The Last Bell

I am so behind I want to quit.  But I can't.  So here we go back to the last week of school.  Remember those days?

Jackson made his bed and put his prized possessions at the foot.

Posing for grandma shopping and grandpa grandpa.

Say what?  He's eating again??

My last day volunteering.  I will forever be grateful for this experience.  The cutest thing I remember of this day was the issue Jackson had with asking girls to sign his yearbook.  He said it was so embarrassing and so I had to ask them for him.  BUT, he would let me ask a girl if there were two girls near one another.  Hilarious.

Andi was always so content with staying home when Jackson and Ryan went to school or when Ry would go to speech.  Here she is cleaning up a mess she made - I have no clue what she did but she took care of it and I was so proud of her because cleaning is not her strong suit.

And Mr. Cole was so cooperative in being lugged here and there all school year.

Ryan's last day of preschool was nice because it wasn't a real good-bye.  Next year he will be there MWF and I am so excited for him.  He loves school, his teachers, snacks, and playing.

All the "end of school festivities" can be exhausting and conflicting but so worth the hassle.

My mom's Wednesday, speech day, tradition was thoroughly enjoyed by this little man.  Well, not so little considering he pulled the donut box off the table to help himself to seconds, thirds, etc.

Ryan really does love speech and is progressing by leaps and bounds.  Such a good little boy.

Oh, and yes, speaking of growing up.... the kids weren't sleeping well and so we weren't sleeping well.  I figured this would be a good time to break Andi of her dummy.  Why not, we weren't getting any sleep anyway.  It went well I have to say and she was rewarded at Target's $1 spot.  But I do miss naps.  Yes, she's been in her room an hour now SCREAMING her head off because she "doesn't HAVE to take a nap".  Oh yes you do my child!

With the end of school in sight, we panicked mothers felt it necessary to meet and schedule out the summer.  A handy calendar was created of all the free or close to free activities for our kids.  It's such a life saver.

Yep, the LAST DAY of KINDERGARTEN.  New shoes from the beginning of the year.... a size and a half up.  New socks too.  Still wears outfit from first day of school but the shorts won't last much longer.  Back pack isn't as overwhelming.  And as for his attitude; first day anxiety to last day sadness.

We could not have been more blessed to have Mrs. Evans.  Each day I felt so comforted knowing Jackson was in a classroom with a woman that truly loved him.  Look, is it not obvious they all felt the love!?!?

Do the year over again without these ladies??  No thank you.  From valuable talks waiting for pick up, to picking up J when needed, to planning fun activities after school, to volunteering together, to loving one another's children.... honestly, couldn't have been a better experience.

On the last day of school Jackson stood inside the classroom and peeked out the door.  I felt almost as if he didn't want to leave.  He knew this was it and Gay said the entire class was in tears saying good-bye.  They loved each other for sure.

Look out First Grade - he's ready!

Let Them Sleep in the Middle

Last year when I attended this program as a "future mother of a kindergartner", I'm pretty certain I shed a tear.  This time around, as that so-called "MOTHER of a kindergartner", no tears were shed simply because I'm so excited for Jackson.  Here we are, on the path of his educational career and I love it.  I love every minute we get to watch him thirst for more knowledge, thirst for more tasks, thirst for growth.  Sure, there are moments he doesn't want to do his homework because it's "BORING", but when he snaps out of that attitude, I am again amazed at how quickly he grasps the information and relishes in the discoveries.

Okay, okay, it's not the end of the year YET - we have one more week... but here he is in his final Kindergarten Performance

"In this next song, we sing about two people that are symbols of America.... Yankee Doodle and Uncle Sam"

I tried capturing video of Jackson's favorite songs, or the songs with picture slideshows.  The last one is the most personal and most beautiful!

 Jackson loves, loves, loves his cousins and Aunt Tori and was so excited knowing they would be at his show.

Grandma shopping came back into town just in time and grandpa grandpa adjusted work so they could be there and make this little man happy.  He loves an audience! 

To make it an extra special day, I wanted to take the kids out for some fun.  Luckily Andrew had to stay home for the day so I was able to leave Cole (napping) and just take my older three and Zoe.  Easy peasy - as the kids say.  I spent time waiting in shade while reading my book and they would go on each ride at least twice.  So nice!

Cousin, cousin, cousin time... Cuzzin' time (anyone else hear the tune in their head??)

Baby It's Hot Outside

Memorial Day was so nice.  This year the ward picnic was moved to the Cusumano's and I fell in love... with their home.... it's large but homey....it's well equipped but not overwhelming.  The kids had so much fun and Cole and I relaxed most of the day.  And yes, Andrew was included in the "kid" category!  The funny thing is Andrew was just called to Young Men's secretary with Bro. Cusumano and the two of them held their first meeting in a little shade tent by the pool.  Might be a first!?!?

