Thursday, May 22, 2014

Graduation Day! and End of the Year Party!

 During our Preschool Party... We read, "Ready for Kindergarten" and "Love You Forever". These are two of my favorite books and appropriate to read today! During circle time we discussed everyone's plans... new schools, kindergarten, staying here, break for the summer and ect.

 Our goofy picture... we are minus 3 part time peanuts.
 Our treat time... thanks for everyone who brought yummy treats to share. We enjoyed cracker mix, cookies, lemon-aid, and cookie dip. We finished our treat time out side with yummy Popsicles.

 Our graduating class of 2014... the kids either received an autograph book/bookworm, bracelet, cap, and necklace. Making their day as special as we could... a day to remember!
 Playing outside before lunch... the babies!
 Good looking group!!!
 The "official" picture... 2014 Peanut Gallery!
 The puppet sisters... Kadyn and Em before school. Always making others laugh and keeping them busy before school starts.
 To Emily...
Good Luck my little friend. I loved having you in the morning before the bus came. You were the highlight of Qman's day and he (and I) will miss seeing you every day. You are a great friend to Kadyn and a nicest girl I know. You have a big heart, a helping heart! You are going to rock T-North next year. You smile will make the room glow. Always come over when you can- we will miss you!
 Miss Ash,
I have known you before you were even thought off. I have loved seeing you from birth to 5 years.  You are a sassy, spunky, loving girl and I hope that never changes. I know you are going to turn Kindergarten upside down (in a great way). You will make a great friend to others and share your spunk with them. I love our time we have had- you have grown into a beautiful young girl and I can't wait to see what next year has in store for you!
 Mr N...
Your laugh cracks me up and I love how you are always making others laugh as well. You are such a caring kid. You make sure everyone is OK when we are doing our activities and playing outside. I love the stories you tell while playing. Your imagination is huge. I know you are going to do well in school next year- even though you may play shy and not say what you really know! :) I am glad I will see you before school next fall- it doesn't make saying good-bye as hard!

 Lan-Man...
I have loved getting to know you more this year through daycare and Church. You are such a gentlemen. You always keep me on my toes and love routine. I am very sad you will not be here next year but know your class of 5 year olds will be just what you need. You will continue to be a leader and role model for others! Always keep smiling and have a great year next year!!!
 Mr Isaac...
New school and Kindergarten will have nothing on you! When you started you were this shy little guy! And now you are always making everyone smile, laugh, and play silly games. You are a friend to everyone. You are no longer shy but outgoing. You are a sweetheart and have added a lot to our daycare the last two years. Good luck to you lil buddy as you will soar at T-North and in Kindergarten!!
Lil Ms Kin...
Thank you for being a part of our daycare part time. I have loved seeing you play and learn here. You are a good friend to Kendal and I know she will miss you next year when you are in school. You are such a leader. I know you will love school and do so well as you have had here!!! Come and visit and we'll plan a spend over soon!!! Good Luck in kindergarten!!!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

 Qman and his buddy L. Both one year old's now.
 Bus stop kiddos, minus a couple. It's been a fun year and I will miss these guys coming over everyday to catch the bus.
 This is my favorite Kindergarten tradition that our school does. The teachers keep certain projects from each month and put this portfolio together. It was fun to get Gaby and Kadyn's out to look through through as well.  A huge thank you to everyone how works hard to do this. It means so much to this momma!!!
 Kendal is... well. Kendal. She has a tee shirt on, a long sleeve shirt on, then a dress, then a dress up dress while wearing tights and boots! Did I mention it was 90 degrees out?? Whateves...
 This AM I had some goofy 3rd graders putting on a puppet show for us.
 Our new movie... we bought this so we will be prepared for when Aunt Kara is in the show this summer! We are excited to see her in it.
 Just a little selfie before dance! Kadyn is doing tap and hip hop this year! She is really wanting to competition so we are seeing if we can budget the time and the money. I am excited she loves dance so much and think it will take her far if she keeps up with it. 
 Monday night walk... I had a partner to join me. Actually, I like going alone however this little man is teething and is a little cranky so he got voted off the island and came with me. It turned out to be a nice time and we both enjoyed the time out.
Before the bus... Em was helping prep lessons for the day as the others were coloring.

