Goodbye Kindergarten...I will sure miss you...

It is so hard to believe that just a year ago the thought of Kindergarten made me sick to my stomach.  I was dreading it...in a BAD way.  The end of pre school was such a sad time for me...my little boy was going off to be a big boy in school ALL DAY!!  I contemplated private school. A LOT.

Well, I am hear to day that this past year at KES has been a WONDERFUL year and a great experience.  We were blessed with the most loving, caring teachers.  The were truly the BEST.  I can see myself staying in touch with these ladies for years to come.  I tried to be in that classroom at least once a week.  I came to know the kids all by name, and I also came to love each of them.  The end of the school year hit me like a ton of bricks.  I wasn't expecting all the emotion that came with it.  I thought preschool was hard...this was much, much harder...which totally took me by surprise.  The last 2 weeks were full of field trips, field day, dances, talent shows, parties, the list goes on.  I am hoping to dedicate a post for all the festivities. 

The end of the year ceremony was priceless...and let me tell you, it was a tear jerker.  Frank even had a wet eye ;)  Ms. Day put together a beautiful slide show with all the pictures from the year and all the events and fun stuff they did.  Of course the song she had for it was what made it so sad...Rascall Flatts "My wish for you."  I've always thought of my kids when I hear that song.  I cried and cried. A LOT.  They had programs made, decorations and even ice cream cakes for the kids. 

Kindergarten was sweet and full of first timers for my boy.  I still felt like he was a "little" boy because he was a "Kindergartner".  A 1st grader sounds so old!!  He learned so much.  He made many friends...and so did I!  We have a network of mothers from the classroom.  It's amazing.  Those kids spent 7 hours a day with each other and with their teachers, they were like a little family.  When I think about that and think how they will never be together again...well, it just makes me REALLY sad!!  I'll be honest, at one point I was honestly thinking I might need some Prozac.  I'm not saying this is normal behavior, but it's my blog (scrapbook) and I want to remember all of this!

We are definitely ready to tackle 1st grade.  I know without a doubt he is ready and he will do GREAT.  I am praying that we keep getting all the awesome teachers...they really make a difference.
He may not remember his first year in school, but I will NEVER forget it!!

- Pics and slideshow to follow...

Dorda Par-tay!!!

You KNOW we had to have a "Dorda" party for my baby girl :)...she LOVES Dora, it's crazy!!

We had buffalo chicken sandwhiches, taco salad and hotdogs with all the fixin's.

We had a small jump castle, sand and water table (thanks Ge Ge and Pa Pa), bubble machine and Pinata!

The kids had a blast :)

My sweet baby girl is 2!!

I can't believe my baby girl is now a toddler girl!!  Man, time FLIES when you're having fun :)

My little peanut is definitely a princess!  She has us all wrapped around her little finger...especially Daddy and Bubbie :)

She is so much fun and down right hilarious!!!  She keeps Brayton in stitches.  He thinks EVERYTHING she does is funny...even when it's not!!!  This gets her in trouble at times!

She is really starting to talk A LOT.  Some of her favorite phrases:
"sowwy (sorry)"...this is Brayton's favorite
"tank you"
" I want moww (more)"
"No, Mommy, No!!"
"I gotta poo poo"
"mone mommy (come on)"
"I NEED THAT"  (ha! ha!  this one cracks me up!)
"I want Dorda (Dora)"
"I want one"

She has got potty training down pretty good.  At one time I was thinking we were almost 100% ready...but it changed, and I'm OK with that.  She does go poo poo on the potty 99% of the time.  And if we're home, she does really good with both.  She just has to realize that she can go on the potty away from home, too.  Not sure if I'm ready for that.  Eww, it just grosses me out.  It was so much easier with a boy. 

She loves getting  her nails painted and loves her "ea-ings" Ge Ge got her while we were on our cruise :)  She had her first sleep over (Ge Ge's) the week we left for our cruise (April 20) and the last time she nursed was April 22nd.  I know it's crazy, but that was such a bitter sweet time for me.  I know it was time, but I cherished those moments and they were so sweet.  She did great until I got home...let's just say I had use some garlic to help me out...and it did the trick :) 

She is the most lovable and snuggly child ever.  She loves to rub on me and still loves that skin contact.  She now pulls my shirt up to lay on my belly when she is tired!! 

She loves to dance and sing and adores Dora the Explorer.  She won't sit and watch too much TV, but she will for "Dorda".  She is an excellent eater.  Salads are her favorite...and cheese.  She LOVES cheese.  There is not too much that she won't eat, or at least try.  She especially likes hot and spicy foods.

