2nd Grade Zoo Trip

I took at personal day and got to accompany Evangeline on her 2nd grade trip to the Indianapolis zoo.  My mom came along too.  We had such a wonderful day.  We spent the first half of the day walking around the zoo with Evangeline's friends, Hannah Simpson and Alex Wernz.  Later in the day we parted ways with her little friends, ate lunch and stayed at the zoo until it closed.  Our favorite parts of the zoo were the sky lift, the baby orangutan and the butterfly garden.  

 

The butterfly garden was really neat.  There were butterflies everywhere.  Evangeline even had this huge blue butterfly land on her leg.

 

Of course we made a Target run on the way home which was just the icing on the cake.  Evangeline slept most of the way back snuggling with her owl souvenir.  We were all pooped out after such a great day. 



 

 

Play Ball!

Evangeline's back at softball.  We all enjoy watching her at this sport.  She's small, but she's a pretty good hitter.  Sometimes Kyle gets put in the game to be a base coach, run the score board or help with practices.



 

She usually plays centerfield, but sometimes she is the catcher.  

 

 

Jed loves to go to the games.  He likes to point out the ball and bats...mostly he is a handful :)

 

Hats Off to Mother's Day!

I always ask myself, "is this real?".  How ever do I deserve these beautiful souls entrusted to my care.  I try each day to pray, asking God to help me be the mother he intends for them.  Mother's Day is such a lovely reminder to stop and marvel at this gift I've been given.  Oh, Mother's Day!  My favorite day of the year along with Christmas.

 

The Mother/Daughter Banquet at church this year was a hat theme.  Evangeline wore the hat my Grandma Mary got married in.  She looked beautiful and I wished my Grandma and Grandpa could have seen her in it. My mom wore one of her grandmother's hats.  I wore my Anne of Green Gables hat :)   

 

 

 

Evangeline shared the story of her special hat with the audence.  A proud grandma looks on....

 

The program was all about the history of hats.  The girls had a fun time modeling vintage hats and then parading around the room for all to see. 

 

What a lovely night with my moms and our daughters.  I am so blessed to have Mom and Peggy in my life.  I look up to and admire them both so much.  I really don't know what I would ever do without either one of them. 

 

 

On Sunday I awoke to cards, my favorite magazine and chocolate from my children and Kyle.  We attended church and then off to Lincoln Trail for our annual picnic.  It was a lovely day. 

 

Haha!  Me thinking I can get a shot with all four of them again....

 

We were all exhausted when we got home.

 

A Visit From a Fairy

On Friday May 12th I came out of Jed's bedroom after putting him to sleep to be greeted by a very excited Evangeline who had just lost her left tooth (the one next to the front tooth...I should really learn the official names of these teeth!).  We were both thrilled.  This tooth had been hanging on for WAY too long.  It was very crowded in there.  She awoke the next morning to find a very small letter from the tooth fairy herself!  I took a picture of it next to a quarter just for scale.  The letter was addressed:

Evangeline Hutson

Brick House By The Field

Last Bedroom On Left

Marshall, IL

 

The return address said:

Tooth Fairy

123 Sparkle Lane

Glitter Hallow

Land of Enchantment

 

It was sealed with the tiniest wax seal with a teeny tiny postage stamp.  Evangeline was so excited she ran right into our room at the crack of dawn (I don't think it was even 6:00 yet).  We had to get a magnifying glass to read the letter and when she opened it....tiny glittery stars fell out.  It was clear that the Tooth Fairy had outdone herself.

 

Here's what the letter said:

Dear Evangeline,

Wow! Another spectacular tooth!  I was so surprised to see your name on tonight's tooth pick-up report.  I must say, tonight's tooth is in particularly excellent condition.  You obviously take very good care of your teeth.

 

I don't usually have time to write letters to the children I visit, however, you are always so sweet to leave me notes of gratitude that I am making an exception this one time for such a kind little girl.

 

Keep up the good work of brushing and flossing.  And don't eat too many sweets because they aren't good for your teeth.  Besides, you are sweet enough already!

 

Your have a beautiful smile that lights up those around you.

 

Love,

Your Tooth Fairy

XOXO

 

Here she is sporting her new smile....



 

 

We have another huge Sesame Street fan.  It is just priceless to watch him interact and get so excited about the characters and the songs.  It's so fun to watch it with him.  Evangeline still enjoys it too.  The theme song starts out, "Sunny day".  Jed, for some reason has been saying, "Daddy day".  He even calls the show Daddy Day.  It's cute.  Kyle especially gets a kick out of it.

 

 

 

 

 

Mom's Retirement

 

We were honored and delighted to leave school a little early a few weeks back to attend a little reception for the Vigo County retiring school teachers.  My lovely mother is retiring after 40+ years as a teacher of children with special needs.  I have seen first hand the difference my mom has made in the lives of her students going above and beyond the call of duty.  Watching her at work as a child and then getting to work in her classroom along side her has been an inspiration to me in my own teaching career and life.  She has taught me all about acceptance and equality starting at a very young age. I remember inviting some of her students to my birthday parties and being encouraged to play with her students on the playground with my peers.  She lead a sign language club and taught my whole grade Silent Night and Let There Be Piece on Earth in sign language which we performed at school programs.  I still run into my old classmates that want to break out sign language on the spot when I see them and reminisce about my mom's sign language club.  (A few have even mentioned how they have taught their children those songs.)  I remember taking some of her students to movies, having them over to play and going swimming with them.  Many of them remember her long after being a student in her class.  Watching her in action as an assistant in her classroom left me awe-struck.  It takes a true calling and a very special person to have been able to do what she did for all those years.  Providence and dedication.  She truly loves and believes in the children that aren't always given a chance or are written off in society.  I'm truly proud to be her daughter.  Congratulations Mom!

 

 

I can't believe both of my parents are retired!!!  Whaaaaa!!!!  Can I please slow the hands of time!!??!!