Celebrating Our Teachers

I think I have made it pretty clear how much I have loved having Jackson's two teachers this year. I cannot describe how thankful for them I am. God sent them to us. Really. Alot of people don't "get" Jackson. Those who do love him and cannot get enough of him. And, both of them fall in that category. They made this year enjoyable, a breeze, and fun for my entire family. I am really going to miss them next year. But, at least I had such a great experience for my "first year" as a school mom. And, I truly feel because of them Jackson's idea of school is permanently a good one and positive, too. Today he told me he is sad it is summer because he dosen't want to stop going to school. He said he misses Mrs. Cheryl and Mrs. Melissa already. :(

This week we worked on our gifts for them. We got them a pedicure gift certificate to Scarlett's Retreat (that Jackson told them was for their toes and their nails when they opened it.:)) We also made them something crafty...

It was our first attempt at the whole butterfly/caterpillar craft, but I thought it turned out really well. I am a big stickler for Jackson's crafty gifts to be solely his own work as much as it can be. I think he did an awesome job!

He also picked the flowers that went in them (he loves doing that!) It was so sweet! He told everyone at the nursery who they were for. He would say stuff like, "Mrs. Cheryl LOVES pink!" So cute!!! Then, he "planted" them!

The teachers really liked their presents! They were a hit!

Jackson was very excited to present them, too!

I cannot believe today was our last day with these phenomenal women. All I can pray and hope for is that for many years to come, Jackson's future teachers are able to fill these shoes. I have a feeling I might be expecting a bit too much. :)

Drawing the Season to a Close...

This past Monday night was Jackson's baseball celebration service/banquet whatever you call it. I call it a disaster. No, seriously. I hate to be harsh. I am so proud of Jackson and loved seeing his pride as he brought home a trophy AND a gold medal! He kept saying how he couldn't believe he got BOTH! A trophy AND a gold medal! However, the whole thing other than seeing my baby so proud and excited left a lot to be desired. Where do I begin?

First, I was disappointed Paul had to work that night, so I had asked my dear, sweet, wonderful mother-in-law to attend with me. I remember my exact words. "I don't really NEED help per se, but I just would like to have an extra set of hands so I can video tape it all for Paul since he is missing it." Uh, well, only part of that is true. I did NEED help, and I mean need help. I did videotape the whole thing (thanks to Connie's help) only to be disappointed in nearly 95 percent of it. And, without the extra set of hands I would have had to call it quits and walk out.

It was in the church sanctuary...where there wasn't enough seating for everyone (thankfully these smart women arrived very early...but remember how Preston was feeling by the end since he arrived early with us)...and I promise you the air was NOT on for a while...and when they turned it on it was too late to tell. Plus, you dropped off your player to wait outside with the coach to walk in where they would then sit with their coach the entire time. Have I mentioned what entire time means yet? It started at 6:30 and lasted until after 8pm. Now if you have taken two toddlers to church chances are they didn't sit in a church sanctuary for that long. Yes, imagine it (and I don't mean the museum!)

While they did introduce the teams (all seven hundred of them..and that night was only ages 3-4 and 5-6) and the cheering and the emotion when the director said for us to make them feel "10 feet tall" did bring tears to my eyes, I could barely see my little man even walking in. I felt so far away from him and desperately wanted to be WITH him during this important time. Little did I know he had fallen outside (yes, running even though the coach told him to stop...come on he's a kid who waiting outdoors for 40 minutes!) and had skinned knees. So, the little man I couldn't see was really a sad little man. I finally caught his attention to show my excitement and wave, and the poor child lost it when he saw me. I felt trapped. He wasn't supposed to sit with me, and I didn't want to make a scene. But, he was bawling for me. I was just rude or whatever you call it and went right over there. I held him in the aisle while he cried. He barely knows his coach. It's not like it's his teacher at school. Plus, it's a man. They should have never left those kids with him that long outside. :( Thankfully, cheering was still going on so we didn't make a scene. I finally got him calmed down. (Note: Imagine how this would have gone if Connie would not have been there to sit with Preston.)

Then..they played a DVD slideshow of the season. If you know me, you are thinking right up my alley, right? No. Not a single picture of our team. I was told later it was "thrown together at the last minute." Seriously? There's NO reason why someone could not have contacted the coaches or team moms to ask for our pictures we had taken to be included. VERY disappointed. And, I was videotaping the whole thing for Paul all at the expense of Preston whining for me. :(

THEN...(drum roll, please) we sat through a very long magic show. Yes, you heard me. Magic show. Granted, at the END there was an invitation and a magic trick showing us about our life with Christ and it's importance. Although it was over kids those ages heads, I still agree it should have been done because who knows what parents it reached. But...you remember this is Monday, right? A school night? A night period. These kids didn't need to sit through a magic show that late at night!

