Another Year is Done!

Is it possible that another school year has come and gone?  I got my picture by the front door and I realized the boys almost cover it up now.  Time is going too fast and they're growing far too quickly!

 

Think someone was a little excited about the last day?

 

These were the sad faces heading into school back in August....

...and these were the happy faces going in one last time for the year!

Earlier in the week, I got to go into each of the kids' classes to celebrate all they'd learned over the year.  First grade had a reading restaurant and Alex was so proud to read books and some of his own writing to me.

Several stories had to do with blankies or minecraft...no surprises there!

My sweet boy in his last days as a first grader!

The entire class had a sweet presentation for the parents that they had rehearsed for weeks.

Alex was really sad to say goodbye to his sweet girlfriend but she put her phone number in his yearbook so we should see more of her :)

Thanks for a great year, Ms. Wilson!

Alex also wanted a picture with Ms. Cook, the principal's admin and probably his favorite person in the entire school.  He talks to her every single morning.

Next up was Ben's celebration, which was entirely different.  I was really blown away by all the technology that was integrated into the third grade presentations.  Parents played "Are you smarter than a 3rd grader?" by linking our phones to a multiple choice game created by the teachers.

The kids in the class made multimedia presentations counting down their favorite parts of 3rd grade.  Ben and Venus were assigned to present rotations.

 We loved Ms. Butler and were excited to be a part of her very first class.

 

Ben's math and science teacher, Mrs. Barnes, was incredible!  Fingers crossed Alex gets these teachers when he gets to 3rd.

We celebrated the completion of a wonderful year with our sweet neighbors at TCBY.  Now bring on summer!!

Space Center Houston

I've lived most of my life in the Houston area and I had never been to NASA until recently!  We had a baseball rainout (again) and decided to use the free Saturday to check out Space Center Houston.  The kids and I had recently watched Apollo 13 and they were really interested in learning more about the space program.

We were excited to see the new full-size space shuttle replica on display piggy-backing on a 747.

747 engines are big!

 

 Ben was so enthralled reading more about the Apollo 13 mission.

We got to touch a moon rock!

 Touring mission control was really interesting!  The video up front was a live feed from the space station.

 

Ben was more interested in the old computers on display somewhere else.  This kid sure loves old stuff.

Everyone got to enjoy a simulated takeoff in the command module. It was a great visit! 

Ben is 9!

It doesn't seem possible, but it's been 9 years since we welcomed this guy into the world. We thank God for him every single day!!  It's such a joy to celebrate him on his birthday.

 

 Casey got into the party this year as well.

It didn't take long for him to start ripping into the presents.

I had to get a picture of the personalized hat that Alex made for Ben.

Ben was thrilled with his new remote controlled helicopter.

The celebration continued at school - donuts to share with the class and a big cupcake for the big 9-year old!

After school, he wanted to have a street party and a sleepover with some of his buddies from school.  Naturally, a huge cookie cake would make it even more fun.

Singing happy birthday...

We were so fortunate to get a beautiful evening, when normally late May would be really humid and hot. It was also the rainiest month we've had in our 4 years here and thank goodness the rain held off until the following afternoon.  Everything turned out perfectly!

Photobombers!  

The street party moved to the backyard and five boys slept outside in tents.  I think they quieted down around 11pm and most woke up just after sunrise!

Ben got to open a few more gifts and have a nerf gun war with his buddies before everyone headed home.  We kept the celebration going all across Memorial Day weekend with all of the grandparents.  I think Ben had a wonderful birthday!

Photo Dump

I finally got a new phone and it's taken me weeks to share some pictures from it.  Here are some fun ones in no particular order...

Casey was hanging with Alex in the truck on a sleepy afternoon.

 

 She's no dummy...it didn't take her long to realize he wouldn't stop her from getting a little snack!

This was my favorite mother's day gift this year - a hand made coupon holder for things like emptying the dishwasher.  Alex even made a few extras at home!

My very favorite!  Thank goodness I was able to use it over and over and it doesn't expire.

Ben's class got to take their field trip to the museum of natural science in Sugarland, which was great because it was small enough that our school had the entire place reserved.

Ben and his sweet class

Love these sleepyheads and their parakeets!

We've started getting monarchs on our milkweed again and this friend wasn't quite ready to say goodbye.

Alex got his first horseback ride at a local restaurant.

This boy LOVED it!

One last potty humor picture...I was enjoying Alex's picture about summer and his plans, when I noticed some sound effects written at the bottom.  Boys!!

Alex's Field Trip

Alex has been looking forward to his field trip for weeks.  It got rescheduled because of rain and then he got sick the day before, so it seemed like he wasn't supposed to make this trip but it finally worked out.  I'm not sure he felt 100% that day but there was no way he was missing the trip to Dewberry Farm!

Since I was a chaperone, Alex got to pick his buddy for the day and he chose precious little Gillian.  They are so much alike it's scary!

These two couldn't wait to get on all the rides and climb everything possible.

They were thrilled about the big slide!  I got to do this one as well...pretty fun :)

The little cattle cars are always a good time.

These two killed me they way they talked, giggled...

...and held hands during the day!  I tell ya, they were the cutest little twosome.

The bee exhibit was pretty awesome and we even got to see the queen in the middle.  Dewberry Farm never disappoints!  Alex said it was the best day of school ever because "he didn't have to learn anything".  I'm so glad he got to go.

Love this picture of Ben on mustache day!

We finally have another reader in the house!  It's a magic moment when your son won't put his book down. Hopefully we're raising two kids that love to read.