End of the School Year

Oh my goodness...where to even begin?  I tearfully say goodbye to another school year.  Not just any school year though.  This was the year I delivered that sweet little baby boy just 4 days into the first week of school.  This was the year my girl was in the first grade, my grade.  I have watched both of these children grow so much this year.  It's been emotional.  I've dealt with the anticipation of having my baby at any moment right at the start of the school year, sending my daughter to school...without me, coming back to work after my maternity leave, the pumping: all.the.pumping.  The sleep deprivation, the figuring out how to get everything done with two children and a full time job, the up-in-the-air status of our living situation.  Wow.  What a year.  I will always look back at this year with the fondness of memories.  I wouldn't trade this insane year for anything.  It has been one of the most special and trying years of my life.

Here are my fellow first grade teachers after surviving Activity Day.  I love these girls. 
 

Evangeline is pictured here working out with Mr. Josh from her Healthy Life class, and his super cool car! 

 

Evangeline always likes to write on my white board before and after school.  She usually answers prompts that I have on the board, but sometimes she comes up with her own little sentences. 

We had our annual Lincoln Trail field trip, which was very special this year because my daughter was in attendance.  Evangeline did the nature walk with her class, but ate lunch and did the scavenger hunt with me.  We had a great time.  It was a chilly day!

 

Here is Evangeline and one of my little students, Hannah Simpson.  These two were great friends this year.

Hayden Parris was also one of Evangeline's sweet friends and a student in my class.  These are friendships I very much approve of for my daughter.

This is Evangeline's class. 

Of course we needed school bus selfies...what else are you going to do? 

 

What a whirlwind of a year.  Now I'm busy soaking up all the time I can this summer with my little loves.

Fresh and Clean

Words don't even touch how cute this guy is in the tub.  We just get the biggest kick out of his bath time enthusiasm.  He just splashes and giggles nonstop.   Evangeline likes to hop in and join him.  We all three end up soaked from his splashes. 

 

And he's just so handsome and snuggly once he's out of the tub.  I still can't decide which way to comb his hair thanks to his cowlick right in the front of his forehead.  

 

 

There was a little birthday celebration in Avon for Kristen, Phil, Sabrina and me.  It was nice to see everyone and pig out on yummy food and cake!

 

We sure are grateful to Ammie for watching Jed this school year.  We just aren't sure what we would have done without her.  

 

Evangeline participated in the cheer clinic again this spring.  She did a fantastic job, if I do say so myself.  

Mother's Day

Over the past seven years Mother's Day has found a special place in my heart right up there with Christmas.  It's having the best job in the world and then receiving a bonus just when you thought it was already unbeatable.  Oh, all that precious stuff my daughter brought home from school for me for Mother's Day!  She was just beaming with pride and so excited to give it to me.  I could tell she worked so hard on these priceless things.  They are worth more than all the gold in the world to me. 

 

Mrs. Crumrin told me that the kids planed these plants from seeds right before Earth Day and then she bought a larger flower to plant along side them for Mother's Day.  However, Evangeline's pot was the first to sprout out of her whole class and she was so excited about the sprouts she refused the flower.  She was afraid the flower would harm her little sprouts.  

 

We attended the annual Mother/Daughter Banquet at church with the cousins, Kristen, Ammie and Grandma.  It was extra special this year because Evangeline had a few little parts in the program.  She recited a poem and had a part in a song.  

 

On the actual morning of Mother's Day I awoke to yet another bacon, egg and cheese biscuit and coffee from my sweet husband.  (We Hutsons really like our BE&C biscuits!)  I had cards from Kyle, Evangeline and Jed.  They also surprised me with the prettiest turquois earrings, which Evangeline picked out herself.  We went to church.  It was just a great morning.  

 

Kyle had Jed dressed in the perfect outfit.  It was a nice touch.

 

Little Jed started clapping his hands for the first time on May 3rd.  He also kicked off Mother's Day by crawling for the first time on Saturday, May 7th.  

 

It's become a tradition that we have a picnic at Lincoln Trail on Mother's Day.  It was too cold and wet for picnicking this time, but we did have a picnic at Ammie's house before heading over to Lincoln Trail to kayak in my mom's boats.  The weather turned out to be beautiful and shaped up to be the perfect day.  

 

Yep.  Being a mom's the best.  



Where the Heart Is...

Another birthday has come and gone.  It was a fun day, as all of my birthdays have been.  Kyle and I went out for dinner the night before (oh, and a sleeping Jed was also in attendance).  My sweet hubs surprised me with a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit when I woke up on the morning of my birthday.  Evangeline surprised me with a card she made for me.  She had everyone sign the card and she even taped one of her dollar bills inside.  She also had a little gift bag for me with one of her hair bows, a chocolate scented pencil and Christmas pencil sharpener inside.  She put this little gift together last week and has been so excited to give it to me.  It was very special.  My school kids were so excited about my birthday.  They had been looking forward to it for days.  I even received a few thoughtful gifts and handmade cards and notes galore.  How precious those children are.  That evening Kyle went to the grocery store and grilled out for us.  It was a pretty awesome day.  No, I will never tire of birthdays....

Below are cookies I made for the work room. 

 

Dad is moving to the farm in a few weeks, which means I've been forced to clean out my childhood bedroom.  It's not been a fun job.  Dad had us all over a few weekends ago for one last family dinner at his house.  I thought I would be sad, but it didn't quite feel real yet.  That evening I was too busy cleaning junk out to get too sentimental, I guess.  Also, the fact that he's moving from one special place from my childhood to another makes it much easier to digest.  I'm looking forward to actually having a bed to sleep in at dad's house at the farm.  I'm looking forward to waking up to breakfast with my dad at the farm.  I'm looking forward to my children have special memories of staying at the farm too.  It's going to be a good move.... 

Although, I'm sure when it's all cleared out and I see it empty I will be sad about good ol'122. 

Speaking of houses...I don't think I've ever added a picture of Ammie's new house.  She's all settled in.  It's cozy, homey and adorable.  We like it here.  It has that comforting vibe you look for in an Ammie's house. 

 

We lost Granny last week.  I know she missed living in Florida, but selfishly, I'm happy that she got to spend a few years here close to family.  Evangeline got to know her and will have memories of her.  Granny was one special woman and we will miss her dearly.