Reese Graduates from Elementary School!

Reese, this is you on the day on your 4th Grade Commencement. You have skinned knees, the sweetest smile, a bun that took me 30 minutes to get just right for you, your favorite accessory (a pink wrist watch) on, and you're holding a cup of "dirt water" that you "cooked" on the island with Emma, Quincy, Corbin, and Connor. You are still so little and yet so grown up at the same time. You're right in the middle. And "middle" is where you are headed! Middle school!  You're done with elementary school. How can this be? Where is the tiny 5 year old who cried and cried and held onto my legs on the first day of kindergarten (and first grade), begging me not to leave her? You're an independent girl, now, doing new things, bravely, boldly, beautifully advancing from a place of comfort. You grew your love for learning at Cooper. You are a disciplined and dedicated student who works extremely hard for your good grades. You never give up. You study without being asked, and when hard subjects get you down, you scrap up more determination and use your strengths to achieve excellence. You make weak things strong. I love you. I am proud of you. I am excited and nervous with you for the years to come. Change isn't something you love, so I know the middle years, which are an entire scrapbook of change, will bring many challenges for you. You're going to get through them, and you're going to do great things with them. You know how to learn and grow from hard things better than many adults. You're going to be great! 

You received special recognition for music, performing arts/drama, economics, citizenship, and book club, this year. Wow! 

I love that you weren't too cool to have your little brother come sit in your lap during the slide show and awards part of the ceremony. 

You've had Mrs Tweedy for 2 years and she never had a bad thing to say about you. 

To celebrate the graduating class, the 4th graders took their "final walk" through the halls of Cooper, which were lines with all the students, applauding them in congratulations. 

Some of these girls have been together since preschool! Reese, I am happy to see you choose good friends to spend your time with. You are always surrounded by a group of nice girls. You are kind to everyone, and kindness gravitates back to you. This is one more gift that will be with you everywhere you go. "You're going great places, you're off on your way!"

Congratulations, Dolly. Mama loves you to pieces. 

Order

I love when I see little bits of myself in my children. 

Even the crazy obsessive bits. 

Bella Vista Fishing Derby

Mommy Spa Deluxe Package

Reese and Quincy had a friend over yesterday. A "spa day" is on Quincy's  summer bucket list, so I put jamberry on their big toes and we did polish for the others. 

Corbin painted his toes too. The purple apron puts the awesome over the top. He gets his face painted at the fair, why not his toes painted? He chose blue and green for himself then volunteered to to mine. 

Why pay $30 for a salon pedi, when you can get the deluxe treatment at the Mommy Spa. I got not only my toenails but my toes painted, too! Fancy. 

Any color we want, mom?! 

You bet, kiddos. My piggies are your canvas. 

They were very proud of their work. 

This is the life. 

Cake is the answer

We had a friend over for the day last week and we baked a big ol' chocolate cake. 

Chocolate layered s'mores cake with Nutella ganache. 

Reese in the Pool

I signed Reese up for Bella Vista Swim Team. She wants it on record that I did not ask her first. It's true.  These kids need to be stronger swimmers and Aaron and I made executive parental decision to  put our kids on swim team once they can swim the length of the team pool. It would've happened last summer, but I spent every morning last summer throwing up. So here we are. Reese hated her first practice. They worked on the butterfly stroke for a good portion of the time. It's only for 2 weeks, since we were making up snow days at school last week. I promised Reese that if she does her best and has a good attitude, I won't make her compete in the swim meet if she doesn't want to. I really just want her to try something new, and become a stronger swimmer. 

Here she is sound asleep 30 minutes after her first practice. Tired girl! 

Only 7 practices to go. Not that she's bitterly counting down or anything.

You can do hard things, Reese! 

She will admit that it was fun to see her friend Olivia from school there, and she is excited about watching the first meet, improving her backstroke, and learning to dive. And the sonic blast I bribed her with for being brave and going to practice today. Sometimes we all just need a little something something for encouragement. ;)

2015 Garden and a Greenhouse!

So my neighbor, Nita, from up the road knocked on my door and gave me her greenhouse! 

I'm super excited, and it's much more exciting than the fact that I ran over my lawnmower with the van when I backed out of the driveway, today (Yep it's totally ruined, and so is my pride) so hooray for a really good thing to make my day! 

Now to ask people to help us get it home. I hate that part. Can I bribe them with tomatoes? 

Here is the garden 30 days ago: 

 And here it is today