This Thursday will be a tough day. I am saying good bye to 4 kids (one I will keep during the summer and one will drop in). This year two of my families will go to a new school. When our district re-drew school boundaries to help with over populated schools, there was no plan that kept our neighborhood and theirs going to our current school. These families will be missed. a lot. With a heavy heart, I wish Isaac, Easton, Kate and Emily the best of luck next year! They are outstanding kids will be awesome no matter the school. Love you guys and visit us often. Qman and I say so!

Nolan and Ashlyn are going to Kindergarten. Nolan (and his sister M) have been coming over a year. They joined us from another provider. Nolan will be going to SHES with Ashlyn. Ashlyn and her family have been coming to Peanut Gallery for 7 years. Good byes are not my thing but I know these two kids will add some spunk and sass to the school next year. And I can't wait to see how they make Kindergarten rock.

Landon's last day is Thursday too. I met his family through church and Cubbies. I was blessed to see him during our week through daycare and at church through Cubbies. He is moving on to a 5 year old class at another center! He is going to have a great time with older kids. He will do well in his new class as well. I can't wait to see how he owns it.

Daycare is personal. It is an extended part of our family! This time is so bittersweet. We are loosing some great kids. But as we loose some, we are adding some. I can't wait to introduce you to some fun kids in the next couple of weeks. So stay tune!

To my parents... Thank you for this past year and many more. Dustin and I have had a great time watching over, teaching, and watching your child grow into the person they are today! It is an awesome feeling to see how far they have come from when they have started. Our door is always open and please keep in touch! We love you guys and your kids!!!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Painting with Coffee




Today the kids made dirty doggies by painting with coffee (hmmm, I wonder where we got the coffee from?) then made some friendly looking snakes!!!!

Happy Thursday!

Wednesday, May 14, 2014


 Last week we wrapped up Kendal's year at Bright Circle with a field trip to the zoo and preschool concert. Dad went to the cookout and zoo then we both saw her concert. Aunt Kara came over to braid her hair so she would look nice and put together.

Kendal did a great job on Thursday night. I could really hear her singing. She loved going to school 2x a week and it was a good balance for her first year. Next year she will be attending SHES as a peer model for their preschool program. Kadyn and Mia both went through this program and I am excited Kendal will experience it as well. It will be 4x a week in the afternoons. I love the PM spot so I can grateful it worked out.

Yesterday this little boy turned one. I dislike it when people say, "where has the time gone?". But I am at a loss of words to describe where my year went?  I look back at his pictures and I see that time was spent laughing, loving, holding, napping, feeding, folding, cleaning, and mom"ing". I know where the year went. I have his memories and pictures that remind me where it went. It still went by too fast. I remember holding him while he slept and his little hand grabbing my shirt while we cuddle. I want to enjoy every day as I know he is our last (unless Dman's procedure didn't take), and while this year was spent being a mom to this incredible little person, it still went by way too fast!

My Mother's Day picture for 2014 was taken around 8pm, not in our pretty church clothing but on the trampoline as we ended the day! Qman was in his PJ's, I had no bra on (now you're looking to see if you can tell), Gaby smelled, and Kadyn's hair was crazy and well... that sums it up.

Mother's Day is not my favorite holiday. I think if we are doing our jobs as wives, moms, daughters we shouldn't need one day to say, "I love you mom". So, Dustin and I really do not make a big deal of this day. But... here is it Mother's Day 2014, my first Mother's Day as a mom to 5 awesome, rock star type kids!

Our family celebration for Qman. A friend made a cake for Quentin so we would have cake on his actual birthday. After Gaby had drum lessons and Mia had dance we had a fun time singing and giving Q his gift from us. He was getting mad... he wanted his CAKE! 

Tonight Mia and I started to read her "Read to Me Bible". I wanted to know how much she could do on her own. The creation story was eight pages long and she rocked it. Stumbling on a couple of words only. This makes my heart so happy that she is on target and loves to read.
 

 I try so hard not to have Gaby help "parent" the younger kids. If we ask her to babysit, we pay her, ect. I don't want her to grow up too fast and I want her to act and be a kid as long as she can. Tonight we went to Sam's Club and I have 4 out of the 5 kids. Dustin took Kadyn to soccer and because of our schedule I had to get party supplies tonight after having dental work done. So, with my mouth hurting, I am trying to get in and out as fast as I can. Kendal exclaims, " I need to poop". Agh! Gaby took her to the bathroom so I could finish getting items. Then Qman was getting fussy so Gaby carried him and entertaining him so I could finish. Her heart is big. She is a kind and loving kid (when her hormones are in full force) and I was so thankful for her random acts of awesomeness as we were shopping. I couldn't have made it through the shopping trip without her!

