Goodbye Odyssey Hello Maxima

I am a car person. I love driving a car. I hate having a car payment again, but I love my new car! I traded in my mom-mobile mini van in for a brand new, 2011 Nissan Maxima! I miss having the room I do have to say, but I'm loving my zippy new car! Saying his last goodbye to the Odyssey. Poor Seth! We got this van when he was 3 so it's really all he's ever known. He loved the van and didn't want to get rid of it.

My new car!

Seth's 2nd grade "graduation"

Seth's school this year was pre-K-2nd grade. He finished 2nd grade and they did a little performance and got their awards and diplomas. Sorry this picture is so grainy...I didn't use my camera right.

I was pretty far away, but Seth zeroed in on me and saw that I was taking a picture so he smiled and posed. Little cutie. :)

Seth getting his "diploma" from his principal, Dr. April Strevig.

Ok... this is Seth's friend, Diamond. Diamond is something else. Seth always gets kinda attached to one girl in his class...he has every year. This year that girl was Diamond. She's hilarious! Each time I saw her she'd tell me a sitiuation about how she had to look after Seth! He told me that she bugged him on occasion, but other times, he'd say she was his good friend.

Seth and his best friend, Brenton. Seth is sad because Brenton is moving. Ugh...the life of a military kid sometimes is hard.
Seth's FAVORITE teacher, Mrs. Strickland. Mrs. Strickland wasn't his homeroom teacher, but she was his teacher for writing, reading, and math. Warning...Mommy Brag Alert...The top kids in Seth's homeroom, him along with about 4 others were advanced so they went to Mrs. Strickland's class for these subjects. Funny story too...I learned through Facebook that my dear friend, Tangie from OK (who we met while we were stationed in MA) went to high school with April when April's dad was assigned to Altus AFB! Small world!

Seth with his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Singleton. Mrs. Singleton is such a great teacher. Seth was really blessed to have her and he does love her!

Just a little idea for Teacher Appreciation

For teacher appreciation this year, I got Jonathan and Seth's "main" teachers gift cards to their favorite restaurants. I try to do something significant...1) because I know how much work they put into their professions even though they are underpaid and 2) because I know they invest alot of time in my own kids and I want them to feel appreciated. Gift cards are kinda boring and I wanted to do something creative so I added a couple more gifts. I gave Seth's teacher a cute little paint pail full of candy bars with a cute poem using the names of those candy bars in the poem. I copied it from Nothing But Country I gave Jonathan's teacher a 31 Gifts bag (I got it on sale for $9!) that I got mongrammed with "Mrs. Wilson" on it stuffed full of teacher supplies...paper clips, post it notes, pens, highlighters, sharpies, hand sanitzer, kleenex, notecard with her initial on them, mints, etc.

I always feel like the "specials" teachers are a little neglected. I can't do much because of low funds (ha!), but I want to do something so this is what I came up with this year. Cute huh? These fun sized bags of M&Ms are usually only $1 a bag. I include the music teacher, art teacher, PE teacher, librarian, and Jonathan's FOCUS (gifted and talented) teacher.

Last day of school for ME!!!

Last day of preschool!! I look exhausted and my kids look drugged! LOL! This was such a sweet class! I miss them already!

End of year AWANA awards

Jonathan with his wonderful TnT handbook leader, Mr. Guy. I have worked in AWANA for 8 years at 5 different churches and Mr. Guy by far is the best! He will miss Mr. Guy this year, but I know God has someone else perfect for Jonathan's 5th grade year in AWANA!

Another grainy picture...ugh. Jonathan getting his book award from the TnT boy's secretary, Mrs. Joyce. She's awesome too! This TnT club here at Southside is top notch!

I'm so proud of Seth! He finished his 3rd Sparks book this year...he finished all of his books each year, on time so he got the Sparkie award...getting it here from our Sparks secretary (who is also pretty awesome!), Mrs. Melissa. Off to TnT this next year and he's taking his dad, one of my Sparks leaders with him. BOO! No, Nathan belongs with older kids. I appreciate him so much for helping me out this year.

Piano Recital

Here, Jonathan is pictured with his fabulous piano teacher, Mrs. Peggy Dunston. When we moved to GA, from LA...Jonathan had been taking piano for about a year and a half. He was doing good and moving right along...well so I thought. When we got here, a friend I met through our spouse's group told me about Mrs. Peggy when I asked if she knew of a good piano teacher. When Jonathan started taking lessons with Mrs. Peggy last fall, I was blown away, right away at the progress he was making! The songs became longer, harder...he started using pedals and transposing! I was in awe! And not only is Jonathan learning faster, he loves piano even more! I also have to give credit to Mrs. Peggy for helping me find my teaching job. When we were at her piano student's open house, she told me that she had retired from teaching music from the public school system and started teaching Pre-K at a private school here. I of course was looking for a job so she told me to go and talk to the director about subbing. So I did and since a teacher had to leave mid-year due to her son's illness, I stepped right in as the teacher! So thank you Mrs. Peggy for loving Jonathan and for teaching him such a wonderful gift, but also thank you for helping me get my job. I love working with Peggy so much! Jonathan and Mrs. Peggy after his spring recital on May 14th. I wish I could put video on here from my Iphone...maybe I'll figure it out. Jonathan did so well!

Field Day X 2

Jonathan and Seth were at seperate schools this year so I got to watch both of their field day's exclusively! Next year it will be together and I'm glad they will be together at one school. This took alot for Jonathan. He is afraid of heights. I was so proud of him. Amazing what a little peer pressure will do!

Jonathan and one of his best friends, Calvin. Calvin is so sweet...he reached out to Jonathan right away...being at a new school and all.

They thought it was so cool to sign each other's shirts. Jonathan with his friend, Ari.

Jonathan and his other best friend, Nick. Nick is so sweet...we do alot with Nick and his little brother Joey. I love their mother, Lynn...she has become a good friend of mine here.

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

I love these boys more than anything and feel so blessed to have them as my kids. Being a mother is the best thing in the world! Mother's Day May 8th, 2011