Pre-K Graduate Final Round 2

 

 

 

Lauren and Miss Teenie

Grandaddy, Lauren, and Grandma

 

Before writing this blog, I read my blog from one year ago titled 'Pre-K Graduate Round 1'.  Last year I noted how the graduation was so beautiful, heartfelt, and well done.  How it tugged at my emotions and that I would know to bring a box of tissues this year.  Well, the staff took care of handing out boxes of tissues before the graduation began, and the ceremony was heartfelt, personal, and well done (again).  I fought back tears of pride for my grown up girl who was so serious up there on stage.  Since she had done this last year, she was the designated leader of the pack and took it very seriously.  I also laughed out loud during the tooty ta song.  Lauren officially is on her way to Kindergarten.  I'm very proud and excited for her! 

 

The Saturday following graduation I had to work in Moorefield WV.  While I was busy configuring servers, Nick won his baseball game, and Ryan took the kids on their first float trip of the season.  From all accounts, I hear it was a great time, no one got sun burned, and Nick jumped off the rope swing for the first time - without a life jacket!  Yikes! 

 

Monday, June 3rd was Nick's awards assembly.  I had to be in Moorefield, WV at 4:45 am Monday morning, which sounds awful, but it actually worked out well.  I was able to finish up my project at about 11:00 am, head to Front Royal, eat lunch, get groceries, run the groceries home, and still make it to Nick's 2 pm awards ceremony.  Nick was awarded perfect attendence and A Honor Roll (again!).  Nick's academic career to date is straight A's.  Well done Nicholas.  Well done.  For that job well done, I signed Nick out of school a whole 15 minutes early.  ;)

The next day was Lauren's first piano lessons!  I took 8 years of lessons growing up, and when I finally moved my grandmother's piano to our house, I was anxious to see if Lauren would be interested.  I put her on a waiting list, and after 6 months, got the call that Miss Barbara had an opening.  Score!  And, Lauren was interested.  Double Score!  As of the date of this blog, we have had 2 lessons, and I cannot believe how quickly and how much she has already learned.  Warms my heart.  I have no expectations, and have promised Lauren we are only on a trial period to see if she likes lessons and wants to pursue more.  Based upon how much privates lessons cost, a trial period is good for my pocketbook, too.

 

Thursday, June 6th was Nick's last day of school.  Traditionally, I take a half day off work and pick up Nick from school to celebrate.  To keep with tradition, I picked up Nick at 12:pm, we picked up Lauren early (which by the way was her last day of Pre-K class, too!  Bittersweet), grabbed some milk shakes, and since it was a very rainy day, we ditched the pool for the movies. It is blogworthy to say that at Lauren's mature age of 5 1/2 years old, she is still not a good movie goer. She used me as a jungle gym, walked up and down aisles, and complained of being hungry for her skittles and tired the E-N-T-I-R-E movie.  Lauren also said she does not like going to the movies.  Huh, who knew?  Nick on the other hand, watched 'Epic' intently and seemed to enjoy it. 

 

That brings us to last Friday, June 7th.  Lauren's very first day in Center #2 - the grade school daycare.  The rest of Lauren's pre-k class will not move to Center #2 until July 1st.  Since Lauren is 100% old enough, they allowed her to move over early.  I thought this was a great idea for several reasons.  1) It alleviated 2 drop off and pick ups for me.  2)  Lauren got to visit with her old pre-K friends from a year ago.  3)  Lauren felt special to be the only one allowed to move up. 

 

On pick up the first day, Miss Lesley explained Lauren did a cartwheel, then went to Miss Lesley to tell on herself, which made Lauren cry.  (for the record, had Lauren not told on herself, Miss Lesley wouldn't have known about the cartwheel).  Nick announced to me that DJ and Rick like Lauren and think she's pretty....this I'm not fond of...but more on that later.  Lauren was so tired after her first day of no napping and Center #2 that my usual 'Chatty Cathy' had nothing to say but, "I'm tired" on the way home.  Not so Chatty Cathy ate only her salad for dinner, passed up her pizza, and was sound asleep for the night by 6:45 pm. 

 

This spring we have not had a shortage of rain.  It has rained just about each and every day for the past 2 weeks.  Not just a rain shower, either.  We have had sever thunderstorms and derechos blow thru.  We had 5 make up baseball games scheduled this past week.  4 have been rained out. 

 

Last Saturday morning we woke up to grey skies and muddy, wet yards.  This caused the 1st of the 4 canceled baseball games.  So, we all loaded up in the van and headed out to Preston's 3rd and Julia's 1st birthday party!  Once we arrived at the party, the skies parted and that beauty of a SUN bared it's glorious rays. 

 

After the party, Nick and Ryan went on a quick afternoon float down the muddy river.  Lauren and I went Father's Day shopping (a whole week early - go me!), then swung by the LeMarr's for some more post-birthday celebrating with Jennifer's parents who were in from MinnesOta. 

 

Sunday was a catch up day and move-the-closet day for me.  Ryan took the kids to the Clatterbucks to play outside and watch the Nascar race.  I worked 6 hours on laundry, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, and the biggest chore of all - moving the closet from the dining room back to the bedroom.  The closet is done, organized, and very well packed in.  Pictures to come...

 

Monday kicked off the first day of summer at Grandma's house.  Even though it rained a few times during the day, the kids did find a window to jump in Grandma's newly opened pool.  Both kids spent the night, and Tuesday Grandma took them shopping at Walmart, and to the library to start their summer reading program.

 

That Monday evening we had a severe thunderstorm quickly blow thru that dumped a good 2 inches of water.  Here are pictures of my overflowed creek about 20 minutes after the storm.  I don't normally worry about the river anymore.  That 2 foot wide creek behind my house does bring anxiety.

We may need that canoe!

The rain has continued each day with heat and humidity.  3 more baseball games have been canceled. 

 

Lauren is starting to adjust well to Center #2 with no naps, and enjoys it.  However, Ryan and I have had to address the girlfriend and I like you talk.  I have heard too much about it this week.  Nick has told the boys to 'back off.'  Lauren is telling them to stop and telling the teachesr.  Ryan and I have talked with the kids and the teachers.  I hope we've nipped this issue in the bud, before I have to break it bad on someone, or before Lauren's head swells too much.  After our talk this morning, I quietly heard Lauren say "but they do like me and think I'm pretty."  Oh Sweet Jesus, I am afraid I will need His help going forward!

 

Note:  I know it appears I'm on a 2 week routine writing this blog.  But, in my defense, I went to update the blog this past week and I was notified the blog had been removed!  I was mortified!  Apparently my google id was locked because my birthdate said I was under the age of 18 years old.  Not sure if I absently put my wrong year in, or if my account was hacked.  Nonetheless, I'm back up and running after a few days of downtime.