My New Thing

I have recently become very interested in taking pictures. And thanks to my father-in-law for loaning me his camera (permanently) and my husband for taking me one Saturday to let me play with taking pictures. Here's what I got that day...

Lindsey's Kindergarten Graduation (WHAT?!?)

How did this happen? How could my child be old enough to graduate from kindergarten? I mean, wasn't it just yesterday that I brought her home from the hospital? Wow - it's true what they say - time really does go by fast.

Well, here's just a bit of the celebration - hat and all!

Friday morning before graduation was a reception for the graduates and their families. Nothing huge, just a time for us to go and see their classroom one last time and watch a slideshow of their year. The teachers made copies for each of the students so if you ever have the desire to watch, I'm sure Lindsey would love to watch it again with you. She's only seen it about 20 times so far.

Each graduate also got a autograph dog. It was pure chaos trying to get each one to sign the others. Not sure if we ended up with all of them or not. This is Lindsey with her friend, Hannah, signing away.

Lindsey and Kase

The graduates

Lindsey with her teacher, Mrs. Haught (also known to me as Jackie)

Lindsey and Mrs. Lassetter

At graduation, the fifth grade and kindergarten put on a chapel for the rest of the elementary students. This is Lindsey with her 5th grade reading partner, Eva.

Lindsey receiving her diploma (yes, a true diploma) from Mr. Fisher.

Just a cute shot when she was trying to hide.

The graduate and her proud family.

Even Zen came to graduation.

My granddad didn't get to come to the actual graduation because of a doctors appointment. So we went by to see him. He was very proud of Lindsey too. (By the way, love this picture.)

And of course Reagan couldn't be there without taking a picture too. (This one is pretty good too.)
After all the fun of graduation, I figured we needed a graduation party. But in reality, I just wanted to have people over and cook out. This was just a good excuse to do it. On the table I set out some of Lindsey's graduation things - the flowers she got there, her cap, a bowl of blue and white York pieces, and a framed piece of work from school. Lindsey's teachers also gave this to her (and by her, I mean her parents). They had drawn a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up. Lindsey of course is all princess so future is apparently is as a princess.
We had a great day celebrating Lindsey. She has loved kindergarten and is looking forward to being in 1st grade next year. (She's even doing a 1st grade math workbook all on her own during the summer.) I think she likes to learn. What do you think?

Reagan's Last Day of the Upstairs Two's

So you all know that I work part time teaching 4 year olds. Well, I work with some amazing women. I love them all. I have especially loved Reagan's teachers this year. They were wonderful. Reagan has been with Ms. Heather for two years in a row at school and I am so thankful for that. She's great. She loves Reagan and can't get over how much Reagan has grown and changed in the two years she's had her. I loved hearing her stories of Reagan compared to last year - it was so neat. And Ms. Meridith was always so welcoming and loving on Reagan. She has taken such good care of Reagan this year. I'm so sad to be leaving their classroom. I know we will see them. I just wish they would move up with Reagan again to the next class. (Not that I'm worried about next year's teachers - they are wonderful too.)

Here's Reagan with Ms. Heather and Ms. Meridith on the last day.

I always take a fresh, before school picture on the first day of school. But last year I happened to have my camera out and ready so I took a picture at the end of the last day. So of course, I had to do that again. I love the look on Reagan's face here. Oh, and the nasty black smudge on her forehead. :)

And Ms. Heather and Ms. Meridith gave each child a balloon for the last day. I love how they tied it to their clothes. It stayed there for a while because Reagan wouldn't let me take it off. Oh, and that same blue balloon still has air in it - after two full weeks. Not sure what they aired it up with but I need to find out!

Goodbye, 2's class! We look forward to next year in the 3's!

Reagan's YCW Program

A couple of weeks ago was the last day of Reagan's school. And that means End of the Year program. It is always fun to see what songs the kids will sing and which kids sing and which don't. This year was no different. It was great.

There is always a slide show between classes. This is a picture from that of Reagan wearing her tutu to school one day. That morning was not going according to my plan (but when does it ever, really?) I had already had issues with Lindsey and I didn't want to fight Reagan about the tutu. So I let her wear it - over her jeans! And Ms. Heather and Ms. Meridith decided it was too cute to pass up so they took a picture. Not only was it in the slide show it is also in her scrapbook from them so we can remember for all eternity about that morning. Wonderful!

