School's Out for Summer...

Wow! How can the first day of summer vacation be just a few hours away??  How can Bennett be a first grader? How did I survive Bennett's kindergarten year??  Remember this??

Well, I did survive it - and quite well, I have to admit. I mean, after those first few tear-filled mornings, I liked kindergarten :)  

Bennett had a great year - he's learned to read (quite well - he can read just about anything that he picks up - no more spelling things to keep them a secret!!), he's learned to write (although that's not his strong suit - he's sloppy, and when I tell him that his letters are backwards or his spelling is incorrect he says 'Well, they'll know what I mean.' I can't argue with that, I guess...), he's learned to color inside the lines - I never thought he would do that!, and he's become quite a proficient artist. When he started kindergarten he NEVER picked up a pencil or crayon on his own - now I am constantly reminding him to put the caps back on his markers and I buy paper whenever I see a good deal.  It's so great!!

We were totally blessed with a wonderful teacher who gave Bennett enough room to grow and be creative, but also kept him reigned in. His imagination goes wild 24 hours a day - he's always got an idea or a plan. Mrs. M really helped him develop while at the same time learn that he had to learn some restraint :)

Let's look back a the first day of school...
And here's the last day of school...

Please keep in mind that sometime after the first day of school, Bennett totally lost his 'picture smile' abilities, so most pictures that are planned have a crazy fake, almost scary smile. Not to mention the crazy eyes. I'm not sure how to break him of that - and until I do, I'll just have to keep taking pictures and remember this phase with smiles of my own :) Remember this??

I'm really excited about this summer. In the past, when we were getting out from Mother's Day Out, I remember having a sense of dread about the summer... wondering what in the world we were going to do for 3 looonnnggg months without any planned activities. Now, as I look at the 2 short months that we'll have this summer, I can't wait. Funny how that happens.  

So, today I'm filled with a funny mix of emotions. I'm so proud. I'm kinda sad. I'm excited. I'm happy. I'm thankful.  I'm so thankful for this day. 

A few more pics...

Not much to update here in our lives. Just trying to make it to the end of the school year (and fit in as much as we can until that time!!)  Bennett and I are BOTH looking forward to not going to school (remind me that I felt this way in a few weeks, ok :)

I wanted to share a few more pictures that I took at the Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago... just having fun with the camera and my cute boys!!

Happy Wednesday :)

So Happy Today...

Happy Mother's Day! As my 6th Mother's Day comes to a close, I am still counting my blessings - and there are so many to count!! It is hard to believe that there was a time - in fact, 7 years ago - when I thought that I'd never be given the privilege of being a mommy. Then, just as I'd began to rethink my plans, God revealed His plans. His plan for our family. 

Bennett came into our lives as a 7 pound 6 ounce bundle of cuteness. And I have to be honest... he rocked my world. He upset all that I *knew* to be true. I really knew nothing about what really mattered. He showed me how much I had to learn. He showed me how little the earthly things meant. He showed me how big my heart could swell. He showed me how one little person can mean the world. He opened my eyes to the little things. He showed me how to be thankful for each and every day (and each and every sleepless night!!)

So, here's to the best job in the world. The toughest job - the pay comes in smiles and big sweaty little boy hugs. The rewards don't come in promotions but in hearing a little boy's bedtime prayers and seeing him help a friend who tripped in a soccer game. I'm so thankful that God gave me this job. 

Here's our family in May of 2003 at Pensacola Beach.  Look  how tiny he was!!

And here we are in 2009...

I hope you've had a great Mother's Day! I sure have... (and I'm typing on my new MacBook :) Thanks Brad!!