"I want to ride the school bus mom!" (Grad Night)

It's hard to believe that nearly four years ago, that's what Patrick said to me which prompted me to enroll him preschool. At that time it was already August and all the preschools were completely filled so I ended up putting him in a Mom's Morning Out program at First Baptist Early Education Center (FBEEC). Two weeks later a spot in the two-year old class opened up and Mrs. Trenchard called to let me know. Who would have thought that one little phone call would change our life. We have had a fantastic time at preschool these past years especially this last year. Patrick's teachers have been so loving, nonjudgemental, and very nurturing. They helped Patrick develop into a confident, focused, and emotionally intelligent young boy. He is intellectually prepared to enter first grade but more importantly I'm confident that he will be able to deal with the social conflicts that can happen in the playground or classroom and they have given him a good start in his spiritual growth.

The graduating class on stage! They look so proud!

The whole school sang this cute song called "If I were a butterfly". It's become a big favorite in our house. We sing it all the time. It's about accepting yourself for who you are and thanking God for creating a unique person that is you. LOVE IT!

Ronan's class also graduated that evening. That's his future engineer friend Nicholas sitting next to him. Ronan was in Ms. Kelsey's Two year old class. Unlike Patrick, Ronan was a reluctant preschooler. He preferred to be with me than to go to school at least in the beginning. He loves Ms. Kelsey and I'm so glad she was his teacher. What a very very kind, patient, and loving woman.

The boys receiving their diplomas. Stephanie & Bill took us out to graduation dinner that night and when Stephanie asked Ronan what he got during graduation, Ronan replied " A MAP!! ".I guess, a diploma can be seen as a map of some sort.


We got our "map" now...we're chillin' out

When Ms. Trenchard asked the kindergartners what they will do to serve God when they grow up...Patrick replied "a fireman".And when I asked Ronan what he wants to be when he grows up--he exclaims "an astronaut!"
I'm so proud of my boys! Thanks FBEEC!

Kindergarten Year in Review

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Aloha Luau 2008

Kinder Grad Week started with the annual school luau. Mrs. Trenchard asked me chair this event again this year and I was more than happy to do it. Y'all know I love event planning. I was very fortunate enough to have a group of very active school moms who transformed the interior of our school and the playground into a tropical playground. The word "volunteer" takes on a slightly different meaning when I'm around. We were so blessed to have a beautiful spring day---no thunderstorm, no humidity!The kids had a blast playing at the different activity stations and then having some kaw-kaw in their in-room parties. It was a great day to say aloha to the school year and aloha to summer!


*********************My beautiful Keiki!***********************













Getting a tiki tattoo from my very talented friend, Kathy. Face painting/tattoo station was a very popular station that day.


Tiki Brothers

Our fun loving and fabulous kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Drake


Elijah and Ronan chasing tiny bubbles. Adults and kids alike enjoyed the bubbles!


Cathryn jumping over the shark!






Ivan and Patrick enjoying starfish ring toss

Hawaii or Bust! A luau wagon ride with Ms. Cathy and Aidan

Kinder luau feast! Too bad we couldn't build an imu to roast a pig. The moms brought food and drinks--the best was Shannon's strawberry shortcake and Kathy's tropical fruit salad.


Stay tuned for an Aloha Luau slideshow coming soon~

Mother's Day Video Card

My day started watching this video card, I think maybe 5 times. It made me laugh so hard! I wonder if I'll get a personalized video like this from my boys at some point. They've already got some practice on the bickering and punching part.
The boys and I joined Jenni and her kids at the Beau Rivage for brunch. We thought it would be nice to go out while our husbands are working (hers locally--and well you know where mine is). It just so happens that all of Biloxi thought it was a great idea and headed there too. It took us 90 minutes to get a table (and honestly not much less if we'd gone anywhere else). There's not a lot of eating establishments open on Sundays here in the South. Anyway, the kids amazingly did great--that line was worst than those in Disney World . Patrick was a little cranky because as he said it..he was STARVING!. When we finally got seated we enjoyed a really nice meal including a huge chocolate torte for dessert!!

I'm so glad we got to spend Mother's Day with good friends!!

Hurry! take a picture before they get chocolate stains on their shirts!

The boys and I headed to the beach afterwards where I watched them swim and make sand castles and pick shells. It is so fun to watch them. Ronan, my expressive one, kept telling me "I love you mom". He does that a lot when he is very very happy.
At bedtime tonight they both thanked me for a great time at the beach...so sweet. And I --a thank you prayer for being a mom.

