Corbin's Birthday Party

Corbin is 7! 

Boys are so fun. We had a party with friends, Sully S, Brody S, Cole G, and Connor L. The boys came to the house for pizza and little boy shenanigans (running around wildly for 15 minutes), then loaded up in the van for a trip to the movies. 

We saw the Angry Birds Movie and it was funny and clever and had just enough silliness to keep 5 boys on the edges of their seats the whole time. 

After the movie we drove back to the house for presents and cake. Corbin has been drafting a BB8 cake for weeks (months) and all of his wildest dreams came true, thanks to my friend, Jill, who loaned me her 3D cake pan and decorating tools. We had a cake decorating activity at enrichment the night before and I came home confident enough to pull off a recognizable BB8. Thanks for teaching and sharing your talents, Jill! Corbin was blown away with pure glee.  

Corbin received Star Wars diving sticks and an inflatable shark pool toy, a Lego set, a nerf style football, and a Star Wars hero masher action figure from our family. He received wonderful gifts from his friends, too and is now obsessed with Star Wars micro machines. He even exchanged his her masher and pooled his birthday money from a friend and grandma to buy the other two micro fighter sets available so he could have all 4. Corbin is more of a physically active child with his play time, so it is a treat to see him so excited about an actual toy. 

I love you Corbin! Happy Birthday! 

Old High Science Showcase

Monday night I attended the science showcase at Old High with Reese. She did a nice presentation and provided solutions to preserve the hydrosphere with her group, "TWDD", or "team don't waste water". 

Madi and Juliana were also at the showcase. Reese is the only of the three who has been rezoned for a new middle school, next year. She will miss her close friends, but I have no doubt Reese will meet more friends and still maintain friendship with these lovelies over the summer. Nice work, ladies! 

Reese makes Honor Roll

Reese worked very hard in 5th grade. She gave up many PE and recess hours to retake tests, rework math problems, and rewrite class assignments with teachers. This hard work earned herself a spot on the Honor Roll the entire school year. She worked harder than I ever could have asked, and learned that hard work pays off. I know that her determination will take her far. Those grades came with high sacrifice and with diligence, she turned a weakness into a strength. I am so inspired by her. Way to go, Dolly! You did hard things! 

This kid

Soren has started talking to himself while he plays with his toys. It is super cute and the dialogue his hilarious. I could listen to him all day. 

Fun and Field Days

Fun and Field Days are here!  We visited this little cupcake first. I tried to convince her to let me check her out for lunch time, since they were headed back to their classroom for the day, but I was rejected in favor of an in class movie with her friends. Burn! 

Outside, the first graders were released like a tidal wave over the yard.  Corbin ran wildly over to greet us, then quickly moved on to the games. It was chilly and drizzly, but the kids didn't care. 

I love this pic that JJ took of Finley and Corbin. Those two are a good matchup! 

Drop Your Drawers Here

A service opportunity presented itself to my family, this week, and the Willy kids jumped on board. 

Did you know that in some countries, girls drop out of school once they start menstruating because they have no access to feminine hygiene products?  In many of these cases, the girls only have one or two cycles a year, so a small number of missed days is all that sits between them and receiving an education. 

daysforgirls.org is an international organization that provides reusable feminine hygiene kits for these girls and women to help them stay in school.  A local chapter has recently formed in NWA, and WE are going to help them collect items for the kits! 

Drop Your Drawers Here! The Willy kids are hosting an underwear drive this week and next!  Their goal is to collect 100 pair of underwear by May 30th. 

Each Day's for Girls kit includes 2 pair of girls underwear (sizes 10-14), so 100 pair would help provide 50 girls with an opportunity to stay in school. I've posted the link to the Days For Girls organization below if you'd like to check it out. 

We will have an underwear "drop box" on our front porch until May 30th.  So run to Walmart, pick up a pack, and drop your drawers here! 

Isn't that the cutest donation box you have ever seen? I'm getting excited for the kids to see it get filled up. 

Non locals (and local people who like an easy button) are invited to have underwear shipped directly here via Amazon. 

Are you a high school graduate?  You can pay it forward! 10 bucks buys a 12 pack of underwear.  Help my girls help other girls.

Side note, I really love the conversations and openness this has already sparked between the girls and I. Reese confidently and comfortably explained the project to Aaron yesterday. Serving other girls is creating a lovely transition into young womanhood for my daughters. It's beautiful for them to learn that they do not have to resent or renounce femininity to become  empowered young women. 

Corbin turns 7: Birthday Interview

My friend has a fun tradition of interviewing her kids on their birthdays. I loved the idea so much I thought I'd try it out with my own children. It will be fun to have a time capsule of their thoughts at each age. 

Corbin Mac Willardson: Age 7

Favorite colors: yellow and orange 

Favorite sport to watch: basketball

Favorite sport to play: soccer and basketball 

Favorite clothes: Star Wars pjs 

Favorite book: Star Wars 

Favorite foods: pizza, watermelon, and turkey.

Favorite Movie: Star Wars

Favorite tv show: Mario

Favorite game: Wii Lego Star Wars 

Friends: Sully, Landan, Cole, all my boy cousins, especially Tyler and Steven, and all the neighbor boys, especially Conor. Mostly just boys. 

Favorite board games: chess and checkers 

Foods Corbin does NOT like: broccoli or potatoes  

Favorite song: the hokey pokey 

Favorite place to go: high rise, bowling, movies, and sonic

Favorite restaurant: AQ chicken

When he grows up he wants to: be a police officer, go on a mission, buy a Wii and get married. 

Favorite toys: Star Wars figurines, Legos, and his light saber. 

Some good things that happened when Corbin was 6 were: learning to ride a bike, going on field trips, and meeting Santa Claus

Talents: sports and school 

Goals: learn how to drive and learn to swim all the way across Mrs JJ's pool.