Finally, we were released to go upstairs to our rooms for our teams parties. Well, I wouldn't call it a party at bedtime. Anyhow, Connie could not make her way to the downstairs bathroom due to the crowd to change Preston's diaper so she followed us upstairs. There are children's rooms all over the place, so we figured she could find a bathroom suitable. Nope. She changed a 2-year old's poopy diaper standing up. I've NEVER done that. Kudos to her. She said Preston took it all in stride and laughed. As I enter the room, I discover that noone brought any decorations or tableclothes but me..and I only got one. The person who was supposed to bring the cups didn't bring any. The only drinks they had were sodas. These kids are 3 and 4! Juice? Water? Seriously. Tea even! I had to hike to a water fountain. I suddenly became the sole cake cutter when it was clear I had my hands full while other parents were sitting down and enjoying their pizza and cake and drinks. I didn't have any pizza, any cake, and managed to get a sip of diet coke at the end using the very last cup someone finally found around the church.

All this after as I am trying to take my own child's picture getting his trophy holding two cameras, other moms are approaching me to take their kids picture too because the battery on their camera is dead. Well, maybe you should have went to Wal-mart and bought the cups you were supposed to bring and the batteries that you needed, too! Sorry. Meanwhile, another kid is stealing Preston's snack, drinking out of Preston's sippy cup (poor Connie tried to block them...and said kid's mother is the same mother mentioned above..battery and cup lacking mother.) Then, Jackson decides to pose on the floor for a picture probably because it's 9pm by now, and someone steps on his fingers. The same person just had Preston in a corner shoved between a file cabinet and the wall. All the while it is 100 degrees because someone keeps shutting the door (if you know my kids, you know they do not behave well when overheated.) Oh, and I forgot to mention. I am now being asked to email the picture used in the coach's plaque (by the "team mom") and for business cards and website for my "cake business"???????

I left out that I was NOT team mom. Although I checked the box that I would be. I was notified early on someone else was though. Although wait. That person brought NOTHING to the party except maybe ice??? That's the only thing I don't know who brought it. AND, I told that person I would PRICE a plaque for the coach. Only at the next game, I was approached with a wad full of money and informed, "I don't even know how much it is." What did I get to do? Take a group picture, rush to get it developed, and go to the trophy store to order and later pick up the coach's plaque. Are you as confused as I am by now?

Long breath...

Ok! I'm done! I really needed that! Thanks!!! All I can say is I still haven't gotten the courage to contact someone to ask for a comments form or survey because if we play again, I don't want everyone to "hate" me and my kid. But, if I do play again, I will skip the celebration. I will pick up their trophies early, and do my own party at home. Or at least only join the team in the room. Or maybe be team mom (since I was this year anyway) and arrange our own team party outside of the church.

All that matters though is THIS...


I still get warm fuzzies when I see this, so that's what counts right? He had such a good time playing, and I really am loving this age. It is great all the firsts and the new stuff we are getting to experience with Jackson. I cannot wait to introduce it all to Preston, too.

I am one proud Mom!

And even though Daddy couldn't come he is also equally proud (and ticked about how it all went down at the banquet. :))

This face says it all. This was Jackson "watching" the magic show. He doesn't look too miserable, huh? Just really red-faced and hot. :) I love this little man. And, I will endure anything for him.

Jackson's 3K Spring Program!

My little man had his 3K spring program Tuesday night, and I tell you it was amazing to compare how he did for this one to the Christmas one last year. It was easy to see how much he had matured and grown this year during school. It probably also helped that I told him to put on a good show for us! I told him last time (Christmas) he didn't sing a lot. He said, "Mom, I told you I had stage fright, but you wouldn't listen!" :) So, this time...he put on a show for sure! He sang the loudest and then had everyone else singing loud along with him! Uh-oh, I thought. Paul's going to kill me because he's probably embarassed. Paul instead thought it was hilarious and cute! The teacher later told me she also had told them to sing loud. So...being that children take things so literally all of the encouragement made for an interesting, entertaining night! I hope to upload some video of his "performance" later today.

We were very blessed to have Paw Paw and Maw Maw Mitchell come to watch, too. And, then we got to go eat dinner with them afterwards as well. The boys loved that! Preston did such a good job watching the show. He sat there like it was a movie or something.

Paw Paw Bell came, too! And, he even got there on time! :) He and Preston enjoyed sharing a bag of cheez-its for a program snack. I am not sure who is the bigger kid...my dad or Preston. :)

See the concentration on Jackson's face? :) He went through all the motions and did them with such grandeur! (notice I didn't say grace.) :) They did "Goin' on a Bear Hunt," which is one of my favorite songs they do at school, too! Yankee Doodle, Grand Ole' Flag were some of the other songs they sang as well.

