You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

Tate: Pre-K Day 1 and Day Last

I think this sums up his AWESOME first year at Brook Hill. Tate learned to read, write, start patterns for beginning math, and finished the year without a single conduct mark. WOW! We love Mrs. Haugh -- she was a great fit for this  reserved boy; she brought him out of his shell, showed him love, and prepared him to succeed in Kindergarten.  

His class celebrated with Mrs. Haugh's Luau last week, complete with swimming, an inflatable water slide, and a magic show from Professor QB the Pirate clown.

Tate and BFF, Brooks

Look at all these cuties. This was seriously the BEST little class!

Each student is given a character award at year's end.  Tate was awarded Leadership. Mrs. Haugh said that he was always the first to follow directions and the other classmates looked to him as an example.  

She also gave him an extra "Amazing Artist" award, and commended him for his handwriting and artistic abilities.  The aide in his class, Mrs. Weippert, also commented to me separately about how talented Tate is artistically. Budding Little Picasso!

Third Grade was a different story. This year was TOUGH.  Mrs. Bickerstaff is a tough teacher who expected a lot from the kids and runs a tight ship.  Cole had to work extremely hard this year, so we are glad to be moving up to Fourth Grade. 

Mrs. B saved Cole's award for last during the Third Grade Character Awards Assembly. He didn't mind, and bounced on up to receive... the Enthusiasm Award! She said that in 30+ years of teaching, Cole was a first -- because he would try to act out the spelling words during the test. Oh, Lordy! We all got a good laugh.  She also said that his joy for life is contagious, and that he was one of her favorite students.  That ended this crazy school year on a great note. 

And speaking of notes, she wrote on his final report card, "Cole, you are a sweet young man with great intelligence.  Learn to trust yourself when you work your assignments.  I expect to hear great things about you in the future. Please come see me next year!" So nice! And he made straight As for the Third Grade, so all of his hard work paid off.

I missed the Third Grade Pig Out party, but Ashley snapped some pics for me.  

Longtime BFFs Breckin, Cole, and Braxton --

Cole, CJ, Dylan, Braxton, and Asa

Field Day was inside this year (again) due to rain, but the boys had fun, and about 10 families went out for Mexican food to celebrate the year after Field Day. The poor wait staff ;) 

We are so HAPPY to be kicking off summer.  These cuties started with Pink and Purple Popsicles in the Park for Paige's birthday :)

Tate, Brooks, Thomas, Aiden, Hetcher

The pool is open, and the lake house is... 

not finished.  We let our original contractor go, and are starting anew to try to wrap up the renovations in the next few weeks.  In the mean time, Dad brought his boat and jet ski down and we've been having a blast on the water.

The Leevers came in for Memorial Day weekend. One day at the lake, another at the pool, and lots of memories and crazy fun with four (and a half!) boys.

Happy 10th Anniversary to JH & Kayla! I think celebrating 10 years while sitting on the dock and watching your two boys and two nephews while the sun sets is pretty cool. 

Perhaps this is because Mike and I were sitting in a hospital room with Tate, who had pneumonia, on our 10th anniversary. ;)

[That is Tate and Tyler on the dock, Cole in the inflatable boat, and Sawyer in the tube. I hardly have any pics of Cole because he spent the entire afternoon at the lake kneeboarding and tubing with Braxton and Dylan on the Durretts' boat -- so much fun for him!]

Long live summer.

xo, Lindsay