Weekend Update: Memorial Day!

We had a GREAT weekend at the beach celebrating Memorial Day! The weather was supposed to be AWFUL the whole weekend-- Tropical Storm Bonnie was supposed to put a damper (harharhar) on the weekend, but it ended up hardly raining at all! We had amazing weather and spent most of the weekend playing outside. 

Cal and I picked up CB from the airport Thursday afternoon and then headed to the beach to meet the rest of the crew. 

We got there in time for a beautiful sunset:

My parents were down too-- and mom joined us for a sunset

We had dinner over at my parents house and while it was cooking, Eddie and his dad and the boys had a BIG very intense football game going on.  They were not messing around! 

We spent all day Friday out on the beach.  Bruce got to go over too and he spent his entire time there in the water with the boys.  See his little head below? 

They were so cute together out there!

My children are fearless in the water.  It is great, but terrifying.  Seeing Andy dive under waves is quite a scare.  But he loves it. And Cal does too. 

Three of my boys! Hank didn't make the cut to go-- and he was fine with it.  Too hot for that sweet boy.  

I swear Bruce was smiling.  :)

So, due to some fun house inspection stuff as we were trying to leave (and by fun, I mean they showed up 40 minutes early, and I wasn't packed and had to throw random stuff in a bag....), I forgot to pack a hat.  We went to the food lion Thursday night and I bought this one-- thought it was fine enough....but then I had multiple people comment that it looks like a Donald Trump hat... might have to burn the thing.  Oh well.... 

After a full day outside, we went to watch the sunset and the boys wanted to get in the water as it set.  Love it--

We got up Saturday and took the dogs on a walk-- we had quite the crew walking our pack!

 Hank, Bru and Tucker Lou!

We headed over to the beach again and the boys spent the entire day playing as hard as they could.  They had so much fun playing over there.

The boys adore their uncle ah-ho!

These cute girls were playing spike ball and Andy was watching and inching closer and closer until finally he asked if he could play with them.  Then Cal worked up the courage to go play too.  They were so sweet to them-- and Cal and Andy were in heaven. 

They went skim boarding together (my life just fast flashed forward 10 years.....) and then their dad took a picture of the group together.  So cute.  

That night we had dinner over at my parents house and all the cousins sang happy birthday to my mom- who has a birthday next week.  Lucky lady!

Hankers wanted to sleep on a bunk bed too!

We went out on the boat for a day and had so so much fun out on the water.  It was supposed to be a rainy wash-out of a weekend, but it ended up being like this every day--- no clue how we lucked out like this!

The boys had a great time jumping off the boat and swimming around in the sound. 

I can not stop laughing at Andy's photobomb in the background-- that funny little grin:

Bruce got to go out there and swim around. He had a big time out there.  We were worried he wouldn't be able to walk after all the swimming he did.  I finally had to bend down and hold him up just to make him take a break.  Look at the little water dog....

At the end of the day, Andy was flat worn out.  My (sweet) mother took him to her house and bathed him and let him watch a show in his bed-- a favorite past time of his.  He was out cold and took a nice little nap...it was needed (all around!).  

We had lots of fun this weekend with lots of family-- and feel so lucky to get to be all together!

Hope y'all all had great weekends too-- hopefully the weather wasn't too bad where you were.  I can't believe our luck!

 

Andy Graduation

Andy is a pre-k graduate!

After watching Cal graduate last week, Andy wanted to dress nicely for his as well. 

 He insisted on a blazer and a button down-- but "no bowtie, momma"

When did he get so old?!? 

 Cal was supposed to just go to school...but he started presenting his argument for why he should get to go to Andy's graduation-- Andy got to go to his after all.... and when I said no another time, he went and got himself dressed and came out like this.  He said "I thought if I looked nice, you would let me go see Andy graduate." Hard to say no to that, buddy.... So Cal got out of school early to go support his little brother. 

 The whole class walked in to the class room and sat on the floor.  The teacher read a poem to the class and then called each kid up and gave up them a diploma and  special award- different for each kid. 

 Hugging his teacher-- loving the cap.