With the warm weather continuing, we need to find creative ways to stay happy.  I mean seriously, this heat can make me grouchy!!  So, thank you Brooke for suggesting dinner on the grass.  The kids were ecstatic, the weather cooled down and clean up was a cinch.

If you're not picnicing, then why not do breakfast for dinner.  The waffle maker doesn't heat up the house!  Each kid has loved helping in the kitchen and Cole is no exception.

 The slip n slide will save us.  Especially considering the pool popped :(

Another way to escape the heat is to head to Filmore for a couple hours.  Seriously about 20 degrees cooler and it's only a half hour away.  Perfect.

When all else fails, smack your kid in the face with a balloon!

Never again will my boys trust me after the stunt I pulled the other day.  I picked up J from school and told the kids we had to drop off papers.  Well, I took Ry in first and told him we had to give them papers so they could find out why his arms hurt.  I didn't tell him they were going to draw blood to see if he has arthritis. Yep, sat the ignorant little man on my lap and then broke the news... he lost it!  Once the needle was in his arm, his blood flowed very slowly and so he was patient, but wanted me to cover his eyes.  So sad.

Jackson was next.  Jackson was told we had to give them papers and they had to look at his arm to figure out what all he's allergic to.  I was nervous because he freaks just going in for check-ups.  And, he's strong.  Trying to hold him down was difficult but the tech then found the butterfly thing-a-bob and that helped.  He actually calmed down more so than Ry but then again, his blood flowed out easily so it wasn't as long.  He on the other hand wanted to watch.  Jackson told me he's never going back there again.

But hey, at least there was air conditioning inside!?!?

Ito & Samantha

Saturday we felt very blessed to be able to make it out to Riverside for Ito and Samantha's birthday party.  Can you believe grandpa is now 80!?!?  I have mixed emotions as I know I am so blessed to have such an amazing grandfather in my life for so long.  And really, he's so healthy and strong and I just adore him.  But man, 80, I hate that he's getting older because we can't imagine life without either of them.  Samantha on the other hand is finding herself and developing her identity as an adult and that's so very fun to watch.

Cole was woken up from his nap but I swear he knew he was going to the party because he quickly became very happy to load up and head out.

I thought it was great that Shannon got a pinata because it's hard for us showing up knowing there are no other kids for our kids.  We desperately wish they had cousins but it makes us that much more grateful for our friends and their children and the friendships they share.  Although, I do have to say, the kids have a lot of fun at Wildcat and at Ito and Juana's.  They're happy little people.

The Arrietta men are so funny - Apparently it takes 80 years to realize a real smile is cool.  Actually Rob is doing a pretty good job too!

 

 I just love the relationship these two have.  It's always as though no time has passed.

Happy Birthday Ito and Samantha - we had a fabulous time celebrating with the families.

He Walks!

Last Sunday Cole took four steps on his own.  Not prompted, not assisted, he just decided to do it and would not do it again.  Later that evening someone caught him trying again and that's how it has been all week.  He can do it and he does do it when it's not being requested.  Only when he feels like it will Cole actually walk around.  Unless, we have found, he's trying to play basketball.  This is his new obsession over the last couple of days.

It's good he's walking because he LOVES to eat.  Pb&J, eggs 'n ham, string cheese and instant breakfast... yum.

Open House

I have a memory from one of my own Open Houses - my mom was upset with me for running on the grass.  But I knew it was OK because we did it all the time.  This was my turf and I didn't like being told what I could or could not do by someone that wasn't there every single day like I was.  Oh my it's insane how much I see myself in Jackson.  We made our way over to his first Open House and let me tell you, we were on HIS TURF!  It was as though we had never before stepped into his classroom.  He was bubbling over with excitement and pride having us all in there to view his world.  I loved it.  I loved that he loved it.  I love that he loves school.  I love that we love his teacher.  Love, love love.

