So, Where Does Everyone Summah?

First Day of {pre}School, September 2009

Last Day of {pre}School, May 2010

School's out for summer and it's time to figure out what we'll do with these lazy, hotter-than-hot three months.  I have a few ideas cooking up...

Really hoping to show our kids that being a Christian doesn't mean just going to church and LifeGroup Sundays and Wednesdays. I suppose a "theme" (I almost hesitate to call it that...would rather call it a lifestyle), would be showing the love of Christ to others. We really want to put some things into place, especially over the summer that will help us give our kids (and us) the tools to do this.

I'd like to incorporate a weekly Bible study with the boys that will focus on this theme. Mondays are going to be (and already started with this one earlier today) "Monday Muffin Mania". We plan to bake a couple of dozen muffins to share with both friends and even people we don't know. It will be fun to try out new muffin recipes, too! Since David is off on Fridays, we plan to take a Meals on Wheels route here in Killeen. I used to deliver a route in Muleshoe with my pal, Deborah and her kids were old enough at the time to help....and I have always been wanting to do this when our boys would be able to help. And the time has come!

Our other summer plans are just starting to take shape, too. The boys are thrilled that their babysitter, Tawny, will be coming over a couple of times a week to watch them so I can still keep up my business stuff. And we are headed to New Mexico later in June for Cade Hooten's wedding and to see all the Muleshoe peeps-- woohoo! We are *hoping* (depending on David's schedule and his interviews this summer) to take some sort of vacation (even if it's only 3 or 4 days). Just kind of wanting to get out of town and do absolutely nothing. Next week, we plan to royally kick things off by spending five fun-filled days in Austin while David is at a conference. You can find us by the hotel pool. And probably hanging out some with the Newberry family, whose dad will be at the elementary schools version of the conference.

So all in all....we are ready. Hoping to make this one FUN summer before Benjamin embarks on "real" school in late August. And if any of you know where the title of this post is from....kudos to you, I consider you a friend.

con"GRAD"ulations, Benjamin!

I need to start out the post by pointing out the fact that I do indeed know there isn't really a D in the word congratulations. That's all on that.

Well, I probably also need to point out the fact that Benjamin does indeed have a younger brother...even though the last several posts Mr. B has been the main focus. With a broken arm, a field trip and graduation....you're bound to take up a little extra space on the blog.

Now then. On with the show.

Tonight Benjamin made the big walk across the stage. He is officially graduated! What a fun night. We are so proud of you, Benjamin. The two days a week you've spent at Belton Christian Preschool for the past two years have been so wonderful. You've made sweet friendships, learned lots of cool stuff that you still amaze us with and just overall really enjoyed yourself and got ready for kindergarten. Some of my favorite memories include....

--When you learned the months of the year song in Mrs. Jennifer's class last year. And sang it. All the time.

--Hearing you sing and do the motions to "Johnny works with one hammer...." last year from Mrs. Rebecca's music class.

--Your love and devotion to the "I SPY" book in the book center in Mrs. Mary's class. You and Matthew love to find the hidden guy on every single page.

--The week you studied Recycling, there wasn't a single thing I could throw away without you checking it to make sure it didn't have arrows in a triangle on it.

--How much you enjoy pattern-sorting....and how awesome you are at it!

--The time when I asked you what you and Jenae talked about at lunch and you said "Oh, no! You never talk at lunch. Lunch is for eating. Not talking. Ever."

--Your friendships with Ethan and Peyton last year (and this year), the buddy you've found in Matthew this year and the sweet "romance" you and Jenae seem to always be chirping about (oh my).

--Opening your backpack to see what creation you made that day. One of my favorites was the horse you made on cowboy week. I also adore my pipe-cleaner bracelet and fun-foam shapes necklace...they go with everything! 

I love you, Benjamin (or Ben as everyone else seems to be calling you these days....oh, wait, nope....just can't bring myself to do it). I love you, Benjamin. And I love how much this preschool has meant to you! Congratulations, sweet boy!

Benjamin with Mrs. Mary (left) and her daughter, Sophia, who helped in her class a lot. Benjamin would be so excited to tell me when Sophia had been at school!

Lining up outside the auditorium.

Walking across the stage as his name and future occupation of a firefighter were being announced.

An official graduate of Belton Christian Preschool.

Time to let loose and have fun with friends!

Jenae and Benjamin.

These two are making plans. Seriously. Jenae's mom, Debbie, and I are always talking about it. They want to get married and live with Jordan and Debbie. We told them in about 20 years or so....

Benjamin and his good buddy, Matthew.

All this hassle...just for this tassle!

One with little brother...in PJs! (His class performed in the jammies tonight). 

I'll post actual program photos soon.

Grandpa and Grandma drove over for the fun night!

We do have one more week of preschool left. And then (in the words of Benjamin...and Phineas and Ferb)...

"There's 104 days of summer vacation

and school comes along to just to end it.

The annual problem with our generation

is finding a good way to spend it...."

I have a few ideas.....

Ambidextrous and Cast Free

After six weeks in a cast, we now have an ambidextrous kiddo. Benjamin's Occupational Therapist confirmed this for us last week as he can write with both hands and now prefers his left (although he actually is a tiny bit more legible with his right). He has told us he just wants to be like Grandpa Pecos, who happens to be a southpaw as well. We are still trying to make the decision as to whether to really work hard at making him switch back to the right hand, or just let him improve with the left and go that route. But for now...the cast is off and the arm is clean! (I think I am the only one who actually cares about the latter part of that statement, seeing as how I am outnumbered by boys in this house).

We kind of broke the rules a bit and pulled down the bandaged-part a few inches the last two days the cast was on. He was able to let all of his classmates, teachers and therapists sign a spot. 

When Dr. Beal pulled off the still bandaged part, you can see how dirty the exposed part really got-- ack! You can also see in the photo why the bandage was in place...the long cut in the top of the cast was added to relieve the extra swelling he had in the beginning.

Dr. Beal, sawing away...this was a bit more scary than I realized it would be. They even had Benjamin wear the big headset since the saw was so loud!

And it's off!!

It actually wasn't as skinny and shriveled  as I expected it to be. It must be my amazing cast-care skills, right? The writing on his arm is Dr. Beal's initials that were written six weeks earlier on surgery day. He does this to indicate which arm is "the one" once the patient is wheeled into the OR.

Our souvenir. Not quite as stinky as we expected either. Must have been the bottles of baby powder that were poured down it the last few weeks.

Melt. My. Heart.

Sigh. I can't believe we are closing out a big chapter in our lives...Benjamin graduates from preschool on the 20th. I am not ready at all. I just wish he could hang out at home with me forever. Next year, he'll make the big trek across the street to kindergarten. He's signed up, has a supply list and is ready to go. It's all becoming a bit too official. 

We've loved being a part of Belton Christian Preschool for the past two years. Next year, Jonathan is moving over to St. Christopher's Preschool here is Killeen. It is a logistical thing...we're all just trying to stay in the same city next year. I will so miss our precious time at BCP. We have been so blessed by our experiences there.

If you call me on the 20th, and hear boo-hooing and Pomp & Circumstance on the other end of the phone...you know why.