School's Out For Summer!

The girls' last day of school was one week ago. I'm not real sure what the point is to the "last day" other than to say they were in school for so many days of the year. The last day consists of no real academia just some "play time", lunch and class parties. The girls did not want to miss their class parties though! It was a little trickier this year having two in school. I had to divide my time between the two. It'll be interesting when Bransyn starts Kindergarten, how I'm going to swing three parties. Although, when Bransyn starts school, Kendal will be in 5th (say it ain't so!) and the last thing she'll probably want is her Mama showing up in her classroom. Let me tell ya...that'll just be a sad day for me, if that's the case!

first party...Kendal's class

playing sight word bingo

yummy snacks

their teacher, Ms. F telling them goodbye, she will be at a different school next year :(

Off to Payton's class...

making sure her sister has an umbrella in her hair too

little friends...hard to believe they will be in 1st grade next year

"look Mama, a lifesaver ring"

Payton being cheeky, Bransyn raiding the snack table :)

The school year was a success! Kendal had her first experience with TAKS testing (BLAHHHH!!) which involved reading and math. Math is a struggle for her, especially testing and she passed her Math TAKS as well as her reading TAKS. WOOOO HOOOO!! Thank you, God!! That was a huge answer to prayer!!!

Payton loved school and despite my worrying about her being a young 5 starting out, she did very well. She still can't read fully on her own, but we will continue to work on that over the summer.

We are all glad that summer vacation has arrived, although I dread it as well. We were home less than an hour on that last day of school, the girls were playing in their pool, I was on the phone with my mom and was already having the fighting and crying going on. Thankfully, it's been better, if that continued....it would make for a very looooong summer! Of course, it helps that they have stayed busy this week. Payton and Kendal have been going to W.O.W. week at the church I work at. Payton goes from 9-12 and Kendal is there from 9-3. Then all three of them have been going to VBS in the evenings at our friend's church. They will probably crash and burn this weekend. :)

With trips to the pool, hanging out with friends, my part-time job I am doing over the summer and some other fun activities, hopefully that'll keep them occupied and non-annoying to each other which brings peace to me. :)

Enjoy your summer!!

Kindergarten Graduate

Today, Payton graduated from Kindergarten. Although, they no longer have a graduation ceremony like they did with all the classes together when Kendal was in Kindergarten. Now, it's each class in their own rooms with the teacher and no principal. Now it's called Kindergarten Recognition. No matter how they do it or what they call it, it was still a special moment for our middle girl and her Mama and Daddy. :)

waiting with her friends

her teacher, Ms. L telling us all what a great year it was

getting her diploma and her award for her willingness to help others
Ms. L took the time to say something sweet about each child

reading her card

cute girls

Payton loved her teacher and loved school. She was given the option of coming home with us at 1:30 or staying until school got out. She wanted to stay. She would come home from school each day begging to do her homework, even on days when she didn't have any. I hope that trend continues throughout the rest of her school days! We are so proud of our little "graduate"!

Until next time...

Kendal turns 9

Kendal now has only one year left of the single digit age. Today she turned 9. I'm not sure where all the years have gone, each one seems to pass quicker than the year before. I am not ready for the two digit age. She is growing up way too fast, I want to keep her little for just awhile longer.

Since the girls are still in school, we celebrated her birthday as a family yesterday. It was a great day.

excited about a check from Grandma and Papa W

opening her present from us

She doesn't really quite know what's happening since her gift seems to be her tennis shoes that she has been wearing the last couple of months. Jeff told her we were to poor to buy a gift so her shoes were her gift. After few seconds of the "I got shafted" look, I told her to see what was under the shoes.

still a little confused

Still not too sure what's happening. She has been wanting roller skates, but we felt that she should be there to try them on and pick out the ones she wanted. We still wanted her to be able to open something and thought this was the way to do it plus it was a little fun to see her face when she pulled out her cruddy tennis shoes. :)

Very happy now. Even got the arm pump and a big "YESSSSSSSS!!!!"

She told us before we left the house that she wanted black and red ones. She got what she wanted!

Trying them out...as best as she could with them attached together

She is much more confident in them standing still than moving. She is very wobbly and needs to be held onto. She spent most of her time in them walking in the grass. :)

Skates in red and black were purchased then it was off to eat. Birthday girls choice...Red Robin, a family favorite!

Apparently the roller skate shopping (one store, one pair tried on) was too much for Payton and Bransyn to handle. They crashed on the way to Red Robin.

Everyone is awake and ready for food

She got sung to and was given the birthday sundae and three balloons which she shared both with her sisters. What a great big sister!!!

YUMMMMMMYYYYY!!!

We will be celebrating with her friends on Fri. night at our house for a SLUMBER PARTY!!! 13 invitations were given out, 6 yes RSVP's and haven't heard either way from the remaining 7. Could be interesting...and LOUD!! :)

Until next time...

Pajamamamarama

This past Friday night, Payton and I went to my work church (as the girls call it) for their mommy-daughter Pajamamamarama, which is a sleepover at the church for girls entering or completing Kindergarten and their Mamas. It was a 50's style theme and we had a lot of fun!

Dressed in our 50's style and ready to go

she danced with Elvis ;-)

ate hot dogs with friends

watched some teenage girls show us a couple of 50's style dances

got to do a few moves herself

she was having so much fun

being taught the hand jive

yummy treats in the chocolate fountain

decorated a pillow

her finished work

sang a little karaoke

went on a walk through some dark hallways upstairs with flashlights

played in the bounce house

had fun with friends

did not want to wake up in the morning

waffle and sausage breakfast before heading home

I did not get much sleep that night because I spent most of the night trying to keep her from grinding her teeth. She is a horrible teeth grinder, just like me when I was a kid. I was worried she would keep everyone else awake so I was constantly (or so it felt) grabbing her jaw, shaking her or trying to open her mouth. With all that, it's amazing that she got any sleep. LOL! It sounds more horrible than it actually was, I was being as gentle as possible. :) The sleep deprivation was well worth it to spend that time with her without her sisters around.

Until next time...