Last T-ball game of Spring 2012

Yesterday was the last game of T-ball for the season.  I'm so proud of how much they have improved over the course of the season, and loved watching them have so much fun.  Here's some pictures from the day.  Kellen insists on wearing his pants pushed up like this so we should probably get him some baseball socks for next season ;-)

Warming up before the game

Cole throwing the ball back to coach

Kellen nailing the ball and getting a double :)

Check me out mom, I got it!

How cute is this?  I mean seriously people!!

Posing for a quick pic on first base.  Luckily I was coaching first base so I snuck this one in :)

Kellen hiting again.  Every picture I got of Cole hiting didn't turn out because he walks right up there and lines up and goes to town before I can get the camera focused and ready!

One more team huddle.  Our volunteer coach was so awesome and good with the kids :)

Silly faces with their medals

Last Day of Preschool 2011-2012

I can't believe another year of preschool has come and gone.  As with so many occasions of the boys growing up, it is bittersweet.  I saw the cutest idea on pinterest to have the teachers write in the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" book at the end of the year.  I loved the idea and was so happy that the teachers happily obliged to participate.  Since I wanted to have every year included, I asked Cole's teachers from last year (now Kellens same teachers) to write a little something about last year to catch us up.  I love reading this book to my boys and I think it will be a great keepsake for them to have as a reminder of their years at St. John's Preschool.

Cole with Ms. Tracy and Ms. Lisa.  The last day of school they had water day and all the kids wore their bathing suits and they played in the sprinklers and had water balloon and squirt gun fun in the sun!  I have to brag on my big boy for a minute because he makes me so proud.  His teachers told me over and over throughout the year how great of a kid Cole is.  They said all the kids love him, he is generous and kind, and friends with everyone.  He was always the first to volunteer to help, never had to be disciplined and everyone adored him.  They told me he is the dream student and if every child was like him, they wouldn't even need to be paid for their job :) Now THAT is how to make a Mama cry!  I sure do love this sweet boy and I believe every word of his teachers' praise.  He is truly a special boy who amazes me every single day with his kindness and easy going spirit.  Justin says he was always the teachers pet too, so I should be thanking him ;-)

Kellen's class had a picnic the last day of school that the parents were invited to.  I loved having a picnic lunch with my boy and his friends.  Here he is being goofy with his buddies :)

Trouble :)

Not sure what's up with his scary smile, but here is Kellen with Ms. Lisa and below with Ms. Clare.

Ms. Clare's note to Kellen about his 2 yr old preschool year.  The best memory was his naps in the 'cage.'  There was a tent in the classroom that they called the "cave" where the kids could go for quiet time and read books or play with stuffed animals.  For a couple weeks of the year Kellen decided he needed a mid morning power nap and would go in the "cage" (as he called it) and take a 10 minute power nap.  They said he would climb out refreshed and ready to go! That boy is full of surprises and so much fun!

 Cole's note from Ms. Clare for his 2 yr old preschool year (last year)

 Cole's note from Ms. Tracy for his 3 yr old preschool year

If you aren't familiar with the book... take a minute and read below. 

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!


Today is your day.


You're off to Great Places!


You're off and away!


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.



You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.




And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.


It's opener there
in the wide open air.



Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.



And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.



OH!


THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!



You'll be on y our way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.




You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.




Except when you don't.


Because, sometimes, you won't.



I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.




You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.



You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.



And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.




You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?




And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.




You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.


The Waiting Place...



...for people just waiting.


Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.


Everyone is just waiting.



Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.



NO!
That's not for you!



Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.



With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!



Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.


And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.



Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.




I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.



All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.



And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.




But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.


Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.



On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.



You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.


So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.


And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!


So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!



Mother's Day at Preschool

My sweet boys made me feel super special for Mother's Day this year. I absolutely love how thoughtful our preschool director and teachers are when it comes to creating memories for families.  The moms were invited into the classrooms the week of Mother's Day for celebrations. The kids showered us with gifts they made and suprised us with songs.

Here's K singing "Happy Mother's Day To You" to the tune of the Happy Birthday song.  He was so nervous it was adorable :)

The kids helped make a snack for us of layered vanilla and chocolate pudding with strawberries on top.

 

Not the best quality pics because I took some of them myself with my phone.

Cole's teachers had a really cute idea to ask the kids these same questions and then while we were in the classroom she read the answers out loud and we had to guess which was answered by our child.  It was so funny!  It was pretty obvious that the kids heard each others answers because many of them were the same, like watching the weather :)  I love his picture of me too.  What big eyes I have and my arms are even longer than I thought;)  I'd be willing to bet that I only eat potatoes a few times a year so I'm not sure where he came up with that being my favorite food, but cute nonetheless!  Now potato chips would have been pretty accurate :)

 Cole and his best buddy at school, Sam.

Here's a quick video of Cole's Mommy Song. Blogger wouldn't let me upload the other one I guess because it's too long.

Lake Gaston

We went camping... and we survived!! 8 adults, 11 kids, 2 dogs, a little rain, a few obstacles, but a LOT OF FUN!  We are so lucky to have such great friends that we can share sweet memories like this with.  We've learned a few lessons, but we will DEFINITELY be doing this again :)

Lake Gaston Americamps is the way to camp.  Our campsite was right next to the bathrooms (that were actually clean) and there was a general store with an ice cream shop, putt putt and a playground.  Each campsite had a covered area that really came in handy and picnic tables.  Blogger drives me nuts with how difficult it makes uploading multiple pictures so unfortunately these arent in order... but they speak for themselves :)

I call this the sweaty spike :)

Party in the Carey tent during a rain shower

 I mean, seriously, would these two not make the most beautiful babies!?!  I dont blame you, K, those baby blues got me too!

Discussing the rules of roasting marshmellows.  The adults were outnumbered so we had to set some ground rules ;)

Boys and Trucks

 Best kids ever!

 Playing some water balloon games and sack races :)

Simon Says...touch your nose

 Another passing shower in the tent

Hot potato with a sponge :)

 Musical chairs... I'm telling you those darn rain showers were tough! The adults passed around my home made "hippie juice" while the kids played.  They had to find a chair...we had to take a swig :)

Just for memory sake, I will mention that our hitches along the way included our air mattress that got a hole in it without much back up sleeping arangements, Cole puking all over half our tent the first night of camping leaving us to clean up the tent at 2am (in the pouring down rain) and Kellen waking up the entire site the second night with a blood curdling scream after a nightmare :)