I honestly cannot believe the end of the school year is approaching. 3K went so fast! If they all go like this, he'll be graduating college before I blink an eye! I have loved every minute of his first year of school and only have good memories. I am really going to miss his teachers next year, and I feel so blessed by God to have had such great role models as his first teachers. They are two strong Christian women who have really loved Jackson for who he is the whole year. Sometimes like me I feel Jackson can be misunderstood, but from the beginning these two women have understood him and accepted him and I know he has been well taken care of. He has had SO much fun! I bet he is going to be asking about when school starts back again all summer long!

TBall---My New Favorite Activity

I don't watch sports on TV. I've never been to the Braves stadium (what's it even called???) since the new one was built. And, when I went to the old one it was for concerts. I am not a baseball girl. Or really any type of sports girl. I never imagined I would enjoy seeing my sons play baseball and really thought Paul would be the one that urged them to play.

However, after only a first season of 3-4 TBall, all that has changed! I guess my little boys can make me like anything if they are a part of it! I LOVE watching Jackson play. I can honestly say it has been one of my favorite memories of raising them so far!

Thankfully, Maw Maw Mitchell has come to alot of his games to help out with Preston so we can go on the field if we are needed. That has made it so much more enjoyable for Jackson and us. So, thank you so much for that, Maw Maw!

And, as you can see, Jackson enjoys it, too! I think he really has found his sport. He says he still wants to play soccer again (which he should since what he "played" before wasn't really games.) I want to expose him to all of the sports so he can best choose what fits him. Although I will save contact sports like football until he's older. I mean we JUST got over the pushing stage at age 3 everyone goes through. Why would I want to encourage that? :)

Here they all are! Minus a few who were sick. They are all such a great group of kids. I have really had so much fun watching all of them!

Go, Mud Hens!

Happy Mother's Day!

Although I am late posting about it, we had a wonderful Mother's Day on Sunday. Saturday night, Ms. Leesha came to watch the boys while Paul treated me to a date night to celebrate. We had a wonderful dinner at Vinocity and saw that new movie "Ghost of Girlfriends Past." That was very relaxing and fun! Then, Sunday morning Paul made me breakfast! Yum! He makes the absolute best grits you've ever tasted. :) Ms. Leesha (at Paul's request) had made cards with the boys the night before that they then gave me.

Then, we headed to Paul's mom's house for lunch. The kids had alot of fun playing with Bree and John Michael. Connie had gotten me some adorable flip flops and this beautiful necklace and earrings set. That was SO sweet of her!

For Mother's Day for Connie, we got her some new placemats and napkins for her kitchen table and a new toy storage container for the playroom. AND...the boys and I surprised her by going over there last Wednesday and cleaning her house for her. She cried and was very thankful and touched. I love doing stuff like that for people. It brought back memories of when I used to clean my Me-mommie's house and surprise her. :)

Then, later in the afternoon my mom (Nanny) came to visit. She loved all her presents we got her! She got to stay and chat for a while so that was nice.

It was such a blessing for all of us to be with our moms Sunday. Until I was a mom myself I never really realized all that my mom did for me. I am so thankful to her for putting up with me and helping shape and mold me into who I am today. I am also equally thankful to Connie for giving birth to Paul and shaping him into the man that leads my family. It is because of both of them that my life today can be what it is. And, I am incredibly grateful. I am also so blessed to be here with my two boys on Mother's Day. It is a nice reminder of what a big job God has given me, but also a great time to remember He doesn't make me go it alone. Thank goodness!

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day!

Dr. Carly

I guess it was about 8 years ago when I met my best friend, Carly. She came over to my Moye's location where I worked from another Moye's to "borrow" a medication. She was in high school still and was wearing her hair pulled back and had her glasses on. I will never forget that. I remember thinking..."Oh, so that's Carly..." I had spoken to her on the phone a few times although we'd never met in person. That was the beginning of one of the best friendships I have ever formed in my life! :)

Today, that dark-eyed, pretty, high schooler is now a grown woman, and she isn't just a woman anymore. She's a DOCTOR! She graduated today from Mercer Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta with her doctor of pharmacy degree in hand. I am SO proud of her. I cannot believe she's already graduating! Funny how it seemed to go by so much quicker for her than it did me when I was the student! :) Congrats, Carly! We are so happy for the new chapter in your life you just began. You have our love and support for the many new chapters you have yet to reach.

We love you, girl!

"Walk de Pwank, Mommy!"

Pirate Preston is telling me in this picture:

"Arrrrgggghhh!!!! (and I mean really telling me..so much I think he now has a sore throat) Walk de pwank, Mommy! Wi Tywone, Pabwo, Tasha, and Uneeka."

Interpretation:

"Walk the plank, Mommy! With Tyrone, Pablo, Tasha, and Uniqua." (aka the Backyardigans)

Uh...yeah...well, he might watch a little bit too much TV, you think?

Still...priceless and hilarious. I just love him so much I could eat him up.