Sunny Days

Sunny day, sweepin' the clouds away

on my way to where the air is SWEET

Can you tell me how to get...

how to get to Sesame Street.

Come and play

Everything's A-OK

Friendly neighbors there

That's where we meet

Can you tell me how to get...

How to get to Sesame Street.

It's a magic carpet ride

Every door will open wide

To happy people like you

Happy people like---

What a beautiful

SUNNY DAY!

We had us a nice visit with the whole gang from Sesame Street LIVE at Bridgestone arena in Nashville this afternoon. The letter of the day was "I" and the number of the day was "3". And three kids (and many others) used their imaginations to take them everywhere from the African Jungle to Mexico. Since Miles is our 3rd, I try my best to make every effort to give him the same experiences that the other two kids got (organizing playdates, spending 1-1 time with him, seeing shows, doing things that pertain to his AGE specifically). When Karson was his age, she got to see Sesame Street LIVE and the Wiggles LIVE. Isaac also got to see the Wiggles and Monster Truck Jam. NOW, it's Miles's turn--and our other two kids didn't mind tagging along.

Hope everyone had a SUNNY Sunday! We sure did.

The Perfect Friday

How does the perfect day begin...let me start with today. It began with a warm cup of coffee loaded with caramel macchiato creamer. After that, a 20-30 minute workout on the elliptical and another 15 on the treadmill. Actually the perfect day would be no exercise at all and very little guilt over the chocolate iced donut I scarfed down for breakfast. I exercise so I can EAT--ugh. Since Matt mowed the yard during my workout, and the weather was gorgeous (about 70 degrees), I decided to do a few minutes of sunning on the trampoline. I say a few, because Miles came out and immediately wanted to play (tackle, airplane, wrestling, etc.).

My friend Sarah had planned a lunch with some dear college friends at 11:30 at Buckhead. It worked out nicely for me because another friend Weston had invited our kids to Southland Swim Club for the day. Are you tracking with me on the best day ever...I love hanging out with girlfriends. There is nothing like being with friends laughing, reminiscing, catching up, laughing some more--I LOVE IT. The girls in this picture are special to me for so many reasons. It would require a couple of blog posts to tell you how awesome they are. We were at BH until 1:30. After that, I headed over to Southland to join our kids. I have many memories of times at Southland from my childhood. I'm glad Weston included us--our kids had a blast!

Hanging out with great friends--Walker, Tucker and Karson, google buddies.

Sliding down the slide.

Doing UH-mazing tricks in the pool.

Enjoying Ring Pops.

Flipping off the diving board.

After a long day at the pool, we were ready for some down time. Matt had a prayer meeting that afternoon so I took the kids home for post-swimming baths. Karson and her friend Kaylee spent all day together on Wednesday. The highlight for them (and for us moms) was going to Claire's. Karson spotted some chocolate facials that we HAD TO HAVE. We decided to do facials after our swimtime and baths. Isaac was our photographer.

Supposedly chocolate facials are supposed to make you look younger.

Here are our results, I thought we both looked younger and stunning =). For those of you racking your brain to figure out who these people are...Katie Holmes and Shiloh Pitt.

The boys also needed some body altering tactics and opted for Ed Hardy tattooes courtesy of Uncle Andrew.

Matt took the kids over to his parents house so we could go out for a nice date. We went to TGI Friday's which is not part of our normal resturant circuit but will soon be added to it. Our meals were really good. Afterwards, on our date, we went to grocery--woo hoo. We are having some guests over tomorrow night for a cook out and needed to grab a few things. The day ended with the kids tucked in bed and Matt and I out on the trampoline looking at the stars with our new iPad app. called Skywalk. The perfect end to one perfect day.

Sunburst

Summertime means summer camps. The only attendee interested, my brave daughter KARSON. Last year she attended two individual camps--clay camp (art) at the Kentucky Museum and basketball camp at WKU--and then of course, our favorite, church family camp at the end of the summer. With many, many, MANY snow days last winter, our kids got out of school in June this year. Ugh. I feel like our summer together is already speeding right past us. I signed Karson up for SUNBURST theater camp which happened to be the first two weeks in June (two different sessions). I opted for the 2nd week simply because I felt odd putting her in camp the first week of summer break since it's from 10-3, and she has been in school all year. We needed at least one week to catch our breath and have NO WHERE TO BE (which really didn't happen as we spent most of our week traveling back and forth to Louisville, but that's another story). Karson has developed an interest in theater. This isn't a recent happening, but we only have time to pursue one passion at a time, knowhatImean. Theater hasn't been at the top of the list because I know the commitment level it involves. However, after performing in our church's annual Christmas show and then have a speaking part in the Plano Christmas program, Karson's love of memorizing lines and performing has blossomed. She's a natural at this kind of thing. Her memory is concrete--if you say it, you better mean it, because she will NOT forget it.

