Kindergarten Picnic

We had a very rainy spring, and Corbin's class picnic had to be moved indoors. Mrs Mayes and the room moms still made the day fun with indoor games, dancing to "Popsico", and Lunch with family members. Soren reeeeally liked sitting with big brother. 

Corbin got creative when he realized I had forgotten to pack him a spoon for his applesauce. 

It was so hot and humid in the classroom there was condensation running down the window glass and even the carpet felt wet. That didn't slow anyone down. Nothing stops these kids from getting a Popsicle!

I know I often feel a little put out by long days spent at school parties, I really hope the kids remember I came to them.  It's fun to watch them in their school environment. Are they shy? Loud? Considerate of others? Happy to see me and some younger siblings there (so far, always)? I love watching them play with peers and interact with their teachers. Thanks for having an indoor picnic with me, Corbin! 

May Catch All

Sister-sitting 

Artwork portfolio's one home

Saturday morning detail crew. 

Car appointments. I'm very grateful for that jump house. 

Loads of dental appointments. 

Love. 

She rolls onto her tummy to sleep, now. 

A visit to Frances 

Broadway Night. I performed with the all ladies number, and did a duet with Valerie. Fun times. My favorite part was the green face. And that wig. 

Class picnics and field trips galore! 

It was a whirlwind month. 

Corbin's Kindergarten Graduation

Our dear little Corbin graduated from Kindergarten in late May. The ceremony was combined with the annual kindergarten musical program. My kids love Mr L and singing is their favorite of the "specials" classes at Cooper. 

Corbin's class performed first and danced the "circle song". It was so cute I could hardly stand it. 

We sure have loved Mrs Mayes. She was just the right teacher for Corbin. She gave him love, encouragement, and positive attention. She boosted Corbin's self esteem and constantly told him and the other students how smart they are.  She gave him the gift of fluent literacy and a love for learning. She was a great match for our family and I hope Soren has her in 3 years.  

Corbin's cheering section.

Corbin you are ready for first grade! You did it! Some of your accomplishments this year include learning to read, learning all of your sight word rainbow, writing proficiency, being selected for a terrific kid award, and going the entire school year without a color change. That's rights, Corbin, YOU are a star! You stayed on green the whole year! You did it! Mrs Mayes said she could always count on you to follow directions the first time, and to follow the rules. You are such a good boy. You are witty, creative, and kind. You go ALL in and rarely use hesitation once you set your mind on something. You make me laugh every day. Your Eddie Munster widows peak is one of my favorite heads of hair to brush with my fingers when I tuck you into bed, and your sweet little voice singing, "baby mine" is a symphony to my ears. You will always melt my heart with those big chocolate eyes and your freckled cheeks. I love everything about you, son. Can't wait for first grade! 

Ok. I can wait a little bit. ;) stay small forever, little dreamboat.  I love you, buddy.

Love, Mama

After the ceremony, Corbin requested pizza and ice cream.

We picked up some pizzas and ate outside the soda shoppe on the square. Pizza and ice cream is what he got! 

Camp Wild Friday

We were supposed to hike at Devil's Den this week but it was just too hot to even attempt, especially with a baby and the younger kids. 

We were all so tired from Thursday, we opted for an indoor, more relaxing form of fun. I hosted board games at our house. Big kids played board games. Middle kids created rainbow loom charms. Little kids ran around with Nerf bows and arrows until it started to rain, and all kids played Telestrations and Uno. 

For lunch, we had a homemade calzone making extravaganza, and whipped up a triple batch of calzones of every filling. plain cheese and olives, pepperoni, Canadian bacon and pineapple, and a "gourmet" creation with the first two tomatoes from the garden, fresh basil, garlic, mozzarella, and artichoke hearts. Sooo delicious. We all are until we were sick! 

Aaron took friday off, so after the Shaws left, we worked in the yard to dig out and level the ground for the green house. It was back breaking and the heat was brutal, but the foundation is almost framed ready. The ground in Ar is solid rock and I am super sore today. 

Fri night, Aaron had a church visit. I made chicken quesadillas and let the kids eat on a blanket in the living room and watch a movie on Netflix while I caught up on laundry. We all decided that this was too anticlimactic and no way to end such a fun filled week, so a few new field trips and bonus days have been added to Camp Wild and are on the July calendar. Stay Tuned, Willies! 

Camp Wild has been one of the greatest weeks ever. The kids have been in a state of constant happiness. Taking my children to new places and watching them explore and discover this amazing world we live in has to be one of the best perks of motherhood. Yes, I am utterly, totalky, and completely exhausted. I'm mentally tired and physically tired from being on the go all day and caring for an infant by night. It's sooo been worth it. As much as I say it was all for them. It refreshed my love for motherhood. Camp Wild was a gift for me, as well.  

Happy Camper. 

Camp Wild Thursday

I'm I'm I'm I'm Thursday morning started with a little ore camp wild fun. My friend Jill S braided Reese and Quincy's hair. I'm a hair braiding loser and never style my kids with fancy hair, so this was a real treat for them! They looked so cute. 

We took camp wild up to Joplin on Thursday for some adventure. We toured the Candy House Chocolate Factory. 

We forgot to get a pic before everyone had thrown their hairnets away, but here's part of the group. 

Sadly, there was no chocolate river inside the chocolate factory. Our guide was a good Willy Wonka, though. 

Here are some of the things the children wrote down that they learned at the factory. 

"It smells like sugar in the kitchen." 

"Dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate or white chocolate, because it has less sugar." 

"There are 42 cocoa beans inside 1 pod." 

"To make chocolate, they roast the beans, crush them into powder, and add sugar and butter."

"Extra chocolate can be melted  and used over and over again so they don't waste it when they do the molds."

"All the chocolates that get dipped go through a metal detector to make sure the machine parts didn't break off and get metal in them."

At the end of the tour, we received a sample of peanut butter and chocolate tiger fudge. It was THE BEST fudge I have ever tasted. Wow! 

When in Joplin, Culvers for lunch! 

"Welcome to delicious," Soren. 

Katie and I made a spontaneous pit stop at the Jopljn Museum Center before going home. This place was cool, and free! There were several mini museum collections combined under one roof. A China doll collection, a famous people from Missouri collection, an historical living collection. 

The miniature circus was the favorite bevause if the monkey organ and the funhouse mirror.

Little dollhouse 

Big dollhouse ;) 

The other half of the museum was a two story mineral museum. Southern Mo and NWA are known for mining. The displays covered everything from fossils to the periodic table of elements, this was the most thorough minerals display we have ever seen. Reese is my little geologist and was especially happy we stopped here. 

Following the pattern of the week, sleepy kids on the way home. 

They were well rested for Thursday phase 2. A Glow Night at the Splash Pad. 

Aaron fired off this glowing pop fly helicopter a hundred times that night for the kids. Bro Shaw and Messick were also super cool dads who invented games to play with the glow sticks and rings in the water and both went home soaked. We were also joined by the Pendletons and Lodens. I couldn't get shy pics to show up once it got really dark, but here are a few I snapped as the sun set. 

Poor Q took a fall and suffered some pretty nastily skinned knees and elbows. She's still nursing her injuries 48 hours later. The Lodens came to the rescue with their car first aid kit and hooked her up with an ice pack and hello kitty bandages and her daddy hooked her up with Mc Donald's on the way home. 

Even though Q's night ended in misery, if was still a magical night in downtown bentonville with great friends. Long live summer. Long live Camp Wild!