-----------------MY FAVORITE----------------------------

-----------MOTHER"S DAY PRESENTS-------------------------

Principal Investigator in Child Development and Human Relations Research

A good friend sent this email today....
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!
----------------------
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office,was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder,'do you have a job or are you just a.....?' Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom .'
'We don't list ' Mom ' as an occupation,'housewife' covers it,'Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myselfin the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'
'What is your occupation?' she probed.What made me say it? I do not knowThe words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field ofChild Development and Human Relations.'The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest,'just what you do in your field?'
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,I heard myself reply,I have a continuing program of research,(what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humane ties, (any mother care to disagree?)
and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mom .'

Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.

Mother's Day Tea

I had a very special morning with the boys in school today where we had Mother's Day Tea. We got to seat with Cathryn and Mrs. Jeanette (Patrick's teacher last year), and Kathy with her very cute boys, Ivan and Grant. Besides the nice snack and drinks, all the moms/grandmas received a devotional book and a first edition First Baptist Cookbook. Mrs. Drake, had all the kindergartners create a project through Mudshack. So all the kindermoms got a tile with each child's handprint on it complete with a handmade mother's day card. They also entertained us with a few songs they learned from music class.

-----------------------Great LOVES of my life!--------------


"I love you forever, I like you for always. As long as I'm living my baby you'll be".

Early morning confession

Insomnia strikes this morning and I spent 90 minutes googling on finding narrow car seats to fit in my little car, getting custom made booster seats to fit infant car seat, etc. etc. Then....(yikes) I started googling minivans. Yeah..I said it minivan! I had always been partial to Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey but then that was before I saw the safety ratings for the Kia Sedona. Unless I really get comfortable driving the X5 ...we might have to get one of this. Patrick & Ronan have been begging to get a minivan...but that's because they think all new cars have DVD players in them. I've got a whole summer to get to know X5 really well.

My "Kids"

This past Monday was my last day to teach Fitness Class at school. It's been a fun year for all of us. I felt fortunate to be given a chance to work with the 4 year old classes and the kindergarten class. Kids yoga has to be my favorite part of class to teach while the kids' favorite is the different obstacle courses we do each week. I'm going to miss playing with these kids!!
The Kindergarten class favorite activity: Obstacle Course
This is what happens during and after yoga.

The Graduate

I vividly remember going through 30 hours of labor and 4 hours and 15 minutes of pushing little Patrick out. Look at him now! Graduating next week!! I'm all phklempt!

House of Blues

House of Ilness is more like it. Day three of intermittent fever for Patrick. No sore throat, no vomitting, no diarrhea, not even a cough. Just fever which luckily goes down with Motrin & Tylenol so he's not so miserable. Luckily he's not as whiny or needy as Ronan when sick. He just wants to sleep or watch cartoons. If I had a fever of 102- 103 I'd probably do the same thing except I'd be whining like Ronan. Please no more sickness after this. Last two weeks of school is loaded with activities that I'm involved in and I wouldn't want him to miss. I don't want him to miss graduation!! We need a dada doctor stat.

Fundraisers and Faires

It's spring! 'Tis the season for faires, fundraising balls and parties. I missed last week's Junior Auxillary's Spring Fling but last night and today we participated in a little fun. I went to a Silent Auction/Reception for the Bacot McCarty Foundation. Patrick's school received a huge grant from them following Hurricane Katrina and the school was able to build a playground and buy new equipment for music class and fitness class.

Kristen and her husband donated $2000 value stay at their beach house in Savannah, Georgia for the Silent Auction.

Mrs. Drake (Patrick's Kindergarten teacher)'s sons watch Patrick and Ronan while she and I joined Mrs. Trenchard, Kristen & Rod at the party. I bid on a weekend stay at the Beau Rivage but got outbidded by $25 (argh!). There was a beautiful Willie Mays jersey but it was way beyond my price range ($1000 starting bid). It was a fun evening of socializing. One of the beauty of living in a small town is you go to an event and you end up seeing a lot more people you think you'll end up seeing.

I may have gotten outbid for that weekend at the Beau but I didn't come home empty handed. I ended up buying two pieces of pottery donated by a local artist. She donated 20 table centerpieces--all proceeds went to the foundation.

Today, after a morning thunderstorm we went to the Renaissance Faire . It's also an annual fundraiser sponsored by the local businesses and benefits the local food banks/pantries, Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls club. The boys had a fun time. My favorite--kettle corn, funnel cakes and fresh lemonade! Patrick & Ronan wanted to get a couple of pocket knives from the "blacksmth" so they can whittle when we go camping. I declined the request.



A bit of belly dancing. I should have brought my belly dancing scarf and joined these girls. Then I would have the largest belly among them.

Patrick & Ronan trying a little archery.


a little dragon slaying....

some sword fighting...

and watching a jousting match.