Last Day of School / Kinder Graduation

Today IS the last day of school!  We have very mixed feeling about it at our house...Lawson doesn't want school to be out for summer.  She really likes going and seeing her friends everyday.  Hudson thought he wanted school to be out for summer...he changed his mind this morning as he was getting dressed and started saying that he didn't want it to be the last day.  However, we ARE excited about lazy mornings and many hours logged at the pool! 

 Here's a little first day of school to last day of school comparison for this year!   Look how blond they were in the fall! 

Hudson had Kindergarten graduation this morning.  Oh....the tears I shed!  I didn't cry or get emotional about Hudson starting kinder this year...I guess I made up for that today.  I LOVE kindergarten...it's such a fun year...so many parties and dress up days!  And it's just SO stinkin cute...the classroom, the art projects, the songs they come home singing, the way they adore their kinder teacher, listening to your child as they learn to read, and reading things they write at school.  I just love having a kid in kinder! I won't have anymore kindergartners...and my baby is in 1st grade!  That is SO much older sounding.  I absolutely loved this school year for both the kids...and I am having a hard time seeing it come to an end.  I'm sure I'll love next year too...but today I have glassy eyes and a red nose!

All four kinder classes sang 2 songs and then each teacher came up and handed out her diplomas.

Way to go Hudson!  We are so proud of all you accomplished this year! (Love how he put his certificate under his arm so he could clap for each one of his classmates!)

Then we went back to his classroom to watch a DVD slideshow that his teacher had put together.  More Kleenex please!  Whew!  Teachers don't make it easy on us "right on the edge of tears" moms.

Then Mrs. Whitfield teared up saying what a wonderful year this had been for her and how she was going to miss them.  Killing me!

Hudson wanted to get out of his desk and go sit front row on the carpet to watch the slideshow.  He was glued to it!

 Awww...I almost had to pay them money to get this shot! They were super reluctant to show this kind of affection publicly!

 I LOVE this little boy.  In his class memory book he made at school, he wrote that his favorite part of school was "doing his work."  And I believe it...everything he brought home had the most perfect handwriting, most detailed coloring job and was cut and glued to perfection.  He was a leader in class...called on by Mrs. Whitfield on many occasions for special responsibilities and privileges.  So proud of you Hudson!

Here are a few clips from the graduation.  Hudson is on the back row to the right of the kid in the bright orange shirt.

 

 

 

Hudson's Class Video

Hudson had a WONDERFUL Kinder year!  Huge thanks to Mrs. Whitfield being so loving and patient with her students and making school SO much fun!
Hudson liked school okay at the beginning of the year....but he had grown to LOVE it by the end! In fact, as he was getting dressed on the last day of school...he said " I don't want it to be the last day.  I want 500 more days with Mrs.Whitfield!" That says it all!

Lawson's Third Grade Class Video

Third Grade Awards Assembly

Lawson had a wonderful 3rd Grade year...she did great settling in to a new school, making new friends and learning SO many wonderful things!

She LOVED her teacher Mrs. Hill.  She is one of the most dedicated teachers Lawson has had...doing whatever it takes to motivate ALL her students to learn. She would reward them out of her own pocket with cool treats when they scored well on tests, bring in fast food for lunch for them when they met a personal goal, ore reward them with extra recesses!

  Today was their awards ceremony and she racked up.  Making the A/B (she averaged all A's for the year...but had a couple of high B's throughout the year) honor roll, getting a Citizenship award, and a reading award!  Way to go Lawson!

After the ceremony, we went to Lawson's classroom to watch a DVD slide show of pics that her teacher had put together.  She had taken pics all year long.  Mrs. Hill sat down on a little couch over by the window to watch the video. One by one, most of the class relocated themselves over by her.  They SO enjoyed watching the video with her and re-living their year.  Really moving.  I fought back many tears this morning.  Teachers play such an important roll in the lives of their students. 

Lawson, Dad and I are SO proud of all your hard work!  Keep it up!

 Thank you, Mrs. Hill, for caring for my daughter.  We appreciate you making this a wonderful year!

 

Memorial Day

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country!  I realize that SO many have sacrificed SO much for our country.  It humbles me.  Lawson and Hudson may you always remember how blessed we are to live in the USA.  I pray that we as a country will remember our heritage and make choices that honor God.  HIS ways are always best.

We spent Memorial Day enjoying the cold waters at Wild River Country.  It was a beautiful day and we had a blast!  We have season passes this summer for WRC and will spend many more days this summer just like this!

 

RiverFest

  We went to Litle Rock's River Fest on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.  We had never been before.  Nonie and Poppa took us out there.  They were right...it was fun and the kids had a blast!  We didn't venture much past the kids area though.  They were offering different kiddie shows on the stage in that area every 30 minutes and Lawson and Hudson were captivated with them.  They saw Radio Disney a ventriloquist, a magician, some guy that sang and played the kazoo!  They got to participate in contests and be on the stage.  They were in heaven!  It worked good for Rob and I too because there was lots of shade to kick back and relax in!

  The kids got to do these cool bungee trampolines!  They loved it!  They each did it 4 times over the weekend!  You could tell they got a little braver each time they did it....jumping higher and trying to flip!

 

  On Sunday, we came prepared for the splash park!  They loved it!

Here are some video clips of their favorite parts! 

Recycle Boy

Hudson class at school was studying ways to take care of the earth this week.  The kids had an assignment to come up with a super hero character who helps the earth in some way.  Hudson decided to be Recycle Boy.  So, we designed this costume for him! He couldn't wait to wear his costume to school and tell his friends about the benefits of recycling!

 

I must say that I thought it turned out pretty good...considering I don't sew!

 

Last Game of the Season

Big 3!

Hudson ended his season with an amazing game!  He got 3 hits tonight...to help his team win the game!  That is the most hits he has had in one game all season long!  Way to go Hudson!  It has been SO much fun watching you play baseball!  I have loved every minute!

Here is one of his hits!  Unfortunately, I didn't capture the others.