Our Last Day With Reynelle

We have been so blessed to spend 2 days a week with Reynelle for the past several months.  We did it to help our friends, but it really helped us.  It taught my kids about sharing and loving another.  It helped me to keep my house clean (I didn't want Matt or Karen coming over to a mess).  It helped me be a better mother.

I will miss our time with Reynelle, but know that she will always be a big part of our lives.  I will also miss getting to hang out with Karen 2x a week at pick-up.  I am still hopeful that Will and Reynelle will fall in love and get married one day ;-)

I am grateful that Matt and Karen entrusted me with their beloved daughter.  By doing so, she became that much more beloved to me.

Ethan Graduates

It happened.  Ethan graduated high school.  His final GPA was 3.49.

Ethan is such a great kid.  He has a huge heart and he is extremely smart.  He does not want to go to college as a classroom atmosphere is not for him.  The military did not work out because of his history with asthma.  As of right now, his plan is to do an apprentice program for an electrician.  We will see how that goes.  His potential is limitless.  We are excited to see his future unfold.

Kindergarten Registration

Will is all registered for Kindergarten.  Today, Palm Lake held their Kindergarten Round-Up.  Will has been so excited for weeks for this day.  When he woke up this morning, the first thing he said was, "Mommy, I get to go to Kindergarten today!"

He was a little nervous going in.  We went into the library where the princpal, assistant principal and several other teachers spoke.  We learned about PTA and music and what not and then we got to go and tour some of the Kindergarten classrooms while the students were in PE.

I want to be super positive in this post, but I am going to be honest.  I was a little disappointed in the Kindergarten teachers.  I hope by putting this in writing that I will look back and laugh at this because Will will have had a wonderful Kindergarten experience.  Maybe they were having an off-day, but all 4 teachers seemed, not great.  They all seemed like they didn't want to be there.  Maybe it is just that I am used to the super upbeat, positive, loving atmosphere at St. Luke's and that is just not reality, but I did not feel like anyone went out of their way to make Will feel loved or special.  And it wasn't that there were too many students in one room, at some points there were only a couple of students.  They talked to other students, but not Will.  Is it me?  Do I seem off-putting?  I was super friendly and encouraging, but I just didn't feel it back from them.  I don't think Will noticed.

I also was not terribly impressed with the classrooms.  They seemed really cluttered.  There were no desks, there were just different sections of the room, like Will's class now...but WAY more cluttered.  I don't know.  I was really excited for today and now I am not very excited about Palm Lake.  I hope I change my mind.  I know it's a good school, but I was just not loving it today.

Still, Will is excited and he did great.  I just want what is the best for him.

A Day at the Farm

One of my favorite places to take the kids is to Green Meadows Farm.  I love it so much that I bought us annual passes.  Steve does not like going there because it is too hot and messy, but I love animals and I don't mind that kind of mess.

Learning the right way to pet a goat from brother

Olivia giving it a try.  Nice goat.

Steve is out of town this week and I try to keep the kids as busy as possible.  I checked the weather and today was the coolest day.  So, after school we went straight to the farm!  It was Olivia's second visit and I was so proud of her.  She was much more timid with the animals just a month ago, but she had no fear going up to pet all of the animals.

So proud of William for being so good at holding a chicken.  Those suckers are hard to catch and he did this all on his own

Llama!

Of course, Olivia did also pick up some goat poop.  So, there's that.

On the hayride.  "Hay is for sittin"

Little peanut

The dogs really did not want to be petted, but they were nice about it.  They were just trying to relax in the shade.

It was a solid two and a half hours of outside time where the kids could roam free and really enjoy being outside.

Will and Olivia both got to ride the same horse named Topper

Will would pet Topper the whole time and would talk to him "You're a good horsie, Topper"

Olivia was such a big girl.  No one helped her, really.  She just held on all by herself

She would say "Good horsie"

I wish this one would have turned out better

I couldn't get her to look at the camera

On the choo choo.  Will always like to sit in the caboose

Olivia got to pet a "bunny hop"

These were nice sheep

Waiting nicely to hold the baby chicks

Mother's Day Tea

Will's School held a Mother's Day Tea today.  It was such a special day. 

They started by having all of the moms wait in the hallway behind the closed classroom door.  One by one, the kids would come out and escort their mom into the room and guide her to her seat and pull out her chair.  Waiting there, were some refreshments and all of the special art they made for us.

My sweetness

I love this boy so much!

I am excited that he thinks I am 13 years old

All of the sweet art

I will keep this art forever

Will's sweet class

Will and Maddie.  He loves her so much and says he is going to marry her one day.  Sadly, Maddie and her family are moving to Texas in a couple of months.

Will says that is ok.  She will come back and he will marry her then

And of course, the songs!  Be still my heart!