Shane's Authors Tea

    Shane's last day of school was a very special day.  His entire class got to write, illustrate and publish a book this year, and on the last day their books were given to them.  Shane's book was titled "I Like."  It was a list and picture of all the things he likes.  We got to enjoy the schools pond, enjoy some tea and yummy snacks, and Shane got to read us his book.  We are very proud of Shane and we love his book!!  Here are some pictures of his special day. 

McKinley's 2nd Grade Graduation

    Today, after three amazing years, McKinley graduated from Johnson Primary School.  The entire Turtle Team sang "We are the World",then each child gave the speech they had prepared, and received a diploma from their teacher.  After the ceremony the family of the graduates got to have a picnic style lunch of pizza, chips, and a very yummy turtle cake. 
    McKinley has grown so much in the three years he spent at JPS.  He has went from being my baby to my little man. Next year he will be attending Bitz Intermediate here on Camp Lejeune.  He is excited to start 3rd grade but sad to leave his teacher, Mrs. Snyder, who he has had all three years.  We will all really miss her!  I just hope we are blessed with another great teach next year!  Congratulations McKinley!  We love you and we are so proud of you!

       McKinley giving his speech

Getting his diploma

McKinley & Mrs. Snyder

Mrs. Snyder & the rising 3rd graders

The only four left from his kindergarden class.

We are so proud of you!

The adorable cake.

Shane Starts Gymnastics!

    McKinley has been taking gymnastics for a while now, and Shane has always wanted to do it.  So in honor of our baby graduating from Kindergarden, we decided it was time for him to start.
    Today started the summer session at there gym, and the class only had 3 people in it.  I was really surprised at how well he did!!  He is really strong, and impressed me and his teacher.  Gymnastics may just be his "thing."  Here are a few pictures of his first day.

Fishy Field Trips

    This year both Shane and McKinley's class got to go to the Pine Knolls Shore Aquarium for one of their field trips.  Thanks to great friends, I was able to help with both. 

    When i went with Shane we sat down and enjoyed our lunch in the beautiful sunshine first.  Then Shane's group went to a class on sea turtles, and they actually got to pet a baby sea turtle.  After words, Shane and the other kids in his group got to explore all the exhibits.  It was a great day for Shane and me because we don't get a lot of one on one time together.  I am so glad he had a good time, and there are more dates, just me and Shane, to come!  Here are some pictures of his day.

Eating his lunch.

The baby sea turtle.

Petting the turtle.

Shane and the girls in his group.

 

Me and Shane.

Shane's favorite thing at the aquarium.

When it was McKinley's classes turn we got to a class on alligators, which he was very excited about. His teacher got to play dress-up for a little while to help us learn about alligators, which we all had a good laugh at, and they also got to pet a baby alligator.   After the class our small group was off to explore.  It was raining that day so we didn't get to go outside but we managed to find lots of things to explore!  Here are a few picture of McKinley's day!

It is scary to see the size of the sculls!

 

Mrs Snyder

He was so excited!

My favorite picture of the day!

McKinley and his friends.

Adventure Awaits!!

    While we were visiting Jeremy's family over Spring Break we decided to get out of Spruce Pine for the day and see what we could find.  First we went to Linville Caverns.  It was a very hot day so we welcomed the temperature change in the caverns.  We seen bats, fossils, all kinds of interesting shapes in the cave wall.

               This is what the kids called a chicken nugget bat!

Dalton and McKinley

                          

A sand dollar fossil.

The blind fish in the underwater stream.

Our entire family!

       Next we decided to go fishing at the bottom of Linville falls, which I thought was a great idea. 

Jeremy fishing.

Noah

McKinley with the only fish of the day!

Bella and Shane setting the worms free! LOL

 I thought it would be a nice break after walking the caverns, but in the true adventurer spirit we decided to hike the falls with all five kids, and me in flip flops!!

       I was very surprised by the kids, and how well they did!  We took very little breaks and they kept the whining to a minimum.  Once at the top we got to enjoy some beautiful views of the falls and it sounds amazing.  I could have fallen asleep so easily!

All of my boys!

Jeremy and Bella

 So after a nice break at the falls it was time to come down, and Jeremy ended up carrying Bella, and I had Noah. 

Not as easy as it looks!!

    By the time we got to the bottom I was very excited about the drive back so we could all take a nice nap!!!  Even though it was a very busy day, it was the best day!!  I love having all five of my babies together!!!!

I am trying!!

I know that I am really behind in my blog!  I have at least five new post and I always get distracted by various shiny things when I try to sit down to do them.  So I figured if I wrote about not writing it would make me write.  I think that made sense.  Just know that there is more to come soon!

Easter Sunday

Spring is my favorite time of year, and Easter is one of my favorite holidays!  I love getting a pretty new dress in spring colors, dying eggs, hiding them for the kids in their cute baskets.  Spring is a renewal for plants and animals, and for us.  This year we decided to go to Spruce Pine for Easter, I was very sad to miss the big egg hunt at church, and the service as well but off the Nanny's house we went.  On Sunday we went to Mt. Carmel Church, it was soo good to see all of our friends from there!  Then we went to Jeremy's dads house for dinner and hunting eggs.  I was so happy that it was a warm day.  Not only did we get to hunt eggs but we also got to go out on the boat.  The kids enjoyed it and so did we!!!  It was a great day!

                     Shane                   

Noah

McKinley

Bella

This was my favorite of the day!  I am so blessed!!