SIX

1. What is your favorite color? orange (this is new.. maybe a month ago)

2. What is your favorite toy? my game on the computer

3. What is your favorite fruit? watermelon

4. What is your favorite tv show? Green Lantern (Still don't get this because he's never really seen it)

5. What is your favorite movie? Nemo 

6. What is your favorite thing to wear?  Agent clothes

7. What is your favorite animal? a leopard

8. What is your favorite song? "It's All About You, Jesus" (used to be Queen's, "We Will Rock You... weird how things change)

9. What is your favorite book? The makes that I, Jackson, make

10. Who is your best friend? it's hard cause I have lots of friends and lots of them are best.  "I think I should all say of them are the best friends.  Hard to tell"

11. What is your favorite snack? Cheetos

12. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate milk

13. What is your favorite breakfast? waffles

14. What is your favorite lunch? cheeseburger

15. What is your favorite dinner?  cheese pizza

16. What is your favorite game? Giant Bird game

17. What is your favorite thing to play outside? catching lizards

18. What is your favorite holiday?  Christmas

19. What do you sleep with at night? nothing

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? an agent (sometimes he says "ninja")

21.  What do you love about dad?  He lets me stay up and watch shows while mom is gone in the night.

22.  What do you love about mom?  She makes good meals.  But I love water balloons.  Even I like to work on my desk.

The Night Before....

 That morning the kid woke up before us all as usual.  Kinda a bummer that mom and dad had been up all night with Cole and were too beat to greet him bright and early.  At one point I heard him tell Andrew, "Dad, why has no one said Happy Birthday to me except mom?".  Ry quickly said, "Happy Birthday" to which Jackson replied, "No one but mom and Ryan."  I couldn't believe he was saying that because it was reinforcing how old he's getting.  We've had such little kids for six years, it's weird getting into the place where much more is expected and noticed.  Man, the pressure is on!  He's was much happier when Paige sent him a text with Bella, and then he heard from Grandma Shopping, Bri and the Fazeli's.  The recognition was making him so happy.

 It only got better at church when all his friends wished him a happy birthday and they sang to him in Primary and he got his birthday baggie from the Bishop.  From church we headed to grandma shopping and grandpa grandpa.  We were all so grateful to grandma shopping for the all work, time and energy she put into making Jackson's day festive.  This little man loves a party.

 I love our annual picture because he's always so loving!

 The night of his birthday he would not go to bed until his entire "office" was set up.  Grandma got him supplies needed for a proper office and Jackson wanted to make sure everything was in it's place before sleeping.  I don't know where he gets this from :)

Some of his best quotes from the day:

Best day ever

this is totally awesome

oh man that's what I wanted

I just love today

This year for his birthday I did not want to go all out.  We always said "5" would be the big birthday and it was.  I asked Jackson what he wanted to do and multiple times he said he wanted to do water games.  Thank goodness it was so hot - Jackson made his guest list of his "closest friends" and said brothers and sisters could come too.  He even went so far as to starting to make thank you notes for each kid until he realized it was using up all his paper.  He did a real good with his guest list because it was so manageable and required no editing.  The only downer of the day was our pool got a leak a couple days ago and we didn't realize until all the kids started piling in... they didn't seem to mind.  It was 100% craziness the first 30 minutes after arrival.  It was a Monday afternoon and after sitting in school all day, they were ready to have fun (I totally want to do this in the future instead of during a weekend)

 Cole was still struggling from allergies and teething so he hung out inside and rearranged the kids' shoes.  I don't know why he has such a fetish but he loves giving people their shoes and he loves cleaning them up and putting them in our shoe bin.

 The water balloon toss was kinda funny because no one tossed well and no one caught well.  I really don't think one balloon was caught.  But again, who cares, they had fun!

 PINATA TIME!  Ok, I kept calling this gathering a "play date" because I didn't want the pressure of throwing a "party".  But the pinata is tradition and so yes, it leaned more on the "party" side but that's ok.

 Thank you Vallarta for your durable pinata!

 I think Allie had the best form - it was so awesome Jackson even tried it out at the end when he was trying to finally bust it open.

 Everyone was so kind, so generous and truly made Jackson's day.  We don't purchase toys around these parts and so this kid didn't know what to do with himself and all his new gadgets.  It was very exciting.

 Best Buds!

 Can you feel this kid's birthday joy?

*Thank you Nikki for capturing such an expression!

 The kids played for about 2 and a half hours and really did entertain themselves.  Best party ever - so easy!  I was impressed that two mom's from school allowed their boys to come hang out.  Steven came home with me after pick-up and Darin was dropped off by his mom.  I can't say I would have allowed Jackson to do this but I'm glad Steven and Darin were allowed because Jackson just loves those boys.  One day Steven even showed up to school with a picture he had colored for Jackson.  I love that I can work in the classroom and know firsthand of their relationship and character.  I only pray Jackson continues to pick good friends throughout his life.

Everyone was beat when the last guest departed but man, what a great day.  Jackson, I can't imagine life without you - you are a stud!

*PS.  I just love that Andi sat here the entire time I worked on this post (and talked to Tori) diligently working on a puzzle all on her own.  We're so excited to see what she does with her life.