So... our reward??!! Cheap dinner at Sam's where everyone had greasy pizza and hotdogs!

This is where I had my root canal done this AM. I finally went to a dentist after putting it off for a couple of years! I don't recommend that at all. My first appointment was the root canal. My second appointment will be a crown and filling, and my third will be a filling possibly another root canal. I know it will pass but boy, I hate the dentist.  I am still in discomfort from this morning and stressing about the next appointment. 

This chick has 7 more days until she is a middle schooler...this blows my mind more then Qman turning one! Today they toured the middle school and she is excited for the new school year to start. Monday she tried out for the middle school drumline/band. I pray she makes it as I know she will love band and music just as Dustin and I did/do.

Little man eatting at the toddler table. I love it. He watches all the big kids and wants to do what they do.

As we approach summer,  I am trying to get summer school lessons ready for Kadyn. I feel like she has made some good progress and I don't want to see her go backwards. This will be a challenge for me as I feel like summers we become lazy on our routine.

As we wrap up the year, it is bitter sweet. Gaby goes to middle school, Kadyn's teacher of 2 years is on maternity leave, and I loose some amazing kids to school and new schools. I am looking forward to our summer but sad to say good bye's. I love my daycare families and their kids as my own. Kadyn has LOVED having 2 of her classmates get on the bus with her- she had grown closer to them this year because of the before school care. This kids are just great kids. And my time with them is coming to an end.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Qman turn 1 today

 To my son,
I don't have any words of wisdom to share with you. All I can do is share my thoughts on being your mom this past year.  When we first found out we were going to have you, I cried. Like a lot. Not because I didn't want you because I was scared. I was worried how having a 5th child would fit unto our already crazy life.

God worked on my heart. Like a lot. He has carried us through what has been one of the best years of my life. Watching you grow, smile, and be so content has taught me a lot. God knew how you would change me and our family forever.
 Qman 1mo. old

You are loved. Like a lot. I love watching your sisters love on you, bringing everything to you, and want to be so close to you- even to the point of making your cry. Gaby is your closest sister, a second mom to you. She has held you and fed you almost as much as dad and I have. Kadyn has taught you to dance to music since every time you are around her she has her music turned on. Mia has taught you to be tough. She gets in your face, wants to hold you when you don't want her to, and is always in your personal space. Kendal has taught you to follow rules and has helped you to be safe. As she is always looking out for you.
 Qman 6 mo. old

 Being your mom has been a little different then being a mom to Gaby, Kadyn, Mia and Kendal. Like a lot. Girls vs. Boys? I don't know. I am  not sure if I can explain this. No, I don't have favorites. Having a son is just... different. During the past year I have learned to slow down, smile more, laugh louder, and love unconditionally. I want to be a good mom so you will be a good husband and father to your future wife.

You are so content, you have the biggest blue eyes (thanks to your daddy), you love to give hugs and kisses, you are very laid back, biggest smile that brightens a room, and you love your family.


Qman 1 year old

My hope for you: is that you always stay as happy as you are- it truly is contagious. Your little heart has already made such an impact on this family. Make other smile as much as you have made me smile. Make others laugh as much as you have made us laugh. Use your dad as a role model on how to treat people especially the girls that might come and go in your life. And most importantly, as you grow up and let God always be #1 in your life. For dad and I will not be perfect parents, we will make you mad and we will make mistakes. However, you do have one perfect parent and He is the one that made you fit perfectly into our life. 

To my son. I love you. Like a lot. You have made me a better mom. And for that I thank you. I have had a blast watching you grow and develop this rock star personality you have this past year. God willing, we will have many more celebrations. Happy Birthday Quentin Neal. We love you big much! 

Love, 
Mom

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Our Sunny Tuesday









Summer time is around the corner... We are starting to review our letters, numbers, and colors. Which also means means more time to be outside. The kids and I both LOVE our outside time to play and to be social.

Happy Tuesday...