Reagan and her friends singing "If You're Happy and You Know It." Can you guess which part they are singing?

"Where is Thumbkin?"

And this was their last part. They say a fun rhyme for prayer time and at the end they bow their heads and pray. Very cute!

It was a fun program. If I ever get around to it, I'll upload a video or two from it. I know you are excited about watching a bunch of 2-3 year olds singing at the top of their lungs. :)

Reagan's Baby Blessing

Yes, you read that right. Baby blessing. No, Reagan is not a baby if you ask her. She is a big girl. However at Westgate they lump their baby blessings all together. And any new members with children 2 and under are also included. That would be us. Reagan is still 2 - although only for a couple more months. Anyway, she was included and got a new Bible and prayer said for her. So I guess my child is doubly blessed because after she was born we had a baby blessing at Willis. :)

An elder gives the "baby" a new Bible. This is Steve Templeton giving Reagan hers. He's great!

Maeleigh was also given a new Bible on this day. Kinda funny having Maeleigh and Reagan both being considered babies since Reagan is HUGE compared to Maeleigh.

And these are our really good friends, John and Brenna. They just recently adopted Grace into their family. She and Reagan are only about 4 months apart in age.

We had a lot of family there at church that Sunday. Here's most of us. Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Lydia were there too but somehow we never got a picture of them with us. Oh, and Manny's parents happened to be in town that weekend also and were able to go to church with them.

Easter at Nana and Pop's house

Since we weren't home for Easter, we all gathered at Nana and Pops' house one night the following week. The girls enjoyed looking through their baskets and seeing what the Easter Bunny left them there.

Lindsey got another new game for her Nintendo DS.

Reagan got gummies.

All the girls got a Pillow Pet. Maeleigh's is a frog.

Lindsey's is a purple unicorn.

And Reagan's is a cow. Surprise, surprise!

And they all got lots of yummy candy and food, of course. Not much more to say about this except that my children are spoiled!

Easter in Oklahoma

I know that it is now June and I am just now posting about Easter but in my defense, blogger has been having issues with uploading pictures. I have tried several times to get this done but it would keep saying error when loading the pictures.

Anyway, on the the post....

Right after Grandparent's Day at Lindsey's school, we headed north to Oklahoma. We were going to be spending the weekend with my parents and brother and his family. The girls were excited and so was I. We certainly miss my parents living close by but I do love being able to go to their house and spend the night (or nights as the case may be). We never did that when they lived in Abilene so it is a perk of them living farther away.

Saturday morning, the kids were up early. Too early if you ask me. But my dad was up and already back from his run. And dad always jokes with Lindsey and asks if she is ever going to go running with him in the mornings. Well, this certain Saturday morning, she was up for it. As well as the other big kids. Given, they didn't go the normal x amount of miles with Dad. But they did jog down and around their cul-de-sac. That counts, right?

Before the run.

Lindsey making it back to the house.

Mimi and Reagan at the end of their "run".

Later that day, we squeezed in some pictures before the big egg hunt. This is the best one I got on my camera of the grandkids and grandparents. I love it! It's now my background for my computer.

And then, on to the hunting of little plastic, candy filled eggs. Dad counted down and Lindsey jumped the gun. :)

Reagan was loving it. She had so much fun finding eggs.

Lindsey found one at her level that the other kids didn't notice.

Lindsey looking cute and Reagan saying "Can I open this, please?"

More photo opps but Reagan dropped her basket which sent the eggs rolling down the steps. Thanks, Mimi, for picking them up.

I just LOVE this picture. Not sure where my little girl went but this picture is precious. She's getting so big.

Reagan helping Amy pick up some eggs of her own.

Sunday morning and Easter baskets. Lindsey was excited for all the goodies she had in her basket. Can you tell?

And Reagan was very interested in her new gummies.

After church and lunch, the kids got special Easter eggs from my mom and dad. Lindsey got silver and Reagan's was gold. They each had quarters in them and they thought it was the best thing ever.

They also each got a little velcro paddle game. These games are very entertaining and we have loved throwing the bunny up and trying to catch it again.

We had a great time and can't wait until we can spend more time at Mimi and Papa's house in July. I hope they are ready for us again!