End of Another Year...

1st Day of 1st Grade Last Day of First Grade

During 9 months of learning, Jack grew a shoe size and apparently shoulders....wow! He also dressed before brushing his teeth, hence the water mark on the second picture.

The beginning of the year is difficult as they start out on a new venture with new challenges, and a new teacher. The end of the year is bittersweet. I look forward to some lazier days and not rushing to and from school. I look forward to having everyone home and spending time together....but it's also sad... This has been an amazing year for Jack. The combination class of 1st and 2nd grade proved to be beneficial for him. His teacher was absolutely hands down the BEST teacher I've come into contact with! No exaggerating.

He NEVER wanted to miss school and didn't miss a day this year. He loved it so much that he was a little sad too that this year had to end. He was so excited about learning! Part of it was his personality...he's very curious and loves to discover and figure things out. Part of it was the challenge of the class. Part of it was the passion his teacher had that couldn't help but rub off on him. What a blessing this year has been.

So, on Thatcher's last day of preschool, he picked lunch that day at Burger King. On Jack's last day of school he picked Red Lobster because he LOVES the popcorn shrimp. We moved it to dinner instead of lunch, so Chris could join us. We had a great time and Margaret discovered her new love for Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits!!

We're excited about summer. We are going to Chicago next weekend for a family trip to Legoland and a few other hot spots. Both birthdays are in July, then we're headed to Gulf Shores in August for our most fun beach vacation with my whole family!

Then September will roll around and Jack will begin 2nd grade in possibly another combination class, and Thatcher will enter "big" school with his brother in Kindergarten. So, the roller coaster of feelings will return and I'll be sad for the little boys that are growing up. It happens too quickly.

Something To Think About....

They get upset and whine when they don't get their own way.
They find it difficult to share with others.
No matter what they have, they always want more....never content.
Harmful things catch their eyes, entice them, and draw them away from the safety of what's good.
What someone else has is always better than what they have.
It's all about them.
They prefer to eat things that are not so healthy because they taste better.
They'd rather do what they WANT to do, never what they HAVE to do.
They can find the negative in the very best of situations.

Is this list referring to the mentality of children or adults?

I have yet to find a passage within the Bible where God refers to us as His "adults."

Romans 8:16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.Romans 8:15-17 (in Context) Romans 8 (Whole Chapter)

Here it is, plain as day....He calls us His children!

So, everytime I find myself getting annoyed when one of the boys acts out in one of the ways listed, I think about God. I have 3 children, but think how many God has.....and I'm included in that number. He deals with this childish stuff all the time. How does He not throw His hands up and quit? How does He not need a weekend off to get away every now and then? How does he not look down at a parent scolding a selfish child, part the clouds and shout "HEY! YOU DO THE SAME THING, LADY!" Because He is God....I'm just a measley human Mom who might be considered an adult by age, but acts the same in years as her children.

Once again I wonder, how do people make it without God? When they come to the realization that they are not perfect, where do they turn to pick up the slack?

Yes, this is simple, but when you are a Mom you are faced with this everyday. Children teach you to be more Christ like by acting out your behavior at home, and even in public. You see them involved in reenactments of your own selfish ways and thoughts. It's hard to be too hard when you know it's the pot callin' the kettle black, but then there's this part of you that wants them to be better....maybe better than you think you turned out to be.

However, there are characteristics of my children that I wish were mine....besides their unlimited amounts of energy....I'll start with Margaret. She's only one, but she loves people. It doesn't matter who they are, what they look like, or even if they talked to her first. She smiles at them. She will holler out to get someone's attention whether she knows them or not and all she really wants is a smile back.

Thatcher....has a deep compassion for others. He'd give up anything for his brother and sister. I fell the other night and twisted my ankle and he was right there beside me. He didn't roll his eyes and scream at me to be careful....he cried with me and patted my foot. When Jack lost his beloved "bubba" (aka blanket) Thatcher ran and got his and told Jack he could have it. When we grocery shop, he finds things that he knows Jack would like and wants to "surprise him" with it! He truly cares.

Jack....sees the good in everything and everyone. He is excited about life and is determined to make each day an adventure. He starts his day out by telling me the good things he's looking forward to no matter how small. He loves to create, loves sports and is eager to try out new things including foods that are good for him.

I love being a Mom. It's all a learning process. While I'm trying to teach my children how to be the best they can be and obey God, they are teaching me the same and so much more.

Playing Catch Up....

Thatcher graduated from preschool. He's a Kindergartner now! He's been in 4 schools in 2 years. He's had to adjust more than any of us, but he's doing well and I'm so proud of him! He's smart as a whip and so incredibly full of personality! He's also the LIMBO King of his graduating class!!!

Jack finished another year of SPARKS in AWANA! He had to miss a few weeks here and there for Cub Scouts, but still enjoyed it! This was the ending ceremony.

Jack was the "curtain opener" and one of the narrators in his class play "The Little Red Hen"! He did a great job! The most precious part was Margaret recognizing Jack on stage all the way from where we were sitting in the audience. She pointed, grinned from ear to ear, and he beamed!!!! So incredibly sweet!
After his play they had an "After Party" with all kinds of bread to celebrate!

Both boys are taking Karate 2 nights a week as their "sport" of choice this season. Jack is not loving it, but Thatcher smiles just thinking about it. The Karate Master puts Thatcher right by him to learn the throws and kicks. Thatcher just beams! Little does he know he was put there so he'd quit being the class clown and pay attention!

Cubbies Graduation at AWANA at church! He'll be in SPARKS with Jack next year learning bigger and longer verses! I LOVE AWANA! I'm such an advocate of this bible memory program! The boys absolutely love it and I love that they are hiding THE WORD in their hearts at such an early age!

Somewhere it says that children begin to mimic what they see.....

Miss Margaret is standing and cruising! Where does the time go?

Took the kids bowling for some family fun a few weeks ago! Lots of fun!! If you heard a few sonic booms between the hours of 2-3pm a few Saturdays ago, it was just Thatcher "throwing" his bowling ball down the lane!! How in the world does the wood hold up?? I need those floors in my kitchen!

Jack was quite the competitor! He was pretty good!!

So, just a few snippets of our lives these days! It's been another whirlwind year and we are all ready for the lazy days of summer!