It's Summertime!!

We heard about  a local theater that showed $1 movies Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. They also had $1 popcorn and $1 drinks. Even better is that adults are free and children under 2 are free also. Its first come, first served. I detest events like this. I loaded the kids up, we were dressed, and they were PUMPED up and by golly I wanted them to see the movie. Luckily we made it with a few minutes to spare and after we had our seats I went back out and got them both a pop corn and drink. We were all set! They both ate their entire box of popcorn and Mckinley only had to leave once for a diaper change. Once she was back in the theater she slept for the last 20 minutes of the show. That was her nap for the day.
We've had a great start to our summer together!!

Party Time

This big brother celebrated his 6th birthday today. All day he'd ask "Mama are you sad cause I'm turning 6?" It's funny because I'm not sad he's turning 6. I'm sad that the years have flown by. I get sad when I think about the past and all that we laughed about with him when he was really little. But I'm so proud of who he is becoming. I certainly don't want the years to fly by but I look forward to watching him grow up. I know he's going to be just fine. (And every once in a while I do ask him if he'll ALWAYS love me. To which he replies "yes!")
We often talk about how fast time goes by. I try really hard to live in the moment. Not to worry so much about what's going to happen but play and laugh, stop to look, sit and talk, and soak up every moment that we're together. Look at him. 6 years ago this very night he was just a little thing. He's grown up so fast. And I love him so much. He's brought so much joy and purpose to our lives. Life before him is just unimaginable.

And by the way the theme for this years birthday was "camouflage". Who knew they made a camo cake?

Just in the Blink....

And just like that it's over. You look, you blink, and it's gone. In the past. History.
Today Braxton had his kindergarten celebration. And what a wonderful celebration it was. I sat there and thought about the first time we entered into the classroom. How big it looked and how little Braxton seemed. He was shy and timid. Every night we had this awful, painful, pitiful, routine we'd go through. Right before bedtime it'd start and as soon as his feet hit the floor it continued. Question after question. Worry after worry. And then one day it just stopped. Something clicked and he was ok. If you knew his teachers you'd know why. We couldn't have picked a better set of teachers for him. I told dad this morning that whatever prayer I prayed last year for him I was going to begin it again this summer. He had a fabulous year and I can not believe that just like that. It's over.
On the way down to get Mckinley tonight Braxton was talking to me about his day. He was singing songs he'd learned and telling me "The Top Ten Reasons to Love Kindergarten" and he started to ask me about his birthday. I shared with him that when we found out we were having a baby, we were told not to make any plans for the beginning of June and that June 7 was his official "due date". Six years ago it was the day before the last day of school. I still remember how upset I woke up June 7, 2007 STILL pregnant. I just knew my baby was going to be early. I remember how sad I was when I went to bed that night STILL pregnant. I never stopped to think about all the June 7's to come when I would have something to celebrate. Although my sweet baby boy chose his own day to make his arrival, I think it's ironic that he graduated Kindergarten on this day, the day we were "expecting" him.
 Braxton never meets our expectations. He exceeds them.

Princess in the House

Mckinley had a good time getting ready for church on Sunday. (Don't worry. I didn't let her wear the boa!)
Would it be safe to say we have a diva on our hands?!

Fun Run

 This girl is always ready to go support her big brother.

 Helping make sure she "looks" at the camera.

 One of the things Braxton's school has been doing this month to raise money for Juvenile Diabetes is "Theme Tuesdays". Every Tuesday there has been a theme; pajama day, crazy hair day, tacky day, hat day etc. If you want to participate you donate .50 for the cause. He's had a really good time and the finale for the fundraiser was a Fun Run. It cost $5.00, you received a t-shirt, and 100% of the proceeds went to help continue research.
Today was the Fun Run. It's been in the 80's for the past 2 weeks but you know good and well that this morning it was 45 degrees and windy. We bundled up and went to the school. Everybody kept asking as we were checking in if he was running by himself. I started to feel bad so I asked him if he wanted to run or if he wanted to race. He wanted to race! So I stepped aside and left him at the back of the mob with his little buddy from his class. I reassured him we'd be in the same spot when he returned. The whistle blew and he was off on a one mile "fun run" around the school. Brandon, Mckinley, and I wandered through the school (where it was warm) and went to peek at what the race looked like on the other side. Sure enough we stood there and saw him come up over the hill. Running and by himself. We hurried back outside so we'd see him cross the finish line. A little more than 11 minutes after he started he crossed the finish line. He took 3rd place for his age division! We were quite proud.
 This afternoon while he was outside and I was inside doing laundry I went to look at his cork board behind his bedroom door. I took down some things that had been up for while and  moved some other things around. I had to make room for his first marathon bib and this ribbon for finishing 3rd!

Good Grief

If teeth had hair this last one would have been hanging from one. But no, not for the past few days. WEEKS, people. This tooth has been ready to come out for W.E.E.K.S. Every morning he'd rub his tongue over and look at me with those eyes and ask "Is it still there?"This past week, I stopped answering. Before we'd brush his teeth he'd hold up one finger and say "Careful, remember?" I tried telling him if he swallowed it, the tooth fairy wouldn't come. I tried telling him if he swallowed it and it came out in his poop he'd be the one to have to go through it. (He told me it wasn't that important). I even went so far to say if "you don't let me pull it I'm calling the dentist and he'll pull it". The stinker was fine with that scenario UNTIL he asked if he'd have to get a shot and we said yes. I'm just trying to paint the picture of what it's like to get a tooth out of this kids mouth.
 And tonight. I don't think I cried and yelled as much going into labor both times as he did with this tooth. And that was all before we touched it! But the important thing is it is OUT!! (And somebody just barely got away before having to hand over $100. Braxton made him prove that he had the money and then STILL wouldn't pull the tooth)
  If the Tooth Fairy disappointed last time with $5.00, she's going to really disappoint this time.  Just sayin'.

Hoppin' Around

No worries, the Easter Bunny DID find our residence and as always he did not disappoint. We were up and down stairs by 6:30. Everybody was excited but it actually helped us get to church on time. Because the weather was so terrible last weekend the Egg hunt had to be canceled so they had rescheduled it for Easter Sunday! They even threw some eggs down in one of the nurseries just for Mckinley. She had her own private egg hunt. She had people rolling with laughter because every time she'd find one she'd go "oh" and make a surprise face. She did this with EVERY egg she found! Look at the picture right above and you can tell the mood she was in!
After church we went by Dad's house. The Bunny stopped there too.