She loves her baths and lotion on her legs. 

She does NOT like being told no, bugs or anything "yucky".  If she sees something gross she'll say "eww, mommy, eww".  Still doesn't like sleeping alone, but we're doing better.  She has a Dora bed beside ours, and if you lie down with her, she'll fall asleep in it.  She has slept thru the night in it by herself ONE time.

My heart could explode I love her so much.  The Lord definitely knew what he was doing when he placed that little angel in my life.  She is all that I could ever hope for and more!!  I love her smile, her toes, her eyes, her little laugh, and even her breath...I love every tiny, simple thing about that child.  I pray that the Lord will continue to bless her and keep her safe and healthy.  I pray that she grows up to be a happy mommy just like me...and I pray that one day she will be my best friend. 

Her baby book and my blog doesn't get the attention it deserves, but she definitely DOES!!!  She wants her momma 24/7....and guess what?  She gets ME :)

Happy Birthday, Brinlee Cate.  We all love you so much....don't you ever forget that!!!

Free Movie Schedule....

I can not believe this is Brayton's last week as a Kindergartner :(  I still don't understand why I'm so emotional over this.  We have LOTS of fun planned for the summer.  One thing we love is the free movies :)  We're not much of a movie family...but if it's free...we're all game!!  There are a few really good ones!!

06/08/2010-06/10/2010 Tale of Despereaux (G)


Alvin And The Chipmunks Squeakquel (PG)

06/15/2010-06/17/2010 Charlotte's Web (G)

Night At The Museum II (PG)

06/22/2010-06/24/2010 Wallace and Gromit (G)

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (PG)

06/29/2010-07/01/2010 Polar Express (G)

Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (PG)

07/06/2010-07/08/2010 Doogal (G)

Planet 51 (PG)

07/13/2010-07/15/2010 Pirates Who Don't Do Anything (G)

Imagine That (PG)

07/20/2010-07/22/2010 March Of The Penguins (G)

Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG)

07/27/2010-07/29/2010 Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)

Hotel For Dogs (PG)

08/03/2010-08/05/2010 ARCTIC TALE (G)

Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG)

Catching up...I promise :)

It saddens me to know that it has been over a MONTH since I have been on here to update.  Time flies when you're having fun, I guess :)  I don't even know where to begin.  We've had Easter, school programs, lots of potty time, a toddler bed introduced... a BAHAMA cruise and a lot of other randomness!! 

By the looks of the calendar, things are only going to get busier!  The last few weeks of May is crazy in this house.  Of course we have Brinlee's 2nd bday, our 9th anniversary, a beach field trip...and LOTS of other school events.  My goal is to get caught up by the end of the month...then who knows what summer will bring.  I am looking forward to no schedules and lots of quality time at home with my kids :)  Of course we'll be hitting up the free movies and water park!!  I am really excited about this summer.  It's always been my favorite.  Now that Brayton has started school, summers are that more precious to me.  The end of this school year is such a bittersweet time for me (sound familiar??..seems like I went thru this with preschool, ha!).  I dreaded Kindergarten, but we embraced it and we jumped right in.  We've been blessed with the most wonderful teachers.  Brayton adores them both and I feel like I have a great relationship with them.  I have tried my hardest to be in the classroom as much as possible without being overbearing.  It's been a great year.  Brayton amazes me at how much he has learned.  They have the cutest classroom and schedule.  Although they don't still take naps...they do have snack time and center time. It's KINDERGARTEN...it's cute, it's fun, it's sweet....I was just getting USE TO IT!!!  :(  Now we are moving on to 1st grade, and wow...that just sounds old to me.  My boy is growing and I just need to accept it, I guess.

Be back soon with lots of random posts and pics!!!!

It's SOCCER time, finally!

With Wrestling being our priority this year and "spring" soccer starting so early...we've missed 1/2 the season.  Actually, the rain has caused most of the games to be canceled.  Technicallly, we've only missed 2 games.  I was sad that he missed the team pictures, too :-(  Going to try to take my own.  It's so nice to be able to RELAX in the sunshine and watch your child!!  We have really missed soccer.  Thank goodness, they are talking about possibly starting a late spring/summer league, too.

Brayton= 4 Goals :-)!!!!

St Patty's Day

Not much went on...except a leprachaun wrecked Brayton's classroom and bedroom!!!  He pee'd green in their toilet at school :-)  ha! ha! and left a pot of gold!!

I think he came in through the bedroom window at home.  When we walked in, the window and blinds were up and the room was a wreck!!  He put green candy and a bunch of misc green items in the middle of Brayton's bed.  Poor Kylee was scared to death!!  She didn't know what to think. 

