Life Lately

I survived a week alone with the kids and i am here to tell about it :) but first let’s recap the beginning of summer! 

I never talked about Ainsleys field day at school. I volunteered but there was an abundance of volunteers so i was able to do odd jobs and watch A a lot. I loved watching her with her new friends, laughing dancing and having fun. It made me so happy. 

Her principal is leaving and we are all so sad to see him go. 

The kids (and cousin Emma) did swim lessons at Transy and Ainsley rocked it! She did so good and several commented on how well of a swimmer she is. Parker missed the first few lessons due to a fever but once he got in he really loved it. 

We have been lucky to have lots of cousin and family time. Several trips to Gtown and lots of time with Emma. 

Ainsley did an art camp at ArtPlay studio and she really loved it. She made a mermaid tail, a painting, slime, a starfish wand, a fairy house and more! 

And while sissy was at camp Parker and i ventured to McConnells Springs with the Sarlls family. They had a fun story walk where you walked a trail looking for the pages of the book. 

We got some more nature time at our friends Birds house too! We went to their farm for dinner and to play with all his farm animals. 

The weather hasn’t been the best pool weather but we have been outside as much as we have been able to! 

This has summer has been great so far. The kids are playing together (finally) and i don’t have to have my eyes on Parker every minute of the day. We are really enjoying having Ainsley home and the laid back feel of summer. Now, for Philip to come back from Europe- we have all missed him like crazy! 

We Survived K

I can not believe that today is Ainsley's last day of kindergarten. I feel like it was just yesterday that Philip and I were walking into an unfamiliar school, to an unfamiliar classroom where she hung up her backpack in a little cubby with her name on it and walked to a desk with her name written on it. Then upon leaving her there, without me, how the tears began falling and the sobs began. Philip was embarrassed and the seasoned parents were chuckling. I felt like she had just gone from the hospital bed she was born in, to college in the blink of an eye. It was a rough day for me. 

When we picked her up that day she complained that the day was just too long. I concurred. The next day I was allowed to walk her to class again but on the third day I wasn't allowed to. Which at the time I thought was stupid and so I stood at the glass window of the cafeteria watching her walk until I couldn't see her anymore. I think this was the hardest part for me, was sending her into the care of someone else. For 5 years she had been with me, and therefore I knew everything about her days. Now here she is spending 7 hours with people I don't know doing heaven knows what. And forget trying to get information from her, she just wouldn't tell me about her day. the first few weeks I felt lost and honestly I felt like I was in mourning every time we did something without her.  So we started counting down days until her next day off. We flushed ice down the toilet for snow days. We made the most of the afternoons and weekends. And eventually, it got easier. She started making friends. She asked for Emma to come over after school. She wanted some of her new friends at her birthday party. And she also started getting invited to birthday parties. Her assistant teacher Mrs Carter told me she couldn't believe it when she heard someone being loud and it was Ainsley. she said " I wasn't even mad I was so happy to hear her!". At school functions kids would run up to her and hug her. and my heart swelled at each of these things. Because it was like the Lord was giving me a big hug. Because how hard have I prayed for her this year. For her heart, for her friends, for her teachers. and God is so faithful and answered my prayers in so many ways. 

Emmas mom texted me this picture today from lunch time:) 

Ainsley has grown so much this year. Not only can she speak Spanish better than Philip or I, read a book, and scored great on her tests all year. But she has made some great friends who happen to have great moms. Which is great because she will stay with this same class all through Spanish Immersion. This morning I am having some of the K moms over for a "we survived kindergarten" brunch. because as proud as I am of Ainsley for doing so wonderful this year, I am also proud of myself. I am now on the PTA board, I have gotten to know most of her teachers and administration. I have let her be independent when I didn't want to. and we both have grown in a lot of good ways. 
The transition to school life was hard on all of us. I had to wake her up every.morning. She had to start going to bed earlier. Ainsley had homework every night which was also a big adjustment for us. But we adjusted and I can confidently say that she has enjoyed her first year of school. 

Today is the last day of Kindergarten and I honestly can not believe how fast this year went. Tonight, we celebrate with a sleepover and s'mores. 

Life Lately - summer’s here!

School is almost over! I am saving my reflections on the year for a seperate post- but we have been having fun in the sun and i wanted to make sure those memories got recorded! 

We went to a cookout with Philips football friends at their house. The kids (big and little) loved playing outside and eating yummy food. 

We celebrated Mother’s Day with my mom and Rachel since GG was at Cardinal Hill and Philip was working. He managed to still make it special even though i didn’t see his face that day. And the kids told me at least 50 times happy mothers day:) 

Parker is still in his first tee ball season and consistently loves playing in the dirt the most.




One Saturday morning Ainsley wanted to make breakfast from her Princess cookbook. We had all the ingredients for monkey bread and she loved making it and it was delicious! Then she set the table and served us all by herself:) 

Parker had his end of the year program and as soon as his teacher mentioned the word stage he lost his mind. He screamed bloody murder and we ended up sitting in the last row cheering his class on from afar. 

Ainsley had “picnic with the arts” which is an event Liberty puts on every year displaying each grade and their own performance. Ainsley's class was the “20s” and they learned a fun dance. We were all given specific instructions not to say “good job” or “bravo” or even hug her when she finished. We obliged and i could see how proud of herself she was for going out there and doing it! 

Ainsley was a flower girl in our babysitter Lauren’s wedding. She felt (and looked) like a princess. The day was long but she had a good time with the other flower girl; riding the party bus, playing outside, and twirling in her dress. 

And our neighborhood pool and Uncle Bubby's pool has opened which means it is officially summer!