Kindergarten Camp...

Today we had "Kindergarten Camp" so the boys got to make some new friends while I listened to some more information about Kindergarten.  I was told that they both did very well!  They both had fun, but I could tell that Conner was bothered when I met him in the hallway to head home.  He wanted me to carry him and was pretty quiet.  On our way out to our car, we happened to see Conner's preschool teacher so that cheered him up a little!  I think Conner is a little nervous about Kindergarten!  Ben also got to see his preschool teacher today when she brought us some books to read this summer and he was very excited about that!

 

Later in the day, Ben and Conner had a little impromptu dance party amd they decided they needed their shirts off for that!

Shades...

We spent most of our day outside today, but I made some time to get a few things done.  I got out a bunch of old sunglasses and the boys each chose a pair that they liked.  They thought they looked pretty cool and Conner wore his for the rest of the day!

Reflections...

Watching the boys play today, I can't help but reflect on how far they have come!  I am sad that they are growing so fast and that it is time to move on to kindergarten, but I know it's time.  They are ready even if I am not.  I will miss our afternoons together.  I think that's the saddest part, just realizing that they will be spending more and more time away from me.  They continue to be my biggest challenge and my greatest joy!

















Conner...  what a smile you have!  You have mastered the art of charming people.  You are so friendly and genuinely care about the people around you.  I love that you continue to be my snuggler.  I still need it!  You are a cautious one.  Always thinking...  And wow, are you persistent!  Giving up on something is not an option for you.  If you don't get the response or result you want, you keep at it until you do!  You love your music and you are hilarious when you are in a dancing mood.  You care so much about your hair and your clothes that I love showing you new outfits because you get so excited!  You love playing outside but you have also developed a liking for the Wii and constantly ask to have a race in the basement.  You are full of surprises!  I know you will do great in kindergarten.  I just love you so much! 

Ben...  you make everyone around you feel so good because of how caring and complimentary you are.  Your vocabulary astounds me and every once in a while you throw out a new word or saying that makes you sound 10 instead of just 5!  You definitely have become a jokester and love to make people laugh.  Your energy continues to amaze us... and exhaust us! You have become a bit more cautious this last year, but I would still call you our little daredevil.  You continue to love being outside and you would spend every waking moment outside if we would let you!  You have gotten so smart and are constantly asking questions about everything!  The skills you have learned this past year amaze me and I know that you will be awesome in kindergarten.  I love you so much!

We are going to have a great summer break!  I know there might be some not so smooth days, but all I have to remember is that in August, I will lose some of my time with my boys so I am going to soak it all up now.  It's hard moving on... accepting the changes I am not ready for... but I will do it.  I'll do it because my guys are the world to me and they are ready to grow up just a little bit more.  Just a little... just a little...

A Look Back...

August 2010... the first day that I let these two out of my sight to start preschool...

 

 

May 2013... the last time they will walk into school as preschoolers!

Graduation Day!



It is Graduation Day!  Ben and Conner were definitely ready and very excited!  The celebration went by way too fast for me! When it was all over, I had two preschool grads and a lot of mixed feelings.  When we got home, the boys opened a few gifts from Nana and Mama.  We all went out to lunch at Chili's (Ben's favorite spot because of his love for quesadillas) and Conner enjoyed a celebratory cupcake after lunch.  Ben was much too busy by that time!

Notice Ben at the end of this one...

 

 

 

 My grads...

Although Conner had seemed nervous leading up to the end of school, he was just fine today!  Ben was more excited about his tooth than anything else, I think.   I knew it would be harder for us than for them and I suppose that's how it should be.  I'm still waiting for it all to sink in...

The Tooth Fairy!

This morning Ben found a dollar and very nice note from the Tooth Fairy!  He was pretty pumped!  He couldn't wait to get to school to show his teacher that he had lost a tooth!  I still can't believe it... definitely wasn't ready for the Tooth Fairy yet!

 

One Less Tooth...

Ben surprised us tonight right before dinner, saying he had a loose tooth.  As luck would have it, we had sweet corn for dinner and Ben refused to eat it because he said it hurt his tooth.  So, after dinner we took a closer look and one of his front bottom teeth was, in fact, very loose.  So loose, that it was ready to come out!  Ben was very brave and let Daddy pull the tooth out!  He was definitely a little nervous but we were cheering the whole time and he loves an audience!  Conner was a LOT nervous the whole time, so it will be interesting when he loses his first tooth.  I have a feeling, it might not go quite as smoothly!  Good job Ben!