I hadn't done much research on the local arts in BG, but I have picked the brains of a couple of friends and found that the Public Theater of Kentucky (PTK) is probably the best fit for us. Karson has loved every minute of theater camp this week. She received her speaking part on Monday and devoured it. She knew all her lines probably before we even got home that night, and trust me, they weren't simple. I've loved hearing her talk "stage" talk and about what she's learning. For example: (1) there is a mean girl in her skit. I don't mean a girl who acts like a mean girl, but a girl that Karson doesn't care for simply because she isn't nice to ANYONE (2) she eats lunch with a boy named Logan everyday and recently Xavian and John (3) house left and stage left don't mean the same thing (4) they haven't painted any props and she was looking forward to that (5) she wished she had gotten Chris as her director and not Beth (because Chris is funny). (6) late Wednesday afternoon....oh yeah, Mom we're supposed to dress up like cowboys tomorrow (ummm, no I can't improvise that quickly and unfortunately our boys have never been into cowboys so we own NO cowboy dress up clothes, but if you want an oozing swamp thing with eyeballs dangling or a snow wolf ninja, I can hook you up). Can't you see how much she's learning??? She told me that she wasn't afraid to get up in front of an audience and perform because she had to do it in front of everyone at the camp. I, of course, know this because she performed at Plano in a super crowded gym with standing room only. I guess she thinks I need to know she's now a professional. The most important thing is that she cannot wait to go back next year, and guess who wants to go with her, Isaac Matthew. Woo hoo! They are certainly dramatic in my book.

The entire performance is composed of a bunch of different skits with snippets from Alice in Wonderland to To Kill a Mockingbird. Karson's skit is called Striking Out. The name of her character is Hustle.

Photo shoot the night of the BIG performance with mom and dad.

Her cheering section. A special thanks also to the Garcia's and Pappy and Mamaw Maglinger for coming out to support Karson.

We weren't supposed to take pictures during the performance so as not to distract the "acting". But I figured it was okay to snap one or two if I turned off my flash (I mean really who is going to follow that rule--kind of like the no clapping until every graduate has walked the line rule). AND, since my digital camera is also a video camera, I recorded most of Karson's performance.
Our proud performer.

My Talented Bunch

I am certainly proud of my talented bunch. We were counting down the days until the END of school. The kids always receive their awards on the last day of school. Isaac came home Thursday from school feeling quite puny. Those of you that know Isaac know he goes 110% at ALL times--he never slows down for anything--to eat, rest, use the bathroom. He's a walking Red Bull =). We knew something was up when he was ready to lay down and rest at 4:30. I took his temperature later in the evening and it was over 100. I knew this meant he wouldn't be able to go to school yesterday. BUT, he got lots of rest and was actually fever-free Friday morning and WANTED to go to school--weird. I told him we would need to go to the school office and let them check his temperature. When they checked it, it read 99.5 and the school secretary said we should take him home. I really didn't care either way but hated it for him as he wouldn't get to say good bye to his buddies. We decided to go by the classroom and tell his teachers and let them give him some hugs. It was a sad moment for us all. Ms. Rather and Ms. King have been SUCH a staple in both of my children's education (and their successes). They are the best, and we are fortunate both Karson and Isaac have had them--keeping my fingers crossed for Miles.

Since we planned to come to school for Karson's awards ceremony, we decided to stop by Isaac's classroom and let him pick up all his awards. He racked up with Outstanding Music Student, Spectacular Speller, Wonderful Writer and a math and kindergarten award.
Holding all his awards. He's officially a 1st grader.


Karson awards ceremony began with all the kids reading what Karson read in this video.
Karson mainly racked up on Math Awards. Glad she is gifted in this area--her mom certainly isn't. I got a 'D' in Math 116 at WKU and was ELATED. It was a sympathy 'D' too. Dr. Spraker gave it to me because I was in his office helpless almost every week--he KNEW I was trying but math and me simply don't gel. Both of my kids GMADE scores are ridiculously high--WHEW. Hope it continues.

All the 2nd graders in Karson's class. I find it cool that four out of the nine actually live in our small subdivision right across from the school. I guess we're breeding smart kids in our 'hood. We may have a cook out soon with the four families and celebrate!