 The family shot-- Cal clearly pleased he got to escape kindergarten for a few hours.  (also- I look pregnant. I am not.... but dang, I look it.....)

And Andy's award: "Most Marvelous Manners".... is that a joke? Seriously, teachers? Andy's whole cheering section (my parents, me, Eddie and Cal) all burst out laughing-- but hey, glad he has manners when he's at school......!

This picture sums up these brothers to a T! hahahaha

And here is Andy with his teachers.  He has had a great year as a Pony Pal and he is now ready for KINDERGARTEN! Bring it on! 

This graduation is a little bittersweet.  I love love love our preschool and I am sad that we no longer have a child there (however, I will not miss paying a tuition check!).  It will be weird walking in  to go to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays without my little buddy next to me.  For the last few years, I have been driving to the school 5 days a week....and now I will just be going twice a week- just for work.

It is the end of an era.... but the start of a really exciting one!



 

Insta Funnies

Cheers to Memorial Day weekend, coming atcha!

 

Kindergarten Graduation

Despite still having a weeks weeks left of school (Cal can tell you the exact number of days-- I believe it is 13?), the kindergarten graduation ceremony took place on Monday.  My parents both came and I am SO glad they did! The ceremony was so stinking cute.  Cal's teacher is amazing and I am crossing every finger and toe that Andy will get her next year. 

The kids were told to dress nicely.  I told Cal to put on khaki shorts and a golf shirt.  He said he wanted to wear a bow tie.  Then he asked for his "black shirt with the buttons on the sleeves, like he wore to that thing for Gran..." Once I figured out he meant Gran's funeral, where he wore his BLAZER, we were on the same page- haha

He got out of my car looking like this and I about died-- 

This sweet face! Are you kidding me?! He had to take a shower in the morning so his hair was nice and slicked over- hahaha CB always calls this his banker look.  It doesn't stay like this for long, that is for sure.

We got to the school at 1:30 and took our seats- they had completely transformed the classroom and had all the kids' chairs on one side and all the adult chairs set up facing the kids.  There was a little aisle for the kids to "march" in to.  They filed in and as soon as he spotted me, he got this little grin on his face--

 I die. 

 Had to grab a pic of his buddy Jackson too-- sweetest boy.  He had a big cheering section too-- I think Cal and Jackson have some good grandparents!

The whole class came in and stood at their seats-- of course Cal was next to Laynie...! The two of them are always close by each other.  Cal is very (sweetly) protective over Laynie- he always has been. She was painfully shy for a while- and every now and then some shy-ness can creep back in, but it never happens when she's around him.  It makes my momma heart happy to see how kind he is to her...and to see what good friends they have become! I know a friendship between a boy and a girl might not last long (before the nonstop teasing occurs), but for now- it's sweet! 

They sang two songs and for one part of a song, they held hands-- love their serious faces!

 Each child was called up in front of the class where the teacher told everyone their favorite food, favorite color and what they wanted to be when they grew up...

 Cal's answers:
Pizza
Green
A football player (#shocker)

After it was all done, I had to get pictures with his teachers. 

This is his assistant teacher and we just ADORE her.  We adore both teacher, honestly.  This sweet woman has been so kind to Cal all year. 

His lead teacher-- this is the most talented, most patient woman I have ever met.  I want to nominate her for every teacher of the year award that has ever existed.  I have volunteered multiple times in the class and she blows my mind with her creativity, skills, patience and amazing-ness.  We were truly beyond lucky to have her as a teacher this year!

There was a huge cake for the class and the guests and a little "reception" which was super cute.  The boys got some cake and they looked through their "summer bags" from their teachers.  

These two are too much.....

Me and my sweet graduate! He is ready for first grade!

 After it was over, we got to check out of school early and this was the face as we walked out--

oh! almost forgot-- one of the parents in the class came in and asked each kid what they wanted to be when they grew up then took a picture and made a really cool sign with all the pics-- here is a close up for just Cal:

It was such a sweet service and made me fall in love with our sweet school even more! The countdown to summer is officially ON!