 

 

We tucked the tooth safely into a little pillow and Ben is looking forward to a visit from the mysterious tooth fairy.  We asked Ben what he thought the Tooth Fairy would bring him.  His first guess was a pop and his second guess was a skateboard!  Dad told him that the Tooth Fairy might bring him some money so Ben was pretty excited about that!  I can't believe that on the eve of their preschool celebration, Ben lost his first tooth!!!  I am on overload!!!!!!!

Anchor...

The second rainy day in a row has us all going a little crazy, so this morning Conner and Ben decided they needed to build a pirate ship in the middle of the living room.  They are just getting started here, but the first thing Ben did was attach an "anchor" to the back of the ship telling me how important it is to have a good anchor!  How extraordinarily true:)

Ready or Not...

Ben and Conner are ready for their last full day of preschool!  (I'm not...)

 

The boys were pretty excited when they got home.  I still don't think they realize what a big change they are in for, but they are looking forward to their celebration on Tuesday so they can sing their songs!  They are also getting very excited for all the summer fun, like vacation to Minnesota in a couple weeks and swimming lessons!  (Conner asks daily if he can start swimming lessons that day!)  We enjoyed some sandbox time before dinner and it was nice to think about all of the fun summer days ahead of us!

 

Countdown...

Thursday, Friday, and then graduation on Tuesday...  That's it!  Then they're done... forever!  I can't believe it!

Baseball!

Well, on Friday night we got a call that baseball would be starting for the boys on Monday night.  No pictures tonight, since we were lucky to have even gotten there (almost on time) and finally found the diamond they were supposed to practice on.  (We were not the only ones who were a little lost!) Turns out baseball is a little less organized than basketball or soccer has been... so we will see how this goes...  The boys seemed to enjoy themselves and obviously, that's what's most important!!!  Of course, now the boys think they need new bats... big boy, heavy, wooden or metal bats... not sure we are ready for that!

In the Box...

Oh, the joy a simple cardboard box can bring...  I want to have the boys paint it and pretend it is some cool mode of transportation but we will have to see if the box survives long enough to do that!  (We had to buy a new lawn mower this week, hence the box...)

 

Soccer Game!

Ben and Conner are really enjoying soccer and tonight they had their first "game!"  They were awesome!  Next time I have to take the video camera because pictures just don't capture the experience well enough!  Great job boys!

 

School Lunch...

Today the boys got to stay at school and practice having lunch in the lunchroom.  They were very excited and I am told that they did great!  Ben's teacher volunteered to help the kids and not only did they not drop their lunch trays, but they even ate most of their food.  Just one step closer to kindergarten...  sigh...  When they got home, they both sat on the couch.  I asked if they needed a nap and they both walked back to their rooms and laid down!  The lunchroom took a lot out of them... 

 

Dairy Farm!

I got to go with Conner and Ben on their last field trip of the year to a nearby dairy farm today.  It was a great way to spend the morning!  Conner got a chance to feed one of the calves!  (Ben wanted nothing to do with that part of the trip!)

 

Ben kept his distance most of the time from the calves, but I spotted him getting close once!

Conner's class...

Ben's class...

We all had a great time!  Conner said he liked honking the horn on the tractor the best!  Ben said he liked looking at the big cows!  And, of course, the bus ride was one of the best parts too!

A Minute...

I left the room for a minute to go fold some laundry...  I came back and Ben had hit Conner in the arm with a plastic golf club and left a pretty big welt.  Nick was trying to fix something on the lawn mower and he ended up with a bloody wrist...  So Conner and Dad sat at the kitchen table icing their arms for a while.  I swear I only left the room for a minute.  I can't leave any of these guys alone....

Happy Mother's Day!

I am one very lucky mommy!  Thank you to my husband and sons for making it such a great day!  Happy Mother's Day!!!

 

Open House...

We went to Denver on Saturday for Uncle Jim's retirement open house.  It was great to see everyone there!  It was a bit chilly, but the kids still spent most of their time outside!  Conner and Marley hung out on the cool riding lawn mower at Uncle Jim's house!

 

The kids had a special treat when Caroline showed them the baby chicks and they each got to pet one.  They were thrilled!  Ben, Caden, and Marley lined up.  Conner joined them as soon as he realized what was going on!

 

It was a great retirement party!