "Pomp and Circumstance" and then stood together at the front of the church to sing some songs for us.
Andrew has hit the age where he thinks most hand motions to songs are silly. For the first few songs, he stood still while everyone else did the motions. He sang very well, just stood still.


Then a few songs into the performance, he warmed up and started doing the motions with everyone else. I was glad he got to stand next to Hannah one last time. They sang several in English and Spanish, but we were all shocked when they started singing in French!




After the songs were over, the classes sat down while Mrs. Joyce made a few remarks. Then the classes went to the stage and waited for their names to be called individually. Each grad walked across the stage and got a hug from their teacher. When Andrew got to Ms. Stephanie, he threw his arms around her. There was a collective, "Awwww," from the congregation.


pointing to his family and smiling for a picture

After the ceremony, we went outside for a few pictures with the family. Coleman was in his class that morning, and Jonathan was asleep on someone's shoulder during the pictures.




Andrew and Ms. Joyce, the principal

another shot with Ms. Stephanie

Ms. JoAnn, the secretary, and Mrs. Louise, his handwriting teacher

Lunch was served in the activities center and there was a piratey theme. We could not believe the decorating and planning that had gone into the luncheon. We had ordered Chick-fil-A lunches ahead of time, but were so surprised at how fun everything looked!


This table had the cakes and cupcakes for dessert.

Captain Fiddlesticks was present to make balloon critters for the graduates. She came to our table first, and Andrew asked for a sword. Then he asked if he could have one for his brother too. It was such a sweet request, and of course she obliged. Coleman was delighted when he received it after lunch.


He even got a few gifts after we ate!


It was such a sweet day. We love our preschool and I'm so thankful for the teachers who love our boys and teach them so well. I cannot imagine a better place for our boys to be. We had so much fun celebrating our first graduation.

Reflections on the Season

Tomorrow is Andrew's last t-ball game for this season. I'll post about the festivities later, but here are some things I have wanted to post about his first spring in the field.

I am surprised at how very much I love our family time at the ballfield. Brent is in the dugout managing boys, bats, behavior, and helmets. He cheers for each player, but of course his loudest cheers are for #10. Also, he spends time reminding a certain player to keep his head in the game and his glove out of his mouth. My time is spent managing the rest of the Quiver. I watch carefully while Andrew bats, and I try to watch his turns in the field, but sometimes I find my attention divided.

So here are the things from our first season that I do not want to forget.

I have loved how other men have encouraged our boy to do his best, and celebrated with him after a great hit or play in the field. Coach Mitch will always have a special place in our memories.

Coach Jeff giving Andrew fist bumps at first base after a great hit.

How when he is into the game, he cannot be distracted.


The excitement of the coach's cap being passed around with that bubble gum that loses its flavor before you get it soft enough to chew.

Coleman's fun at the "snack store" choosing his treat for each game.

How Andrew called every boy on his team "Ford" for a few weeks until he finally learned who Ford actually was.

The way our band of parents hopes we can all be on the same team from now on and let Mitch coach our boys permanently.

The way they all line up at the end of the game to high five the other team.

How Coleman cheered for Andrew and encouraged him during the games.

Seeing my oldest do all these big boy things for the first time and realizing that before we know it
little league will be behind us so we better soak it all up while we can.

Jonathan and Coleman have had fun this season as well. These were some funny pictures I got at one game. Coleman had chosen a sucker for his treat that night, and Jonathan was very curious about what he might be missing out on.




This just happened to be the game Nana and Pop-O came to, so you'll see that he didn't have to wait long before a grandparent took pity on the baby (or maybe Coleman) and got him his own sucker.



Tomorrow is sure to bring more fun, so I'll post about it next week.

Coleman's End of School Party

The last day of school was Coleman's party. I was the party mommy this time, so Jonathan and I packed up some fun and headed to school. Jon Jon thought he was quite the big boy playing in Ms. Christel's room while we waited for the class to come back from the playground.





We had pizza for lunch with grapes and capri-sun lemonade. They had a Bomb Pop for dessert. Party favors were bubbles, summer sunglasses, and a few packs of candy. Everyone also got a punching balloon! Coleman was about to bust with excitement when they walked in. You would have thought it was his birthday party he was coming to!



Jon Jon sat in a chair just like the big kids and ate his pizza like a big boy.



Ms. Christel gave the kids each a stuffed animal as an end of the year present. Coleman got an alligator!
What a great year he has had! We loved seeing his artwork, hearing him sing in Spanish, and hearing what he did each day at school. This was a great start to preschool for Coleman!

Andrew's End of School Party

Andrew's preschool class had a great end of the year party! Zoey and Culum's mommies were in charge and had so much fun planned. I walked in to find the tables decorated with Class of 2011 decorations and everyone had their own helium balloon with a graduation cap on it. It was so festive, but I was not expecting the c/o 2011 theme for my little graduate!

They had fun snacks, cookies, bubble wands, noisemakers, and general silliness going on when I arrived. Here's a picture of Andrew and his buddy Culum.

These three were in Ms. Sharon's class together last year. We will miss Hannah and Emelia next year!

After a bit of indoor partying, we went outside and the parents hung a pinata in the tree.

Here's the class, in number order, waiting for a turn with the bat.


They wore a blindfold and everything! Andrew got a really good hit on his turn.

Jonathan was having a lot of fun on the playground, but the sun had made everything very hot to the touch, so he couldn't climb on the equipment.

Finally, after three times through the class without busting the rainbow, Culum's mom opened it and dumped it out for the kids.


It was a really fun day of celebration with our friends. I snapped a few pictures of Jonathan on the playground during the party. Okay, I actually snapped a bunch, but I'm only posting a few.


Hannah's little sister Rebecca was blowing bubbles for him. I don't know who was having the most fun.


Lots more end of the year festivities to come!