Matt also graduated with a BA in Education this semester from WKU. It has been a journey. Matt is so talented and SMART. He scored in the top 15% on his PRAXIS test(s) and was a President's Scholar meaning he maintained a 3.8-4.0 the two years he was at WKU. On top of that, he was a husband, dad of 3, minister, and all the responsibilities that come with that. We are proud of him! He completed his student teaching at South Warren High School mid-May. We were keeping our fingers crossed that he would get a job at SWHS since there was a social studies opening. He interviewed for the position but was told a couple days later that it was given to another person. Matt was really bummed about it, and I was too--our kids are in that school district, and it would've been perfect. Matt had another interview lined up with Bowling Green High for the following week. We felt good about it too since we know so many people in the city school system. I emailed a few friends (since I used to work there)--people that know Matt--for good recommendations. SO, on the morning of his interview, he was dressed to impress and collecting all his things when he received a phone call from SWHS offering him the position (he had already accepted wasn't his). Not sure what happened with the other recipient? But it was an answered prayer for us. He went ahead and went to his BGHS interview but told him he would be accepting the position at SWHS. YEAH! I have to brag on my husband...SWHS will be lucky having him. He has been in ministry and worked with people since we were sophomores at WKU--he has two undergraduate degrees from WKU in Religion and Speech Communication, has an 80+ hours of Master's work from Lipscomb and now a BA in Education from WKU. He plans to get his Master's in Education Administration since NONE of his Master's will count, of course...thanks WKU for taking every penny we have in our minuscule bank account =). At any rate, we are happy and feel fortunate.
Matt's brother Seth also graduated from JCC as a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, and our sister-in-law Laura graduated from WKU with a BS in Nursing. Lots of Deaton successes! We're PROUD and thankful!

Field Day-a-Palozza

Since Miles finished school earlier (May 19) than the other kids, I wanted to wait and do the field day posts all together. Field Days essentially mark the LAST day(s) of school. I loved field day when I was kid although I cannot remember anything we did??? I assume it was much similar to what the kids are doing these days. Miles was super excited about his last day of school (love that cheesy picture above).

Most of you know that I teach preschool so it's hard on days like this not to participate with my own child (I'll get to next year when he is in 4's). Since Matt was done with student teaching, he decided to come and enjoy. I'm glad he did because he was able to snap some memories for me, and I was able to see Miles's field day experience through pictures.


Fun with friends--bouncing, fishing marble with our toes,

Painting with water & water balloon racing...


Bubbles...I'm surprised Matt didn't snap any shots of the shaving cream table. We had a table covered in shaving cream that the kids LOVE. They are usually covered head to toe. Shaving cream is loads of fun. I may have to go grab a couple of cans today for a shaving cream fight =).
Playing with the giant parachute is always fun too. Glad my little guy had a great day with his buddies (and dad).

There are SOME advantages of being in a split class. Karson got to participate in TWO field days this year. The 3rd graders do extra testing at the end of the year (it's kind of a BIG year). As a reward for completing, the kids got to have a parent/child field day. I believe this would've been more fun had it not been 1,000 degrees with only one water game. The heat didn't seem to bother the kids though.

Karson and Dylan doing the 3-legged race.

We love our classmates!

The egg toss and duck-duck-duck goose.

Cooling off with water balloons.

FIELD DAY TAKE TWO:

Isaac was totally panicked when he heard about field day. He's funny about "new" school experiences. That day when he woke up, he told us he didn't feel good and didn't want to go to school. We explained to him that it was field day, and he'd have so much fun at school playing games, etc. Matt took the kids to school that morning and the panicking began. Isaac was almost in tears and finally broke down and told Matt that he didn't want to do the egg toss and get egg all over him. Isaac + food (especially foreign foods like eggs) = unhappy child. Karson got him calmed down and said he wouldn't get any on him and that there were wipes if he did. That seemed to help.

I took Miles over to my mom's so I could go to school and snap some pictures of the kids. I told the front office staff about Isaac and the eggs, and they told me there wasn't any eggs in field day. Funny how we ALL worry about things that usually never happen. Isaac was happy when I arrived. Ms. King, his aide, told me that they were threatening the kids about having to stay in the classroom and not participate in field day if they didn't behave. Apparently, Isaac only heard part of that and told her he just wanted to stay in the classroom for the day--stinker. New things ain't his THANG, but I'm happy to say, he loved field day (minus the free blue ice from Bruster's).
Hula hooping in the obstacle course.
Chillin' with his best-ies!

The water balloon toss.

The end...I was running back and forth between two classes trying to get shots so I wasn't able to get many of ALL the events but managed to get a couple.

Karson and classmates doing the water balloon toss.

Enjoying blue ice from Bruster's.

The obstacle course.

Music room dancing and musical dots.

Parachute game.

A great group of kids. Field day was a hit!