I am one lucky momma :-)

Ending Wrestling with a BANG!!!

**Disclaimer...I can not get my spell check to work, so I am sure there are some mispelled words...**

What a crazy 2 weeks it has been!!  We've spent 2 weekends back to back out of town with wrestling.  I did what I SWORE I would not do...travel with sports (at such an early age anyway).  Brayton is really in to this wrestling things, so we wanted to support him anyway we could.  He was chosen to be on the "dual team" (elite team)...so at the end of the season it became more of a "team" effort instead of individual.  You were wrestling not only to WIN, but to score points for the TEAM.  We started off at lowerstate at Statford High.  Brayton did awesome and won his match and recieved points for a forfit.  We ended up getting 2nd for Lower State.

The following weekend we traveled to Columbia (along with Ge Ge) for State.   We decided we would make a mini-vaca out of it, so we got a nice little suite with an indoor pool. 

Brayton thought is was SO COOL and he was in heaven.  

Brayton enjoying his champion breakfast (don't worry, Frank wasn't too far)

The team didn't do quite as well.  We didn't even place.  Those upstate boys are TOUGH. 

(warming up)

However, Brayton wrestled in an exhibition match and won his first and impressed the heck out of us on his 2nd.  On the 2nd he wrestled a 50lb weight class (Brayton is in 45lb) and he was atleast a few years older with more experience.  We thought for sure Brayton would get pinned within the first few seconds.  Nope...not our boy...he fought with every ounce in  his body.  Bless his heart, you could see the frustration all over his face.  It was so pitiful.  I have to say,  he didn't win, but I was more proud over that match than any other.  He did not GIVE UP...and it would have been so much easier if he would have :-)

OK, so now we are on the FOLLOWING weekend.  The team thing is over.  It is time for INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.  NO WAY in the world was I ready to let my baby go up against the best in the state....NO WAY...especially with it being his FIRST YEAR!!  That stuff can wait, right??  Well, he WANTS to go...he is PSYCHED and ready to roll!!  So, we pack up and head to Greenville (this time with Kylee).  We get there to find out that the first person he wrestles is the STATE CHAMP from last year...GREAT!  I was a nervous wreck, of course we kept it all from Brayton...after all, this is as much of a mental thing as it is a physical. 

Welll, he WON that match and floored his mommy and daddy!! 

Long story short...my boy did us PROUD ( of course he did )!  We went up there for the experience and left with a 4th PLACE medal!!!!  Not bad for a little rooky :-) 

There were a few TOUGH matches.  He couldn't catch his breath and started crying uncontrollaby after one of them.  Those little boys were really good and they knew their stuff.  I was so ready to go at that point.  It's so tough, and at times I want to throw up.  But, he really enjoys it and he has A LOT of potential...so guess what...he has my support 100%!!  Of course I'd rather be a soccer mom, but I'm getting pretty use to this rough stuff :-)  The top 4 in the state got invited to Nationals, but we will definitely say NO to that one!!!  We're excited to see what next year will bring with wrestling!!

parade of Champions

ps- My little Grappalette (Brinlee) did FANTASTIC on both trips...couldn't have asked for better!! 

Well, she did cry almost all the way to Greenville, but other than that...great!!

pss- forgot to mention that we (Frank and I) walked out and forgot all of Kylee's clothes on the steps.  Bless her heart, she took it so good.  Uncle Frank made up for it and bought her a T shirt.

...it even had Brayton's name on it...which they thought was too cool!!

4th Place in State for 45lb Bantam

Toofless ;-)

Brayton finally lost his tooth Wednesday evening. 

He was starting to get a little nervous and anxious about pulling it out.

Lucky for us, one of his buddies came over and it fell out while they were wrestling

 (as if they don't get enough of that)!!!

Thanks for the help, Cameron.

The looks on their faces were priceless...

Brayton was so excited and relieved..

and I think Cameron was a  bit traumatized!!  HA!

Meanwhile...Brinlee doesn't know what to think?!?

(it's hard to keep clothes on her these days!)

Look at that toothless grin, it makes me a bit sad.

He's getting older, looking older.

This is just the beginning, another one is already loose!!

Sigh.

We read "Dear Tooth Fairy" and he was sooo excited to see what the fairy would bring.

We stuck his tooth in this little bear he's had before he was even born!

I got it as a shower gift from a co worker...wierd how I remember that.

I remember thinking it would be FOREVER before I would need this,

that seems like yesterday to me.

the little night light came with the tooth fairy book...

The tooth fairy was VERY GOOD to Brayton!!